What is Yoga?
What is Yoga?
What is Yoga?
☯ What does Yoga mean?
Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. First codified by the sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras around 400 C.E, the practice was in fact handed down from teacher to student long before this text arose. Traditionally, this was a one-to-one transmission, but since yoga became popular in the West in the 20th century, group classes have become the norm.
The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke,” or “to unite”. The practice aims to create union between body, mind and spirit, as well as between the individual self and universal consciousness. Such a union tends to neutralize ego-driven thoughts and behaviours, creating a sense of spiritual awakening.
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, and whilst many different interpretations and styles have been developed, most tend to agree that the ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve liberation from suffering. Although each school or tradition of yoga has its own emphasis and practices, most focus on bringing together body, mind and breath as a means of altering energy or shifting consciousness.
☯ Modern yoga
Modern yoga is most commonly associated with the physical practice of asana, a series of postures often weaved together in styles such as Vinyasa Flow or Ashtanga. Asana practice is generally intended to build strength and stamina, to improve flexibility, coordination and balance, and to relax the body. However, this provides only one small aspect of the tradition of yoga as a whole.
Why is Yoga good?
Why is Yoga good?
Why is Yoga good?
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Lowers stress and improves your mood
Some yoga methods use specific meditation techniques, which focus the mind on your breathing to quieten the constant ‘mind chatter’, relieves stress and allow you to feel relaxed. Practising these breathing techniques on a yoga and meditation retreat can also boost oxygen levels to the brain, leaving you feeling happier and more content with everyday life Boosts confidence
Aside from the uplifting spiritual values, the act of meditation can actually boost your confidence. The process works by releasing tension from your mind, so that you can feel confident about your physical body. Without any forms of anxiety, you are able to establish an internal connection with yourself. This is consequently reflected in your perception of others and will help to better your relationships by improving compassion and awareness.-
Lowers the risk of injury
Exercise such as running is usually a series of rapid, forceful movements, which means that effort is at a maximum and there is a higher risk of injury and increased muscle tension. Often, strenuous exercise also engages an imbalance of opposing muscle groups, whereas yoga concentrates on balancing this activity. Unite your body and mind on a yoga and fitness holiday which will allow to combine more intense workouts with low-impact yoga. -
Helps you lose weight
Being overweight is a sign that there are imbalances in your everyday life and one major contributor to weight gain is excess stress. Practising yoga enables you to bring a deep sense of relaxation to your body and your mind, helping you to de-stress and allowing you to lose weight naturally.
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Increases flexibility
People often say that they are not flexible enough to do yoga. The truth is, it doesn’t matter how tight your muscles are as yoga asanas works by safely stretching your muscles and help you to practise it further. Moreover, yoga also stretches other soft tissue in the body such as ligaments and tendons, increasing the range of motion in the joints and allowing you to move around more freely. -
Improves muscle tone and strength
Many yoga asanas have a profound effect on your upper body strength, such as the downward and upward dog, whilst the plank focuses on your core. Likewise, standing poses strengthen your upper leg muscles and lower back. Essentially any pose will strengthen an area of the body if it is practised in the right way, without putting too much stress on specific muscle groups. -
Benefits breathing and lowers blood pressure
If you practise yoga consistently, your lung capacity will increase as a result of the deep breathing process. This will then have a positive effect on more intense sports that you might be a part of, increasing your stamina and endurance. Furthermore, meditation and calming yoga asanas slow down your heart rate which in turn lowers blood pressure and have also been linked with improving the immune system and lowering cholesterol. -
Improves your posture
By practising yoga you maintain a healthier weight, become more flexible and improve your muscle tone and strength. You will find that your posture will greatly improve because of this. Your abdominals and back muscles can now fully support your weight and you will be able to sit and stand tall, preventing niggling injuries, aches and pains. The beauty of yoga is that it can be practiced pretty much anywhere, on your own or with other yoga enthusiasts. If you have been inspired to give yoga a go there is no better place to try it than on an amazing yoga holiday with destinations spanning from Thailand to St Lucia. Here we share our top 10 yoga retreats where you can enjoy a luxurious healthy holiday whilst profiting from the extraordinary health and fitness benefits yoga has to offer.
The inclusive guide to
Yoga
in Berlin
Small groups with a slow paste:
Every Damn Day Yoga
An only female led yoga studio in the heart of Friedrichshain, one of the most popular districts of the trendy Berlin. All clases are given by woman and a maximum of 8 people are allowed to participate in each class. Although there are different types of yoga taught by the instructures here, most of the classes are pretty low-pasted. Hence, it is perfect for all those seeking a intimate yet intensive experience!
Evolve Yoga
Another yoga studio where your teacher will be experienced female instructures. Evolve Yoga classes focus on Forst Yoga, a slow yet intensive yoga type, as it centers on the breathing and the postures. The groups are very small: only 5 people are allowed! It is a very intimate experience due to the close and friendly nature of the instructures. It is also a great place for BPOC, as it is most likely the class is taught by a BPOC instructure!
Yoga Academie
Perfect place to relax and find your inner zen. Depending on the class you take, you will find a great instructure that takes enough time to ease in every single student into the practise. A place where you can feel save and free to ask questions without fearing any hateful glances by the classmates. Groups are usually around 10 people but one doesnot feel the amount at all!
Big groups but a slow paste:
Yoga Sky
A modern yoga studio with bright light and huge rooms. Usually, the groups are around 15 to 18 people but the instructure focuses on each and every student in the room. Hence, you can expect the classes to be slow but intense! As the studio is located in the hip and trendy Bergmannkiez, there will be some overly selfconfident classmates once in a while...
Yoga für dich: Schöneberg
It is bit difficult to find this lovely studio in Schöneberg, another hip but different district of Berlin. Located in the highest floor of an old building, there is always sunshine brightening up the spacious room. Classes usually have around 15 to 20 people. Depending on the type of class you take, you can expext it to slow or fast. Usually, the classes of level 0 and 1 are the slowest.
Yoga Academie
Perfect place to relax and find your inner zen. Depending on the class you take, you will find a great instructure that takes enough time to ease in every single student into the practise. A place where you can feel save and free to ask questions without fearing any hateful glances by the classmates. Groups are usually around 10 people but one doesnot feel the amount at all!