Why is yoga good for body and soul? There's no question about it: our time is stressful. We rush from one appointment to the next, have to "get this and that done" every day and of course want to get ahead in life, earn more money, buy a house, have a better job and... this is how we define our life goals and stick to them strictly.
Yoga for body and soul
It's no wonder that we eventually run out of steam. And when we finally realize that we really can't go on, it's almost too late, we're at risk of burnout and are out of action for months.
But we can do something about it in advance. Our lives can be stressful - at least in the short term. It is important that we keep taking rest periods. Because only those who recover can go full throttle again. Those who keep recharging their batteries will not have to deal with burnout. Yoga is good for the body and soul. Those who do yoga have to concentrate on themselves and their body. The gentle exercises allow for relaxation, but also train the muscles.
The fact that yoga is good for the body and soul was already known in India around 700 BC. The term yoga was already in use back then.
This involved breathing exercises and the withdrawal of the senses.
Yoga includes a series of physical and mental exercises such as meditation, austerity, yama, niyama, asanas, pratyahara, pranayama and kriyas. Yoga means something like union or integration. This is also used in the sense of aligning the body with the soul. During yoga exercises, the practitioner collects his senses and concentrates on becoming "one" with God.
Yoga includes many different forms
In Western Europe and North America, people tend to think of yoga as physical exercises. However, it is true that yoga is for the body and soul and therefore combines meditation and physical exercises.
Yoga has been proven to have positive effects on the body and soul. It can help alleviate various illnesses. For example, yoga is good for relieving back pain, sleep or circulation problems, as well as anxiety, depression and chronic headaches.
This makes yoga a real source of energy for body and soul. Yoga has a balancing and calming effect and can also alleviate the after-effects of stress. Those who practice regularly will feel the beneficial effects of yoga.
Different types of yoga
There are many different types of yoga. Yoga was created before Christ and has continued to develop and change, so that there is something for everyone. There are types of yoga that specialize in strengthening the body and others that are more devoted to meditation.
Classical yoga styles include Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. While these are the main types of yoga, there are many other different types of yoga - sub-styles, styles and directions that have developed over time in different regions of the world.
The Raja Yoga includes all eight stages and thus includes the ethical rules of conduct, rules for self-discipline, breath control, training and purification of the body, withdrawing the senses from the outside world, concentrating on one thought, meditation and superconsciousness.
Raja Yoga means the royal connection between man and God in the form of a loving relationship.
Yoga means knowledge, wisdom or insight. It is the union of concentration on an activity and strives for liberation through insight. In Jnana Yoga there are no specific body or breathing exercises, one focuses more on the inherent ability to distinguish between the transitory world of appearances and the imperishable nature of our being
Karma Yoga is the yoga of action. Karma is the most important spiritual path in India and means work or deed. In Karma Yoga there are no special practices such as physical exercises or meditation, as it is more about changing your inner attitude. Karma Yoga can be practiced in everyday life, you don't have to take extra time for it. It is more about doing what needs to be done in every situation in order to achieve the best results.
Hatha Yoga is very popular in the West and is the classic term for yoga. Hatha Yoga focuses on strengthening and thus improving the human body, affects the mind and consciousness and above all teaches flexibility and patience.
As one of the fastest ways to develop is Kundalini Yoga a dynamic form of yoga. It is intended to achieve physical, mental and spiritual balance.
The Bhakti Yoga is a natural goal in everyday life and primarily involves the chanting of Vaishnava mantras. This type of yoga seeks to establish a relationship between a living being and the Supreme Being through loving dedication. Practitioners assume that they only inhabit their bodies and that everything is changeable.
The best exercises for in between
For many of us, there aren't enough hours in the day anyway. Finding time for a yoga class is often stressful because something else, perhaps important, falls by the wayside.
Yoga exercises for in-between activities are designed to be done anywhere you have a few minutes to spare. If you need a quick break, you can get your circulation going again and relax your muscles with yoga exercises for in-between activities.
For these quick yoga exercises you don't need a mat or blanket and you can even leave your shoes on.
The dancer
To relax your back, stand on one leg, bend the other leg backwards and hold it with your arm while stretching the other arm upwards and folding the palm backwards. Hold this exercise for 30 to 60 seconds.
Der Baum
The tree is a classic yoga pose that you also hold for 30 to 60 seconds. To do this, you stand on one leg and bend the other so that the inner sole of your foot is pressed upwards onto the thigh of the standing leg. At the same time, stretch your arms over your head and press your palms together to form an outstretched point.
The triangle
The triangle is also one of the well-known yoga exercises for in-between times and stretches the thigh and core muscles. To do this, take a wide lunge forward and touch your right leg with your right hand and turn your body towards your left leg.
The neck
To perform this exercise, sit upright on a chair, place your hands behind your neck and turn your shoulders in the opposite direction. This exercise is performed once for each side and should be held for 20 seconds.
Standing forward bend
For this quick yoga exercise, stand up straight, bend your knees and try to touch your toes with your fingers. If you are particularly flexible, you can try to reach your knees with the tip of your nose.
If you just take a few minutes to do one or two exercises, you will notice how much more relaxed you will be at work and in your free time. However, since we don't warm up before the exercises, we should train carefully.
Yoga for beginners
If we subject ourselves to extreme stress for weeks, we eventually reach the point where we can't deal with it anymore: our head seems full of all sorts of thoughts, we can't even concentrate on one thought, our muscles ache and we just feel tired and exhausted.
Yoga for beginners can help you to be more flexible, relaxed and calm. Yoga also helps you to feel good in your own body again. Yoga deals with the whole person. It helps you to lead a contented and happy life.
Yoga beginners often achieve the best results by first concentrating on the awareness of the body, the asanas. It helps to find out where tensions are located and how to release them.
Breathing exercises also help yoga beginners to relax quickly. Because your breath reflects how you are feeling. Breathing exercises that ensure that your breath becomes light and flowing help you to relax your mind and recognize what is important at the moment.
Anyone who finally realizes that they are "chasing" something all day long must learn that they can only release tension by "listening to themselves". This is the only way to avoid this tension in the future. It is true that only those who pause can ultimately feel something.
To learn yoga, beginners should attend a course. The exercises taught in the yoga course for beginners help beginners to develop a sense of their body. A trained yoga teacher looks closely and can address unfavorable postures.
Anyone who starts doing yoga should not expect to be able to do everything after just a few times. Yoga is a lifelong development and, above all, learning process. Only those who practice regularly can learn how to deal with their own body and thus find inner balance. It is therefore important to treat your own body lovingly and calmly and to give it time to master the individual exercises.
It is also important that yoga beginners do not overexert themselves. A book with unbelievable contortions is not a yoga beginner's book. It is better to find a good balance between what is possible and what is useful. After all, the exercises should ultimately serve your well-being, health and self-healing powers. And when you come to this realization, you know that sometimes less is more.
What clothing and equipment do you need for yoga exercises?
The first yoga class is approaching and you are wondering what equipment is right for yoga. Here are some tips for the right clothing for yoga class:
Wear comfortable clothing. Loose, comfortable pants or leggings are much better than tight pants with pockets. It is also important that you choose clothing that is airy and breathable. Especially in the winter months, you may prefer to wear socks to yoga classes. However, it is correct to do the exercises barefoot.
Most yoga schools will let you borrow yoga mats and blocks. If you want to try out yoga to see if it's really for you, you don't want to buy a complete set of equipment straight away. If you do decide to buy a yoga mat, make sure it's not too thin, otherwise you could easily have problems with your knees or back.
A yoga mat is necessary so that you can do the exercises barefoot and have a firm footing. If you only train on the floor, you can easily slip and injure yourself.
So for your first yoga class, you don't need any special clothing or equipment. It's more about feeling comfortable and wearing comfortable clothes. Sweatpants and a t-shirt are perfectly fine. There is special yoga clothing, but it's not necessary. It's more important that the clothing you choose allows you freedom of movement so that you can do the exercises comfortably. Just make sure that the clothing isn't too long or baggy, otherwise you can easily get tangled up or trip over trouser legs that are too long.
Pay attention to how you feel after yoga. We often feel better after just the first few hours. Our minds are freer, our muscles are relaxed and we feel refreshed. Unlike many other sports, yoga is not about trying to outdo each other but rather about building a good feeling for our own bodies. Many yoga beginners describe that they sleep better, sit up straighter and are more resilient after just the first few hours.
Those who struggle with physical limitations can make the exercises easier by using straps, bands and similar accessories.
A meditation shawl can also be important for some people. It prevents the body from cooling down during meditation and also makes you feel safe. In the long term, yoga can even help you lose weight, build up lost self-confidence and steer your life in a new direction.
