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History of Yoga 

Over the years, yoga has been a staple in a lot of people’s healthy routine. It’s a low-impact workout that doesn’t really make you catch your breath like crazy. Moreover, it’s also something that you can do at home with minimal equipment. 

Yoga has been around 2,000 years now with its origins in India. The world itself comes from the Sanskrit word Yuj - which means to bind or yoke. Given that meaning, a lot of people look at yoga as a physical exercise to bind their mind, body, and soul together. 

Yoga was usually taught directly from teacher to student which made it an oral tradition. It was only when the Indian sage Patanjali created a collection of all these oral teachings into the Yoga Sutra. 

The Yoga Sutra contains over 195 statements and sort of serves as a philosophical book for dealing with human challenges. 

Different Major Yoga Styles

Considering that yoga is quite old, there are over 8 major styles being practiced all over the world. And though not all of them are famous, these styles each have their own sets of benefits. 

Here are some of the most famous ones in the world: 

• Ashtanga - a style that uses a specific sequence of postures that is linked to breathing. The sequence is always the same each time and the postures can be physically demanding. 

• Hatha - generally, this is the basic yoga style fit for newbies and beginners. It’s as physically demanding but will still help you feel more flexible and looser. 

• Hot Yoga - usually done in heated rooms where people should sweat more. Different kinds of yoga classes can be turned into hot yoga. 

• Vinyasa - a style that’s usually popular for fluid and movement-intensive practices. It’s also known for smooth transitions between poses. 

• Restorative - sometimes called yin yoga, this style of yoga is used to relax and soothe nerves. It utilizes blankets and blocks to help create various poses. 

There are still other yoga styles but these are the most popular ones in Canada. 

Benefits of Practicing Yoga 

Just like any other form of physical exercise, yoga also has a lot of benefits. It’s the best option for people who don’t like strenuous workouts just to be fit or healthy. Considering that yoga is low-impact, it has both physical and mental health benefits that you want to check out. 

Here are some of the benefits: 

Improves Flexibility 

It’s true what they say that yoga helps you become more flexible and this is usually proven by yoga practitioners who can touch their toes with ease. Yoga will also help you loosen your muscles and perform poses which might seem more curvy than usual. 

You will also notice that as you start to become more flexible, you are less susceptible to injuries and pains because your muscles loosened up and aren’t as tight as they were before.

Improve Balance

Not only does yoga improve your flexibility, but it also improves your balance. As you gradually learn more poses in yoga, you are improving your balance through the different poses. This is because yoga increases your proprioception - ability to feel your body movement and its location in space. 

In line with that, you can expect that you’ll have better posture as you progress in your learning because it’s affected by your balance. Once you have increased your proprioception, you’ll eventually notice you easily fall or trip. 

Increase Blood Flow 

Surely with all that moving around and holding postures, your blood flow will naturally increase. Blood flow will specifically increase in your hands and feet since these are the main things that help you keep balance during yoga sessions. 

With increased blood flow, you can help your cells get more oxygen which will improve overall body function. Headstands and handstands will also help get venous blood from your legs and pelvis back to your heart more easily. 

Boosts Immune System

Since the physical exercises involve a lot of postures and stretching, it helps your body drain the lymph nodes in the body which is rich in immune cells. This helps increase your immune system and makes you less susceptible to sickness. 

It also helps destroy cancerous cells and infections in your body more easily. 

Relieves Anxiety 

As mentioned, it doesn’t just help your physical health but also your mental health. Your brain is also being worked out whenever you do your poses or practice yoga. This low-impact exercise utilises meditation techniques other than poses. 

In fact, studies show women with anxiety disorder have lower anxiety levels after they started practicing yoga twice a week. This shows that such workout is beneficial for those who want peace of mind.

Combats Depression

A lot of people today are battling with depression and one of the suggested methods to conquer these battles is by practicing yoga. In several studies, those who were frequently doing yoga were seen to have lower levels of stress hormones. 

Not only does it fight anxiety but it also fights depression. 

Improves Sleep 

Since yoga is one way to relax, it also helps you have better and deeper sleep. Specific styles such as Restorative yoga can help you focus on your inner senses and let you have a better control of your mind and body. 

Private Yoga Lessons in Canada

There are many yoga studios all over Canada because it’s such a great and popular form of exercise. However, not all people are fond of taking group classes, especially those who are still in the beginnings of their yoga journey. 

For those who want to learn yoga but want it at the convenience of their own home, you can find your own private yoga instructor who’s willing to conduct online sessions. This kind of setup is usually beneficial for those who don’t really have a flexible schedule. 

You can find your own private yoga instructor at Superprof where there are tons of profiles to scan over. These instructors are all over Canada and since you’re it’s online yoga lessons, you can set your own schedule. 

These profiles have brief descriptions, rates, and reviews made by former students. You might want to check them out.