Yoga is an ancient practice that includes physical postures, breathing techniques, positive thinking, meditation, and relaxation. In recent years, however, the practice of Yoga has become increasingly popular as a form of movement through postures that improve physical condition, while providing a state of emotional calm and inner peace.
Although there are more than 100 different forms of yoga, in the West, today is commonly practiced more “hatha yoga”. Some of the elements of hatha yoga include Pranayama (yoga breathing), Asanas (yoga positions), and Dhyani (meditation).
Regardless of the method chosen, yoga is an excellent way to stretch and strengthen the body, concentrate, and relax the mind.
Yoga is for everyone whether you have done sports before or not. Yoga practice can be done independently or combined with the usual training routine.
Yoga can be done at home with the help of guided online classes or at the gym. If you choose to practice yoga from the comfort of your home then you need to consider the following recommendations:
Space configuration
Because it is important to make sure you have a space ready to practice, try to find an area as comfortable as possible to do yoga. The chosen place can be in the bedroom, on the balcony, or even the living room, but regardless of the chosen place, it must be as free and quiet as possible, so that nothing will distract you.
Equipment Needed
For any yoga practice, the most important thing is to have a yoga mat with a good grip on the ground so that you do not slip while practicing your asanas. As a beginner, you can also use a yoga block, which can help you advance easily in the more difficult asanas.
Before you start practicing yoga, the recommendation is to familiarize yourself with some yoga asanas that you can master as a beginner. Knowing certain positions in yoga and how to do them helps you to start practicing yoga more easily.
Among the best known and simplest asanas to start practicing Yoga are the following:
Child’s pose
The child’s position is an asana that opens the heart and calms the body and mind.
Downward Dog
The face-down dog posture is one of the most popular asanas in yoga and helps a lot in body strength and flexibility.
Plank pose
Plank posture in yoga is a full-body posture that especially helps to strengthen the abdominal strength and arms.
Baby Cobra
It is a posture that opens the chest and strengthens the back muscles.
Warrior I
Warrior I is an asana that will strengthen your legs and stretch your hips and upper body.
The Benefits of YOGA
Yoga helps a lot to increase the mobility of joints and muscles. Many yoga positions include long stretches, which means that practicing yoga can lead to the greater flexibility of the whole body.
Regular practice of Yoga brings awareness and control over-breathing.
Also, practicing yoga asanas helps to improve posture, and at the same time reduces stress and anxiety.
Yoga is very good for cardiovascular health because it can increase your heart rate, depending on the intensity of yoga practice.
With the help of meditation exercises, Yoga calms the mind and improves general mood and well-being.
Pranayama (yoga breathing) helps to improve the ability to concentrate and calm the mind.
As a beginner, you may not know where to start with yoga practice. That is why it is recommended to start with the first step, namely to practice common yoga positions to get acquainted with how it works and feels in the body. It is important to be patient with yourself, your body, and your mind, and to keep practicing day by day.
