Originating in ancient India, yoga in Sanskrit means ‘union’. Yoga has been with us for times unknown, probably for over 5000 years. It is a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that aims to control our body and mind.
There is a common misconception that yoga is only about holding difficult poses to improve physical strength and well-being, but yoga is much more than that.
Yoga was lost with time, but it is gaining its glory again, thanks to the collaboration of our Government for bringing it to the limelight again. Yoga is yet to be explored more, but for commoners like us, it’s now a full-body workout to have physical and mental peace. Let’s learn more about yoga and its health benefits in this article below!
Types of Yoga
Yoga is a vast ocean in itself. Discovering yoga in just one article is nothing but impossible. Among the six main schools of Indian Philosophy, Yoga is one. The Yoga Darshan was written by the great Indian sage Patanjali.
Yoga is beyond physical and mental activities. Yoga benefits encompass physical strength, mental clarity, and emotional balance. As we are discussing the physical and tangible parts of yoga, we should learn about some types of yoga.
There are several styles of yoga, each with a unique emphasis. A few things that could influence your choice include your level of physical fitness, your tastes, and certain health goals. Yoga comes in a variety of forms, so you may choose any of them according to your physical capability and needs.
Below are a few types of yoga:
- Hatha Yoga
- Iyengar Yoga
- Kundalini Yoga
- Bikram Yoga
- Vinyasa Yoga
Benefits of Yoga
With its roots in ancient India, yoga is a comprehensive way to overcome mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Yoga benefits each and every part of our body. Yoga is known for many health benefits including strength building, increased flexibility, and mental and physical balance via the use of physical postures, meditation, and mindful breathing.
Regular practice of yoga yields several health benefits. Here, we are putting together 10 vital yoga health benefits and recommending some yoga asanas or yoga posture that can help you ease these ailments.
Yoga can promote better posture and body awareness
It is needless to say yoga is one of the best ways to promote better posture and body awareness. These ancient techniques are created in a way that yoga benefits our body by keeping our core muscles engaged and stabilising the spine and shoulders. Regular practice of yoga poses not only helps our body to correct the postures but also heals many arthritis problems.
Basic Yoga Asanas to improve body posture:
- Bitilasana
- Adho Mukha Svanasana
- Bhujangasana
- Trikonasana
- Vrikhsasana
“Remedy of all illness lies in yoga and healthy lifestyle” — Swami Ramdev
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Yoga improves mental health
Yoga is an all-body workout! When you practice yoga asanas or yoga postures, it has a significant effect on your mental health. Yoga practice improves the structure and function of the brain, and new connections are formed between brain cells to improve cognitive functions like memory and learning. Yoga strengthens the parts of the brain related to language, cognition, memory, attention, and awareness. Yoga is a kind of mental weightlifting.
Basic yoga asanas to improve mental health:
- Balasana
- Sukhasana
- Corpse pose aka savasana
- Salamba Sarvangasana
- Bakasana
“The very way you breathe, sit, stand, eat, walk, work – everything can become yoga. You can use any process of life to transcend your limitations.” — Sadhguru.
Yoga may help improve sleep
Yoga is something that combines focused breathing and physical exercises. Yoga activities entail stretching and relaxing our body muscles, which can cause substantial physical and mental exertion. Yoga impacts our body and mind to get relaxed. It improves sleep efficiency, lessens sleep disruptions, and more deep sleep. This could be one explanation for why yoga practitioners have better sleep quality.
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Basic yoga asanas to improve sleep:
- Vajrasana
- Baddha Konasana
- Janushirasana
- Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
- Shavasana
“Yoga is not just about bending your body; it’s about changing your mindset” — Shilpa Shetty
Yoga boosts immunity
People have been practising this age-old technique of yoga for thousands of years to strengthen their bodies and minds. With helping in physical health benefits, it clears the toxins of the body and bad energy and relaxes our mind.
Yoga asanas yoga poses improve the circulation of the blood. This ensures that each organ receives adequate blood flow for optimum organ function. Yoga strengthens the balance between the body and the mind – which in turn enhances the immunity of our body.
Basic yoga asanas to boost sleep:
- Sasakasana
- Shavasana
- Pranayama
- Trikonasana
- Ushtrasana
“Yoga is a skill in action” — The Bhagavad Gita
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Yoga helps with stress relief
Yoga establishes a great connection between our body and mind. It gives us several health benefits. It is not just a physical activity but makes our minds engaged. Yoga can help reduce stress because it promotes relaxation, which is the natural antithesis of tension. The three aspects of ourselves that are usually affected by stress are our body, mind, and breathing; yoga may be beneficial for all three. People who regularly practice yoga poses claim to be more adept at stress management. Your ability to relax, focus, balance, and self-calibrate is enhanced by yoga.
Basic yoga asanas to relieve stress:
- Balasana
- Child Pose
- Sukhasana
- Uttanasana
- Paschimottanasana
“Yoga takes you into the present moment, the only place where life exists” — Patanjali
Yoga may improve cardiovascular functioning
Enough blood circulation is essential for the overall well-being of the cardiovascular system and a healthy heart. Blood flow may be improved by employing yoga postures to strengthen and stretch the body. Numerous yoga postures encourage good blood flow and venous return. Doctors recommend practising yoga asanas for maintaining a healthy heart.
Basic yoga asanas to improve cardiovascular functioning:
- Vrikshasana
- Bhujangasana
- Paschimottanasana
- Shavasana
- Virabhadrasana I
“Yoga is a mirror to look at ourselves from within” — B K S Iyengar
Yoga promotes normal digestion
Controlling indigestion is a notable health benefit of yoga. Yoga stretches and manages the abdominal muscles to feel relaxed, facilitating easier passage of food through the digestive system. Yoga promotes regular bowel movements, normal digestion, stimulates the digestive system and relieves issues like bloating or constipation.
Basic yoga asanas to promote normal digestion:
- Ardha Matsyendrasana
- Dhanurasana
- Bhujangasana
- Vajrasana
- Ananda Balasana
“Yoga is 99% practice & 1% theory” — Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
Yoga improves blood circulation
Regular yoga practice has been associated with many health benefits including notable improvements in blood circulation. Yoga postures stimulate the circulatory system and enhance blood flow throughout the body.
Yoga asanas, or yoga poses, include stretching of muscles to dilate and contract blood vessels. Yoga facilitates blood flow by increasing it and decreasing the clot of clot formation. Improved circulation supports healthy cell function and platelet production by making it easier for cells to absorb essential nutrients.
Basic yoga asanas to improve blood circulation:
- Paschimottanasana
- Vajrasana
- Sarvangasana
- Setu Bandhasana
- Utkatasana
- Tadasana
“If you are in a state of all-inclusive passion, we call this yoga” — Sadhguru
Yoga Eases Depression
Yoga benefits individuals of all ages by promoting physical vitality and mental resilience. To promote a sense of peace, well-being, stress tolerance, and mental concentration, nothing is better than yoga. yoga’s slow, rhythmic breathing techniques and meditation or relaxation techniques are intended to relax the anxiety level of our mind. It reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, tension, and rumination.
Basic yoga asanas to ease depression:
- Shavasana
- Ushtrashasana
- Halasana
- Salamba Sarvangasana
- Vrikshasana
“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles” — Buddha
Relief from Chronic Pain
Yoga is already widely acknowledged as a beneficial addition to pain therapy. Chronic pain relief is one of its health benefits. Yoga is now being used in conjunction with other medical specialists such as physiotherapists and psychologists. The best part of yoga asanas is that it is one of the easiest ways to stretch our body parts. Yoga works to improve muscle flexibility, promoting serenity, reduce inflammation, increase endorphin synthesis, elevate self-worth, and improve self-control.
Basic yoga asanas to ease chronic pain:
- Adho Mukha Savasana
- Balasana
- Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
- Viparita Karani
- Dhanurasana
Yoga is a way to freedom. By its constant practice, we can free ourselves from fear, anguish and loneliness-Indra Devi
Conclusions
Yoga is not just a physical practice. It is a way of existing. Practicing yoga benefits both the body and mind. With a history spanning five millennia, this art seeks to balance the physical and mental selves. It is a combination of physical activity, diet control, breathing techniques, and focus that strengthens the body and the mind. As a result, our overall well-being strengthened.
