Are you a gym freak or fond of yoga? Do you know how yoga came into existence? why people are adapting to yoga? Do you have these kinds of questions in your mind? So let me tell you how yoga came into existence and why people started adopting yoga in their life. Though there are various types of yoga.
ORIGIN OF YOGA
According to history, the word Yoga first appeared in the oldest sacred texts, the Rig Veda. It is derived from the Sanskrit root “Yuj” which means to join or unite. The Vedas were a collection of texts containing songs, mantras, and rituals. Brahmans, the Vedic priests used Vedas to perform rituals.
Traces of Yogic practice started appearing around 5000 years ago in India. During Aryan civilization in the Indus Valley but some researchers think that yoga may be up to 10,000 years old old. The early writings on yoga were transcribed on fragile palm leaves. And they were easily damaged, destroyed, or lost.
Brahmans and Rishis slowly refined and developed yoga. They documented their practices and beliefs in the Upanishads. It is a huge work containing over 200 scriptures. The most renowned of the Yogic scriptures is the Bhagavad-Gita, composed around 500 B.C.E.
The Upanishads took the idea of ritual sacrifice of the ego through self-knowledge, action (Karma yoga), and wisdom (jnana yoga).
However, the history of yoga is a vast ocean of knowledge, the wisdom that can never be conquered completely.
Types of Yoga
According to Morarji Desai National Insititute of Yoga, Yoga is an art and science of healthy living. It is a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science.
Most importantly it focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body.
The holistic approach to yoga is well established. Moreover, it brings harmony to all walks of life. Thus, known for disease prevention, promotion of health, and management of stressful life.
There are so many different types of yoga, which can help you to transform your life completely.
Whether you want a more physically demanding class or an easy, relaxing, meditative class.
The 11 major types of yoga are:
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Vinyasa yoga
Vinyasa means “to place in a special way” yoga postures. It is often considered the most athletic yoga style. It was adapted from Ashtanga yoga in the 1980s. Many types of yoga can also be considered vinyasa flows such as ashtanga, power yoga, and prana.
The movement is coordinated with the breath and movement to flow from one pose to another. Vinyasa style can vary depending on the teacher or your instructor.
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Jivamukti yoga
It is mainly vinyasa-flow-style classes. It is an infusion with Hindu spiritual teachings. Sharon Ganon and David’s Life founded Jivamukti Yoga in 1984. At its core, this style emphasizes the connection to Earth as a living being, so most Jivamukti devotees follow their vegetarian philosophy.
A series of chants usually open the beginning of class. Then followed up by a series of poses that align with the five tenets of yoga and philosophy.
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Hatha yoga
The Sanskrit term “Hatha” is an umbrella term for all physical postures of yoga. In the west, hatha yoga simply refers to all the other styles of yoga(ashtanga, Iyengar, etc) that are grounded in physical practice. However, there are other branches of yoga such as kriya, raja, and karma yoga that are separate from the physical-based yoga practice. Nevertheless, physical-based yoga is the most popular and has numerous styles.
Hatha yoga classes are best for beginners. These are a classic approach to breathing and exercises. It is a great entry point for all beginners.
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Anusara yoga
Anusara yoga is a modern-day version of hatha yoga, most similar to vinyasa. It focuses on alignment, but with more focus on the mind-body-heart connection. John Friend founded Anusara yoga. He created a unique system called the Universal Principals of Alignment.
Additionally, it focuses on spirals and how each body part should be moving. For instance, it emphasizes heart-opening.
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Iyengar yoga
B.K.S Iyengar founded Iyengar yoga. It mainly focuses on alignment as well as detailed and precise movements. It relies heavily on props to help students perfect their form to go deeper into poses in a safe manner.
Moreover, this style is great for people with injuries who need to work slowly and methodically.
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Prenatal yoga
Prenatal yoga is carefully adapted for “moms to be”. It is tailored to women in all trimesters. It is a multifaceted approach to exercise. Many have said that prenatal is one of the best types of exercise for expectant moms cause of the pelvic floor work. It helps mothers prepare for labor and delivery.
Researchers suggest that prenatal yoga is safe.
Additionally, it also improves stability and flexibility.
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Kundalini yoga
Kundalini yoga practice is an equal part of spiritual and physical. It involves chanting, mantra, and meditation. It also includes breathing with fast-moving, invigorating postures, and breathing exercises.
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Restorative yoga
Restorative yoga focuses on winding down after a stressful day and relaxing your mind. In addition to this, it focuses on body and mind relaxation. It also helps to cleanse and free your mind.
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Ashtanga yoga
The Eight Limbs of yoga are:
- Yama(abstinence)
- Niyama (observances)
- asana (yoga postures)
- pranayama(breath control)
- pratyahara(withdrawal of senses)
- Dharana(concentration)
- dhyana(meditation)
- samadhi(absorption).
It involves a very physically demanding sequence of postures. The ultimate purpose of this yoga is the purification of the body and mind.
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Yin yoga
This is a slow-paced style of yoga with seated postures. It can also be a meditative yoga practice. Consequently, helping you to find inner peace.
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Bikram yoga
Bikram Choudhary introduced Bikram yoga. It is a system of hot yoga. Classes consist of a fixed sequence of 26 postures.
Coupled with a healthy,calorie-controlled diet, hot yoga can help to lose weight.
So these are the different styles of yoga.
Benefits of yoga
- Increases flexibility, muscle strength, and tone.
- Improves respiration, energy, and vitality.
- Cardio and circulatory health.
- Maintaining a balanced metabolism.
- Helps in keeping our immune system strong.
On the other hand, Yoga has tremendous mental health benefits too. For example, How to manage stress, how to worry less, and how to reduce stress.
Yoga is beneficial for losing weight as well.
Above all, there are various institutions of yoga.
- Nowadays everybody practices yoga to preserve, maintain and promote good health.
- Yoga has spread all over the world through the teachings of great personalities.
- Many eminent Yoga institutions, Yoga Colleges, Yoga Universities, Naturopathy colleges, etc are imparting yoga education.
- Establishment of yoga clinics, yoga Therapy, and Training Centers, etc bring awareness among the people.
Thus, the land of yoga, reflects a love for ecological balance, tolerance towards other systems of thought.
Additionally reflecting a compassionate outlook towards all creations.
Adapt yoga for a healthy and peaceful life.