Yoga
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Yoga is a multi-faceted discipline that stretches back thousands of years and originated in ancient India. There are many different types of yoga and the most popular form worldwide today is Hatha yoga. The word "hatha" means "force" and whilst it is a spiritual practice, there is a heavy focus on breathing techniques and physical postures. This has made it very popular as a form of gentle exercise in mainstream society. Some of the most common hatha yoga postures include:
Yoga Postures
- Tree pose
- Warrior
- Cobra
- Standing bow pose
- Downward facing dog
- Child's pose
- Seated twist pose
Sun Salutation
A Sun Salutation (in Sanskrit Surya Namaskar) is a sequence of 12 postures designed to be performed in the morning. This practice functions as a warm up for the day, stretching the body, focussing the mind and promoting inner peace. The sequence of postures are as follows:
- Prayer pose
- Upward salute
- Standing forward bend
- Low lunge
- Plank
- Knees-chest-chin
- Cobra
- Downward facing dog
- Low lunge
- Standing forward bend
- Upward salute
- Prayer pose
Benefits
There are many benefits to practising yoga. These include:
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- It helps you become more present in the moment and calmer
- Improves flexibility, strength and balance
- Improves quality of sleep
- Supports your immune system and reduces inflammation
More info on yoga