Yoga
Yoga is a real art. The art of maintaining the perfect balance of body and mind. It is one of the main means of cleansing the body, meditation and relaxation. Yoga gives an excellent load on the body, while distributing it evenly. It contributes to weight loss, self-knowledge, and healing of the body.
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The benefits of yoga 
For whatever reason a person does not start yoga classes, he will always win. Since yoga does not give results in one direction (for example, only a slender waist), but brings a number of benefits. So what exactly does it help and what results it leads to.
- Yoga relieves depression and emotional stress. Helps fight chronic fatigue syndrome and promote healthy sleep. Meditation puts thoughts in order, helps the brain to work more actively. And this leads to increased production of endorphins. Therefore, a good mood and a positive attitude are guaranteed. For yoga to be beneficial, classes should be carried out continuously.
- In addition to combating excessive fatigue and bad mood, yoga is a great way to get rid of extra pounds. Systematic exercise helps to reduce the volume of the stomach. This means that the amount of food consumed will decrease. Exercise helps to improve the health of the body and improve metabolism. With the help of yoga, you can lose weight correctly without harming the body.
- Among other things, yoga classes bring benefit to the body generally. Strengthen the heart, vascular, endocrine systems of the body. Restores the musculoskeletal system.
- Continuous exercise contributes to the development of flexibility, improved reaction.
- Yoga helps to develop perseverance, increased concentration. Exercise techniques (breathing, stretching) develop motor memory, help expand consciousness, and help develop a vision of perspective.
- And, probably, the main benefit brought by yoga is self-improvement in all directions, both physically and spiritually. Yoga is not just a physical activity, it is a way of life.
Yoga harm
It is worth noting that, despite all the positive qualities and benefits, yoga can both cure the human body and soul, and destroy it. Yoga, like any other exercise, involves systematization and a smart approach.
In case a person started to practice yoga, but at the end of the session experiences heaviness and discomfort, and not just physical fatigue. You should stop exercising until the reason is found out.
Choosing yoga as an alternative to sports, you should be prepared for the fact that it is not just physical exercise and stretching. Yoga is a system of spiritual and physical practices for the body that has existed for many thousands of years. Its purpose is to create harmony between body and soul. Therefore, if you are not ready to devote part of your life to this occupation and spend long hours in meditation, listening to your body and tuning in to one wave, then it is best not to start practicing.
Yoga: contraindications
Before proceeding to classes, you should make sure that there are no contraindications. Since there are cases when human health completely excludes the possibility of doing yoga:
- diseases of the body, proceeding in an aggravated form, the presence of acute pain in muscles or joints;
- heart disease;
- anemia, leukemia;
- oncology;
- the first time (up to three months) after surgery in the chest or peritoneum;
- hypertension, hypotension;
- hernia in the groin and spine;
- viral diseases.
Of all the cases listed above, yoga classes can only be conducted with the permission of a doctor. And the number and types of exercises are limited. The meaning of yoga is that it should bring joy and tranquility, balance the state of a person. But with these diseases, this is unlikely to be possible.
It is imperative to start doing yoga under the supervision of a person who knows this art well. Since the exercises, even for beginners, are difficult, and some require outside help. There is a good chance that by starting to do them yourself, you can injure or pull on muscles or ligaments. And that's at least.
Yoga types
In the modern world, yoga is very popular. The number of its supporters is growing every day. It is developing by leaps and bounds. New schools and trends are opening. However, it is worth paying attention to the classical school, where all the other branches came from.
Yoga types:
- Karma Yoga originates from the Hindu scriptures. This type of yoga carries in itself the renunciation of painful thoughts, the fear of death and the acquisition of peace, the love of God. Karma yoga does not carry personal benefits, but is performed only for the higher power and the good of faith.
- Brahma Yoga means complete worship of the deity. It is believed that this is one of the most basic and effective techniques. This type of yoga does not require physical exertion and complex exercises. Therefore, anyone can use it, including people with physical disabilities.
- Jnana Yoga in a broad sense, this kind of yoga is understood as "the path to awareness." A person walking along this road independently determines the value of the world, its illusory nature. And ultimately learns the truth.
- Raja Yoga helps to keep the mind clean and unleash its abilities through meditation. The purpose of the classes is to differentiate the surrounding world into reality and illusion. In the process of self-knowledge and training, the most desirable thing is achieved - the knowledge of Moksha. That is, liberation from the fear of death and the hardships of the world.
- Hakhta Yoga is a step towards achieving Raja Yoga. Its purpose is to physically prepare the body for long hours of meditation. It consists of: healthy eating, proper breathing, physical exercises aimed at merging the mind and body.
Yoga is divided into levels:
- Self-restraint (Yama).
- Complete dissolution in the practice of the spirit (Niyama).
- The use of physical exercises to completely merge body and spirit (Asana).
- Breathing Exercises to Fuse Mind and Body (Pranayama)
- Limitation of the Senses (Pratyahara)
- Meditation(Dhyana).
- Achievement of self-knowledge and acceptance of one's own "I" as a part of the surrounding world (Samadhi).
All types of yoga that are classified as classical have incredibly ancient roots. They have been developed and improved by more than one generation over many decades. To find what you need, you need to familiarize yourself with each.
How to do yoga
It happens to many that the desire to do yoga is great. But knowledge is not enough. Where to start, and how? Is it possible to start classes on your own, or do you need the help of an instructor?
Of course, the best option, at least in the early (initial) stages, is to conduct classes with a trainer. He will tell and explain everything in detail. He will show by personal example. Helps to do exercise, avoiding harm to the body.
However, not everyone has the opportunity to go to the fitness center. In this case, you need to be patient, extremely attentive and video tutorials. To get such in our time will not be difficult, since there are more than enough sources.
Doing the exercises on your own does not require much. Required:
- mat, small gymnastic (can be purchased at any sports store);
- clothing that is pleasant to the body, loose, not restricting movement, best of all made of natural fabrics;
- the classroom should be spacious, light and well-weathered;
- when practicing, nothing should be distracting.
Starting to practice, do not rush and exhaust the body and mind to the fullest. The best result is never achieved after the first session. This requires no little time and preparation.
Yoga: exercise
It is best to start your yoga session with the Sun Salutation exercise. It includes 12 poses gradually replacing one another. It helps to work out all parts of the body, and also concerns consciousness. The exercise is quite easy and multifunctional. We present to your attention some of them:
- Greeting. Stand straight, bring your legs together, straighten your back, stretch your neck. Straighten your arms at chest level in front of you, fold your palms towards each other. Pull in your stomach, look forward, breathe evenly and measuredly.
- Hands up. Raise your arms as you inhale, pull your spine looking up.
- Hand to foot. Exhale slowly, while gently begin to lean forward and lower to the bottom. The back, neck, arms should be extended to their full length. The knees should be bent. The body is completely relaxed. Hands touch the floor (if you suddenly can't reach the floor, just leave them hanging in this position). Then, carefully and slowly, begin to climb up. When lifting, the spine should line up the vertebrae in one line, one after the other. The head rises last.
- Rider. Inhale a full chest of air with your left leg back. The knee drops to the floor. In the bent position, the knee should form a right angle, and the foot should be exactly under it. Put your hands on the floor, stretching your back, keep your head upright.
Yoga for pregnant women
Yoga class during pregnancy a moot point. Someone argues that exercise should be eliminated altogether. Someone, on the contrary, insists that this is the best way to maintain mommy's health. Doctors also advise excluding yoga for pregnant women, starting from the second trimester and ending three months after childbirth.
Traditional yoga and exercise for pregnant women are radically different. In the second case, classes are more focused on preparing the body for bearing and giving birth to a child. They teach to breathe correctly, eliminate irritability, help to avoid stress. At a later date, you can follow a simple course of meditation.
Yoga for the back
Yoga exercise for the back, a real medicine for the spine and lower back. All classes are based on a long stay in certain poses. They help increase the mobility of the intervertebral joints by increasing the elasticity of muscle tissue. Exercise helps to increase flexibility and muscle strength.
Yogis suggest that the correct remedy for the back is the usual stress on the muscles, twisting and stretching the spine. There are sets of exercises that must be performed daily. This will help bring the condition of the spine and cervical spine closer to ideal.