These days, yoga is already so ingrained in our lives that it’s hard to find a person who doesn’t have even a vague idea of what it is.
Yoga is an ancient spiritual practice that came to us from India. It consists of eight stages that affect all aspects of human existence, from observing moral principles, working with the body and breathing, to more subtle techniques for controlling the psyche, mind and soul. consciousness. In the modern world, yoga primarily means working with the body. In the practice of asanas – body postures – there are elements of other stages. This is the reason for all the positive effects of yoga.
In yoga, like nowhere else, the direction, the school, is important. In our centers we practice classical hatha yoga according to the method of Sri B.K.S Iyengar. Named one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2004 by Time magazine, Iyengar has introduced innovation into tradition.
His method is distinguished by a very precise and scrupulous alignment of the body in the asanas, which produces a profound physiological and therapeutic effect. In these classes, if necessary, use auxiliary materials: alfombras, almohadones, ladrillos, cinturones, mantas y mucho más, lo que permite que personas de cualquier nivel de entrenamiento realicen la postura correctlyamente, de modo que tenga un efecto curativo positivo en the body.
The benefits of yoga are enormous. These are just some of the positive effects it provides.
- Improved health, well-being
- Reduces back and neck pain
- Weight returns to normal
- improve mood
- You become calmer and less stressed.
- Increases body resistance and immunity.
- you become more confident
- Improved sleep quality
- The energy gets bigger
- More concentration and productivity.
- Relieve anxiety and depression
- Accept yourself and your place in the world
- There is a feeling of happiness and peace.
Yoga myths
“The teachings of yoga help us to maintain the body as a temple, so that it becomes as pure as the soul. The body is lazy, the mind is mobile and the soul radiates light. The practice of yoga develops the body to the level of mobility of the mind, so that the body and the mind become mobile and then direct them towards the light of the soul.
Nowadays, people’s opinions on yoga can vary, for example: “I can’t do yoga. There are only stretching exercises, and I have no flexibility at all” or “Yoga is sitting for hours meditating”, or “Yoga? Yes, I’ve heard it, but I really don’t know what it is. My wife goes to yoga, she likes it, but only women do it.
The modern Internet, speaking of yoga, creates a beautiful image, including multicolored yoga mats and slender people bending and twisting their perfect bodies into unthinkable positions, as if thus achieving inner peace and harmony. harmony.
How to discern the ancient art of living, the science of personal development, the philosophy of a calm attitude to the vicissitudes of fate behind the surface of a bright image? A look at common myths about yoga will help dispel our doubts.
Myth #1. Yoga is worship.
A sect (from the Latin “I am”) is a type of religious organization that opposes traditionally dominant dogma, opposes the generally accepted system of religious and secular norms, and functions as a counterculture.
People who practice yoga become more positive, joyful, affable and determined, there is a sense of inner freedom and a sense of oneness with the whole world. Yoga is not “an opposition to generally accepted norms”, it is an addition that helps a person to realize himself more effectively in society, family, to “find himself”.
Myth #2. Yoga is a religion.
Yoga is not a religious system, but a spiritual system, or a spiritual self-improvement system. Yoga is practiced by Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and atheists. Yoga does not impose or demand religious ideas or preferences, on the contrary, it leads to mental clarity, makes you reflect, analyze your actions and intentions, question imposed opinions and study. In essence, yoga is closer to science than to religion, since yoga was created by the ancient sages (rishis) who, through research, trial, error and observation, developed and systematized exercises that help a person improve their body and mind, grow spiritually and become more harmonious and balanced.
Myth #3. Yoga requires vegetarianism.
Yoga does not impose or demand anything from the practitioner. Certain recommendations (including nutrition) can accelerate the progress of the practice and increase its effectiveness. It is recommended to exclude opiates, narcotics and intoxicants, as they reduce consciousness, numb the personality and consume a large amount of energy, instead of activity, apathy and depression appear, which which contradicts the essence of yoga. Yoga classes lead to mental clarity and energy. However, a person who practices yoga can eat meat, or reject it, but not out of violence against himself and his will, but simply by listening to the needs of his body.
Myth number 4. Yoga is stretching.
Yoga classes are a set of exercises designed to strengthen and relax the body, gaining physical harmony. It has been scientifically proven that the easiest and most effective way to relax a tight muscle is to stretch it, which is why yoga includes stretching complexes for the legs and hip joints, but in this case, the purpose of the exercises is not to stretch. itself, but muscle relaxation and work with breathing and mindfulness.
Myth number 5. Yogis put their feet behind their heads and sleep on nails, they boil the blood and stop the heart.
Yoga indeed allows a person to acquire a certain control of his body: to better feel and understand his body, to anticipate the disturbances of the internal balance, to be aware of his needs. But to gain complete control over the body, many years of very hard training are needed.