Y
oga has become incredibly popular in the last 10 years. This in no huge surprise due to a large number of celebrities touting the benefits of yoga and having the bodies to show for it!
Yoga is a fantastic form of exercise as it doesn’t just focus on the physical aspects of exercise but includes the mind. It is a perfect blend of the physical, mental and emotional well being. The main benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, better posture, relaxation and increased happiness.
Reducing stress is a big reason why many people choose to exercise and yoga is one of the best ways to achieve this. This is because whilst doing yoga you are encouraged to focus 100% on the exercise you are doing, this helps you to forget (for a period of time) about the causes of stress in your life and will allow you to reflect upon your problem and look at them in a new light when you return to them.
Yoga also encourages you to be ‘in the moment’ and forget about the past and the future. In this way it is very similar to meditation. Breathing is another point of focus in yoga; believe it or not, most people do not breathe in the best way possible for their body, especially when doing exercise. This is why people who have not been taught to breathe correctly will often find themselves exhausted quickly when doing strenuous exercise. Yoga teaches you how to breathe deeply giving your body increased oxygen to carry out exercise more easily.
Although being taught Yoga in a class would be the ideal many people cannot spare the time or money for yoga classes. If you are one of these people then do not despair – it is more than possible to learn yoga from your home. All you need is an exercise mat and the right instruction. Whilst I would encourage you to seek professional tuition at least to provide you with a solid platform on which to develop, there is also a wide range of yoga DVDs available for use at home.
There is more than one form of yoga; the most important thing to decide is which you want to do. You should find out as much as you possibly can about the different types and select a DVD on the one you want to practice. Another thing of great importance is the instructor on the DVD. Ideally you will look for an experienced instructor who has been practicing yoga for many years. Although it’s tempting for a lot of people to buy the last DVD of their favourite celebrity, this isn’t ideal as often such DVDs just skim the surface of yoga and concentrate mainly on increasing the individual’s celebrity status.
