Advantages And Disadvantages Of Yoga

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Yoga is defined in many ways, and its literal translation is highly debated. It most widely thought to mean “that which brings you to reality” or “union” (Vasudev, 2017). Yoga in its most basic practice is an exercise in both mindfulness and physical flexibility. It is a meditative practice, that combines rhythmic breathing patterns with stretching poses, in aim to loosen the mind and body. The main goal of yoga is to connect the mind and body, and to help those partaking, to be more in touch with the world around them (Snyder, Lopez & Pedrotti, 2010). Yoga is a relatively old practice, but the scientific research on its effectiveness is just gaining ground. The current research shows both advantages and disadvantages for those who perform …show more content…

Many of these types of yoga overlap in the techniques performed during practice. Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga are four of the most popular types of yoga in western practice. Hatha yoga is best described as a relaxing, rejuvenating yoga. It is often practiced by those who are just beginning to be interested in yoga and is not as physically demanding as other types. Kundalini yoga is the next level of intensity after Hatha yoga, as it is structured, emphasizes proper form, and has a greater focus on breathing techniques over Hatha yoga. Next, Ashtanga yoga is an intensive, physically demanding type of yoga that provides yogis with a full body workout. Finally, Bikram Yoga combines fast past, intense yoga stretches, with high room temperatures and humidity, to induce sweating to trigger the release of toxins in the body. For the purpose of the review about understanding the effects of yoga on wellbeing, we will consider classic or conventional yoga to be standard of practice. Classic yoga is considered to be a perfect balance of each of these four types of yoga. Most yoga programs teach a combination of these types of yoga, and in general it is believed that it is best to have a balance of strenuous and recovery-type yoga’s. Now that the components of wellbeing, and the different types of yoga are understood, we can begin to discuss how yoga influences each of the components of wellbeing individually. Since yoga is fundamentally a systematic workout, participants often report an increase in physiological

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