Yoga

Benefits of Yoga. And why people do Yoga?

On May 22, 2021 by margheviviani

The concept of yoga is the way more complicated than other might think. Is not only a physical activity to have less back pain or meditations to reduce stress, which are only smaller part of benefits of yoga. Is the way much deeper, is the way you decide to live you life.

Check out also HOW YOGA CHANGED MY LIFE. THE STORY OF A YOGA TEACHER.

«When we practice, we experience. When we experience, we are completely convinced of the effects of yoga. And when we are involved, we can involve others. We may share different concepts of yoga to our friends and family according to what we’ve got experienced».

Yoga – To Yolk – Union 

Union with people, nature, with yourself and higher reality. It about getting back our awareness  about life and ourselves.

Yoga us a union and way to that union.

Why people do Yoga?

For training and controlling four aspects:

• physical;
• emotional;
• mental;
• spiritual.

While we are practicing yoga for bettering our body it will work on our attitude, breath, mind, emotions, moral duty, action and most importantly our interpersonal relations. 

The different paths of Yoga

1. Bhakti (Emotional) – bhaja: to adore, love, to be devoted

This is Yoga of devotion, of love. The purpose is to develop intense concentration towards one object. Emotional and mental problems disappear, concentration increase and path higher awareness and bliss is open.

2. Karma (Physical) – selfless, service, humanity.

It’s performance of our daily life (work) with constant awareness and without any expectation of reward. It’s about living at the present moment. This path is open to everyone. But it requires selfless, as well as concentrated actions and awareness. Result is less emotional and mental upsets in life and peace. 

3. Jnana (Mental) – knowledge, wisdom, self inquiry, intuitive. 

The truth is realised through inside. This path is open but only few people are really ready for it. Jnana Yoga requires an obsession to find out the answers. To make progress we have to throw out all definitions about our existence. 

4. Raja – Royal, 8 limbs, self mastery, Hatha Yoga.

Hatha Yoga

‘Ha’ – sun; ‘tha’- moon

It’s a balance of opposites, dualities of life through physical practice. Preparation for Raja Yoga, to step on the next level.

Hatha Yoga consist of:

• Shatkarmas – cleansing practices.
• Asana – postures and exercise methods.
• Pranayama – control and extension of the bio-energy.
• Mudras – gestures – hands and other positions.
• Bandhas – locks/energy management.
• Meditation – working with the mind and relaxation, including higher states of experience. 

Hatha Yoga tries to achieve balance between body and mind, to get a balance between right and left sides of the body.

right: Sun, male side, warm

left: Moon, female, cool

Ashtanga Yoga (8 limbs)

1. Regulations, self restraints. Our interactions with external world (Yamas)

• non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness (Ahimsa) 
• truthfulness, honesty (Satya)
• non-stealing (Asteya)
• control & continence, moderation of any sense drive (Brachmacharya)
• non-greed, non stealing, non-selfishness (Aparigraha)

2. Self-observances. Our interactions with internal world (Niyamas)

• cleanliness, purity (Sacha)
• contentment, peacefulness (Santosha)
• fortitude, accepting pain as the way of purification (Tapas)
• self-study (Swadhaya)
• offering or surrendering ourself to a higher reality (Ishwarapranidhana)

3. Postures (Asanas)

4. Breath control (Pranayama)

5. Withdrawal of the senses (Pratyahara)

6. Concentration (Dharana)

7. Meditation (Dhyana)

8. Identification with pure consciousness (Samadhi)

Benefits of Yoga 

Physical 

• Improved posture
  
• Better sleep
  
• Increased natural energy level and vitality
  
• Greater flexibility, strength and stamina
  
• Better balance
  
• Stronger immune system
  
• Pulse and respiratory rate decreases
  
• Blood pressure decreases
  
• Cardiovascular efficiency increases
  
• Respiratory efficiency increases
  
• Cholesterol decreases
  
• Cleansing and regulating of all the body’s systems

Mental

• Calm and clarity
  
• Greater confidence and generally more positive mood
  
• Sense of inner well-being and ‘centredness’
  
• Increased awareness of body and movement
  
• Counters depression and anxiety
  
• Ability to concentrate improves
  
• More self-acceptance
  
• Increased social skills

And is not all! Everyone who choose this path, finds his own benefits of Yoga, as a very individual experience.

I also prepared a list of best Yoga Retreats in Italy, close the area where I live, in Tuscany.

Let me know if you are practicing yoga already, or if you would like to practice it. And feel free to leave your comment or contact me here.

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Yours Marghe

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