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Life is chaos at times. Suppose you need a break from it? So, practice yoga for your benefit!
Yoga is a discipline that connects your body with your mind and the mind with your soul. No matter how stressed you are, spending some time doing yoga can benefit you in several ways.
You might have gone for yoga classes, and you might have failed at practicing yoga at home, even after all the guidance you received.
This is due to the lack of certain key points in your idea of practicing yoga at home.1 To reach that ultimate goal of consistency in practicing yoga, come hither and heed our advice!
1. Introduction To Yoga
1.1. Origin
To do well, you have to understand the concept of yoga. Yoga is a discipline that originated in India. Nowadays, yoga is a technique to stay fit and relaxed. It is a practice that originated almost 5000 years ago.
1.2. Meaning
According to Indian traditions, yoga is more about attaining spiritual liberation. It is not just an exercise but a way of life and a union of your mind, body, and soul. Concentration is a major element in yoga.
1.3. Yoga Asanas and Branches
Yoga consists of several asanas, breathing exercises, and meditation. Asanas are special poses that stimulate a communion of the mind and body and form the core of yoga practices.2
There are six branches of yoga that have distinct characteristics. They are as follows:
- Hatha yoga
- Karma yoga
- Raja yoga
- Bhakti yoga
- Tantra yoga
- Jnana yoga
Now yoga has evolved into a wide business that involves teacher training, books, videos, equipment, and certification.
1.4. Yoga in the 21st Century
Modern yoga focuses more on poses that can rejuvenate energy and maintain fitness. People with certain health conditions like Sciatica3 have to analyze the practice before getting into it.
21 June is the international day of yoga. UNESCO has enlisted yoga as an intangible cultural heritage. Some studies prove that people who practice yoga gain multiple benefits, both physical and mental.
2. Benefits Of Yoga
There are many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits you can get if you practice yoga. Yoga makes you happier, which could be a reason for you to look forward to the class.
Studies prove that the regular practice of yoga makes people happy, and they are less vulnerable to depression. Attaining complete concentration is a real task. Practice yoga to get more focus and control over your reactions.
When you practice yoga, you are helping your body to relax and improve your balance. Yoga is a mine of benefits, one that you need to tap pronto!
- Practice yoga to get a sound sleep. You will be less stressed if you regularly practice yoga. Your immune system has many functional benefits with yoga practice.
- Flexibility is another benefit of yoga. You can perfect your posture with yoga. Acquire better bone strength with the practice of yoga. This also helps in preventing conditions like arthritis.
- Yoga increases your blood flow and improves circulation. Once you consistently practice yoga, you can prevent the risk of a heart attack.
- Excessive cortisol levels can affect your health. Practice yoga to regulate your cortisol release and adrenal glands as well.
- Yoga lowers bad cholesterol.
The ultimate benefit of yoga is that it gives you peace of mind. It also helps in increasing self-esteem. The inner strength you gain with the practice of yoga can provide a positive change in your life.
3. 10 Tips To Practice Yoga At Home
Regular practice of yoga at home is quite challenging. There are multiple ways in which you can get distracted. Since no one is there to guide you at home, gaining consistency is a real task.
Before you practice yoga, be ready with your yoga mat and wear comfortable clothes. When you choose a mat, please choose a non-slippery one.
3.1. Create a Habit
If you are new to yoga, start small. Do practice yoga for a short period daily. This way, you are inserting a new habit into your life. This is not that difficult if you look at the bright side.
Now that you know the perks of yoga practice it without fail.
Prepare your mind to adopt yoga as a habit. Once you get into it, you will be able to continue it with consistency.
After attaining consistency, increase the period and try out different patterns of exercises. This way, you can expand yourself in the world of yoga.
3.2. Enroll In an Online Class
If you are a beginner, then practicing at home will initially create confusion. To avoid that, enroll yourself in an online class or a session.
You can schedule classes up to your convenience as it is online. With proper guidance, you are less likely to get injuries or find some other difficulties.
Choose the style of yoga you prefer and find a class for it. Install it in your schedule and make it a habit.
You can even follow video tutorials. Choose at your convenience.
3.3. Prioritize Yoga Practice
Make yoga a priority in your life. Always devote at least 15 minutes of your time to yoga. This helps in maintaining consistency, and you will not get a guilty feeling.
Even if you are busy, find your yoga spot and do it as a mandatory thing. When you practice, keep away all the distractions like phones, music, and television.
Set some boundaries for an uninterrupted yoga practice session.
3.4. Find a Spot to Practice Yoga
Create a space for your daily practice. You don’t have to wander to find an optimal space. You can save time and energy if you have a fixed practice spot.
Also, creating such a unique space will make a mental connection that will remind you to practice yoga whenever you reach there.
Find a quiet and comfortable space that is less prone to distractions. Be creative and set your room mindfully.
3.5. Enjoy Your Practice
It is a known fact that you will keep on doing it if you are passionate about something. Enjoy what you do. You have to build a mindset where yoga has become a lifestyle rather than a difficult chore.
Please don’t overdo it. Adopt a different style if you feel uncomfortable. You should be aware that you might fail at gaining perfection at first. But practice makes perfect!
With regular practice, you can reach that level. Try to enjoy your yoga time and make it more relaxing.
Set a goal. This way, you will always follow the practice. Stop thinking like you need to do everything to get a completion. Work for your goals which can be physical, spiritual, or mental well-being.
3.6. Prevent Injury
Avoid doing risky practices initially. Once you get injured, there is a fair chance of quitting. Therefore always stay safe and stick to your style.
With smaller steps, you can reach perfection in your style. Please don’t do it excessively. Know your limits and have a distinct idea of what you want to do.
3.7. Set a Time
Many people like to practice yoga in the morning, while others like to do it in the evening. Choose an apt time according to your schedule.
Always stick to it. Never compromise that time for anything else!
3.8. Practice on an Empty Stomach
While you set time for your yoga practice, always remember to keep a 2-3 hours gap between your meals and yoga practice.
It is best to do it on a light stomach to help in better performance and better effects.
3.9. Follow a Warm-up Routine
Before you go for your intense yoga practice, do follow a warm-up routine to avoid pain. Bring out flexibility so that your muscles won’t overstrain.
3.10. Do Ample Research
Before you practice yoga, understand the core of yoga. Choose the style according to your requirements—research well the various practices and poses.
Select the right pattern of yoga for you. This is more than just physical exercise.
So, try to understand and accept yourself and your body. The acquired knowledge of yoga will help you to accept and understand your pace.
4. Practice Yoga – Bottom Line
Practice yoga at your home and maintain a healthy life. It is free to practice at home. It also helps in building discipline.
You have the flexibility to choose your practice time. At-home yoga practice makes it easier and less time-consuming.
You can wear comfortable clothes when you practice at home. The best part is you don’t have to compare or compete with anyone as you are alone in your yoga practice.
When you practice at home, the whole focus is only on you. This helps in developing self-awareness. The bottom line is to practice yoga at home and liberate yourself wholely.
Discover more awesome content from us at Best Self Confidence Books to Boost Your Self Esteem.
Marilyn Rose A. Lacorte, RN (Medical Professional, Proofreading)
- Ayala, Sujata Ghosh, Kenneth Wallson, and Gurjeet Birdee. “Characteristics of yoga practice and predictors of practice frequency.” International Journal of Yoga Therapy 28.1 (2018): 107-111. ↩︎
- Gould, Laura Feagans, et al. “Assessing fidelity of core components in a mindfulness and yoga intervention for urban youth: applying the CORE Process.” New directions for youth development 2014.142 (2014): 59-81. ↩︎
- Valat, Jean-Pierre, et al. “Sciatica.” Best practice & research Clinical rheumatology 24.2 (2010): 241-252. ↩︎
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