8 yoga poses to boost your health

Many people still associate yoga with the image of an individual dressed in orange, with a turban, incense and singing in Sanskrit… However, yoga can also be something much closer, practical and real, which provides infinite benefits for both physical and mental health.

There are numerous types of yoga and each one applies different methods to achieve the same goal: facilitate a form of self-awareness that allows to live harmoniously with oneself, with others and with the world.

Yoga is a tool that makes it possible to connect with the essentials of the person. It is a way to introduce lucidity where there is confusion, peace of mind where there is tension or restlessness, and relaxation where there is tension.

It is not an easy task, nor is it something that can be achieved from one day to the next, but it does consolidate over time. when practiced regularly.

The visible benefits of yoga

The benefits of yoga are innumerable. On a physical level, most variants of this discipline provide a healthy fitness.

Through the postures (asanas) the muscles are toned and stretched, bad postural habits are corrected and endorphins are secreted, the so-called “happiness hormones”, which produce a sense of well-being.

By achieving a healthy and vigorous body, you indirectly They also increase strength, flexibility and endurance, which makes it easier for tensions and pains to disappear.

A continuous practice of yoga removes impurities from the body, increases defenses, It strengthens the different organs and improves the functioning of the immune, circulatory, digestive and hormonal systems.

mental benefits

On a mental level, yoga is an excellent tool for Eliminate stress and any of its manifestations.

The practice of conscious breathing or pranayama (prana means vital energy, and ayama means control) Automatically reduces anxiety insomnia, headaches and digestive disorders.

In our day to day we are very little aware of how important it is to breathe; we breathe in and out automatically and ungenerously, resulting in stress (stress, anxiety, lack of concentration), a weak immune system and other health problems.

Through a deep breath, the thoughts that wander through the mind are silenced, heart rate is regulated the heart is stimulated, the abdominal organs are massaged, the lymphatic system is activated, concentration and self-confidence are developed, and the mind is silenced.

once learned, this breathing can be put into practice at no matter what time of day, sitting, lying down or standing.

Anyone, regardless of their age, their physical condition, their elasticity or their level of stress, can start practicing yoga.

Their different branches and schools They provide different intensity scales ranging from almost static practices to highly dynamic ones. Depending on what each one is looking for, it is convenient to start in one style or another.

Choose your yoga style

Stretching and relaxation. HATHA YOGA is the root of most styles of yoga imported into the West. It incorporates physical postures, breathing and meditation. Part of the physical to reach a state of mental relaxation. It has great preventive and therapeutic efficacy and is very useful for the rehabilitation of injuries, as well as to control stress.Good physical shape and calm mind. The VINYASA is born from the hatha and focuses on the coordination of breathing with movement. It is a dynamic variant of yoga that, through fluid sequences of postures, accompanied by rhythmic and intense breathing, helps to eliminate toxins from the body, while toning muscles, providing flexibility and calming the mind. Commitment and physical demand. The ASHTANGA is also born from the hatha. It is the most physically demanding style of yoga. It is a fixed series of postures with progressive difficulty, in which the practitioner advances according to the teacher’s instructions. Their breathing (ujayi) is intense, which causes heat and sweating. The sessions are very athletic and energetic, so it is not recommended for people with injuries.Postural precision. The IYENGAR style was developed over 60 years ago from hatha yoga. Promotes strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance through coordinated breathing and body alignment in different postures. He holds each posture for about a minute (longer than other disciplines) and, after each one, he allows himself to rest for a few breaths. Due to its slow rhythm and its precision, it can be practiced by everyone.To awaken the energy of the body. The KUNDALINI practice focuses, above all, on awakening the body’s energy from the base of the spine, upwards. It is an energetic style based on repetitive movements, and each one of them is directed towards the release of energy. A typical kundalini class may also include chanting, meditation, and breathing exercises. Along with hatha yoga, it is the most widespread branch in the West.Tradition. SIVANANDA yoga is a very traditional practice that includes the execution of physical postures, breathing exercises, study of the Vedanta philosophy, recitation of mantras, chants and meditation. It is a practice focused on the spiritual that incorporates techniques from different branches of yoga.Elimination of toxins. BIKRAM YOGA consists of a series of 26 postures that are repeated, in each session, in a room at 40ºC. The purpose of the practice is to warm up the muscles quickly to detoxify the body through sweating. Its founder, Bikram Choudhury, was an Olympic medalist lifting weights and has made this type of yoga fashionable in the Western world through actors, models and singers.Alignment. ANUSARA YOGA was created in 1997 and places a strong emphasis on the alignment of the postures. His goal is, through the practice of asanas, to open the heart to connect with the divine that is within each one, as well as others.Restorative. YIN YOGA focuses on stretching the tissues that connect the muscles with the bones, since they are hard and have to be stimulated in a softer and more sustained way than the muscles, which are soft and elastic by nature. Each pose is held for two to five minutes. The practice of yin yoga provides deep relaxation.

What style to choose?

To find both the teacher and the most suitable yoga variant and class for each person, it is recommended Try different studios and teachers.

The best is leave the choice to your own instinct, taking into account the sensation that is experienced after each session. Listening to yourself, you know if the style, rhythm and intensity are right for you.

There is no need to be in a hurry and, above all, you must never force your body into any position. Yoga is not done “good” or “bad”. The ultimate goal of this discipline is the well-being and balance of the practitioner. And there is no doubt that, with practice, these always come.