Yoga is a means of bringing the mind, body and spirit into harmony. Through breathing, posture and focused movement, yoga can improve flexibility, heighten circulation and relieve everyday stress.

The practice of yoga originated in India 5000 years ago. Since then, yoga has developed into several different styles including Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Kundalini, Iyengar and Bikram. Each style differs in spiritual focus and technique. For example, Hatha yoga involves a series of gentle, relaxed postures while Ashtanga yoga is more strenuous and energetic.

Vinyasa is a style of yoga that also tends to be more vigorous. Kundalini yoga is characterized by rapid repetitive movements and focuses on the synchronization of breath and posture to promote the flow of energy in the body.

In contrast, the Iyengar style of yoga, which emphasizes body alignment and breathing technique, involves holding poses for long periods of time. Finally, Bikram yoga or "hot" yoga involves performing strenuous series of poses in extremely hot temperatures. The combination of heat and perspiration is believed to promote muscle relaxation and cleansing of the body's toxins.

Yoga and Flexibility

Yoga is a total body exercise. In short, yoga helps you to move better and feel better. It stretches muscles and joints and can result in improved posture, energy levels and overall health. Yoga also promotes the release of lactic acid, which is what causes your muscles to feel fatigued and cramped.

The regular practice of yoga can promote body wellness by gradually increasing overall flexibility. By easing muscles and joints into various postures, tension is released and the body becomes less rigid. The key to gaining real benefit from yoga is consistency of practice and maintaining just the right level of difficulty. When practicing yoga, think of yourself as an elastic band. You want to apply just enough tension to give your muscles a good stretch, but not so much that you "snap" and injure yourself.

Everyday Yoga

Yoga is an excellent means to achieve total body conditioning. You would be surprised how easy it is to incorporate yoga into your everyday life. Novice practitioners can start with attempting the deep breathing style characteristic of many forms of yoga. The first step is to take a deep breath from your diaphragm and exhale slowly through your mouth. Then, imagine all of the tense spots in your body relaxing as your release that breath. This exercise can be done in your car, at work, at home or just about anywhere. Combining pramayana (breathing technique) with yoga posture can relieve stress and improve flexibility. In addition, depending on the style of yoga that you choose, consistent practice can also build lean muscle tissue, resulting in a taut and defined physique.

As a final note, be sure to gradually ease into your yoga routine, as it can take time for your body to become accustomed to the strenuous positions and unfamiliar postures.

Learn more about this author, Andrea Pellettiere.
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