Some spas offer relaxing yoga sessions in addition to their usual massage and wellness services. Why not take advantage of this opportunity? Yes, we know you're only looking for a spa near your area and you just want to give your body a break. But what about your mind? You've been having a massage for these past few months which already soothed your aching and tense muscles. But have you done something to clear your mind? That's what the offered yoga sessions are for - to complete the "body and mind" approach. Let's learn more about the basics of yoga first.
History of Yoga
The origins of yoga, specifically the timeline of its evolution, is definitely a subject of debate. One thing is for sure though - it originated from India 5,000 years ago. Writing about the history of yoga will require a separate article in itself (stay tuned for that!). We do know and we can confidently tell you that yoga’s long rich history can be divided into four main periods:
- Pre-classical
- Classical
- Post-Classical
- Modern Period
Health Benefits
Yoga definitely has many benefits for both the body and mind. It improves flexibility, builds muscle, aligns your posture, prevents joint inflammation, and increases blood flow. It also helps you focus on tasks, improve sleep, increase self esteem, and boost the inner self. From a medical perspective, the relaxation techniques in yoga can suppress the symptoms of lower back pain, arthritis, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome. There are also numerous other claims of health benefits which just goes to show how good yoga is for you.
How It Works
When you stretch during regular yoga sessions, you increase the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body. This can help move toxins out of the body. This increase in blood flow is the main mechanism of how yoga provides most of its health benefits. Yoga’s stress-busting powers may come from its ability to lessen the activity of proteins that are known to play a role in inflammation too. In terms of weight loss, the gentle stretching during yoga sessions is found to be able to burn calories (even more than just sitting on a couch).
Is Yoga Right for Me?
Yes, yoga is for people of all ages, sexes, and body types. The only question would be, which type of yoga though? There are many types of yoga like Bikram, Ashtanga, Forrest, Ishta, Iyengar, Jivamukti, and Kripalu, to name a few. Want to know more about each style? Stick around to find out more!
