Yoga is not a religion or a sport

For most people, "yoga" means meditation where an elderly yogi sits for hours in the lotus pose. Others associate yoga with simple exercise to maintain a good figure and muscle strength. But what is yoga really? Let's take a closer look at this question.

Understanding the Term "Yoga"

The term "yoga" comes from the ancient Indian language — Sanskrit. Literally, it means "union" or "unity," and its meaning is the union of a person's consciousness with the universe.

Translating this into modern practice, yoga is the process of bringing and maintaining harmony and balance between the body, mind, and emotions. Even a beginner can achieve this. Asanas (yoga poses), pranayamas (breathing exercises), meditation, and mantras can help.

In summary: yoga is a comprehensive approach to working on mental and physical states by alternating active exercises with relaxation and incorporating breathing techniques.

Where Does Yoga Practice Begin for Beginners?

For many, the starting point in yoga is the physical level. People want to have a beautiful, strong, and toned body. An additional bonus is relaxation and pleasure after a hard day. At this stage, beginners spend a lot of time mastering yoga poses, using them to gain control over their body and make it a tool for the mind.

Many prefer to try yoga at home using videos from experienced instructors before attending classes in a studio. Thanks to home practice, they can master the basic poses well.

However, often yogis do not stop there and continue on the path of self-improvement. They may keep practicing yoga at home or choose group classes with all necessary facilities.

After mastering the poses, people start learning breathing techniques. There are quite a few, each aimed at specific results.

Breathing techniques help to:

• relieve stress,
• overcome depression,
• calm the mind,
• gain emotional stability,
• achieve inner peace and balance.

Results You Can Achieve from Practicing Yoga at Home

Thus, a properly structured regular yoga practice affects all necessary levels for a person's full development. Even starting with yoga videos, a person gains such benefits:

• A body that recovers easily from stress and strain
• An attractive appearance
• Good posture
• Strong immunity
• Healthy sleep

Besides physical benefits, yoga also impacts your emotional and psychological state. Additionally, from yoga poses, you will gain:

• Increased self-confidence
• Achieving goals through the "small steps to a big goal" approach
• Improved memory, attention, and concentration

Studying and practicing yoga, you’ll realize its theory is closely related to psychology. With consistent practice, you’ll experience a “reconciliation” of body and mind, learn to be present in the moment, and enjoy it. Most importantly, you will grow to love yourself, your body, and yoga even more!