Yoga Benefits

The yoga benefits towards body and mind are amazing. Yoga is easy to learn, requires none or very little equipment and is very soothing as it tones your body. It helps to improve your mental fitness through meditation as well.

The origins of yoga began well over 3,000 years ago in India. It comes from Sanskrit, and it means to "yoke," or bring together the mind, body, and spirit. There are many types and styles and you can easily find classes near you or learn in the privacy of your own home.

Different Types of Yoga

Hatha
It's a good beginning for the basic poses. This encompasses the physical types of yoga. It is usually a leisurely pace and mild.

Anusara
It has a strong accent on physical alignment with a positive philosophy. Its belief is in the intrinsic good of all life forms.

Jivamukti
This emphasizes chanting and spiritual teachings. These are usually physically intense classes.

Integral
This is a mild practice that includes breathing exercises, meditation and chanting.

Sivananda
This is based on five principles. Correct exercise inclusive of 12 poses; correct breathing; proper relaxation, diet, positive thinking and meditation.

Iyengar
This style describes the precise way your body should be positioned in each pose. This is to maximize the benefits and avoid injury.

Kundalini
The importance is breathing in combination with physical movement. This is to free energy in the lower body so it can move up through your body.

Yoga Benefits

Yoga provides many health benefits, the Techniques for Breathing and Relaxation lower your blood pressure, increase your cardiovascular health, and releases your stress as you learn relaxation. Meditation is calming to the mind and gives you emotional balance and mental clarity.

It improves your flexibility, strength, balance, and stamina. Another one of the great yoga benefits is that it also helps you lose and/or maintain your weight.

Don't think Yoga can make you sweat? Then try The Biggest Loser's - Weight Loss Yoga. This is one of my favorite workout DVDs for yoga. Bob really does make you work, and you can make you work 25-45 minutes long with 3 different level options.

Finding A Good Class

If you prefer individual attention for your specific needs, a class may be the best solution for you.

Questions you should ask:

What are the instructor's qualifications?
How long has the instructor been teaching?
Can the instructor work with your specific needs if you have any health issues?
Is the class geared towards new students?
What do you need to bring to class?

Poses
There are many poses and in some classes you may learn anywhere from 20 to 30 poses.

Prefer To Learn Yoga At Home?

One of the great Yoga benefits is that you can practice it right in the comfort of your own home. An excellent DVD is available by Ravi Singh and Ana Brett, Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond. Ravi and Ana are well known in the yoga world and Ana is a delight to watch. This DVD is great for beginners and intermediate. You can progress at your own pace.

It features two twenty-five minute workouts that you can do together or individually. The instruction is clear and it's very motivating with excellent music. This was actually recommended to me by a yoga therapist and I highly recommend it.

I also recommend having a good exercise mat. I prefer the 1/4" thickness as it provides enough padding for sitting without throwing your balance off. I like additional length, so I choose one longer than the standard size.

Schedule The Time In Your Day

Working out at home can give you an advantage to scheduling time slots that work better for you. It also gives you that extra time it would take to get dressed and drive to a class.

To get the most out of it, you'll need to do it consistently for about 6 weeks, at least 3 days a week. The exercises will leave you feeling invigorated, yet relaxed and calm.

For many it's a philosophy and for others it's a spiritual practice. It serves many purposes.