People all over the world, young and old, are turning to Yoga. People are taking beginning Yoga classes at their local gym or Yoga center or are purchasing video tapes or DVDs of Yoga for beginners to use in the privacy of their homes. Yoga is an anaerobic exercise which targets the muscles of the body, stretching them by slowly moving in and out of a number of easy and complex positions. Yoga has been practiced for centuries as a way to feel connected to your body, and to promote relaxation and peace of mind, body and spirit.
Yoga for Beginners Basic Benefits - Yoga improves stamina and flexibility by focusing on breathing techniques and muscle strength. It increases your staying power and relaxes your body. Someone who practices the discipline of Yoga attempts to achieve a harmonious state by balancing and controlling his or her breathing while maintaining certain poses. Practicing Yoga is a way to block out all of the noise and chaos from your busy life and focus on simple things. It is important to practice Yoga in a quiet location such as your home or a local Yoga center. You need to be able to escape any distractions to attain the maximum benefits Yoga offers. Sometimes it helps to be in a slightly darkened room or have calm and peaceful music playing. Also, you should wear comfortable clothing so your body can arrive at the greatest point of rest.
Yoga for Beginners Basic Poses - Yoga uses a series of simple and complex poses to achieve a harmonious balance of the body. As you become more advanced, you will be able to perform the more intricate poses. They require a great deal of strength, agility and balance. However, even if you are practicing the complex moves, you will still use the basic poses to transition between them. Here are a few of the basic poses you would see in a Yoga for beginners class.
Child’s pose - Sitting on your knees, extend your arms and place them on the floor in front of you. Stretch them out as far as they can go with your face pointed down to the ground.
Downward dog - From child’s pose, unbend your knees and stand on your feet. Keep your hands placed on the floor in front of you. Your posterior section is now pointing in the air and your head remains bowed.
Mountain pose - This is a standing pose. Feet should be shoulder-width apart and facing forward. Concentrate on your posture, keeping your back straight and stretching your neck. Facing forward, imagine that you are growing taller and maintain this stretch until you feel centered.
Proud warrior - This is a standing pose. Begin in mountain pose and turn your right foot out so your feet now form an L-shape. Widen your stance and stretch your arms out on either side of you. Looking over your right arm, sink into a lunge, concentrating on your extended fingertips. Hold the position until steady.
Understanding the benefits of Yoga, and practicing these four basic positions will help you as you start the lifelong practice of Yoga.
By Stacy Hinojosa