Yoga is a practice that uses various techniques to work on the balance between body, mind and spirit. Although it is best known for its postures, the practice goes far beyond physical exercise. This is because breathing, meditation and study are essential to fully enjoy the benefits of this practice.
Read this content to understand the basics of Yoga, its impact on your overall health , and how to begin your journey in this philosophical system. Some of the topics you will see are:
- Benefits
- Types
- How to do it?
What is Yoga and what is it for?
Yoga is an ancient science, in fact a set of philosophies and practices whose origins can be dated back more than 5 thousand years, in the northern region of India. The objective of the studies and body postures of Yoga lies in the union and balance of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the practitioner, with a view to their development.
Yoga that has become popular and is growing every day uses the body first to achieve balance and stimulate physical and emotional health . Essentially, it consists of several postures or positions known as asanas (pronounced “asanas”), associated with breathing exercises.
What are the benefits for practitioners?
The advantages and benefits are countless and, invariably, end up extending to the practitioner’s relationship network.
Due to all the benefits that we will discuss below, it has become a practice adopted in the corporate environment. If you want to understand whether this solution, to take care of the quality of life of your employees, is appropriate for the current situation of your business.
Anxiety reduction
One of the first things we usually notice after starting to practice Yoga is the reduction of anxiety . There is a movement in the human constitution to return to normality and, therefore, working towards regaining balance with a calming practice results in a reduction in anxiety states.
Muscle pain relief
Each yoga posture is, among other things, a true stretching session that works the muscles and internal organs involved. Performing a series where each posture is completed by the next restores muscular balance, reducing and even eliminating pain resulting from muscular irregularities.
Body posture alignment
Body posture alignment goes far beyond the aesthetic expression of the body and constitutes a serious health issue. In fact, neglecting posture over the years can lead to chronic pain, as well as sciatica and lumbar and cervical disorders, which are often debilitating.
Increased body flexibility
Gaining flexibility translates into increased mobility, that is, movements that were previously limiting can no longer be so. Regular yoga practice leads to a significant increase in the body’s flexibility and the ability to perform new postures ( asanas ) that might initially seem more difficult.
Promoting well-being
All of the benefits shown add up and consolidate in promoting the practitioner’s well-being . Within a short time of adopting the practice of Yoga, one can already notice a feeling of being physically well, as well as mentally calmer.
Stimulating emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence, as the ability to relate well to the world, is strongly stimulated, especially because it brings about that feeling of well-being mentioned above. In addition, the deep internalization promoted by Yoga brings a greater understanding of oneself and more empathy with others.
Increased productivity
For an organization, encouraging the practice of Yoga among employees leads to a better organizational climate and greater engagement. Actions of this nature, which improve the quality of life in the workplace, lead to greater and better participation of employees in the company’s production processes.
Spiritual benefits
In the practice of Yoga, through concentration on postures, focus on breathing, meditation practice and guided reflections, the practitioner recognizes his or her inner self. At the same time, spiritual knowledge and faith grow.
Therefore, it is said that among the connections that Yoga makes is spiritual work.
The body before and after practice
An important principle of the practice is the perception of emotional and physical sensations. Yoga practice constantly invites you to understand your body and its movements.
Added to this are stretching, muscle contraction and meditation, which provide immediate effects on the body.
For all these reasons, after practicing, you will feel lighter emotionally. In addition, your body will be more relaxed and prepared for other activities or even for a good night’s sleep .
What are the types of Yoga?
The types of Yoga differ in several aspects. Some of them are: time spent in the postures, predetermined or free postures and connection of movements and breathing.
Hatha Yoga
In this modality, the time spent in each posture is longer, compared to others. This way, it is possible to pay attention to postural alignment and the correct position in the posture.
Vinyasa Yoga
In the case of Vinyasa, the practice is more fluid, connected to breathing. In this way, inhalation and exhalation determine the movements of entry and exit of the postures.
Therefore, the time spent in each posture is shorter.
Furthermore, to change positions, a connection of movements is made. This is a characteristic that differentiates it from Hatha Yoga as well.
Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga has six fixed series of postures, and follows the same principles mentioned as Vinyasa Yoga.
This modality is based on the concept of tristana. This concept follows specific principles of breathing, postures, execution of movements and focus on the gaze.
How to do Yoga?
For a better experience, ensure some basic aspects:
- To practice, you need to have space where you can lie down or stretch out your arms.
- It is necessary to wear comfortable clothes that do not restrict body movements.
- Preferably, use specific Yoga mats, which provide safety and stability.
- It is interesting that the practice is carried out in a calm place, without many distractions.
- It can be done in the morning, early, before work, or even during a break during the day.
- The session is also led by an instructor who guides and corrects the posture of each participant.
What is the difference between Yoga and Pilates?
As you have seen so far, Yoga is much more than a physical exercise , it is a philosophy of life, which involves countless aspects.
Pilates is a physical exercise, with some concepts similar to Yoga, such as the connection between the mind and the body. Pilates uses a method with the objective of strengthening muscles, stretching the body and establishing therapeutic rehabilitation processes.
How to practice it in the corporate environment?
You have already seen the importance and benefits of Yoga. Now, let’s find out how to implement its practice in your company. Stay tuned.
Initially, it is important to take into account that a specialized consultancy in quality of life should be called upon to offer the best experience possible. In any case, there are 2 ways to practice Yoga in the company. See the characteristics of each one.
Workplace yoga
This involves practicing the principles of Yoga in the workplace, whenever possible. Most commonly, sessions last about 15 to 20 minutes and are led by a qualified and experienced instructor.
This form of practice focuses on relieving and compensating for repetitive work practices, as well as reducing stress, among other things. There is no need to wear appropriate clothing or have a specific environment.
What other wellness activities can be done?
When it comes to promoting the quality of life of the organization’s employees, there is a very good range of activities that can be adopted and meet the profile of the company and its workers.
The effectiveness of this type of investment has already been proven: happy employees are, on average, 31% more productive, according to research from the University of California .
In this sense, the following may be considered, among others:
- mocks;
- functional training;
- pilates;
- mindfulness .
As you can see, Yoga brings many benefits to employees and the organization. Implementing its practice is simple, but requires specialized and experienced advice in implementing quality of life programs in the workplace.