Yoga comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “union.” A deeply spiritual practice, yoga, at least outside of its native India, is primarily associated with certain asanas (postures). These can improve your health and fitness and might even help you to reach Moksha, or the liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth.
There’s no doubt that yoga is powerful for body, mind and spirit. In the West, what we call yoga is actually a branch of the practice called Hatha Yoga. This focuses on the physical movements, or asanas (as previously mentioned), and combines breathing elements (pranayama) and shatkarma (internal cleansing). Other types of toga that are practiced to improve fitness include:
- Ashtanga Yoga
- Tantra Yoga
- Bikram Yoga
- Kundalini Yoga
- Iyengar Yoga
- Jivamukti Yoga
- and Power Yoga
Yoga postures can be performed to improve flexibility and balance, increase muscle tone, strengthen your core and so forth. Although it may look gentle and seem easy, yoga is a very difficult discipline to master. Finding a class local to you is probably your first step en route to yoga mastery. Most yoga schools have beginner classes. If you don’t think you can manage a movement, let the teacher know. Don’t try to overexert yourself, especially at first, or you could risk an injury.
With practice you will improve. There are many books, videos and DVDs that you can purchase or borrow from a library, a video store or even a friend that will assist you in your yoga practice. Since yog isn’t a competitive sport, there’s no need to worry about how fast or how ‘perfect’ you are. Just “go with the flow” and enjoy the experience.
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