Various Modern And Classical Forms Of Yoga - Healthy Lifestyle Journal

The generic term for the mental, physical and spiritual disciplines originated in the ancient India is commonly known as Yoga. The actual concept is that, among the six orthodox schools of the ancient Hindu philosophy yoga is a specific one, which is mainly based on the Yoga Sutras of the Patanjali. Among the followers of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism different forms of yoga are prevalent. The Sutras of Patanjali systematized the diverse practices and the pre philosophical speculations into formal philosophy. Apart from that of the Patanjali, the Hath Yoga also emerged as a prominent and specific tradition of yoga.
Unlike the Yoga Sutra which mainly focuses on the discipline of mind, the Hatha Yoga concentrated on the health and purity of the soul and body. In the late nineteenth century yoga was introduced to the West by the Hindu monks. After 1980, yoga began to gain popularity as a system of exercises all over the western world. Effectiveness of various forms of yoga is still under consideration for the treatment of deadly diseases like schizophrenia, asthma, cancer and some typical heart diseases. According to the national surveys done in the United States it has been found that some long term yoga practitioners have reported improvements regarding mental and muscle skeletal health. Certain forms of Yoga, like hot yoga, also help to lose excess weight.
The literal meaning of the word Yoga is to join or to unite. The person or individual who practices Yoga with the utmost dedication are called Yogi or Yogini. The ancient forms of this art have been modernized so that they can give the maximum benefits to the people. There are institutes where people can get enrolled to learn modern as well as traditional forms of Yoga under the guidance of an experienced teacher.
The names of some of the modern forms of yoga are given as per the name of the person who developed it, for instance, Bikram, Sivananda Integral, Satyananda, the ever popular Iyengar Yoga etc. It can also be seen that some forms of Yoga have been developed by people belonging to a certain area for instance, Tibetan Yoga etc.
In the present day scenario one can come across different DVDs and CDs on Yoga prepared by various famous Yoga trainers. However, it is important to remember that to practice Yoga in the right manner one has to remember certain facts, like proper posture, the right type of breathing techniques etc. Therefore a beginner should always practice under a trainer who can assist him with the proper guidance.
                    If you are planning to do yoga for the first time then it is best that you do it first thing in the morning before you have your breakfast. However if you are a late riser then you can do it in the early evening. One thing that you should remember is that yoga should be practiced on a daily basis. If you start doing it then you cannot miss it frequently.
It will help in increasing your spiritual growth and improve your breathing too. Generally it is best if you do yoga for at least an hour per day. There are times when your body may feel tired, if you have such a feeling then it is best that you do yoga for some time. It will increase the blood circulation in the body resulting in a fresher mind and most importantly you will be filled with energy.
Places where yoga can be performed
Yoga should be performed in a place which is airy and where you can breathe freely. It is advisable not to practice yoga in closed rooms. Some of the common places where you can do yoga are as follows:

• The roof of your house can be a good place to perform yoga. Basically the place has to be filled with fresh air and you should be able to concentrate properly. The place where you are practicing yoga should also be far away from sources of loud sound or noise.


• Secondly you should not perform yoga in a place where you will get direct sunlight. It is possible to do yoga outdoors but you will have to make sure the place is free from direct sunlight. It is also advised not to perform yoga after taking a sun bath.

Breathing techniques while doing yoga
Yoga is just not another exercise which you can do casually. There are certain rules which you have to follow, especially the breathing rules. Some of the rules are given below:

• You should always remember the concept that the nose is for breathing and the mouth is for eating. You should always breathe in through the nose and do it slowly.


• If you have any breathing problem and you feel that you are not comfortable with the breathing techniques then you must consult the doctor immediately. This would help you to get a proper check up and you will know why you are having the breathing problem.