The physical section of the eight ‘arms’ of Yoga philosophy is known as asana, or posture. Nowadays, this basic system of postures has blossomed into a multitude of systems with various complementary and fitness benefits. With yoga, you can be sure that whatever style you choose, the wellness benefits will be considerable.
Yoga builds the muscles in a different way to regular gym work or weight lifting. A good yoga sequence focuses on all-round exercise of the muscles, with no overemphasis on particular body parts, as you can find in gym-work. Yogic stretching builds lean muscle and contributes to muscle tone. This kind of muscle work promotes flexibility, which promotes relaxed and healthy joints.
Among the range of wellbeing benefits, yoga is known to improve circulation. It does this in a different way to cardiovascular exercise. In yoga, every exertion is followed by complete and conscious relaxation. This improves the flexibility of the veins and increases the blood flow. It can have an excellent effect on the whole circulation system, and has been known to lower cholesterol and hypertension. Classical Hatha Yoga is able to achieve these results and is a valuable tool for sufferers of high blood pressure. If you are a gym-goer with higher fitness demands, you will find a style suited to your cardiovascular needs among the many forms of ‘Power Yoga’ available.
Yoga is also an excellent psychological therapy, as it teaches you to let go of thought patterns and concentrate on the awareness of your body. It is a kind of moving meditation to take you away from your everyday strife. A good instructor will give you focus points, or mental anchors during a routine to aid this effect. For example, they may concentrate on grounding you in the poses and focusing on the sensation of your feet on the ground. Depression and anxiety are always soothed by practicing yoga with full attention. Additionally, the breathing exercises have a physiological effect in calming the nervous system and balancing the hemispheres of the brain, creating a wonderful sense of mental stillness.
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