Benefits of a regular yoga practice
Yoga means to unite, to unite body, mind and spirit. The style of yoga practiced is a mix of Vinyasa and Hatha. The Vinyasa style of yoga is a more energetic style that incorporates the breath with the movement. Hatha yoga is the traditional style of yoga, which all other variations have originated from. Some poses are done dynamically to warm up the body as in Vinyasa whilst others are more static to allow the body to relax into the pose. All levels are welcome as the classes can be modified to suit beginners through to intermediate yogis. The most important point to keep in mind when doing yoga is to always listen to your own body and only go as far as you feel comfortable. The benefits of yoga include:
- Increased strength and flexibility in both joints and muscles.
- Increased energy and vitality.
- Improved posture and core stability.
- Improved stress management, and reduction in tension and anxiety.
- An overall sense of well being both in body and mind.
Yoga can be divided into three parts, the physical postures, which help to keep the muscles and joints flexible and mobile. Regulation of the breath, which helps to improve lung capacity, encourages correct breathing and initiates a still mind. Lastly, meditation, this allows one to turn inward, to find a moment of peace and stillness in our day. Meditation, like the yoga postures is a practice, and when practiced regularly, it improves overall well being, encourages deeper levels of relaxation, provides clarity of thought and stimulates the body's natural ability to heal itself.
Benefits of Meditation
There are many forms of meditation, which help us to achieve a peaceful and calm mind. Meditation comes when you reach a state of being that enables you to silently watch the fluctuations of your mind without getting lost in them, when you can become the witness without interference or judgment. The techniques of meditation, which will be followed, use a form of anchor or focal point to prevent the mind from wandering. The techniques used are:
- Focusing on mental images and scenery - visualization.
- The power of sound by mentally repeating a word or phrase - mantra/japa meditation.
- Focusing on the steady and natural inhalation and exhalation of the breath - mindfulness meditation.
