In the world of smart devices, people are getting lazy and unfit. People are now aware of their fitness and are becoming health conscious. One of the most effective ways to achieve your fitness goals is Yoga. Yoga is all about engineering your body. You all have knowledge about the outside world but we are not much aware of the inner world. The inner world is as big and mysterious as the outer world. That is why there are a number of yogas with unique effectiveness and advantages. One of them is Ashtanga yoga.
Know About The History and Origin of Ashtanga Yoga
One of the most effective styles of yoga which was first practiced in the 20th century is ashtanga yoga. The founder or creator of Ashtanga Yoga is K. Pattabhi Jois, however, it was Tirumalai Krishnamacharya who was a yoga teacher who developed this yoga practice and taught it to Jois. Tirumalai Krishnamacharya is also known as the father of modern yoga.
Patanjali who was a great sage was the one who used to practice various yoga. Ashtanga yoga is developed from the philosophy of the yogas which were practiced by Patanjali. So the origin of yoga does not belong to any particular person.
Jois later on, in Mysore, Banglore built up his own institute and started this yoga practice. In India, many people still refer to yoga as Mysore yoga or power yoga. Ashtanga yoga mainly emphasizes muscles and breathing techniques. In simple words, yoga is all about movements of body and breathing patterns.
What is the Real Meaning of Ashtanga?
The meaning of the word ashtanga lies within it. If we divide the word ashtanga it will be ‘ashta’ means eight (in Sanskrit) and ‘anga’ which means parts or limbs. So Ashtanga yoga consists of eight limbs that have particular principals and effects on human life.
Which are the Eight Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga?
- Yama: principals of your life.
- Niyama: brings discipline in your life
- Asana: Yoga position which brings mental stability
- Pranayam: observe your breathing pattern
- Pratyahara: distract your focus from all the senses
- Dharna: Increase your level of concentration
- Dhyana (Meditation): dhyana means observation or paying attention to yourself.
- Samadhi (Salvation): To be one with the universe.
Know the Purpose Behind Ashtanga Yoga
The purpose of every exercise is to maintain or build your physical strengths. Yoga focuses on mental aspects as well. The vital purpose of ashtanga yoga is purification. Ashtanga yoga helps you to purify your physical and mental health. The purpose of every yoga is to make you aware mentally and increase your level of physical fitness.
Eight limbs of Ashtanga are designed in such a way that its moments help you in improving your flexibility and mental awareness. By doing the physical movements increases your strength and by paying attention to your breath will increase your awareness and focus levels. There various other aspects in our human life, by doing yoga practices daily we become more recessive towards it.
Note: Restorative Yoga helps you to more productive for your whole day. If you feel tired of doing their work. So you must try definitely you get good results.
What are the Different Advantages of Ashtanga Yoga?
If you practice yoga it will give you several benefits like Flexibility, increase in physical strength, peace of mind, relief from stress, and whatnot. But Ashtanga yoga is a very simple yoga practice, so it will help you to stick with it for a longer duration.
Key for anything to work lies in its consistency. Ashtanga yoga is a very simple yet effective practice, If anything is made such easy and interesting we are likely to stick with it for a longer duration. Slowly and gradually you can see the changes in yourself.
Yoga has various effects on different people. However, it only gives you advantages and there are no side effects of yoga. Few people find inner peace by practicing ashtanga yoga while some people feel healthier and fitter. It depends on you how you respond to various aspects of life and grow from them.
Eight limbs of ashtanga yoga are designed in such a way that all parts of your body are involved in it. Small changes in our life lead us to get greater results, the same way by giving little time for your body daily will make you a better human being.
For whom is Ashtanga Yoga Designed?
Ashtanga yoga consists of various poses that involve almost every muscle of your body. If you are having any problem with joints or you are under certain medical treatment than you have to consult your doctor before practicing this yoga.
Ashtanga yoga is that source which will help you to grow mentally and physically. You should practice yoga daily for better and quick results. If you are the type of person who wants to be fitter and mentally aware than this yoga is for you.
If you are someone who works in the office and don’t have many physical activities to perform this yoga will improve your physical health and make you feel energies throughout the day. Some people have a lot of stress in their work for them these yoga benefits by reducing their stress levels and improves their mental stability.
Ashtanga yoga is like a sea of benefits it depends on you how are getting benefitted from it. You can learn infinite things from it or just ignore it and move on.
Final Words
Ashtanga Yoga is divided into eight limbs and is an effective form of yoga. It has various benefits that will make drastic changes in your life. Yoga is the simplest form of exercise which will help you to look at life in a different way.
Yoga will help you see things in an unbiased way, with regular yoga practices you can see life as it is. It is not only for your physical health it plays a vital role in shaping your mental health as well. If you have never done yoga before, then start doing it now, it will surely add values in your life.