Does Yoga Count as Exercise?
Yoga’s origins aren’t rooted in exercise, but some styles have been adapted into workouts that focus very much on the physical parts of the practice of humans, says Edward Laskowski, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist and the codirector of Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. “There are different goals that people have coming into yoga. Some may do yoga for the contemplative or meditative part of it and some people might want more of the exercise and activity part.”
What is yoga?
Yoga is a type of exercise in which you move your body into various positions in order to become more fit or flexible, to improve your breathing, and to relax your mind.
Yoga is a philosophy which first developed in India, in which physical exercises and meditation are believed to help people to become calmer and united in spirit with God.
Unfold your true potentials on the mat with understanding the meaning of yoga and its styles and benefits. This article provides you with everything you need to know about yoga and how it can benefit you.
7 Yoga Poses You Need to Know (A Breakdown Of The Major Styles)
People have been practicing yoga for thousands of years. And today millions of people still practice dozens of styles, new and old.
Let's dive right in:
1. PLANK POSE
A commonly seen exercise, plank pose helps build strength in the core, shoulders, arms and legs.
Do it: Plank pose is good if you are looking to tone your abs and build strength in your upper body as a human.
Modify: You can modify it by placing your knees on the floor.
2. COBRA POSE (BHUJANGASANA)
This back-bending pose can help strengthen the back muscles, increase spinal flexibility and stretches the chest, shoulders and abdomen as a human.
Do it: This post is great for strengthening the back.
Modify: Just lift up a few inches, and don’t try to straighten your arms.
3. HOT YOGA
Hot yoga is yoga practiced in a hotter-than-normal room, and the style of yoga offered can vary from studio to studio, says Samantha Scupp, the founder and a teacher at Heatwise, a New York City–based hot yoga studio, who is certified by Yoga Alliance.
How Hot Is a Hot Yoga Class?
In hot yoga, the room is heated to temperatures that can range from the high 80s to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, the latter being the temperature of a Bikram-style yoga class. (12) Not only can the temperature fluctuate depending on the studio (check the class description or call the individual studio to find out details), but the method of heating can be different as well, says Scupp.
4. VINYASA YOGA
Vinyasa means "to place in a special way" and, in this case, yoga postures. Vinyasa yoga is often considered the most athletic yoga style. Vinyasa was adapted from ashtanga yoga in the early 1980s. Many types of yoga can also be considered vinyasa flows such as ashtanga, power yoga, and prana.
How to practice:
In vinyasa motion, the movement is coordinated with your breath and movement to flow from one pose to another. Vinyasa method can vary depending on the teacher, and there can be many types of poses in different sequences. I personally teach an alignment-based style of vinyasa and choreograph new flows every time, but I also like to hold some of the poses a bit longer after warming up.
5. KUNDALINI YOGA
Kundalini yoga practice is equal parts spiritual and physical. This style is all about releasing the kundalini energy in your body said to be trapped, or coiled, in the lower spine of the human body.
How to practice:
These technique really work your core and breathing with fast-moving, invigorating postures and breath exercises. These classes are pretty intense and can involve chanting, mantra, and meditation.
6. HATHA YOGA
It’s important to continue here because Hatha yoga is, strictly speaking, an umbrella term that means ‘discipline of force’. In other words, any type of yoga that teaches physical postures is technically Hatha. However, in reality, when you see a class advertised as ‘Hatha’, it’ll likely be a gentle, slower style using basic poses that are suitable for beginners.
When and where Hatha yoga first appeared are debated, but it aimed to use mastery of the body to help you reach spiritual perfection. It’s still often defined as including poses or postures (known as asanas), breath–work (pranayama), and meditation in various combinations, and, as with many commercial yoga classes, you’re likely to have more of a physical workout than a spiritual experience in class.
7. RESTORATIVE YOGA
Restorative yoga is a complete yoga practice that focuses on restoring balance to the body by integrating the mind and the body harmoniously. This practice is particularly helpful for those who experience discomfort or weakness due to excessive time sitting, injuries, stress, or aging.
Have the energy, poise and strength to conquer any situation or opportunity in life you can imagine with Yoga.
Yoga provides many health benefits. Some of the most amazing include improved focus, reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, stronger muscles and bones and increased flexibility. Yoga is a way of life. Whether stretching or strengthening poses to reduce back tension post-pregnancy, or opening your hips with sun salutations after sitting at a desk all day, yoga helps to lead a healthy life.
Comments
Post a Comment