What is yoga? Where does it come from? Is there a philosophy or a religion behind it? Any rules? Are there different ways to practice it? What about meditation?
These were just some of the questions and doubts I had about yoga before (and even after) I started approaching it with some real commitment.
I personally found out that from the moment I began improving my understanding of what it consists in, I was also able to appreciate increased benefits from my daily practice.
Somewhere I read:
“Yoga is learning to come back to yourself. It’s finding your limits, expanding your boundaries, and being able to truly relax into who you are. It’s about taking time to remember who you are but have forgotten while being caught up in the whirlwind of a fast-paced life”.
(The Classic Yoga Bible)
It sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?
Well, to me yoga is a matter of connection and balance. And who wouldn’t like to live in a perfect balance with ourselves, body and mind, and the world outside? Yoga does help make us feel harmonious, integrated, and complete. However, reaching this state is not truly possible if we only focus on balance from a physical point of view. Indeed, I believe that if we make a little effort to increase our awareness of the different aspects of this practice, the above-mentioned harmony can come much closer to us. In other words, Yoga starts from the mind. And this is what makes it such an amazing thing!
I created “Yogapedia” with the intention to dedicate it to some yoga knowledge for all those readers that share my same curiosity, and want to embrace yoga a bit more in depth.
Reading yoga books, attending yoga classes, but still thinking all those Sanskrit words do not make any sense?
Don’t worry, there’s some good news: you are not the only one!!! Check Platylingo, a list of the most common Sanskrit vocabulary that you will read in books and articles, and listen during your yoga class.
Vrksasana is among the first poses you will practice as a yogi, and it’s one of those that give big satisfaction from the beginning. It’s a classic, looks pretty and never too boring. In fact, it challenges our sense of balance and, thanks to its several existing variations, you can give it a change if one day you feel you want to funk up your practice a bit. All of them though are characterised by the concept of rootedness, of connection to the ground and, in a wider sense, to the Earth.
Who doesn’t have a cranky set of shoulders?
Hunching is the body’s natural way of protecting itself from outsiders by physically closing off access to the vital organs.
Following you find my favourite yoga inspired exercises that can help you release your shoulders, and leave you with a sense of openness to your chest. This will definitely improve your posture and your breath will start come deeper and more easily.
Do you feel angry quite often? Even small issues irritate and frustrate you? Exercising can be a great way of getting rid of these negative feelings.
For people who get irritated easily, yoga can help manage their feelings and calm them down.
Meditation in recent years has spread at an incredible pace as it gives countless benefits to those who practice it.
While this growth is certainly positive, it often creates a lot of confusion. I decided to write this post to give you some hints to help you start meditating properly.
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About Me
Hi, I’m Marta, a yoga teacher and fond student. The Platypus is my spirit animal, a total weirdo, but with some good points! 🙂 I teach Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yoga Nidra classes, while working on my brand of sustainable props, PlatypusAsana. For me yoga is a discovery-in-progress.
