What is Yoga:-
In Vedic Sanskrit, yoga means “to add”, “to join”, “to unite”, or “to attach” in its most common literal sense. Derived from the Sankrit word “yuj” which means “to unite or integrate”; yoga is a 5000 year old Indian body of knowledge and is all about harmonizing the body with the mind and breath through the means of various breathing techniques, yoga postures (asanas) and meditation. It is much more than those poses. Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice or discipline, originated in India. It is art of living and cultivates health and well-being (physical, emotional, mental and social) through the regular practice of it.
In Yoga, the body, breath and mind are seen as a combination of these multi-dimensional aspects of each and every individual. It is a practice of mind and body with historical beginning in earliest Indian philosophy and explains the physical practices or disciplines. The styles of yoga merge physical postures, relaxation, and breathing techniques. It is a way to introduce you to yourself. The beginning of yoga has been speculated to date back to pre-Vedic Indian traditions and in the 1980s, it became popular as a system of physical work out across the Western world.
Types of Yoga:-
With so many types of yoga you can find the practice that works best for you like yoga to balance the chakras, kundalini yoga, hot yoga, prenatal yoga for moms etc. Below are the 13 basic types of yoga.
* Hatha
* Vinyasa
* Iyengar
* Bikram
* Kundalini
* Ashtanga
* BhaktiYoga
* KarmaYoga
* Jnana Yoga
* Swara Yoga
* Raja Yoga
* Kriya Yoga
* Mantra Yoga
Short History of Yoga:-
Many people say, where does yoga comes from? Yoga texts emerged around the eleventh century with origins in tantra. Yoga masters from India later introduced yoga to the western world, following the achievement of Swami Vivekananda in the late ninetieth and early twentieth century. In the 1980s, yoga became popular as a system of physical exercise across the west.
The early stages of Yoga were developed by the Indus-Sarasvati culture in Northern India over 5,000 years ago. The ‘yoga’ word was first mentioned in the oldest sacred texts, the Rig Veda. The Vedas were a set of words containing songs, mantras and rituals to be used by Brahmans, the Vedic priests.
Benefits of yoga:-
Many studies have tried to determine the efficiency of yoga as a balancing intervention for sleeping disorder, schizophrenia, and heart disease. There are many different types of yoga, including, Classical, Ashtanga, Shaivism and Bikram Yoga etc. The yoga is more than asanas. There are really eight appendages to yoga.
- Samadhi: union with the Divine power.
- Dharana: concentration and cultivating inner awareness.
- Pranayama: breathing exercises and control of life force energy.
- Niyama: personal observances.
- Dhyana: meditation, devotion on the Divine.
- Pratyahara: this controls of the senses.
- Asanas: a body postures.
- Yama: it universal morality.
Many practitioners ignore the holistic view of what yoga encompasses and only have a dedicated asana practice. The changes in the lifestyle have given birth to various diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, stress, etc. and yoga harbors a perfect cure to these diseases. Yoga helps a lot in removing the negative energy of the body. It has the ability to change the life of people and a very comprehensive field. It can make a huge and permanent difference to your life. The benefits of yoga include greater flexibility and strength, improved core strength etc.
Myths about Yoga:-
Yoga has increased in popularity over the past 15 years. There are a lot of benefits of yoga as well as myths about yoga. There are most common myths about yoga that keep people away from the practice.
* Yoga is only for vegans and vegetarians.
* Yoga heals all injuries.
* Yoga is only for women.
* Skinny people practice yoga.
* Yoga is not a workout.
* Yoga’s only for people who are fit and thin.
* Hot yoga helps people lose weight and detox.
* You can learn yoga from a book.
* One must be flexible to do yoga.
* Yoga is something you practice every morning and evening.
* Yoga is expensive.
* Yoga is all about impossible postures.
*Yoga is a cult etc.
It has over the years become a part of many people’s life around the world. Knowing the power of yoga to transform your body and mind makes me want to spread the yoga love, but above are the reasons for why yoga is not for everyone.
Yoga Teachers Training Courses:-
A yoga instructor or teacher is the one who guides the students during the yoga practice session. A good instructor knows which style of yoga is suitable and works for students. Rishikesh is a beautiful city and birth place of yoga in India. There are many yoga teachers training courses available in Rishikesh and all over the world. Following are the some of them:
*200 hours Yoga Teachers Training Course:
200 hours yoga teachers training course is the gold standard of training and will mark the foundation of your fundamental transformation and a successful career as a global yoga and wellness guru. This training is well suited for beginners and intermediate students of training and also for those who want to get deeper their practice and perceptive of yoga and develop their quality of life. It offers renovation and personal growth in the heart of yoga.
*300 hours Yoga Teachers Training Course:
This course is designed for intermediate and advanced yoga students. This course will help take you teaching to a more influential and in depth level. It open better opportunities for your teaching as well as get deeper your perceptive and own practice of yoga as a way of life.
*500 hours Yoga Teachers Training Course:
This one month intensive conventional yoga training course allows yoga instructors to expand their knowledge and get deeper their own Hatha yoga practice. So they get litheness, perfect health, vitality and control of the mind. When the mind is steady they feel inner peace and real nature.
*Master Level Teacher Training Course:
This training will include advanced yoga asana, kriya, pranayama, meditation, and more practice. This course will cultivate a group of devoted, experienced gurus who also hold the mastery required to be great innovators and masters in their communities.
*Prenatal Teacher Training Course:
The intention of this training, immersions, and classes is to provide safe and effective tools and support for a better pregnancy; to care for all women involved with a pregnancy; to create a community of perceptive, equality, empowerment and care to set an example. Since becoming a mother is the most trans-formative occurrence in a woman’s life. This training helps woman to establish her path from womanhood to motherhood.
Schools and Goals of Yoga:-
The term “yoga” has been applied to many of practices and methods. Yoga includes many practices like Jain, Hinduism and Buddhist etc. In Hinduism these include Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Laya Yoga and Hatha Yoga. The last goal of Yoga is moksha (liberation), although the exact meaning of what form this takes depends on the philosophical or theological system with which it is conjugated.
Some Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Yoga:-
Question: Is Yoga enough to keep anybody fit?
Answer: Fitness depends as much on the status of mind as on the status of the body. Thus a well balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, a proper yoga routine and using the awareness given in the courses can help keep you fit.
Question: Are there any side-effects of yoga?
Answer: When done under proper direction of a trained yoga instructor, there are no side effects. If at all the effects are only constructive.
Question: Can the practice of yoga help in alleviating incurable diseases?
Answer: Yoga is not an alternate for medicine. However it does help the body mind complex to cope with stresses and negative energy.
Question: Is the practice of yoga asanas enough?
Answer: The field of yoga is like a sea. Some people come and sit on the beach, enjoying the cool gentle wind and some wet their feet and some swim and surf and some others dive deep and get the pearls.
Question: How does become a yoga instructor?
Answer: There are many yoga teachers training courses line with yoga alliance USA, available to become a yoga teacher.
Question: Do you need to go to the gym if you’re doing yoga exercises?
Answer: Participating in a yoga practice after going to a gym can help release the stresses that build up after the exercises. The muscles get toned and do not get extremely tired.
Question: What asanas are included in a complete yoga exercises?
Answer: A complete yoga sequence should contain asanas that help to balance out the imbalances in the system. A healthy mix of sitting, standing and lying down postures is provided in many yoga schools.
Question: What is the difference between yoga and work out?
Answer: One practices the yoga asanas in a customary manner that involves the body, mind and spirit. Yoga is like an appointment with the nature, which rejuvenates one’s entire system. It provides you feeling relaxed and energized. In exercise, the focus is more of physical health.
Question: What is the minimum age for yoga?
Answer: A child is a born yogi. The entire process is of relearning. However for general courses, the minimum age is 15.
Question: What diet complements a daily yoga routine?
Answer: The diet for a yogi should be vegetarian and wholesome. The food affects not just our body, but our mind too. The right amount of food you eat is important – not too little, or too much. Food should be fresh, light, and balanced. The diet for a yogi consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, lentils, and a small quantity of milk and milk products etc.
Question: Is yoga a Hindu religion?
Answer: Although, the origins of yoga in Hinduism, it transcends any religion or culture. The application of yoga is universal. The yoga has universal application regardless of its origin.
Question: Which is the best time for yoga practice?
Answer: The best time to practicing yoga is early in the morning, when your stomach is empty and you have a minimum number of distractions. It is recommended that you repeat your yoga practices late in the afternoon or early evening before dinner. Practices in the morning keep you fresh.
Question: Can you suggest some asanas that I can do while I am at work and have less time?
Answer: You can some yoga asanas to practice at your workplace. A simple practice that is very useful is what we call “Pushing the wall”.
Question: How do I maintain balance in any asana practice?
Answer: To reach a better balance and posture, the first thing to do is to let go of the effort in your mind. There are two methods to deepen your sadhana. The first is Abhyasa, practice and the second is Vairagya – dispassion.
Question: What should be the duration of a yoga session?
Answer: At least one hour every day in the beginning.
Question: Could you explain the significance of the Surya Namaskar asana?
Answer: The Surya Namaskar asana – literally means salutation to the Sun. Surya Namaskar is the beautiful, asanas set that massages, detoxifies and stimulates almost every part of the body and brings suppleness to the spine.
Question: Where yoga practice safe and comfortable?
Answer: Do your yoga practices in a dirt free and fresh space. If possible, keep a separate space for a yoga practice. You will build positive energy in that space, which will provide you healing, strength and comfort. Keep this space at a comfortable and warm temperature.
Question: How much time I spend on myself to do yoga practice?
Answer: A happy individual spreads happiness all around. So you are doing your yoga practices – not just for you but for others’ happiness also. Do not feel blameworthy for taking time out for yourself. Make yoga an important part of your life.