Hello Karuna Folks! Welcome to our first blog post. To start off, what do you say we pick “5W1H of Yoga” as our first topic?
We will start from the very beginning, what is yoga? The word ‘yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit, which means ‘to unite’. The union that the word refers to is the union of the body, mind and spirit. Even though yoga has become popular as a form of physical exercise, it is not merely about moving your body, flexibility, or being able to perform cool poses (asanas). In yoga, we also learn to pay attention to our breath, and our breath is the easiest way to change our mindset and emotional state.
Why yoga? The benefit of regular asana practice are wide ranging. It improves posture, flexibillity, strength, tone body muscles and even weight loss. As it was mentioned before, yoga is not merely about physical exercise , it is also about being mindful. When we are fully aware and mindful of what is happening at that very moment, we become centered in the here and now. We are not distracted by the past or the future. When we slow down and take deep, full breath, we can relax our parasympathetic nervous system, which alleviates anxiety and tension. It keep us grounded and more connected to ouselves and everything around us. Hence, yoga is beyond practicing asanas, it’s about body awareness, connecting to ourselves and it’s one of the ways to get to know ourselves better.
Next, who needs yoga? Everyone.
Yoga is meant to be a healing, strengthening, calming and empowering practice that offers something for everybody, regardless of their age, gender, race, size, shape, background, and yes, even their fitness level.
When you start practicing yoga, it’s all about stretching your own limitations. It’s a process and it takes time, but you will see progress the more you practice. Yoga isn’t one size fits all, you can adapt it to your own body. There is a basic outline and alignment for each posture, but it’s also about listening to your own body, moving from within and get to know yourself on the mat. The more you know yourself, the easier it is to be your authentic self in the world.
When & where to practice yoga? Anytime and anywhere. Whenever and wherever you feel comfortable.
How to practice yoga? Prepare your body and your mind. And… book your class at Karuna Yoga Studio & Lifestyle!
Namaste,
Karuṇā