Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and in recent times it has become popular as a form of exercise. In India, yoga has its roots in the Vedic religion. It is said that yoga originated from the word ‘yuj’ which means to unite or to join together. This is what yoga aims at.
In ancient times, yoga was considered as a form of meditation. The main aim of yoga is to attain peace of mind and freedom from the tensions of the body. It aims at uniting the body with the soul and mind. The practice of yoga helps in the development of self control, concentration and relaxation. It also helps to maintain a healthy body and mind.
There are various forms of yoga like Hatha yoga, Kundalini yoga, Raja yoga, Bikram yoga, etc. These are different types of yoga but they all aim at the same thing. They help to achieve physical and mental balance.
Hatha yoga is one of the oldest forms of yoga and is the most widely practiced form of yoga. Hatha yoga focuses on the physical aspects of yoga and aims at strengthening the muscles and organs of the body. It also involves breathing exercises and postures. The postures are designed to strengthen the body and relax the muscles. The movements are slow and gentle and involve stretching of the limbs. It is recommended to practice Hatha yoga for about 20 minutes daily.
Kundalini yoga is based on the philosophy of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It is a form of yoga which involves deep meditation. It involves practices such as pranayama (breathing exercises), asana (postures), kriya (cleansing rituals) and dhyana (meditation). Kundalini yoga is aimed at awakening the dormant power of Kundalini Shakti (the feminine aspect of God). It is believed that this energy lies dormant in the body and needs to be awakened. The process of awakening this energy can be achieved through deep meditation and other practices.
Raja yoga is a combination of yoga and Tantra. It is a type of yoga which involves the worship of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva is the supreme power and hence all the practices of yoga should be done in his presence.
Bikram yoga is a form of yoga which is practiced in the temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. It involves 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. Bikram yoga is practiced in a room which is heated to 40 degrees Celsius. The purpose of practicing Bikram yoga is to cleanse the body of toxins and impurities.
There are many more forms of yoga available today. Each form of yoga has its own set of benefits and therefore, people can choose the right form of yoga according to their needs.
