Yoga

The word yoga means "union" in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. We can think of the union occurring between the mind, body and spirit.
What is commonly referred to as "yoga" can be more accurately described by the Sanskrit word asana, which refers to the practice of physical postures or poses.
Asana is only one of the eight "limbs" of yoga, the majority of which are more concerned with mental and spiritual well being than physical activity. In the West, however, the words asana and yoga are often used interchangeably.

Yoga Benefits :

The beauty of yoga is that the yoga benefits you can feel are apparent even after the first session. And it doesn't matter what level of flexibility you have, or if you are able to fully get into the postures you are trying to do.

• relaxation of body and mind
• which in turn revitalizes your nervous system
• a feeling of peace and stability
• a feeling of being 'taller'
• holding good posture more easily and without effort
• becoming acquainted with muscles you didn't know you had - which is the first step in toning them up
• a feeling of being more energized - if not immediately, certainly the next day

Types of Yoga :

There are over a hundred different schools of Yoga. Some of the most well known are described below:

Hatha Yoga: The physical movements and postures, plus breathing techniques. This is what most people associate with Yoga practice.

Raja Yoga: Called the “royal road,” because it incorporates exercise and breathing practice with meditation and study, producing a well-rounded individual.

Jnana Yoga: The path of wisdom; considered the most difficult path.

Bhakti Yoga: The practice of extreme devotion in one-pointed concentration upon one’s concept of God.

Karma Yoga: All movement, all work of any kind is done with the mind centered on a personal concept of God.

Tantra Yoga: A way of showing the unseen consciousness in form through specific words, diagrams, and movements. One of the diagrams that is used to show the joining of the physical and spiritual bodies is two triangles superimposed upon one another. The downward-pointing triangle represents the physical body, or the female aspect having to do with work, action, and movement; the upward-pointing triangle represents the spiritual body of support, energy, and vastness.

Kashmir Shaivism: This Yoga system states that everything in the universe has both male and female qualities. In Kashmir Shaivism, these male and female principles form an equal partnership, so interdependent that they cannot be separated. The attraction between them produces the ultimate union of opposites, creating the immense complexity of the universe that we enjoy and celebrate. Unlike other philosophies, Kashmir Shaivism is based in emotion rather than intellect. In fact, Shaivism says that intellectual understanding by itself will never lead us to the realization of the summit of Yoga. The system's great exponents teach that the egotistical intellect blocks our ability to fully experience our individual power.

Yoga for Beginners: discovering yoga can be an exciting time. When getting started, it's best to try several different classes. Because there are many different schools of yoga, you may want to try several out in order to determine which you like best. The many styles of yoga may include differences in how the asanas are performed or which element they focus on. However, it's important that you keep your level of fitness and health in mind and choose classes which are appropriate and not overly strenuous. Some styles of yoga, such as viniyoga, sivananda, and ananda, are generally more gentle and may be a good place for beginners to start. Other styles of yoga like ashtanga, bikram and power yoga tend to be more vigorous and may not be best for the beginner.