THE BENEFITS OF YOGA

Although there are more than 100 types of yoga schools nowadays, the fundamental principles of this ancient practice remain the same: controlled breathing, mindful poses “asana”, and for those who wish to explore the spiritual side of yoga, meditation and “mantra” prayers.

The great variety of yoga styles, may confuse a beginner who wishes to try this type of training. To begin with, yoga is for everyone! Depending on your physical condition, age or size, the certified instructor you have chosen, will adapt each pose to your level, not to mention that most gyms and studios offer beginners classes. After all, yoga is all about tuning with our body and mind and improving our skills for as long as we live.

In conclusion, it is worth mentioning an important research, conducted by the University of London, which is based on one of the most popular practices – Ashtanga yoga: 22 total beginners, attended one-hour classes for 8 weeks, emphasizing on poses, breathing and mindful movement. At the end of this experiment, the participants noticed a significant improvement in their upper body and core endurance, total body flexibility (especially in their shoulders as well as ankles) and last but not least, body weight reduction. There were also remarkable changes in their mental health, since it is proven that controlled and mindful movement, along with focused breathing, leads to the production of endorphins (the hormones of happiness!).