What is yoga all about

Bakasana|Crow pose

YOGA = BODY MOVEMENT + BREATH WORK

Yoga is optimization of movements of the body in order to develop strength, enhance balance, maintain flexibility and ultimately sync the body and mind, in my opinion. It is also used as a healing tool in Ayurveda. It uses stimulation to heal. For example, you are advised 'Anulom-Vilom Pranayam' for a variety of problems and it is because performing that activity stimulates several parts of your body including your respiratory system, your stomach and digestive system and these play a major role in regulating your body functions. So it helps  to stimulate them so in turn they performance is optimized and they help the body heal faster. These are the only two input sources that we use to get resources from the outside, your body does all the processing on its own. In some rare cases extra stimulus is required and that is where medicines come in handy.

Why did I start

Oh man! I have been a sick child, I would miss at least one examination every year due to my illness, because I didn’t eat the right kinda meal.

In order to insure my health and well being I started doing yoga, as I always wanted to be stronger but did not want to go workout in a gym.

Gym Vs Yoga

I chose Yoga as my workout because it offers a wide range while performing the exercises. When you go to a gym and workout you repeat one motion, for example a bicep curl, and it does increases your strength but it limits you to a set range. Of course if it was your goal to maintain a good physique  and look good, it works fine. But I wanted strength which would allow me to do stuff and not limit me in a fashion so as to render my strength useless when the slightest of modification comes in picture.

How did I start

I started by learning Surya Namaskar and performing it daily for some time, but initially I didn’t knew about the breath work that goes into it. So I would end up getting a heavy head and sleep after my workout. This continued for about 10-15 days.

I found this gem of an app while browsing on the internet, its Down Dog. I started practicing through that only

Free resources

Down dog yoga app. Its free, they provide you new workout routine every single day so you that you don’t get bored. They make their sessions fun by providing workout sessions perfectly synched with the right kind of music.

They also offer multiple customizations in order to make it suitable for everyone from a novice to an advanced practioner.

They do have some features which are locked and can only be accessed by purchasing the memebership but that’s something most of us won’t need, these special features are based on wants primarily.

The best workout

Is the one you enjoy doing. No matter how fancy you get, or how simple and basic you keep it. If you do not enjoy doing, there is no point.

I recommend you try out different types of workout and eventually you will stumble upon or create the right one for you.

Since you are interested in Yoga I recommend starting with Surya Namaskar first. Follow this link to get a good idea of the same.

Yoga and meditation

I believe yoga and meditation go hand in hand. And yoga is meditation for the body. It is such a holistic experience. You do not need to be religious in order to perform yoga. Our Muslim friends pray in Vajrasana , just as our Japanese friends sit.

What do you really need to start

You only need a desire to make your body more healthy in a wholesome manner. You can get free resources which are good and reliable through the internet connection.

Equipment to help you. Why we don’t do things ted talk link

Having stated that you only need a strong desire to start, I would like to point out that in order to sustain your new regime for longer you could rely on some equipment or things.

Essentially the idea behind this is to make it easy for you to get through with your practice, because you may not feel motivated always certainly there are going to be days when you may want to skip the whole thing because your brain is just not up to all the hassle.

• A yoga mat that won’t slip much
• Sports bra for ladies(it does make a difference)
• Yoga pants/ tights/ shorts
• Sports tee (for when you will be working out)
• For winter, get workout clothes suitable for your workout.

Almost all of my personal gear is from Decathlon.

When should you do it?

Whenever you can!

You can do yoga at any point of day, in the mornings, afternoons, evenings and even at midnight.

There are just a few things that you have to keep in mind.

Don’t do it right after a heavy meal, wait for 2 hours.

Read a little about the breathwork.

Explained in this YouTube video.

How should you do it?

Stretch your limits; do not go overboard and push beyond a certain point where you can injure yourself.

Do it with an open mind, it is not like any religious activity. It is about synching your movements with your breath and always having a straight back.

Food and yoga

Avoid eating right after performing your exercise. This depends on the intensity & length of your session.

Before going into a workout of about 20-25 minutes, you can eat something light. For example, an apple or a banana.