More about Yoga

In the western world, despite our advanced medical systems, we are facing a health crisis. The Covid-19 crisis which began in 2020 has highlighted some of the problems we face. More people than ever are overweight or even obese, and stress levels, backache, joint problems and mental-health issues such as anxiety and depression are causing major absentee issues for employers and for the economy.

We all know that, even without the corona virus threat, being fat is not healthy and that, in order to increase our strength and improve our health, most of us should eat less and move more. It doesn't sound so difficult; but why, if the solution is that easy, are the gyms full of people in January but eerily quiet by June? It is becoming recognised that a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing is called for; and yoga is part of that solution.

Yoga often slips into people's awareness through articles about the more extreme versions of yoga such as Bikram or "hot" yoga, where slim beautiful people are seen to bend their muscular bodies into difficult positions like the lotus pose.

Others become aware of yoga through celebrities such as Russell Brand, Jessica Biel and Matthew McConaughey to name just a few. But the benefits of yoga lessons are not just for the very fit or famous.

In our working lives, even normal people become anxious, stressed out and tired. Since the Corona Virus pandemic has hit, the number of people suffering mental health issues has multiplied. Under these circumstances, our breath can become habitually erratic, which can lead to mental and physical illness. Yoga can help us to relearn breathing patterns relieve stress levels and re-energise mind and body, enabling us to breathe more easily, relax, and reduce fatigue and sleep problems. The prana - the energy that lies within us all, often untapped, can be released through yoga exercises. The poses can also assist in increasing levels of fitness, lengthening muscles and addressing injury sites, which in turn can ease problems with bad backs, stiff shoulders and necks as well as problems in other joints. Utilising respiration, yoga can help to calm anxiety, and eventually most people with be able to achieve the benefits of true relaxation, some may even achieve meditation.

There are a bewildering number of different types of yoga to close from, not to mention numerous varieties of mind/body exercise classes like pilates. In addition one can be overwhelmed by the quantity of books, magazines and online articles via Twitter and other social media. All these are anxious to impart information about how to improve your health through exercise. Some of these are very good quality, others less so. So what makes IYENGAR® yoga the leading type of yoga taught internationally? All types of yoga are based on the original Indian texts and philosophy, but IYENGAR® yoga is distinctive in that over a period of many years, practitioners have developed techniques, with props, such as blocks, belts as well as chairs and walls, which are able to assist the student.s muscles to attain alignment. This precision can enable you to open your body to the breath that helps dispel fatigue and restore health and wellbeing.