Yoga is an ancient system of poses. 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. The word yoga is actually a shortened form of the yogasana. It is an exercise that involves the body, mind and spirit of the practioner. 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 is concerned with movements, patterns, postures and alignment of the human 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 usually used as the starting pose. It opens the hips, lower back and groin area.

• 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. This position is performed while sitting and touching the foot with the hand. Improves flexibility in the arms, spine and hamstrings.

• 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. Improves spinal flexibility opens up the torso area.

• 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. It is an easy pose to perform.

 

Benefits of practicing yoga

There are hundreds of benefits of yoga. Some of them are listed below:

• It increases the body’s healing power and boosts the immune system.

• It helps in relaxing the mind and increases its steadiness and ability to concentrate and perception.

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

• It improves memory and learning.

• It promotes cardiovascular health.

• It regulates and stabilizes the nervous system.

• Lowers heart rate and blood pressure.

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

• It helps in normalizing the gastrointestinal and endocrine glands’ functionality.

• It brings about greater energy and equilibrium.

• Many people practice yoga to control their weight.

• Yoga helps improve balance.

• It relaxes the mind thus decreasing anxiety, tension, and depression.

• Yoga can help lower cholesterol.

• It can help you manage and control diabetes.

• It tunes and tones the muscles.

• Is helpful in the treatment of asthma, chronic fatigue, arteriosclerosis, hepatitis and many more condtions.

• Reduces the effects of aging.