Yoga is the practice of mind and body. There are various styles of yoga that includes breathing techniques, physical postures, and relaxation or meditation.
To keep one’s body fit and energetic, yoga proves to be quite useful.
Therefore, it is considered to the best form of meditation that provides positive effects on the health. It also helps in promoting both physical and mental well-being.
It is important to note that there are several types of yoga that helps in keeping the body fit and free from any sort of illness.
So, let us try to have a deep look at the philosophy, history, including health and wellness benefits as well as the different branches of yoga to get the right idea about it.
History of Yoga
Historically, the word, “yoga” originated in Rig Veda which is a collection of ancient texts. It comes from the Sanskrit word, “yuj” meaning “to join” or “union”.
In the late 1890s, the knowledge of yoga was spread by Indian monks. By the year 1970, modern yoga teachings spread and became popular in Western countries.
Philosophy of Yoga
When it comes to the philosophy of yoga, it relates to the connection of the body, mind, and spirit.
It should be noted that there are six branches of yoga which have been mentioned below:
1. Karma Yoga
This branch of yoga aims in creating a future free from selfishness and negativity.
2. Hatha Yoga
This is the mental and physical branch that helps to prime the mind and the body.
3. Bhakti Yoga
This branch of yoga aims in establishing the path of devotion that in turn helps in a positive way in channeling emotions as well as cultivating tolerance and acceptance.
4. Tantra Yoga
This proves to be the pathway of ceremony, ritual, or consummation of a relationship.
5. Jnana Yoga
This yoga concentrates on the path of the scholar, wisdom as well as to develop the intellect through study.
6. Raja Yoga
This is known as the eight limbs of yoga that has a series of disciplinary steps.
What are chakras?
The meaning of chakras is spinning wheel. They prove to be the center points of feelings, thoughts, energy, and the physical body.
The chakras, according to yogic teachers, helps in determining how reality is experienced by the people through desires, emotional reactions, fear or levels of confidence, including physical symptoms and effects.
It should be noted that in a chakra when the energy becomes blocked, it happens to trigger mental, physical, or even emotional imbalances that leads to different types of symptoms like lethargy, anxiety, or poor digestion.
Types of chakras
There are seven major chakras which are as follows:
- Muladhara
- Swadhisthana
- Manipura
- Anahata
- Vishuddha
- Ajna
- Sahasrara
Types of Yoga
Yoga can boost mental and physical well being and so it is very important to get the right idea about the types of yoga which have been explained below:
1. Ashtanga Yoga
This type of yoga became popular during the 1970’s that uses ancient yoga teachings.
2. Bikram Yoga
This is also known as hot yoga where it consists of 26 poses along with a sequence of two breathing exercises.
This type of yoga is practiced in artificially heated rooms where the temperature is set to around 1050F.
3. Iyengar Yoga
This type of yoga helps to find the correct and right alignments in each pose. This is performed with the use of different types of props like straps, blocks, bolsters, and chairs.
4. Hatha Yoga
This yoga teaches physical poses. It proves to be the gentle introduction to the yoga basic poses.
5. Kundalini Yoga
This is another type of yoga that helps in releasing pent-up energy. It ends with singing.
6. Kripalu Yoga
This consists of breathing exercises along with gentle stretches.
7. Sivananda
It uses a five point philosophy that helps in maintaining diet, proper breathing, exercise, relaxation, etc that leads to creating a healthy lifestyle.
There are 12 basic asanas that begins with sun salutations and ends with savasana.
8. Power Yoga
This is based on the traditional Ashtanga system where practitioners developed this athletic and active type of yoga in the late 1980s.
9. Prenatal Yoga
This type of yoga is meant for pregnant women that help them in getting back to shape after delivery.
10. Yin Yoga
This yoga targets ligaments, deep tissues, bones, joints, and fascia. It includes holding passive poses for a certain period of time.
11. Viniyoga
This type of yoga focuses on breath, function and adaptation including the art and science of sequencing, etc.
12. Restorative Yoga
This proves to be the most relaxing type of yoga. It does not require any effort and the practitioner sink into deep relaxation.
Benefits of yoga
A survey was conducted in the year 2012 where it was found that more than 94% people practice yoga to maintain good health and wellness.
But at the same time, it is very important to make sure to consult a medical professional before you wish to start a yoga practice.
There are lots of different benefits that one can enjoy by performing yoga. Some of the benefits include:
- Yoga helps to build muscle strength
- It helps to get rid of addiction
- It reduces anxiety, stress, chronic pain, and depression
- It helps to enhance flexibility
- Yoga promotes better breathing
- It helps in improving sleep
- It supports heart health
- Yoga also improve the quality of life
Summary
So, you have gathered some good idea about what is yoga. Being an ancient practice, yoga has changed over time.
When it comes to modern yoga, it has been designed in stimulating physical energy and inner space.
It should also be noted that if you really wish to enjoy good health and stay free from any sort of illness, then make sure to practice yoga without any second thought.
You can always expect to enjoy ultimate advantage out of it.
