Yoga does more than burn calories and tone muscles. It's a total mind-body workout that combines strengthening and strectching poses with deep breathing and meditation or relaxation.
There are more than 100 different forms of yoga some examples here:
- Hatha. The form most often associated with yoga, it combines a series of basic movements with breathing.
- Vinyasa. A series of poses that flow smoothly into one another.
- Power. A faster, higher-intensity practice that builds muscle.
- Ashtanga. A series of poses, combined with a special breathing technique.
- Bikram. Also known as "hot yoga," it's a series of 26 challenging poses performed in a room heated to a high temperature.
- Iyengar. A type of yoga that uses props like blocks, straps, and chairs to help you move your body into the proper alignment.
Areas It Targets
Core: Yes. There are yoga poses to target just about every core muscle. Want to tighten those love handles? Then prop yourself up on one arm and do a side plank. To really burn out the middle of your abs, you can do boat pose, in which you balance on your "sit bones" (the bony prominences at the base of your pelvic bones) and hold your legs up in the air.
Arms: Yes. With yoga, you don't build arm strength with free weights or machines, but with the weight of your own body. Some poses, like the plank, spread your weight equally between your arms and legs. Others, like the crane and crow poses, challenge your arms even more by making them support your full body weight.
Legs: Yes. Yoga poses work all sides of the legs, including your quadriceps, hips, and thighs.
Glutes: Yes. Yoga squats, bridges, and warrior poses involve deep knee bends, which give you a more sculpted rear.
Back: Yes. Moves like downward-facing dog, child's pose, and cat/cow give your back muscles a good stretch. It's no wonder that research finds yoga may be good for relieving a sore back.
Flexibility: Yes. Yoga poses stretch your muscles and increase your range of motion. With regular practice, they'll improve your flexibility.
Aerobic: No. Yoga isn't considered aereobic exercise, but the more athletic varieties, like power yoga, will make you sweat. And even though yoga is not aerobic, some research finds it can be just as good as aerobic exercise for improving health.
Strength: Yes. It takes a lot of strength to hold your body in a balanced pose. Regular practice will strengthen the muscles of your arms, back, legs, and core.
Sport: No. Yoga is not competitive. Focus on your own practice and don't compare yourself to other people in your class.
Low-Impact: Yes. Although yoga will give you a full-body workout, it won't put any impact on your joints.
positions. Other, optional equipment includes a yoga ball for balance, a yoga block or two, and straps to help you reach for your feet or link your hands behind your back.
Yoga is a great activity for you if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease. It gives you strength, flexibility, and mind-body awareness. You'll also need to do something aerobic (like walking, biking, or swimming) if you're not doing a fast-moving type of yoga.
If you're pregnant, yoga can help keep you relaxed, strong, and in shape. If you're new to yoga or have any health or pregnancy related problems, talk to your doctor before you give it a try. Look for an instructor who's experienced in teaching prenatal yoga.
You'll need to make some adjustments as your baby and belly grow and your center of gravity shifts. After your first trimester, don’t do any poses that have you lying on your back. And don’t try to stretch any further than you did before pregnancy. Your pregnancy hormones will loosen up your joints and make you more likely to get injured.
While you're pregnant, avoid postures that put pressure on your belly or low back. Don't do "hot" yoga, where the room temperature is very high.
To find more information please follow: www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/a-z/yoga-workouts