BENEFITS OF YOGA

Benefits of yoga can be seen on many levels. It is not just a physical exercise, affecting a yogi from the outside. Practised regularly, it can actually regulate functioning of the main systems of the body and – to some extent- control the emotions. That is the main difference between yoga and Western sports.

Yoga does not only help to stretch and strengthen the muscles but also stimulates main glands and organs in the body, regulating the work of a circulation, digestive, respiratory, nervous and hormonal systems. For example, yoga can help to lose weight not simply by burning calories but by regulating the work of thyroid gland. Yoga can be therapeutic in many ailments, especially back pain and spine problems. However, it can also bring relief in case of such varied ailments as asthma, insomnia or PMS.

Characteristic of Sivananda yoga

Sivananda yoga is a quite gentle method of working with the body. It does not cause injuries, unless a student is over-ambitious and pushes his body beyond its limits. A yoga teacher will always encourage the students to listen to their bodies and relax whenever it is needed. Yoga is not competitive. Therefore, there is no point in comparing fitness level between the students while every single body is different and needs different amount of time to release the tensions and to stretch. It does not matter how deep or far one can get into the asana but rather whether it is performed correctly and has the effect on the specific part of the body.

Who can benefit from yoga?

The common misconception is that one has to be fit and flexible to practise yoga while in fact it is particularly beneficial for those, who aren't. Everybody can do the same basic asanas, regardless of how advanced and experienced they are. Obviously, the more one practices, the more variations he/she is able to do and the deeper stretch can he get. Still, the benefits of the asana do not depend on whether one can grasp his toes with his hands or not. Furthermore, beginners can notice that the progress in yoga comes very quickly, from one class to the other.