- lydiaspringer
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: YOGA
WHAT IS YOGA?
The technical definition: "a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which (including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures) is widely practiced for health and relaxation"
BENEFITS OF YOGA
○ maintain balanced metabolism
○ cardio and circulatory health
○ help alleviate back pain and carpal tunnel symptoms
○ help increase lymph drainage
○ protection from injury
○ body awareness
○ better sleep
○ versatile (yoga can be done anywhere): studio/class/gym, at home, private instruction, outside, etc.
TYPES OF YOGA
*There are many many types of yoga; these are just the most commonly known types.
HATHA
○ slow and gentle; ideal for beginners
VINYASA
○ series of postures that work cardiovascular system with flowing movements and quick pace
BIKRAM (created by Bikram Choudhury)
○ a type of hatha yoga done in an artifically heated space; always follows the same 26 poses
ASHTANGA (POWER)
○ rigorous style; similar to vinyasa
RESTORATIVE (YIN YOGA)
○ relax and soothe frayed nerves; uses bolsters, blankets, and blocks
HOT YOGA ○ similar to Bikram, but deviates from Bikram's sequence in some small way(s)
YOGA EQUIPMENT*
Yoga can be done with little to no equipment, which makes it so versatile. But, you can always use various types of equipment to aid or improve your movements. *linked at end
MATS
○ help prevent slipping and provides a slightly padded surface for floor work
TOWELS
○ microfibre towel
○ especially great for Bikram and hot yoga to wipe down your body and your mat
STRAPS
○ helps beginners with flexibility
○ make it "easier to reach parts of the body you may not be flexibile enough to reach"
○ helps to hold harder positions
BLOCKS / BRICKS
○ designed for extensions when you may not be able to reach the floor
BLANKETS
○ used mainly for hip elevation
○ also used to cover the body during cool down phase
BALLS
○ help with stability, balance and strength
BOLSTERS
○ extra support, especially for restorative yoga
There's so many ways to practice yoga in the time we live now. You can go to classes at a studio or local gym, you can follow videos online, or you can learn the movements and do them by yourself.
Even if you just do it once a week, you will start to notice a difference.
Yoga doesn't discriminate: anyone with any body can do it.
Give it a try; your body will thank you!
LINKS
YOGA MATS
Low-end | Mid-range | High-end
(the app has a whole yoga section, created with Sjana Earp)
Pretty much all of these items can also be purchased from more affordable retailers like:
WalMart, Winners, Marshall's, Canadian Tire, and Amazon.
I got my yoga mat from Winners a few years ago and (for now) it's still hangin' on!