Yoga came to us from India. In ancient times, it was meant as a practical system for knowing oneself. It consists of exercises called asanas, meditations and breathing techniques. Thanks to this, a person develops physically, spiritually and mentally.
Benefits of exercise
Yoga certainly improves many aspects of life. Classes help both the soul and the body, and this is undeniable. On extended visits, significant changes can be seen. Classes will be useful for women, men, children and even pregnant women.
Some points that will become more noticeable with regular visits:
- At the physical level, coordination improves, pain levels, stress, illness and weight decrease. Increases muscle elasticity and bone strength. Also, posture becomes many times better.
- On a psychological level, yoga helps to cope with depression and look at life in a positive way, increase vigor and energy, become more open to communication with other people, gain self-confidence and even start to fight bad habits.
But you can find a minus with such an abundance of pluses. It is difficult to find a decent teacher and the prices are often higher than for other classes.
Select direction
The capacious word “yoga” does not end with a simple lesson in different positions. Since this direction of spiritual practices is ancient and has been developing for more than one century, it has different types. Therefore, before starting classes, you need to make a choice.
- Temperament. The choice between static Hatha yoga and dynamic Vinyasa depends on him.
- Closer to the soul is Kundalini yoga associated with esotericism, Ashtanga Vinyansa associated with ancient traditions, Bikram fitness yoga or modern trends of Inner Yoga.
You need to understand the priority, because different types strengthen different parts of the soul and body:
- Vinyasa, Hatha and Ashtanga are suitable for strengthening the mind and body
- PSY-method of psychological yoga will help in personal development
- OSHO practice is designed for active meditation
- Yogotherapy embraces the therapeutic aspect
There are many types and if you wish, you can try all of interest. And in addition to these species, there are more, you just need to have a desire to find what is suitable for a specific case.
What do you need to remember before class?
Although yoga is aimed at improving the human condition, but with the wrong behavior in the classroom, you can worsen the existing one. Therefore, you should remember a few simple rules:
- Safety. When performing exercises, there should be no sharp pain. If something goes wrong, it is advisable to stop.
- The distribution of forces. The lesson should not take place at the limit of possibilities. This approach is not correct. After practice, there should be pleasant fatigue and a surge of energy.
- Regular visits for maximum results.
- Comfortable and loose clothing
General recommendations for those who want to practice on their own:
- Good mood and attitude before the start of classes.
- The environment should be calm without distracting extraneous sounds.
- Fresh air is a must in the practice room.
- Before and after you need to take a warm shower / bath. By no means hot or contrasting.
- The best time to practice yoga in terms of energy is in the morning, ideally at 5 or 6 in the morning.
- If you have a temperature or feel unwell, you should postpone the lesson. Also, do not drink alcohol 36 hours before practice.
- Water should be set aside for the duration of the class and drink only before or after.
- You should also exercise on an empty stomach.
Contraindications for yoga
Yoga has an impact on the human body and not always positive. It is worth considering your state of health, age and existing diseases. Some points lead to a contraindication to the performance of certain asanas, and some even completely prohibit yoga. It is better to consult with your doctor and instructor.
What are the contraindications:
- After fractures, heart attack, stroke or surgery, you must wait 6 months before starting practice.
- Oncological, infectious articular and severe cardiovascular diseases.
- Blood related diseases
- For stage 2 and above hypertension.
- Infections of the brain/spinal cord, traumatic brain injury, exacerbation of herniated discs.
- Schizophrenia.
Fly Yoga
Fly Yoga is an amalgamation of traditional yoga and other body-related practices. This direction appeared thanks to the dancer and gymnast Christopher Harrison, who was able to combine movements from dancing, stretching and other exercises.
The benefits in this direction are similar to regular yoga: dexterity and flexibility increase, the state of the body is updated, muscle mass develops and injuries are prevented. This type of exercise is suitable for all ages, in particular for those who have protrusion and scoliosis. The hammock, which is used in such classes, helps to stretch the spine due to its own weight.
Fly Yoga rejuvenates the body with inverted postures that improve blood circulation. It also helps the respiratory, endocrine, lymphatic, reproductive and digestive systems. Plus, staying in this position helps to increase the level of hormones and joint mobility, the development of the vestibular apparatus for better coordination of movements.
There are also limitations in this activity:
- Stomach ulcer and gastritis
- Late pregnancy
- Exacerbations of any kind of disease
- After head injuries
- Hypertension
Otherwise, they are similar to the contraindications that apply to regular yoga classes.
If you want spiritual self-knowledge and increase the physical performance of the body, you can safely choose yoga for classes. Although it may not be as dynamic as fitness or dancing, this does not negate the effectiveness of the practice.
