Health benefits of yoga

Yoga is a discipline, from India, that relates the mind, body and spirit of people.

It is practiced both by believers in Eastern religions and by atheists and agnostics who seek physical and emotional well-being.

Among the practitioners who have a more religious posture, yoga is the union of being with the whole, the cohesion of the individual soul with the divine (Shiva, Visnu, Kali or Brahman among others).

In fact, etymologically speaking, the word yoga comes from Sanskrit and means union.

Benefits of yoga practice

There are those who consider yoga more than a practice or a sport, as a lifestyle. It is related to healthy practices, meditation and a way of seeing life in a relaxed way.

The pace imposed by today’s society is so frantic that it is common for people to suffer excessive stress , as well as pathologies associated with it. The high degree of demand with which one lives, sometimes, does not allow even a minute of mental rest; Although the person sits in the chair to rest, his brain will continue to think about what to do next and how to achieve certain goals.

This lack of mental rest is certainly harmful and the health of those who suffer from it ends up suffering.

Yoga is an excellent solution for this pathology of modern times, as well as for back problems or lack of concentration, for example.

Mental benefits of yoga

• Improves concentration, memory and attention thanks to the need to focus on postures.
• It provides emotional stability, by deepening the inner self the person can isolate the mind from external stimuli and interruptions.
• It contributes to achieving peace of mind, generates tolerance and slows down the rhythm of life.
• Develop self-awareness . Through breathing, the person becomes aware of their entire being, by observing their body.
• Helps the person develop their potentials and strengthens self-esteem .
• It awakens curiosity and the need to learn when practicing consistently.
• A greater calm is achieved and a more efficient and relaxed way to deal with day-to-day problems.
• It favors the night rest. When the person already has experience in the practice of this discipline, they are able to stop thinking when going to bed, which helps in a very positive way to relax and sleep better.

Physical benefits of yoga practice

• Strengthen each part of the body thanks to the practice of the different postures, or asanas.
• Increases the physical resistance of the person and their capacity for work. This is achieved with a regular practice extended over time.
• It greatly improves body elasticity thanks to the stretching of the asanas. The body of the person remains young and with freedom of movement for longer.
• It helps to adopt an upright and correct body posture in a natural way. By performing the different postures, the person becomes aware of their body and gradually the posture is corrected.
• Provides energy to the body thanks to the improvement of glandular function and general relaxation.
• A state of health and general well-being is achieved by entering into balance and the body and mind.
• Improves circulation.

Different types of yoga

Different types of yoga are often talked about, although in reality more than different practices, it is about the nine branches of the yoga tree.

The objective of all of them is common: the union of the body and the mind; although, depending on the branch chosen, some areas will be worked more than others.

Based on the personality and needs of the person, one particular practice or another will be chosen.

Bhakti Yoga

It is practiced to connect with the divine through chanting and meditation. It is ideal for people with a sensitive and emotional character.

Hatha Yoga

This type of yoga is the one that is most widespread in the West. It is the one that is done through asanas or postures. It aims to purify the body and mind and is ideal for those who want to develop a good balance between them and improve overall health.

Japa Yoga or yoga with mantras

Blankets are words or syllables that are repeated mentally or that are recited aloud. Their purpose is to center the mind and connect it with the body. It is ideal for people who are receptive to sound vibrations.

Jnana Yoga

It is practiced by those who seek supreme knowledge and those who aspire to wisdom through self-knowledge. It is ideal for people with an analytical and rational mindset.

Karma yoga

It is a meditation that is done as an offering to God in an altruistic way. It is ideal for those who wish to serve humanity.

Tantra Yoga

It focuses on ritual, meditation, and mysticism. Ideal for spiritual people.

Kundalini Yoga

It is a practice focused on acting on the chakras or energy centers. Your goal is to master the function of each of them and should be practiced with an experienced teacher.

Raja Yoga

It focuses on the development of the mind and seeks to improve concentration and achieve the union of body and mind, of the person with the divine.

Kriya Yoga

It is an advanced technique for spiritual evolution.

Only Yoga

Seeks to become fully aware of being.

Kripalu Yoga

It is a strong instrument to achieve personal growth and self-acceptance.

Anusara Yoga

It is the yoga of tantric philosophy, which perceives the universe as a manifestation of the divine.

Whichever type of yoga you choose, what is certain is that it will bring countless benefits. Practicing it is ideal to heal almost all the ills of modern society related to stress, nervousness, bad posture and, in general, the hectic pace of life.