Yoga Poses Origin

 
The word ‘asana’ refers to a yoga pose and comes from the word ‘asi’, which means ‘to be’. The ‘asana’ refers to one’s state of being. The word also refers to a seat- not an actual place, but a form. By holding the position, the body is stretched and exercised. The external as well as internal organs are exercised. Every ‘asana’ focuses on a certain part of the body. Some may be performed in order to deal with a condition such as diabetes or constipation.
Hot Power Yoga helps the life force or ‘prana’ flow smoothly, uninterrupted. It gets rid of any blockages and accordingly facilitates good organ system functioning. Yoga poses intend to exercise your mind and body. There are many different styles of yoga that you can choose from. These include Ashtanga, Iyengar and Hatha Yoga. Whichever form you choose, it will involve instruction regarding the proper way to hold a pose. The yoga ‘asanas’ are common but the manner in which they are performed may vary.

History of Yoga

Yoga is dated back to 3000 BC. In the Vedic period the focus was on attempts that allowed man to go beyond the limitations of the mind. The ancient Upanishads focus on meditation and self realization. With time, Yoga included poses, breathing techniques, self restraint, concentration and meditation. It was in the early part of the 19^th century that the West was introduced to Yoga. With time, it has developed into several forms.

Inspiration of yoga poses

Many yoga poses are inspired by nature. For instance, many ‘asanas’ have an animal name. The pose imitates an animal, and this makes it easy for the student to understand and perform the same. Ancient yogis paid special attention to the way animals dealt with stress and illness and contracted or stretched their bodies to deal with it. Some interesting yoga poses that are inspired by animals include the cobra and fish pose. Some other poses resemble objects such as a boat.
The ‘Suryanamaskar’ or the Sun Salutation is used in all schools of yoga. It is a series of exercises that offers greetings or salutations to the Sun, the source of infinite energy. The poses also show an in-depth study and knowledge of the physiology of the human body. Special emphasis is paid to nerves, muscles and glands, and especially the thyroid gland.
 
The key elements that are part of every yoga pose include the stretching and relaxing of the muscles and ligaments. It also includes deep breathing that offers a rich flow of oxygen to the specific organ. The pose massages the relevant internal organ and helps build concentration. In some yoga poses, gravity is used in order to direct the flow of blood. This improves blood circulation to certain parts of the body.
 
It is important to learn Yoga under the guidance of an experienced instructor. It is vital that you discuss any issues or worries that you may have regarding your health. For instance, in the case that you have a condition such as an injury, heart disease or diabetes, it is crucial that you mention it to the instructor. Daily practice of yoga will help you stay healthy and fit, and keep you calm and focused.