Yoga is an ancient spiritual practice that has become increasingly popular in the United States since it was brought over from India in the 1890s. According to Yoga Journal, more people currently practice yoga in the state of California than in the entire country of India. Yoga classes in the west typically consist of a type of yoga known as hatha yoga, which involves the practice of physical postures, or asanas.
History
The practice of yoga began in India an estimated 6,000 years ago. Derived from the Sanskrit word meaning "union," yoga refers to a practice that unifies the mind, body and spirit. Yoga consists of eight limbs, or elements, the ultimate goal of which is to unite the self with the universal consciousness. Yoga asanas were developed in order to help free the mind and body of tension and facilitate the practices of mediation and concentration. In recent decades, the practice of yoga asanas has gained popularity in the United States due to the many health benefits that it delivers.
Benefits
Different types of yoga postures, as well as the order in which they are executed, can deliver different benefits. Backbends are energizing and stimulating, while forward bends are calming. According to Yoga Journal, twists can help cleanse the internal organs and improve circulation, and inversions can benefit the heart, lung, nervous system and endocrine system. A class that begins and ends with stimulating poses can provide energy, while a class composed of or ending with relaxing poses helps relieve stress.
Types
The types of asanas that your yoga class includes depends on the type of class that you are attending. If you don't enjoy the particular poses or sequences of one class, you may find that you prefer a different type of yoga. A vinyasa flow, or Ashtanga, class, for example, uses vigorous series of poses in which there is little or no time to adjust your stance. In an Iyengar class, you will spend more time in each posture and focus on precise alignment. Bikram Yoga, which is performed in a heated room, uses a specific series of 26 postures suitable for both advanced students and beginners.
Execution
In yoga, proper alignment and execution of postures is more important than gaining depth in a pose. If you are new to yoga, start with a beginner class that will allow you to learn how to enter and hold each pose correctly. Don't worry if you aren't as flexible as the person on the next mat. Yoga is about accepting and honoring the abilities and limitations of your own body.
Considerations
To avoid injury, learn yoga poses from a trained professional instructor. Just like other physical activities, yoga poses can result in injury if improperly executed. Consult with your doctor before practicing yoga if you have heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure or a recent injury. Choose a type and intensity of yoga that is suitable to your physical condition and level of health. If you have limitations or severe health conditions, you may wish to practice a more gentle form of yoga.
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