The benefits of yoga transcend the physical
realm and, in a classic Hassed manner, extends to the psycho-social facets of
life. As an alternative therapy, yoga has been recommended as an adjunct to
treatment for many medical conditions – and, unlike many other complementary
therapies, has been proven to be of benefit. The physical aspects of yoga
combined with the breathing exercises and mediation result in it being almost
the perfect recipe for a wholesome healthy life.
Regular yoga practice will lead to visible
improvements in the below aspects of bio-psycho-social wellbeing amongst others:
- Flexibility
- Strength and muscle tone
- Balance
- Breathing
- Stress reduction
- Body awareness
- Sleep
- Posture
- Psychological – concentration, memory, attention, mood
There are many types of yoga, each with its
own unique philosophy, and as a result it is important that you do some
research on the class you’re planning to attend; firstly, to know what you’re
getting yourself into, but also to make sure you pick the type of yoga that
suits you the best. Some of the most popular styles you are likely to come
across are:
- Hatha – movement tends to be slow and gentle and hence more relaxing
- Bikram – a progression through 26 poses in a hot room, take a towel
- Vinyasa – poses flow from one to another, tends to be the most popular type
- Kundalini – a lot of spinal and core work
- Ashtanga – aka power yoga, physically intense and probably not for a beginner
If you are signed up to a health club, most
should have a yoga class that you can involve yourself with. Otherwise, there
are numerous dedicated yoga studios all around Melbourne that you can either
participate in classes on a casual basis or join on a fixed contract if you
fall in love. If the aforementioned options don’t suit you for one reason or
another, you can practice at home with the help of some excellent YouTube
classes or Apple apps (Yoga Studio would be a personal recommendation – it’s
full of detailed instructions and videos – all for $4.99). If you’re an
absolute beginner I would highly advise you to at least start with a couple of
live classes with an instructor so that your basic technique can be corrected
and will decrease the chance of you causing yourself injury.
Beyond the mat, yoga is a way of life that
people from all walks of life “convert” to after really connecting with the
physical side of it. The philosophies surrounding yoga are ancient and deeply
meaningful. If you do a quick Google search you will find endless hits on
individuals who have transformed their lives through yoga and its teachings. If
you really want to connect with yoga and practice on a deeper level I would
highly recommend you reading “Light on Yoga” by B. K. S. Iyengar; it is a great
insight to yoga off-the-mat.
Overall, the best aspect of yoga is that it
is totally inclusive in the sense that anybody can do it - regardless of
fitness level – and further, regardless of your fitness goals, everybody can
benefit. Each pose tends to have advancing variations that you can progress
through to challenge yourself as your practice improves. I can’t stress the
importance of practising as regularly as possible – even if its only for 15
minutes a day – as increased frequency of practice will lead to maximal
benefit.
So grab a mat, open your mind and enjoy the
journey – what are you waiting for?
Namaste.
If
you have any questions regarding Yoga or any other fitness topic please ask us
in the comments section.