Learning the Yoga Basics

Prior to learning the basic moves of yoga, you should gain an understanding of this exercise form.

Yoga is an exercise routine that challenges the mind and body. There are religious ties to the practice of yoga as one balances their mind, body and spirit. It is about getting to the higher conscious and uniting with God.

When performing yoga, you will focus your energy into constructive channels. This focus will discipline your mind, soul, and emotions, so that you can connect with your individual spirit or your "jivatma". It is believed that your spirit is in turn part of the Supreme Universal Spirit or the "Paramatma," a.k.a. God.

Yoga has evolved over the years and there are numerous types of yoga. In this article of learning the yoga basics, you will be exposed to the basic forms of yoga.

With yoga's growing popularity across the world, many view it as a physical exercise routine, but yoga is much more than a workout. The term "yoga" can refer to any of these things:

• Karma yoga -- focuses on giving of oneself without expecting any reward
• Jnana yoga -- a philosophical approach to unveiling the illusions of the world
• Bhakti yoga -- channeling emotional energy into one's spiritual practice
• Rhaja yoga -- focuses on concentration and mind control

Basic yoga terms are:

• Yogi -individuals who follow teaching of yoga
• Pranayam -- controlled breathing
• Asana -- posture
• Dharana -- concentration
• Dhyana - meditation

Current popular yoga styles include, but are not limited to:

Hatha yoga, also known as gentle yoga, focuses on long stretches and flexibility, with slow, deep breathing. This variant of yoga will leave you with a feeling of relaxation, and at the same time a feeling of rejuvenation, which is very soothing for the mind.

Kundalini yoga is a spiritual yoga, which works on the subconscious and bringing balance and harmony to the eight chakras. Kundalini routines use rapid breathing, which can raise the body heat starting at your feet and moving its way up your body. This movement releases the negative energies absorbed and achieves a feeling of high enlightenment.

Power yoga, which is also known as Ashtanga yoga is a series of rapid movements which warm up the body all over. This is a very active form of yoga, in which a person is moves quickly through the Asanas and does not hold the pose as long as other types of yoga do.

To truly learn yoga and get the most out of it, you must dedicate yourself entirely. You must engage in the concentration attribute as well as the physical stimuli. By doing this, you will prosper from the physical and mental benefits as you bring balance to your mind, body and soul.

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