Yoga is an ancient system of personal development. The principles of achieving a unity of body, mind and spirit form the basis of yoga. These five principles of yoga include proper relaxation, proper exercise, proper breathing, proper diet, positive thinking and meditation.
Yoga practice is very beneficial to health. It makes your body stronger and more flexible, increases stamina and lung volume, improves spine posture. Yoga poses and breathing technique stimulate metabolic process like no other type of exercises does. Moreover, yoga helps to lose excess weight and adopt healthy eating habits.
There are a lot of yoga styles, but almost all of them come from Hatha Yoga. All styles of yoga aim to balance your body, mind and spirit. The choice of yoga style depends on your preferences. In the United States, Hatha Yoga and Power Yoga are especially popular.
Hatha Yoga
The most well-known branch of yoga is Hatha Yoga. The main elements of Hatha Yoga are asanas or physical exercises, pranayama or breathing technique and meditation. Practicing yoga poses stretches your muscles, increases the flexibility of the spine and improves blood circulation.
Yoga poses are accompanied by breathing exercises. Your breathing should be deep and rhythmical. This makes your body relaxed and yet gives you more energy. Hatha Yoga is a great way to cope with stress and depression, relieve the tension.
Yoga is especially good for people who use food as a mood altering drug, that is eat when upset or feel nervous. Hatha Yoga will change your attitude to food: you will eat only when you are really hungry. Yoga promotes healthy nutrition and moderation in food. You will not even cast a glance at junk food after yoga classes. Continuous yoga practice will help you control your calorie intake, get rid of bad eating habits and tone your body.
Yoga poses, proper breathing and meditation bring your body in perfect health and free your mind from everyday stress.
Power Yoga
Power Yoga is good for people who are ready for a serious workout. Power Yoga includes series of vigorous exercises without pauses and breaks. It makes you strong and sturdy, strengthens your muscles, tones your body.
Power Yoga sessions are done in a heated room. When performing Power Yoga asanas, you sweat a lot and burn many calories. If you want to lose weight, Power Yoga is more effective than Hatha Yoga; however, Power Yoga is difficult for beginners.
Yoga lifestyle
Yoga is not fitness; it is a lifestyle. To understand what yoga is, try it yourself. Remember yoga principles involve not only exercises and proper breathing but also a healthy diet and positive thinking. This makes yoga different from most other forms of exercises.
Anyone can practice yoga. Poses tone your body; breathing technique improves your nervous and respiratory systems. The principles of proper diet and meditation will help you change your eating habits: you will adhere to a healthy diet and eat only when hungry. Choose the yoga style that is most suitable for you and change your life for the better.
Recommended reading
ABC of Yoga
Learn about health benefits of different types of yoga including Hatha, Bikram and Kundalini.
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