You have to admit, you get stressed once in a while if not all the time. It can be because of so many things in your life such as problems in work, relationship, family, and even your own self. When this happens, it can affect your physical and mental well-being. When you let this get the best of you, you can lose your job, boyfriend or girlfriend, and a whole lot more. In worst cases, you may even lose yourself.
This can all be prevented if you know the right way to release these negative energies inside your body. If you are one of these people, then Yoga is the best solution to your problems.
Yoga is an old form of stretching exercise which is believed to come from the civilization of the Indus-Sarasvati in ancient India. This word was mentioned first in their oldest sacred documents called Rig Veda. Aside from yoga, it also included most of the rituals and songs of Vedic priests known as Brahmans. As time passed by, these intellectuals developed and refined the practice and even wrote it in Yogic scriptures, the most well-known was the Bhagavad Gita. They also taught karman and jnana yoga, which are teachings about action and knowledge respectively.
In the classical period, yoga was presented in the document called Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutras. Considered as the father of yoga, it talked about the path leading to Raja Yoga, which was also referred to as classical yoga. The text also improved the “eight limbed path” practice. With this, they taught the steps to commit enlightenment or Samadhi.
After the classical times came the post-classical period. It differed with the previous times because its focus was on rejuvenating the body and prolonging life. They also believed that the body was a tool to reach enlightenment. In this time, they created Tantra Yoga which contained methods to cleanse the mind as well as body. Because of their concentration on body and mind as well as physical and mental connections, they were able to develop the Hatha yoga.
Between the 1800s and 1900s, the scholars or yoga masters decided to spread their knowledge about their exercise. They traveled to the west where they gained a number of followers.
During 1920, the Hatha yoga became more popular in India because of T. Krishnamacharya. He was the one who made an effort to reach all corners of the country to teach the exercise and the different yoga poses. After some time, he was able to establish his Hatha Yoga School. His students who helped him spread the exercise were Pattabhi Jois, T.K.V. Desikachar, as well as B.K.S. Iyengar. The popularity of yoga became more known to the Western world when Indra Devi established her Yoga school there in 1947.
Since its creation a thousand years ago, yoga has evolved and now has many types. Among the most famous practices is the old teaching of Hatha Yoga. If you are a beginner at yoga, this is most definitely the exercise for you. The reason for this is that it introduces the yoga’s basic poses or asanas. In addition, Hatha yoga classes are usually have a slow pace and are gentle to the mind and even body. It also allows you to perfect your body by perfecting your mind. This exercise can even help you with your breathing and meditating techniques.
Vinyasa yoga means movements that are breath synchronized. Just like the famous Hatha yoga, it includes a lot of classes. Its movements, which are more vigorous in style and form, are copied from the Sun Salutations. This is a series of asanas wherein the breathing is matched with the exercises you do in class. An ordinary class of Vinyasa yoga usually begins with different Sun salutation poses so your body will be warmed up. It is followed by a number of stretching exercises which will usually last until the end of your lesson.
Ashtanga, also known as eight limbed in Sanskrit language, is another type of yoga exercise that is fast-paced and really intense compared to others. In just a short amount of time, you are required to go from one yoga pose to another. The act is known in yoga as Pose. As such, it will really demand your physical and mental energy. Nowadays, this has become the basis of Power yoga. Although a bit different, the class still teaches Ashtanga’s flowing style.
As one of the students of yoga master T. Krishnamacharya, B.K.S Iyengar was able to develop his own kind of exercise. Based on his teachings, it is called Iyengar and its main focus is on the body alignment. In simple words, it means that your body must be aligned the right way so you can maximize the positive benefits of yoga as well as avoid being injured. When you are practicing this yoga exercise, you will be asked to stay in one yoga pose for a while. In addition, it also uses props like blankets, mats, socks, etc.
Kundalini is another yoga exercise which emphasizes breath and movement. Its purpose is to move your energy from your lower body to release it to your upper half. Unlike other yoga exercises which require you to control your breathing. Kundalini allows you to explore your breaths in various poses.
Bikram or Hot Yoga was developed by Bikram Choudhury. It got its name because this exercise is done in a hot room, preferably 95 to 100 degrees. This is done to loosen your tight muscles as well as cleanse your body through sweating. It is usually composed of 26 poses; however, not all classes practice all of these.
With all the types of yoga exercise you can try out, you can relieve yourself of stress. Aside from that, you can become a happier and healthier person inside and out.