Category: Uncategorized

Asthanga yoga

Ashtanga Yoga, also called Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, is a vigorous and flowing style of yoga developed in the 20th century. It involves synchronizing breath with progressive and continuous postures, which produces internal heat while detoxifying the body. It builds strength, flexibility, and stamina, while calming the mind and improving overall health

Ashtanga Yoga Benefits: 9 Reasons To Your Practice

Ashtanga yoga has been life changing for me in so many ways. From the benefits of strength and flexibility in my physical body to my improved mental wellbeing, it’s safe to say I have become an Ashtanga yoga fanatic.

I talk about it to pretty much anyone who’ll listen, mainly because I want others to enjoy the same benefits that I have!

Ashtanga yoga is known as one of the most physically challenging forms of yoga. In its most traditional form it involves a very long sequence of postures with a vinyasa in between each. This demands a lot of strength and stamina to complete, especially in a warm room surrounded by other sweaty practitioners!

But it’s also one of the most adaptable forms of yoga. The traditional style of practising is by guided self-practice, also known as “Mysore-style”. Students gather in the same room to practise under the guide of an experienced teacher. They learn the sequence off by heart as they build strength, at their own pace.

While Ashtanga yoga won’t suit everyone, I have found it to be a cleansing and healing practice that has taught me a great deal about myself. If you are considering starting Ashtanga yoga, here are 9 benefits of the practice that will make you want jump in and do it 🙂

The Benefits Of Ashtanga Yoga

Improve flexibility:-

As with most forms of yoga, Ashtanga will gradually improve your flexibility over time. Although it’s important to listen to your body and go slowly, I found my flexibility started improving after a few weeks of practice. Can’t touch your toes? Start Ashtanga yoga and I bet you’ll be able to within just a month if you work consistently and mindfully.

Increase strength:-

There are sixty vinyasas in the Ashtanga yoga primary series (that’s the flow you do between every posture). For a lot of the movements you are working to hold your body weight up on just your hands or you are balancing on one leg – this builds a ton of strength in your core and increases your overall body strength.

Increase muscle tone:-

All that increased strength is possible because whilst doing those movements you are building muscle all over your body. My arms and shoulders also look more firm and toned (if I do say so myself!)

Improve cardiovascular fitness :-

If you’ve ever made it through a full counted-led primary series then you’ll know how much you sweat in Ashtanga. The constant vinyasas between each pose keep your heart rate up throughout the practice. Not only are you building strength and flexibility but you’re also working your cardiovascular system.

Reduce body fat :-

What happens when you build more muscle and do cardio? You burn fat! Since committing to a daily Ashtanga practice I’ve noticed less fat on my arms and around my stomach area, so if you’re looking to drop a few pounds then this is the yoga style for you.

Reduce stress and anxiety :-

Some people think that doing the same sequence of postures every day is too repetitive and they lose interest. Each to their own – it won’t work for everyone! But when you learn the sequence off by heart, you no longer have to focus so much on where you’re placing your foot or your hand. Your awareness can start to shift to your breath instead.

Increase focus and creativity:-

When you are totally relaxed and calm, without stressing about the future or dwelling on the past, your mind becomes (almost!) clear. You are free to completely enjoy the present moment. In this state I have experienced the most creativity than ever before in my life!

Lower blood pressure :-

In Ashtanga yoga we practice a breathing technique known as Ujjayi. This involves a slight contraction of the glottis at the back of the throat to make the sound of the ocean as you breathe in and out of your nose. Extending your inhalations and exhalations to create long, deep and calm breaths.

Many studies suggest that this breathing technique lowers blood pressure over time.

Prevent injuries

If you practice Ashtanga in a safe, mindful way, you will develop a strong, flexible body that is much less prone to injury. This means it can be a great complementary activity for other forms of sport.

As you get older your body becomes more prone to injuries and practising yoga is a great way to stay fit and supple so you can enjoy a better quality of life for longer.

Health benifits of anulom vilom pranayam.

Anulom Vilom Pranayama is also known as “Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique”. It is considered as the best technique to handle stress, anxiety, and other mental pressures. It relieves from every tension.

The benefits of anulom vilom pranayama are infinite as they have healing power of many serious health conditions improves heart health, and helps in curing other diseases such as asthma, depression, migraine, high blood pressure, arthritis, and many other.

Everyday working on Anulom vilom pranayama also helps in strengthening brain, increases meditation levels.

Step-By-Step Process for Anulom Vilom Pranayama:

Keep a yoga mat on the floor and sit in padmasana on it

Initially, choose calm and peace area to do perfect yoga with good concentration levels.

First, Keep a yoga mat or blanket or something on the floor and sit in padmasana on it.

Now, close your eyes, keep your back straight and put your hands on knees.

Then, close your right nostril with right thumb and start inhaling slowly and take breath as much as possible.

This allows your lungs to fill with air.

Slowly, remove your thumb from right nostril and exhale from right nostril only.

While exhaling with right nostril close your left nostril with the middle finger to ease the process.

You can even change the hands and do in the same process as vice versa.

Repeat this process at least 5 minutes and gradually increase the timings as you become expertise.

Do not over think or focus on external world, focus on your concentration and breathing which improves your concentration levels too.

Tips while doing Pranayama:

Inhale and exhale process should be gentle and slow breathing process

Make sure to not sit directly on the ground and use yoga mats or other material to sit on.

Always keep head, neck and chest straight to keep the back in straight position.

This exercise should not be performed within an hour or eating or bathing or other activity.

The inhale and exhale process should be gentle and slow breathing process.

While doing this exercise, there should be no sound audible.

There should be a glimpse of time gap between every inhale and exhale.

To get more health benefits of anulom vilom pranayama, one should close eyes and start this with deep concentration.

It is believed that, this exercise opens up the basic chakras in the body.

Health benefits of Anulom Vilom Pranayama:

The health benefits of anulom vilom pranayama have not only experienced by yogi gurus but also proven by scientists around the globe.

Top 15 Major Health benefits of Anulom Vilom Pranayama:

Effects on brain positive thinking

Treats snoring.

Controls obesity.

Beneficial for arthritis.

It treats constipation.

Controls allergic problems.

Manages blood circulation.

Improves muscular system.

Diabetics can be controlled.

Maintains digestive system.

Blood pressure can be cured.

Decreases stress and anxiety.

Effects on brain positive thinking.

Helps in making heart health healthy.

Transfers negative to positive thoughts.

Increases pure oxygen supply throughout the body.

Best yoga Timings:

Early Morning Yoga

The best time to practice anulom vilom pranayama is “Early Morning” with fresh breeze to explore more health benefits rather than choosing in the evening.

Start doing yoga and other exercises to get more and many amazing health benefits of anulom vilom pranayama or other exercise types. If you make yoga as a habit then there will be no health diseases or conditions or other health problems.