What Is the Main Purpose of Yoga?

Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciousness untouched by the mind and mundane suffering. “The purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body,” explains Natalie Nevins, DO, a board-certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor in Hollywood, California.

Yoga is a mind and body practice. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. Yoga is an ancient practice that may have originated in India. It involves movement, meditation, and breathing techniques to promote mental and physical well-being.

Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength. Try it: Tree Pose. Balance on one foot, while holding the other foot to your calf or above the knee (but never on the knee) at a right angle.

Stress and anxiety are everywhere. If they’re getting the best of you, you might want to hit the mat and give yoga a try. Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines physical poses, controlled breathing, and meditation or relaxation. Yoga may help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and lower your heart rate.

Yoga should not be performed in a state of exhaustion, illness, in a hurry or in an acute stress conditions. Women should refrain from regular yoga practice especially asanas during their menses. Relaxation techniques and pranayama can be done instead. Don’t perform yoga immediately after meals.

Yoga is so much more than just a powerful way to relax, it is a complete workout for both the body and the mind and has the potential to increase fat loss, develop muscle tone, and build flexibility, leading to a more toned lean-looking physique.

You may decide that you don’t really need water during yoga practice, but if you are taking a more active class, you’ll want to have access to a drink soon after. You can consume several ounces of water after your practice to replenish the water that your muscles have consumed or that you have sweated out during class.

For youngsters, sports enthusiasts, actors, and those who are concerned about their physical appearance gym is the best fit option. On the other hand, for senior citizens, women, middle age people and youngsters and sportsmen willing to reduce mental stress, yoga is a better choice.

A strong practice can help build muscle, dramatically boost metabolism, and breathing fully and deeply increases circulation, also helping the metabolism to stay ticking along nicely. A little bit of pranayama, a little upper body strength, of course, some opening work as well.

Taking this new shape with the body can lead you to learn how to take a new shape with the mind. “If practiced correctly, yoga asana breaks down the psychological, emotional, physical, energetic, and psychic obstacles that inhibit us from thriving,” Stryker says. Yoga also teaches you how to make better decisions.

Most people find a practice session in the morning to be energizing and refreshing —the ideal way to start a day. Others practice yoga to unwind after a hectic day has taken its toll on the body and mind. It goes without saying that you’re more likely to get a yoga session done if you schedule it in the morning.

Featured Photo by Benjamin Child on Unsplash