Yoga BLOG

Yoga and the Mind Yoga is good for the mind—and certainly one of the reasons why many people practice it. Some prefer the more physical Hatha Yoga or even Power Yoga ; others love Kundalini Yoga , which also incorporates intensive breathing and even singing. The particular style is a matter of personal taste. You are also free to try other forms of yoga every day, or to incorporate meditation and breathing exercises . This takes up very little time and can open up entirely new spaces within yourself. Physical exercise reduces stress Whatever you choose, you'll feel better both physically and mentally. Physical yoga is like moderate exercise, and as we all know, it can make you happy; in any case, it's healthy for the body and increases contentment. In this respect, yoga, through the strenuous asanas alone, helps reduce stress and cope better with everyday worries. All you need is a simple mat ; of course, it can also be a beautiful one to make you feel even more comfortable (our tip: get one as a gift!). Or you can take a rainbow mat—after all, favorite colors are wonderful mood boosters. Breathe calmly Other types of yoga exercises calm your mind very quickly, even for beginners. It's not for nothing that we spontaneously advise agitated people to take a deep breath first. This can be achieved with calming yoga breathing exercises. Among them are very simple ones that encourage deep breathing into the lungs, sides, and abdomen; others involve nasal or tongue-and-mouth breathing – in either case, you need to concentrate; and this will calm your agitated senses. Focus and mindfulness – these are appropriate keywords, and not just for breathing. Perhaps you know the feeling of flow we experience whenever we are completely present with ourselves and the task at hand. We literally lose track of time, are awake and yet somehow lost – and then feel relaxed and happy. This can also be achieved through yoga. Block out the world for a moment Even simple meditation helps and is not difficult to learn. It focuses your attention on one point or lets your thoughts wander. Choose a comfortable meditation cushion or sit on a chair . Your eyes are half or completely closed and at first you just sense the peace and quiet of the room. Simply listen to the sounds of your surroundings, don't judge them: hear the children on the street, a passing car, birdsong or your peacefully running washing machine. Try your exercises outside and sit comfortably on a park bench, for example. Let yourself sink in, enjoy the quacking of ducks, the wind in the trees and the babbling of a brook. Wherever you are: in any case, within a few seconds you will feel your psyche recover. There is only you and this moment; for a few minutes or half an hour the rest of the world is unimportant. Don't let a cell phone ring disturb you (i.e. turn it off beforehand) and find a place where people aren't constantly walking past if you don't want to be suddenly spoken to and disturbed during your practice. Yoga and more But is this still yoga? Well, that depends on your interpretation. Meditation is a part of yoga, but it can also stand alone. If you want to relax permanently and also do something for your metabolism and blood pressure, yoga exercises of all kinds are a very good method. With breathing exercises and meditation, you simply have even more options for targeted relaxation in a very short time, even on the go. Relax this way, for example, in a park, on the train, or during a stressful company meeting—in other words, anywhere where you can't practice asanas. Image © tundephoto