What is Yoga?
Yoga is complete fitness, physical, mental and emotional. These words can be put in many different ways. But the meaning of word yoga, which comes from sanskrit itself explains the true meaning, which is "union". Yoga is union of body to mind. There are different styles of yoga, for example, Ashtanga yoga, Hatha yoga, Kriya Yoga and many more. The aim of most traditional styles of yoga is one, which is union of body and mind. By achieving highest fitness of body one moves towards mental fitness.
There are many new styles of yoga which have come in existance in recent years, which are derived from traditional style of yoga. Some of these are concentrated on physical fitness and some on other aspects. But as most renowned teacher's would agree, it is not really authentic system of yoga.
Yoga was developed thousands of year's back in ancient India. In western countries it arrived few decades back and has been popular since. Million of people are benefiting fron it everyday. It is becoming more and more known around the world as people are experiencing the benefits of it. And in coming future as well it will keep growing, the reason is simple, yoga provides something which by putting together many fitness techniques also would be not close to it.
Yoga is divided in following main categories
1. Asana's.
2. Pranayama.
3. Meditation.
I prefer categorising yoga as my Guru in India describes it
1. Internal yoga.
2. External Yoga.
External meaning Asana and Pranayama for improving external health of body and well being. Asana's help in improving physical aspects of body, in term of strenght and flexibility and other. Pranayama or breathing excercises help in creating internal heat in body as well as massages and tones inner parts of body, like respiratory system, abdomen.
Internal yoga meaning control of mind. As patanjali explains it "yoga happens when mind is under control ". WIth practice of yoga, practitioner develops increased concentration and calming of mind. Other name for this would be meditation. By concentrating on postures and breathing and gaze in postures, one starts to calm mind. Eventually with regular practice mind control is gained and internal problems like stress and anxiety are removed.
There are many new styles of yoga which have come in existance in recent years, which are derived from traditional style of yoga. Some of these are concentrated on physical fitness and some on other aspects. But as most renowned teacher's would agree, it is not really authentic system of yoga.
Yoga was developed thousands of year's back in ancient India. In western countries it arrived few decades back and has been popular since. Million of people are benefiting fron it everyday. It is becoming more and more known around the world as people are experiencing the benefits of it. And in coming future as well it will keep growing, the reason is simple, yoga provides something which by putting together many fitness techniques also would be not close to it.
Yoga is divided in following main categories
1. Asana's.
2. Pranayama.
3. Meditation.
I prefer categorising yoga as my Guru in India describes it
1. Internal yoga.
2. External Yoga.
External meaning Asana and Pranayama for improving external health of body and well being. Asana's help in improving physical aspects of body, in term of strenght and flexibility and other. Pranayama or breathing excercises help in creating internal heat in body as well as massages and tones inner parts of body, like respiratory system, abdomen.
Internal yoga meaning control of mind. As patanjali explains it "yoga happens when mind is under control ". WIth practice of yoga, practitioner develops increased concentration and calming of mind. Other name for this would be meditation. By concentrating on postures and breathing and gaze in postures, one starts to calm mind. Eventually with regular practice mind control is gained and internal problems like stress and anxiety are removed.
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