Yoga: start practicing it for the well-being of the body and mind

yoga is an ancient and complex practice, with a 5,000-year history that originates in ancient Indian philosophy. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation or relaxation, with the aim of regaining contact with oneself, with the world around us and with nature.

There are different types of yoga and many disciplines within the practice. The fulcrum is always the union between body and mind, the awareness of what you are doing and the intention with which you start practicing.

Yoga: history and origins

In the modern world, the art of yoga from South Asia has expanded to all corners of the globe. Although it is now a popular form of exercise and meditation, this was not always the case.

The “Yoga Sutra“, a 2000-year-old treatise on yogi philosophy of Indian sage Patanjali, is a guide on how to master the mind, control the emotions and grow spiritually. The Yoga Sutra is the first written record – in ancient Sanskrit – of yoga, as well as one of the oldest texts in existence, and provides the framework for all modern yoga.

Yoga is well known for its postures and poses, but these were not the heart of the original yoga traditions in India. Practitioners and followers of the yogi tradition had as their main objective the improvement of the individual in a profound sense, the expansion of spiritual energy using methods of breathing and concentration.

The tradition began to gain popularity in the West in the late 19th century. An explosion of interest in postural yoga occurred in the 1920s and 1930s, first in India and then in the West. Today it is a discipline defined as "holistic", among the most loved and practiced.

Yoga: why start practicing it, the right motivation

It has recently become popular as a form of physical exercise, based on poses – asanas – that promote better proprioception and combine “emotional” benefits with purely functional ones.

Obviously, yoga is much more than a good stretching and muscle strengthening workout, although it is certainly useful for those suffering from osteoarticular pathologies - such as sciatica and back pain - for recovery from sports injuries and, in general, to improve mobility with delicacy.

Surely, therefore, it is perfectly fine to decide to practice yoga as physical training. It improves flexibility and strengthens the muscles, making the entire musculoskeletal system more efficient, without the need for trauma or excessive effort like other more "aggressive" sports.

However, we must not ignore its meditative component, because we would risk trivializing a splendid and complex philosophy. Learning to breathe correctly and to focus on the present moment, on theasanathat you are trying to build and achieve step by step, this is the essential thing.

This awareness, which recalls the concept of mindfulness, implies the desire to experience the pose itself not as its achievement and result - carrying out the pose itself correctly - but as the "journey" to achieve it, the set of steps and psycho-physical efforts that allow us to implement it.

On why yoga is really good for you and how to start practicing it even in the comfort of your own home, we heard the opinion of Giulia Rizzi, yoga teacher and food blogger:

"Yoga is a complete discipline and what makes it special is its ability to adapt and be inclusive. Everyone can do yoga and find the most suitable style and approach by moving the body, learning how to use one's breathing, meditating or using other techniques. All this is yoga. It is worth approaching this discipline because when you start practicing, whatever the starting point, it triggers a chain effect that it also involves other aspects of our life, making us more receptive and more aware.

A beautiful part of yoga is sharing, it is the energy that develops in a physical practice, but this last year has taught us to go beyond limits and boundaries, feeling close and united even if we are not in the same room. Like many teachers, I have also taken my lessons online and this is an excellent opportunity to try to practice! You don't need much, all you need is a mat and the desire to get to know each other a little better. I always recommend practicing together with a teacher, especially at the beginning, in order to be guided safely, in the hope of moving together again soon!"

Types of yoga, which one to choose?

There are many different types and styles of yoga. Here are some of the most popular:

• Ashtanga yoga – this type of yoga uses ancient yoga teachings and has become popular since the 1970s. Ashtanga applies six established sequences of postures that quickly connect each movement to the breath.
• Bikram yoga – also known as “hot” yoga, Bikram occurs in rooms artificially heated to temperatures of nearly 105 degrees and 40% humidity.
• Hatha yoga – this is a general term for any type of yoga that teaches physical postures. “Hatha” classes usually serve as a gentle introduction to basic yoga postures.
• Iyengar yoga – this type focuses on finding correct alignment in each pose using a range of props, such as blocks, blankets, straps, chairs and pillows.
• Vinyasa yoga – focuses on the transition between poses and has a faster pace, it is also practiced through multiple activities, from initial singing or invocation to meditation, then asanas, pranayama and music.
• Kripalu yoga – this type teaches practitioners to know, accept and learn from the body by looking within. Classes usually begin with breathing exercises and gentle stretches, followed by a series of individual poses and final relaxation.
• Prenatal yoga – Prenatal yoga uses “gentle” postures that professionals have designed to support the health of pregnant women.
• Restorative yoga – this is a relaxing yoga method, consisting of just four or five simple poses, using props such as blankets and pillows to sink into deep relaxation without exerting effort to hold the pose. It is also used in some particular types of psychotherapy.

Yoga and nutrition, awareness at the table

Those who love yoga and holistic disciplines are, as a rule, a person who is also attentive to other aspects of their life: healthy eating is one of the main ones, as is the desire to reduce one's environmental impact, or to carry out ethical choices such as vegan diet.

Eating well is essential, before and after practice, especially for intense sessions: it is better to have a light but energetic snack, carefully choosing fresh and natural foods... for example our superfood biological.

For those who practice in the morning before breakfast, follow the yoga session with a Açai Bowl colourful, tasty and rich in micronutrients vegetables is a great way to replenish energy supplies!