Yoga has been around for ages. It is an exercise; basically composed of ancient principles and theories that explain the connection between the mind and body of human beings. The importance and benefits of practicing yoga exercises for health have now been researched and proved by modern medical sciences. Yoga is the short form of the word yogasana. This exercise involves the body, mind and soul of a human being. People practicing and doing Yoga are known as Yogis. To fully experience the benefits of yoga, one should have the firm belief that it will benefit him, as it is an exercise strongly connected to the human mind.

Yogis believe yoga brings health to the body and peace to the mind. So, people practice yoga to feel fit and relax their minds of stress, depression and tension. Yoga involves postures and movements and the alignment of the body,. While yoga can be performed by people of all ages, it should be practiced under a teacher’s supervision when starting out.

Types of Yoga postures

There are many types of yoga postures. Some of the more well-known postures are discussed as follows:

• Sukhasana or Lotus is a sitting pose of yoga and is easy to perform. It is used as a starting position of yoga exercises. It helps to open and strengthens the groin, hips and lower back bone.

• Tadasana or Mountain pose is used to improve the balance of mind and posture of the body.

• Virabhadrasana or Warrior is a yoga pose that can be performed after Tadasana or mountain pose. It strengthens the bones, stretches the arms and legs, and improves balance.

• Uttanasana is a yoga posture in which the body is extended upwards and then bent in the forward position to touch the toes. It relaxes the mind and stretches the neck, back and legs,.

• Adho Mukha Svanasana or Downward Facing Dog is a yoga posture performed by putting and maintaining forehead on the floor in front of you. It stretches the spine and hamstrings.

• Bhujangasana or The Cobra posture is performed by laying down flat on your stomach on the floor. It opens the area around the chest and heart as well as strengthens and stretches the spine, legs, and arms.

• Janu Shirshasana is head to knee pose of yoga exercises. It’s perfomed while sitting on the floor and attempting to touch the hand to the foot. Increases flexibility in the hamstrings, back, and arms.

• Trikonasana or the Triangle is a yoga pose in which the body is bent in the form of a triangle by separating the feet 3-4 feet and then touching one foot with one of your hands. It opens up the torso and increases the flexibility in back bone.

• Ardha Sarvangasana or Half Shoulderstand is a yoga pose that is formed by lying down on your back with elbows and lower arms on the floor and rise you legs up in the air. It helps improve thyroid function as well as circulation. It also provides strength to abdomen muscles and organs and provides stretch to upper back bone.

• Sethu Bandhasa or the Bridge is that yoga posture in which the body is laying down on the floor with arms resting at its sides while the body is risen such that the head, neck and feet are on the floor but the middle part of the body including tail, tail bone and spine is raised in the shape of an arc. It helps with the opening of the chest and low back and abdominal strength and flexibility.

• Hatha Yoga is the most difficult and demanding type of yoga postures as it requires very hard exercises and practices, immensely involving every muscles of the body.

• Pranayama is a yoga posture that involves breathing exercises.

• Dog and Cat posture helps in increasing the strength and flexibility of spinal cord.

• Savasana or the Corpse posture is performed at the end of yoga exercises session to relax the body and also provides a refreshing effect on the mind. This is consdered an easy pose to perform.

Benefits of practicing yoga

There are hundreds of benefits of yoga. Here are several of them

• Fortifies the immune system and increases the body’s natural healing ability.

• Steadies the mind and improves concentration.

• It increases the flexibility of the muscles and bones of the body.

• It increases memory and learning ability of the mind.

• It promotes cardiovascular health.

• It helps to stabilize the nervous system.

• It improves blood pressure and lowers the heart rate.

• It increases awareness and helps activate somatic cells in the brain.

• Improves endocrine and gastrointestinal function.

• It brings about greater energy and equilibrium.

• Many people have found that it helps with weightloss.

• Yoga boosts the balancing efficiency of the body.

• Helps overcome depression and anxiety.

• Yoga can help lower cholesterol.

• It helps in controlling diabetes.

• It provides the tuning and toning of body muscles.

• It has been shown to be helpful with a variety of diseases including insomnia, aids, asthma, and arthritis.

• The aging process can be slowed down by practicing yoga.

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