What is Yoga?
WHAT IS YOGA?
Yoga currently, is commonly associated with the physical practice asana, a series of postures weaved together in styles such a Vinyasa Flow or Ashtanga.
Asana practice is usually intended to build strength and stamina, improve flexibility, balance, and help keep the body in a calm state.
Although this is only a tiny part of the tradition of yoga.
Yoga has been around for thousands of years, originating in ancient India, codified by the sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras around 400 C.E, tradition was on a one-to-one basis, teacher to student, but classes have now become the way forward for how yoga is taught.
Yoga has been practiced with many different styles developed over time. Most styles of yoga focus on bringing the consciousness of the mind, body, and spirit as one, releasing stagnant energy and any suffering that is held within the body.
People have experienced high emotional releases after taking part in yoga, as the body holds on to trauma unconsciously, when you stretch and release especially around the hips, this causes a release of stuck negative memories, unleashing unexplainable tears, helping remove any stagnant trauma still being held from many years previous.
There are many ways to begin with this process, once we understand how yoga works, it is known as the “Eight Limbs of Yoga” this is Patanjalis traditional foundation of Yoga.
Each of the Eight Limbs offers a means of living with more integrity, self-discipline, respect for nature and connection by staying true to the spiritual aspects of life.
These eight practices are intended to be carried out in a holistic and integrative manner:
- Yamas– Five universal, ethical and moral observances to live by (nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence and non-covetousness)
- Niyamas– Five spiritual and self-discipline observances (cleanliness, contentment, spiritual austerities, study of scriptures and surrender to God)
- Asana– physical posture, originally intended only for seated meditation, but more recently adapted to encompass all physical yoga practice
- Pranayama– breathing exercises to control the flow of prana (vital life force)
- Pratyahara– Withdrawal of the senses
- Dharana– Single pointed concentration
- Dhyana– Meditation
- Samadhi– Liberation or blissful union with the Divine
If you are just dipping your toe into yoga, and you are an absolute beginner, here are a few tips to get you started:
There have been so many people turn to yoga to feel healthier, happier, find their purpose, or even just to be more mobile and flexible.
Once you understand the true principals of yoga, this can be totally life changing.
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RELEASE ANY EXPECTATIONS OF AN OUTCOME
Try not to overthink things, wishing you could hold a pose for a certain number of seconds or being able to touch your toes, once you let go of the want, the need and relax into the movements, there becomes a flow, an ease into your session.
Enjoy your time on the mat, leave any judgement at the door, just try to focus on the core of what you are doing, realise that when you let go mentally, the physical will come and evolve naturally.
Let yoga guide you into the right mindset.
- SELF ACCEPTANCE
When you become grateful for what you have right now, your mind, your body, your family and accept where you are at in this world at this moment in time then you are ready to begin your yoga practice
Leave all wishful thinking behind, love yourself where you are at NOW.
- THE MAGIC OF BREATH
Noticing how you breathe, and the effects it has on your body, it truly can be magical.
The breath can put you into a meditative state, when we are stressed, our breath gets short and shallow, so understanding how breathing works, can totally change your full being.
Deep, focused breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system, in turn reduces anxiety and puts you into a state of calm, it also aids in sleep, and can help you become aware of the present moment.
Awareness of breath is so important in yoga, way more important than doing the splits.
- UNDERSTAND THE CORE PRINCIPALS OF YOGA
Yoga is not all about pulling all the fancy shapes, it’s about finding your inner strength, releasing any blockages held within your muscles and joints, creating a freedom in your body that can only be felt through the movement and practices of yoga
Yoga is a process, you will gradually become stronger everyday with the practice of yoga, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and of course physically.
- BEING COMFORTABLE IN SILENCE
Silence is very difficult to achieve in the world right now, most people are not comfortable in the silence of their own mind, or they cannot achieve silence, all they have is the chitter chatter of their own thoughts.
Connecting to stillness and being able to quiet the mind is key in yoga, it is where we find peace, somewhere we can go inwards, where we become aware of how we truly feel, and be comfortable where we are at.
It strengthens the mind, as well as the body!
After you have worked through all these tips, the best way to do yoga effectively and safely is to find an experienced yoga instructor.
You are off to a great start after working on all the information already given, build your confidence by practising yoga now.
If you are nervous about going to your first class, go a little early get chatting to the teacher, introduce yourself, let them know you are just starting out and I’m sure they will make some modifications to the movements that are tough, so that you don’t have to struggle.
Now you are truly on the way to becoming a healthier, calmer, more confident version of YOU!
Namaste!
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If you listen to the fitness and recovery equation your gains will come, strength and endurance. You will increase your fitness levels.
For most of us, the biggest benefit is that we will be able to keep doing the things that we love to do, to live a long and happy active life.
We know that varied exercise has benefits on all the body: the cardiovascular system, muscles and skeletal, the immune system.
People in general who exercise regularly live longer and have better mental health, this is all we want for ourselves and our families, so let’s lead by example for everyone around us that looks up to us.
Making sure you have a log of your progress. This is a great way to keep control. Keep track of what you are doing, how you are recovering, also how you feel around your training schedule.
Stay on track, be mindful of your body and take care of yourself.
