What is Yoga?
Born in India thousand years ago, this discipline was codified for the first time by that the one we consider as the father of traditional yoga, Patamjli, at the beginning of the Christian era.
In his Sutra Yoga, he describes the 8 aspects of yoga and compares them with the branches of a tree: Yama (entitled to communicate with non-violence in all our actions), Niyama (practical consisting in removing all the impurities of our body and our spirit and finding serenity), Asana (practical of postures), Pranayama (control of breathing), Pratyahna (relieving when the spirit is able to remain in a direction without any distraction), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (ultimate stage of personal realization, release).
Yoga, which means “union” in Sanskrit (literary language of the old India), combines these various branches. Spiritual and body, it includes a whole of techniques: meditation, control of emotions, concentration, breathing and body postures. Although there are several schools, all aspire to the same goal.
An activity for everyone
Everyone, man or woman, young person or old, slim or not, can practice yoga. It is just enough to have the major desire to carry out a healthier and more complete life.
With yoga, there is no competition, what counts is the mental investment, the concentration and the rigor that each one puts to carry out postures. Everything is a question of will: while persevering, no matter who is able to carry out any posture. Moreover, from the moment we realize we manage some postures, we realize we are able of everything, even the life.
Physical benefits and mental wellbeing
So that the organism works correctly, it is necessary to join to physical solidity a perfect mental wellbeing. It is there one of the principal goals of yoga: fluidity in body and spirit. Associated to a controlled breathing, the sequences of postures improve the silhouette and work in-depth on the organism: toning up of muscular groups, easing, balance, reinforcement of the abdominal area with reduction in greases, elimination of toxins, stimulation of vital organs (digestive, respiratory, sexual…).
In addition, concentration and the necessary will influence the nerves: one feels a deep wellbeing which is reflected on the whole acts of the everyday life and relations with the others.
Better in his body, better in his head.
Practice of Yoga
In yoga that I practice, the ashtanga vinyasa yoga, as in any lesson of this discipline, we always start with greetings to the sun which are used for warm-up.
Then, according to schools, we carry out quite slowly (few seconds to several minutes) various postures upright or on the ground, always by controlling his breathing.At the end of the lesson, some minutes of chill-out are necessary to recover.