Saturday, September 18, 2010

Yoga | Classes


Yoga is synonymous with fitness. This is because yoga is interested in a holistic outlook on the entire body and how fitness should be incorporated into exercise. This is because yoga is about, mind, body and spirit, but yoga is also synonymous with health and fitness.

Anyone who has been taking yoga classes for any amount of time will probably tell you they feel much more fit then they did before taking yoga classes. This is because of the holistic ideals behind yoga and how the holistic side of yoga actually creates a fit body from head to toe.

Yoga Fitness:

Fitness yoga is the discipline of  strength training through core exercises. This can range from focusing on very specific parts of the body or focusing on a more holistic approach that includes the entire mind and body. Either way will get you fit, and it is probably good to have a combination of the two if you are serious about using yoga postures to keep fit.

 
Power Yoga:

Power yoga definitely belongs in the fit category of yoga practice. Power yoga is a form of yoga that uses the yoga body postures, but in an accelerated succession of these postures. This will allow the body to strengthen very quickly, and stay very fit, but as you might have guessed, this type of yoga takes time and practice to master. This is because there are many yoga positions that must be mastered so you can do the yoga poses in a smooth succession.

  

Staying Fit with Breathing:

One of the key features of yoga, whether it is yoga for meditation, strength or fitness or all three, is that yoga is about breathing. That is to say you need to breathe properly while completing the different yoga poses. This is an added benefit to staying fit with yoga, because yoga will actually help you to breath more properly while doing other exercises as well, and will remind you to breath properly throughout the entire day, promoting fitness.

Some of the Different Types of Yoga Fitness Include:

- Ashtanga Yoga is a type of yoga that means eight limbs. It is a quick paced yoga style, and is one of the more intense types of yoga. It is based on a progressive set of sequences of asanas which are synchronized with proper breathing. This is one of the more physically demanding types of yoga available.

- Power Yoga is seen as a western interpretation of yoga and is based on Ashtanga yoga. It also involves a series of poses in succession of each other.

- Vinyasa Yoga, which means breath synchronized movement is another intense type of yoga that is fast paced with an emphasis on breathing techniques. This type of yoga may begin with sun salutations and then might move to intense stretching exercises.

- Bikram Yoga is also known as hot yoga and is practiced in 105 degree heated rooms. Typically, this yoga session includes 26 different poses and is often practiced with a Bikram Yoga class. The hot temperatures will loosen muscles and there would obviously be profuse sweating as well. Some of the appeal to this type of yoga is the idea that it also cleanses the body due to the intense perspiration in the 105 degree temperature room.

In Conclusion:

There are a lot of different types of yoga out there, and for fitness, there is no shortage of yoga styles that will suite your needs. We recommend trying them all out, and then deciding which one is best for you. Remember that yoga will provide an overall fitness that is hard to match with other types of fitness exercises.

Yoga | Exploring Free Online Yoga Classes

Now, there are lots of free online yoga programs you can join. They are especially beneficial to newbies who would like to learn the basics of yoga and find out if you truly want to get into this sport. Not all free instructions can be helpful though. There are some crucial points that you should look into before joining.





What You Can Benefit from Yoga


Yoga is one of the sports that are definite worth your time and effort, as it can offer you huge benefits. It improves your physical strength and flexibility and keeps your organs and systems functioning properly. It also calms and relaxes you and relieves pain and stress. In the end, yoga ultimately leads people to physical, mental and spiritual harmony. In other words, yoga can help you achieve overall health and change the way you respond to life situations and conditions.



Free Online Yoga Classes

Many sites now offer yoga instruction for free, and there are many ways you can get instructions. Some sites offer step by step e-mail instruction while others provide free newsletters. The more advanced sites will let you download whole yoga class videos or view the videos online. The perfect choice of mode of instruction will depend on your learning style and preference. Regardless of your mode choice, you should always pick a free offer that provides clear and easy to understand instructions to avoid possible injury.

Different Yoga Streams

You cannot just pick and use any free online yoga material. You have to find out first which kind of yoga you are most comfortable with. You may for example prefer Hatha yoga over Ashtanga yoga or Kundalini yoga over Bikram yoga. Different forms or kinds of yoga will teach you different techniques.

Different free materials may also be for different levels of learners. If you are a beginner, you should look for instructions that are specifically made for those who have never experienced yoga before. You should also consider your own personal goals. You may just want an introduction to yoga or you might want to get into more in-depth free yoga instruction that ultimately leads to a higher level of yoga practice.

Yoga Teachers

There are also a host of different yoga masters online. Some of them are authentic experts while others are not. Because anyone can take on an identity online, it is very easy for some to pretend to be a yoga expert. Do a little research on where exactly your free material comes from. This can protect you from injury and help you achieve the goal of yoga better.

Self-Monitoring

You may be looking at a real master execute some great yoga moves but he is not looking at you. This means that you have to monitor yourself to be certain that you are being serious and careful in performing yoga techniques. You also have to be sure that you know how to follow instructions. You might be the type of student who cannot learn well without actual classroom instruction.

Some free online yoga materials can be just as good as the paid ones and can truly change your life. You need to be sure though that you have the right materials and the commitment to practice yoga techniques on your own.