Maintaining a Healthy Body and Mind Through Yoga

The Covid pandemic has forced most of us to remain indoors for some time in the foreseeable future. Although This may help us avoid getting infected by the Corona Virus, the lack of activities and being constrained indoors has given rise to some physical and mental issues & ailments. At such dire times, i.e. the COVID pandemic, certain activities tend to be superb when it comes to uplift your moods. Yoga happens to be one of those activities. Yoga and meditation not only help in uplifting the mood but also helps in honing your overall physical & mental health. It is no surprise that there is a certain amount of paranoia within each of us with the spread of COVID. This gives us a very unsettling feeling. Yoga and recreation activities help in battling anxiety & stress while boosting your morale. Yoga also helps in bettering your immunity.

Yoga is an ancient art of relaxation & stress relief and is regarded as a spiritual experience. Regular practicing of yoga can provide physical and mental health benefits. Here are some of the common health benefits of practicing yoga:

• increased flexibility
• increased muscle strength and tone
• improved respiration, energy, and vitality
• maintaining a balanced metabolism
• weight reduction
• cardio and circulatory health
• improved athletic performance
• protection from injury
• builds confidence
• improves your posture
• makes you more mindful
• boosts your strength and endurance
• helps relieve stress and sleep better.

Further to this, practicing yoga asanas and meditating regularly provides natural support to the immune system. Yoga is a wholesome exercise that keeps our bodies and minds healthy. With around 13 types of Yoga, like Kundalini Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Hatha Yoga Power Yoga, etc, you might ask the question “where do I start or which style is suited for?” The answer is fairly simple, start easy. There are some easy asanas in Yoga that are common across all types of yoga. Start there, and gradually progress from that.

Like most things, regular practice of Yoga with time would help you in seeing effective results. The more you practice, the better you would become at Yoga Asanas. The reason for Yoga having so many Asanas is that Different asanas have different purposes. Some Asanas bring down anxiety and stress; some help increase energy levels, some help boost our immunity, Help build body strength, instill positivity, and refresh the mind. Making Yoga a complete exercise for mind and body.

Let’s take a look at these simple yoga poses to start your journey towards an overall healthy life:

• Uttanasana (Forward Fold)
• Ardhachakrasana (backbend)
• Hastapadasana or  Ardhauttanasana (Standing forward bend – Hand to knee/toe)
• Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
• Ardha Matsyendrasana or  Vakrasana (Half spinal twist)
• Paschimottanasana (Seated forward bend)
• Shishuasana (Child’s pose)
• Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
• Dhanurasana (Bow pose)
• Adhomukhswanasana (Downward dog pose)
• Makarasana (Crocodile pose) with humming sound for mental relaxation
• Setubandhasana (Bridge pose)
• Sarvangasana or Vipritkarni (Shoulder stand or simple leg lift)
• Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
• Natarajasana (Supine spinal twist)
• Pawanmuktasana (Wind-release pose)
• Yoga Nidra (Relaxation)

Pranayamas

Doing pranayamas after a session of power yoga helps the body to cool down and relax. Take a deep breath after every set of asanas. Pranayamas like kapalbhati, anulom vilom, bhastrika and bhramari, we should do regularly. All these regulate blood circulation and activate good energy in our body. It also helps to get rid of some health problems like blood pressure, diabetes and others.

How online yoga classes help you reach your health and fitness goals?

We must all do our part to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and for that, it is best that we stay indoors. However, staying indoors and working from home has had an effect on our fitness routine. Many of us have moved from going to gyms to online yoga and online exercises. Online yoga classes became popular during the coronavirus lockdown. Yoga gurus are also now conducting Yoga classes online. Experts suggest that we should perform yoga asanas under the supervision of a yoga expert or trainer to learn the right yoga techniques and poses, properly. Online Yoga classes allow you to choose your teacher, learn yoga at your own pace, and practice in the comfort of your home without disturbing your routine.

Regular yoga sessions help you unlock the various inhibitors of your body and mind. Yoga can prevent physical and psychological problems that ail us during the pandemic. It can be an incredible vehicle for positive physical and mental change. Ultimately, trial and error is the most ideal approach to figure out which style of yoga is appropriate for you. Attempting different classes under different trainers can help you discover one that addresses your issues.     

Regularly practicing yoga asanas and pranayamas promotes strength and flexibility. There are countless emotional, physical and mental health benefits of yoga, as mentioned above. It truly does not matter how proficient you are at Yoga. However, Practicing yoga regularly makes you feel better inside out.

True beauty is a reflection of a healthy inner self and can be achieved through healthy eating habits, regular fitness routines, sound sleep, and mindful lifestyle practices. All of these together contribute to an overall healthy life. One without the other would not reap the desired results. Now that you know the benefits of Yoga and how it promotes health, you can start your journey by taking Yoga Classes Online.