Yoga has been around for ages. It is an exercise; basically composed of ancient principles and theories that explain the connection between the mind and body of human beings. The importance and benefits of practicing yoga exercises for health have now been researched and proved by modern medical sciences. The word yoga is actually a shortened form of the yogasana. It is an exercise that involves the body, mind and spirit of the practioner. People who practice Yoga are known as Yogis. To get the most out of meditation and yoga, it can be quite helpful to keep a positive attitude.

Yogis believe yoga brings health to the body and peace to the mind. So people practice yoga relax the body and mind and to improve health and fitness. Yoga is concerned with movements, patterns, postures and alignment of the human body. Different yoga postures can be performed and practiced by people of all ages but it is recommended for beginners to practice Yoga under the supervision of experts.

Types of Yoga postures

There are many types of yoga postures. Some of the more well-known postures are discussed as follows:

  • Sukhasana or Lotus is a sitting pose of yoga and is easy to perform. It is usually used as the starting pose. It opens the hips, lower back and groin area.

  • Tadasana or Mountain pose is used to improve the balance of mind and posture of the body.

  • Virabhadrasana or Warrior is a yoga pose that can be performed after Tadasana or mountain pose. It strengthens the bones, stretches the arms and legs, and improves balance.

  • Uttanasana is a yoga posture in which the body is extended upwards and then bent in the forward position to touch the toes. Helps to stretch the back, neck and legs and soothe the mind.

  • Adho Mukha Svanasana or Downward Facing Dog is a yoga posture performed by putting and maintaining forehead on the floor in front of you. It stretches the spine and hamstrings.

  • Bhujangasana or The Cobra posture is performed by laying down flat on your stomach on the floor. It helps open the chest area and heart and stretches and strengthens the spine.

  • Janu Shirshasana is head to knee pose of yoga exercises. This position is performed while sitting and touching the foot with the hand. It helps in improving the flexibility of the arms, back bone and hamstrings.

  • Trikonasana or the Triangle is a yoga pose in which the body is bent in the form of a triangle by separating the feet 3-4 feet and then touching one foot with one of your hands. It helps open the torso and brings flexibility to the spine.

  • Ardha Sarvangasana or Half Shoulderstand is a yoga pose that is formed by lying down on your back with elbows and lower arms on the floor and rise you legs up in the air. It improves circulation and thyroid function. It also improves the strength of the abdominal muscles and organs, and stretches the upper back.

  • Sethu Bandhasa or the Bridge is that yoga posture in which the body is laying down on the floor with arms resting at its sides while the body is risen such that the head, neck and feet are on the floor but the middle part of the body including tail, tail bone and spine is raised in the shape of an arc. This pose helps in opening the chest and in increasing the flexibility and strength of the lower back bone and abdominal muscles.

  • Hatha Yoga is the most difficult and demanding type of yoga postures as it requires very hard exercises and practices, immensely involving every muscles of the body.

  • Pranayama is a yoga posture that involves breathing exercises.

  • Dog and Cat posture helps in increasing the strength and flexibility of spinal cord.

  • Savasana or the Corpse posture is performed at the end of yoga exercises session to relax the body and also provides a refreshing effect on the mind. It is an easy pose to perform.

 

Benefits of practicing yoga

There are literally hundreds of yoga benefits. Here are just some of them:

  • Fortifies the immune system and increases the body’s natural healing ability.

  • Steadies the mind and improves concentration.

  • It increases the overall flexibility of the body.

  • It increases memory and learning ability of the mind.

  • It increases the cardiovascular ability of the heart.

  • It regulates and stabilizes the nervous system.

  • Lowers heart rate and blood pressure.

  • It increases awareness and helps activate somatic cells in the brain.

  • It helps in normalizing the gastrointestinal and endocrine glands’ functionality.

  • It raises the body’s energy level and equilibrium.

  • For some people it helps in controlling their weight.

  • Yoga boosts the balancing efficiency of the body.

  • It helps to relax the mind therefore reducing tension, depression, and anxiety.

  • Yoga helps to decrease the cholesterol level in blood.

  • It can help you manage and control diabetes.

  • It improves muscle tone througout the body.

  • Is helpful in the treatment of asthma, chronic fatigue, arteriosclerosis, hepatitis and many more condtions.

  • Practicing yoga can help to slow down the aging process.