YOGAAlyssa, Marissa, Dan, Gianni, Tori & Jeff

History of YogaThe exact history and origins of yoga is

uncertain, however there is some evidence that it originated in the East.

The earliest signs of yoga date all the way back to 3,000 B.C. !!

It was used in prayer, divine harmony, and for the greater being.

More History on YogaYoga was originally focused on applying and

understanding the world

As time went on, the focus moved towards self-enlightenment becoming the ultimate goal

It was not until the sixth century B.C. that the poses and meditation became a critical element

These were implemented by Buddhist teachings

Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga for Flexibility:Yoga poses work by stretching your muscles. They

can help you move better and feel likes stiff or tired.

Yoga for StrengthSome styles of yoga will help improve muscle tone.

But even less vigorous styles of yoga can improve strength and endurance benefits. Many poses such as, downward dog, upward dog, and plank, build upper-body strength. The standing poses, especially when you hold them for several breaths, build strength in your hamstrings, quadriceps, and abs.

Better Posture:When you’re stronger and more flexible, your posture

improves. Most standing and sitting poses develop core strength. With a stronger core you are more likely to sit and stand “tall”. Yoga also helps your body awareness. That helps you notice more quickly if your slouching, so you can adjust your posture.

• Breathing benefits:Yoga usually involves paying attention to your

breath, which can help you relax. It may also call for specific breathing techniques. But yoga typically isn’t aerobic, like running, unless it’s an intense type or your “hot yoga”

Less stress, more calm:You may feel less stressed and more relaxed after

doing yoga. Some yoga styles use meditation that help calm the mind. Focusing on breathing can help you do that too. A number of studies have shown yoga can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can also enhance your mood and overall sense of well being.

Good for your heart:Yoga has long been known to lower blood pressure

and slow the heart rate. A slower heart rate can benefit people with high blood pressure, or heart disease, and people who have had a stroke. Yoga has also been linked to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and better immune function.

Types of Yoga

•There are an increasing amount of styles of Yoga as it grows in popularity.

•We are just going to discuss a few…..

Ashtanga

The practice of Ashtanga that's getting mainstream attention today is a fast-paced series of sequential postures practiced by yoga master K. Pattabhi Jois, who lives in Mysore, India.

POWER YogaIn 1995, Bender Birch set out to challenge

Americans' understanding of what it really means to be fit with her book Power Yoga. Bender Birch's intention was to give a Western spin to the practice of Ashtanga Yoga, a challenging and disciplined series of poses designed to create heat and energy flow.

Jivamukti

combining an Ashtanga background with a variety of ancient and modern spiritual teachings.

Kali Ray TriYoga

A series of flowing, dancelike movements intuitively came to Kali Ray while leading a group meditation in 1980. In 1986, he developed these movements into seven distinct levels, Kaliji established the TriYoga Center in Santa Cruz, California, offering a system of yoga that is taught in a meditative environment.

Healing YogaIn 1993, Joseph Le Page, M.A., founded

Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT) in San Francisco. Le Page developed a yoga teacher-training program designed specifically for medical and mainstream wellness settings, including hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

Svaroopa

This style of yoga teaches different ways of doing familiar poses, emphasizing the opening of the spine by beginning at the tailbone and progressing through each spinal area

BEGINNER YOGA POSESMountain Pose

Tree Pose

SequenceChair Pose Warrior 1 Warrior 2

More AdvancedWarrior 3

Interesting Facts• 16 million Americans practice yoga and almost

5.7 million dollars are spent on yoga gear each year

• Yoga can be used for anyone. The worlds oldest yoga instructor is 90 years old

• Yoga’s main purpose isn’t to increase flexibility but to relax the mind and become less stressed.

Interesting FactsStudies have shown that yoga does reduce the

risk of chronic back pain

Studies have also shown that yoga reduces high blood pressure and decreases the likeliness of becoming depressed or having anxiety

Celebrities such as Adam Levine, Jennifer Aniston, Madonna and Jessica Biel use yoga regularly

Further InformationThe whole system of yoga is built on three main

structures, exercise, breathing and meditation.

Yoga should not be practiced by children under the age of 16 because it may interfere with natural growth

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