When we think about exercise, it's performing some sort of activity or movement that gets us fit and gets us in shape. So is Yoga the perfect form of exercise and relaxation? Firstly the activity would be simple enough so that anyone could do it, beginners and folks out of shape, but have enough variations and different methods that it might maintain the interest of experts who have been practicing it for years. It would need to be easy to learn so that people could pick up the fundamentals quickly and stat seeing the benefits as soon as possible and can be done anywhere with not much equipment. You can also do this alone or in a group.
To be the ideal form of exercise it must be capable of keeping our body in good condition all by itself. I'd help with weight loss, circulation of blood and increasing the strength of the muscles. It would stimulate the lymphatic system and help the body eliminate waste products, improving the overall immune response system. It would also have benefits that went beyond health, increasing the mind and an increased sense of well being and contentment for redcing stress.
Yoga is a discipline that can be traced to India, over 5000 years ago. The documents that modern Yoga is based on are very old, and mentioned in ancient texts called Rig Veda. It is a low impact form of exercise that has been changed and customised by literally thousands of different people and experts. There are numerous resulting 'styles' of Yoga, but they all have the same background and beliefs. What we refer to as Yoga in the West is usually the physical and emotional components of an entire life philosophy that has it's own beliefs and code of ethics incorporated, which are spirtual and to reduce stress.
The physical focus of Yoga is on different poses and slow movements that are low impact and usually use nothing more than our own body weight. Sometimes props and supports are used to assist the body in achieving and holding a particular pose, for which you can also ask another person to help you. The poses can vary greatly in their degree of difficulty and even the same pose can have many different stages or levels, like doing a handstand. An example of this is a simple forward stretch because one person may be able to stretch out past their knees, another may be able to reach their ankles and somebody else may be able to touch the floor, without bending their back. The level of progression allows us to see a physical difference in our flexibility level as we practice Yoga more regularly. Yoga does not require any special equipment we are not refined to set class times and can practice Yoga anywhere and any time the fancy takes us, for example on the beach or in the park. We can do breathing exercises to clear our minds while sitting at a work desk and to help with anxiety.
Yoga has some health benefits which stem from controlled breathing and increased blood flow. Our bodies simply do not operate at peak efficiency unless they are receiving oxygen and nutrients that they need to function. The waste products from our muscles and organs are carried away by the lymphatic system. Both systems can develop blockages that different Yoga poses will address and correct. Resulting in a better regular blood pressure, a more efficient immunity system and a optimal digestive process.
Yoga movements are slow and precise, the focus on correct breathing has a pronounced mental affect on the body. It provides us with an enhanced ability to focus, and to un-clutter our thoughts, using the "Om" chanting technique. This gives us an edge in modern life and its importance should not be estimated.
All things considered many regular Yoga enthusiasts will tell you that there is more spiritual side to Yoga, how far this affects the person will probably depend on their beliefs before they begin practicing Yoga, but it can perhaps be thought of most accurately with a greater comfort and connection with your own body and confidence. So, in conclusion Yoga does indeed focuses on the aspects of what is exercise and can be thought of as a perfect activity form.
Subscribe by Email
Follow Updates Articles from This Blog via Email
No Comments