People do Yoga for a lot of different reasons. Some do it for enjoyment, some for exercise and some for coping with day to day life and controlling stress. Yoga is great for relieving stress as it offers relaxation techniques with proper breathing exercises and meditative positions. Stress can do a number on your body and mind and yoga can help relieve the physical and psychological effects of every day life by lowering your blood pressure and slowing your heartbeat, giving you a more positive outlook.
Before you begin Yoga, you need to find out what you are battling with stress. Understanding what has caused your stress will help in figuring out how to get rid of it. Yoga helps you to rid the causes of stress and puts your mind in "a good place". When you get to this point it will be easier to fight off potential causes of stress. You will be able to stay calm and composed when you encounter stress triggers.
"Doing yoga" includes breathing exercises, putting yourself into different body postures while doing slow stretching movements. This will put you into a state of relaxation and deep contemplation which is designed for higher awareness to know what to do when you encounter a stress trigger. You will learn to understand your body and how to control it in a positive manner.
Contrary to what you might think, children experience stress but it is not advisable to introduce children younger than 7 or 8 to yoga. Bodies of young children are still developing and they should never be forced to do yoga as it can damage their spine and other joints. There is also no upper age limit so you can never be too old to learn yoga.
Yoga can be done anywhere. If you are just learning, it is advisable to attend a beginners yoga class so you can learn the basics on what and what not to do. Many gyms offer yoga sessions. If you want to go it alone though, there are many videos out there that will show you the basic positions and this can be done in the privacy of your home.
Like any sport or activity, there are basic tools and accessories you will need. First is a yoga mat. These mats provide cushioning and traction and prevent sliding across the floor when a yoga session gets intense and your hands get sweaty. Some of these mats are made from synthetic materials, although there are natural rubber mats available. Prices for these yoga mats start at as little as $20 and it's better to have your own as sometimes those offered for use at the gym or studios can be a bit dirty.
Another yoga accessory is a yoga blanket. You use this to sit on when you need to elevate your hips above your knees and they keep you warm during the last phase of relaxation. You also might need yoga blocks for standing poses where one hand is on the floor.
Yoga straps, also called yoga belts, are used in a bound position when your hands cannot reach each other. They are also useful for positions when you need to grasp your feet. This information should get you started on learning yoga to relieve stress in your life.
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