What is Yoga and what are the benefits?
Yoga has been practiced by many people and cultures in various parts of the world for over 5000 years. In Sanskrit, Yoga means a “Union.” Many believe this to be a union of the Mind, the Body and the Spirit. Some believe it to also be a union or connection of all souls to one another on a spiritual level. Yoga is many things to many people. On a physical level, Yoga involves stretching, strengthening, balance, postural improvement and a “workout” in many ways. For the mind, Yoga offers intense concentration and the benefit of being introspective. In this way, Yoga helps many people to connect their thoughts to their actions or their mind to their body. Spiritually, Yoga is a sort of meditation in motion and in this way it offers relaxation, stress release and healing benefits. In general, Yoga is very therapeutic. The “gift” of slowing down, looking inside and nurturing your body and your mind is an integral part of Yoga.
The process of Yoga is a journey that begins with linking breath to movement. The Vinyasa style of Yoga combined with the Alignment style of Yoga is the best of two worlds blended. Vinyasa is a flow that allows you to heat your body so it becomes more flexible and responsive to movement. The Alignment style offers a sustainable way to move your body through Asanas or postures and focuses on technique so you can reap the benefits and avoid getting injured.
