YOGA: AN ACTIVITY WITH RELAXING VIRTUES

Yoga is one of the most relaxing activities and benefits for body and mind. It is a method by which the restless mind is calmed, while vital energy is directed in a constructive way. Yoga teaches that being healthy does not only mean being in good physical condition, it also means being emotionally and mentally fit. Daily practice of a few minutes of yoga is a natural method of releasing the tensions accumulated on a daily basis. It is therefore not wrong to say that yoga can improve your life, bringing real physical and mental well-being.

But what exactly is yoga?

Yoga is a very ancient physical and mental practice that originated in India 5000 years ago. The word "yoga" actually derives from Sanskrit and means "to unite", referring to the union between mind, soul and body. There are different types of yoga, from the most spiritual to the most relaxing, to the most practical and physically challenging types. Yoga combines mental and physical exercises to help you find inner balance and improve your living condition. The most common techniques practiced in yoga are asanas, which in Sanskrit mean "postures", breathing exercises and meditation. This practice would therefore help to find inner peace, but also to improve your health. The most common types of yoga are: Kundalini, Vinyasa, Hata, AntiGravity, Nidra, Yin, Bikram

How would practicing yoga be beneficial?

Yoga allows you to find a physical, psychic and spiritual balance. This practice helps to eliminate anxiety and stress, improve mood, eliminate muscle and joint pain and more. It also calms the mind by reducing negative emotions and helps to better overcome pain. Yoga teaches you to breathe better, deeper and less impulsively. This helps the body to relax, restore calm, stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce fatigue. Like physical activities in general, even if they are slow and gentle movements, yoga involves all the muscles of the body. It allows you to regain a good quality of sleep. But the virtues of yoga don't stop there. According to many studies, yoga improves posture, flexibility and ease of movement, muscle toning, improves blood circulation, breath control and regularization, improves blood pressure, stabilizes blood sugar levels, increases bone mass, improves digestive problems.

Are there any contraindications to the practice of yoga?

Even with all the virtues of yoga, there are also special attention to be paid before enrolling in yoga classes. Although it can be excellent to help with posture, it is not advisable for people recovering from an injury to try yoga. Some positions could potentially be very dangerous for the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, proper instructions should be followed, despite the number of home videos that will persuade you to practice solo. Look for a studio or private teacher who can guide you through the first steps to see if you enjoy this relaxing and beneficial exercise.