Yoga is a practice of physical and mental exercise that aims to unite the mind and body in one experience. According to the American Yoga Association, yoga means "to join or yoke together." A general yoga practice usually includes exercise, breathing and meditation. However, yoga has many schools of thought.
History of Yoga
Yoga began about 5,000 years ago. Stone carvings displaying figures in yoga poses have been found in the Indus Valley dating back 5,000 years and more. Some of the earliest introductions of yoga to the United States dates to the early 1920s. Paramahansa Yogananda spoke at a conference in Boston in 1920 to spread the message of yoga and he later wrote an autobiography titled, "Autobiography of a Yogi" in 1946. In 1947, Theos Bernard returned from studying yoga in India and wrote the book, "Hatha Yoga: The Report of a Personal Experience." This book became a popular source in the 1950s for yoga. Richard Hittleman became a leader in bringing yoga to the United States. He began teaching in New York in 1950 after returning from studies in India.
Types of Yoga
Yoga has several approaches. Hatha yoga involves physical movements and postures, along with breathing techniques. This type is most commonly associated with the word yoga. Raja yoga incorporates exercise, breathing, meditation and study, giving the individual a well-rounded experience. Jnana yoga takes participants down a path of wisdom. This is considered one of the most difficult types of yoga. Bhakti yoga followers practice a high devotion to concentrating on the concept of God. Karma yoga involves movement that centers the mind on a personal concept of God.
Yoga and Religion
Yoga is not a religion. Yoga's philosophy revolves around the concept that everything is found from within the individual. Yoga is derived from Hinduism; in fact, yoga has been found to predate Hinduism. Yoga is not believed to interfere with any religion. According to the American Yoga Association, many of its students practice yoga and still follow the religious traditions they grew up with.
Yoga Exercises
Several poses are common in yoga practice. Many yoga instructors include seated twists, standing poses, core exercises, backbends, arm balancing poses, forward bends, inversions and restorative time. Downward Facing Dog, Triangle pose, Warrior I, Warrior II and Side Angle pose are considered to be standing poses. Seated twisting poses often include Bound Angle pose, Cow Face pose and Half Lord of the Fishes pose. Common back-bending poses include Bow pose, Camel pose and Cow pose. Core Exercises include poses like, Boat pose, Cat pose and Plank. Arm balancing poses commonly include challenges like Crane pose and Firefly pose. Forward bends, inversions and restorative poses are often used toward the end of a yoga session. Poses often include Child's pose, Seated Forward Bend, Plow pose and Corpse pose.
Member Comments