Many people across the globe have been practicing Yoga with primary importance to its physical benefits. But yoga can offer much more than that and defines a way of life with the union of soul, body, and mind. One way to reap all these diverse benefits of yoga is to consider practicing the oldest form of yoga, Ashtanga yoga. In Sanskrit, ashtanga implies “eight limbs or branches (elements)”. As per the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, there is a practice named the Eightfold Path which offers liberty and enlightenment. Ashtanga yoga summarises all eight components of yoga and builds both psychological and spiritual health. In Balance Wellness Center is your best choice answer for the query ‘Yoga near me’ and helps you to learn and practices all major forms of yoga.
What is the purpose of Ashtanga yoga?
Ashtanga Yoga was first found to be mentioned in the ancient Indian writings of Yoga Korunta by sage Vamana and later simplified by K. Pattabhi Jois into modern yoga. It is an organized practice of yoga postures to streamline the energy through the body locks (Bandhas) and concentrating on a fixed point (Drishti). The three components of Ashtanga Yoga (Ujjayi breath, bandhas, and Drishti) have given this yoga form a great power to achieve cleansing and moving meditation practice.
Benefits of Ashtanga Yoga:
Physical strength: Ashtanga yoga involves numerous postures that demand core and arm strength. It stresses the need for muscle training and overall physical strength. The stamina and endurance will be enhanced gradually and it allows the flexibility for individuals to progress at their own pace and level. Core strength is very important for athletes and avoids issues like lower back pain.
Enhanced Flexibility: Similar to all other yoga forms, Ashtanga Yoga increases the overall flexibility when practiced regularly. It involves trunk movements which help in developing strong hamstrings, shoulders, and calf muscles. Lack of hamstring strength restricts pelvis movements and increases the trunk angles that could initiate spine issues.
Decreased stubborn body fat: Ashtanga yoga involves postures by using bodyweight movements. This helps is developing a lean body mass and initiates natural fat loss. Ashtanga yoga asanas (postures) help to reduce stubborn body fat from the stomach and arms.
Effective cardio workout:
As you become experienced in this Yoga form, you will perform swift movements. This will help you in achieving a great cardio workout by increasing your heart rate. Ashtanga yoga helps to get the right body shape, stay fit, and breathe properly. A series of Ashtanga postures done swiftly and with the uniqueness of the asanas, you will get an intense form of a workout session.
Right synchronization:
Ashtanga yoga acts as a right means to tune the body as it enhances concentration, stability, and synchronization. With all the intensity and involvement while performing asanas you will be aware of the flow of your body.
Breathing rhythm:
In a modern fast-paced life, almost everyone faces work-related stress, and some even face issues of depression. Practicing yogic breathing will help to manage stress. Ashtanga Yoga follows the process of Ujjayi breathing that focusses on inhaling purified air via the nose. This breathing art improves mental health, streamlines the system, and increases metabolism.
Deals with Hypertension issues:
As Ashtanga Yoga focusses on both postures and breathing techniques, it provides numerous health benefits for the body. The above-mentioned Ujjayi breathing provides long-term benefits by lowering high hypertension issues (High blood pressure).
Improves emotional strength:
Ashtanga yoga provides importance on improving emotional and mental strength. As the breathing and asanas move rhythmically, it affects the emotions along with joints and muscles. There will be a complete equilibrium between emotions and feelings. This will come in handy to manage any sensitive issues individually and also to the close family. There will be a strong wave of emotion handling strength that helps in overcoming tough situations. This will have a positive impact on all organs of the body and lead to their smooth and regulated functioning. It will make you aware of the connection between body and mind.
Prevents Injury to the body:
When you perform asanas of Ashtanga Yoga in a mindful way and the guidance of a reliable/experienced yoga master, it provides you with flexible and internally. When you become an experienced Ashtanga Yogi you can try advanced asanas and perform them in quicker series that have greater control over the body and internally stable body that will be less exposed to any form of injuries. These benefits make Ashtanga yoga a robust way to increase your overall well-being. A unique form of movement and breath control makes you feel refreshed, relaxed, and re-energized. It also helps in overcoming the harmful side effects of behavior issues.
Spiritual health:
The inventor of modern and advanced Ashtanga Yoga, Mr, K. Pattabhi Jois tells that “To learn how to achieve concentration, the body first must be purified, and then mental strength developed. The method for purifying and strengthening the body is called asana. When the body is purified, the breath also becomes purified, and the illnesses of the body are eliminated.”
If trained with constant dedication for a longer period, Ashtanga yoga asanas yield the mental, emotional and physical characteristics of our spiritual being back into a state of synchronization. An experienced yogi finds bliss in attaining a balance of mind, body, and emotions, that provides unparalleled advantages.
Bottom line:
Ashtanga yoga is a comprehensive system that connects the human being to his central point of the body and aids to activate his inner strength. An experienced Ashtanga yogi can purely feel the difference in their behavior and their connection to body and mind when they find control over all types of (asanas). Our emotions are motivated by our thoughts and the outcome is the experience of deeper peace and calmness during and after the sessions. At InBalance Wellness Center, we offer a variety of heated and unheated yoga styles to all levels of practitioners respecting their individuality.
