The meaning of Yoga
Yoga means unity or oneness and was designed due to the desire of better health and longevity, greater personal freedom, and higher self-awareness. The journey of yoga will help us to raise awareness for our self in all dimensions, especially mental, emotional, physical, and spiritually. It helps us to be healthier in our mind, body, and spirit. Thus, with yoga we can enjoy a higher version of our-selves. Raising awareness and being present will ease our balance and helps us to accelerate in all aspects of our life such as our career, relationships or health. Often, we are limited by physical, mental, and emotional restraints and therefore can’t reach a higher consciousness.
Yoga has too many benefits to describe every single one in this article. It’s only important to know that yoga keeps us fit, healthy and in balance. Through the physical practice, breathwork and meditation, we can increase flexibility, strength, stamina, and circulation. Additionally, Yoga lowers stress and tension, helps to manage or anxiety levels, eases depressions, headaches, and other physical illnesses such as backpain or heart diseases. With the practice of yoga, we can improve creativity, concentration and create a sense of calmness as well as well-being.
Our philosophy of Yoga is based on three practices: the physical practice performing poses (or asanas), breathwork, which is also called Pranayama and Meditation.
Asanas:
Asanas or poses are the physical part of the practice. All poses should be comfortable and stable. It is important that every pose is performed with a feeling of steadiness, awareness, and presence. While creating a distraction for our mind through performing an asana or are series of postures, the goal is to be present and aware and continue to focus on our breath. The breath is the most important objective in every form of yoga. It should always be controlled, slow and deep breath through our nose. With controlling the breath, it is possible to lower the heart rate in difficult poses and breathe through them.
Pranayama:
Pranayama is the Sanskrit word for breath work. Prana means “vital energy” or “life force” and ayama can be translated with “extension”. Breathing means being alive, we all need to breath to life. Pranayama affects every body cell and influences the performance of our brain and thus can be used to increase or lower the energy levels of the body. Energizing breathwork can help to activate the body help to release some heat while cooling breathwork can lower stress and anxiety levels.
Meditation:
Meditation or Dhyana is the most important practice for self-growth. In meditation, we are in a state of consciousness, which is completely different from any other state we might know: the mind is not focused on the external world or dreaming, but instead is relaxed, clear and focused inward. We pay attention to our breath and our inner self, without letting the mind wander and chase thoughts. Meditation means being present and gives our mind some rest.
There are many styles of yoga which can be completely different to each other, some might be very strong or fast-paced such as some vinyasa or ashtanga practices, while others are very slow and relaxing such as Yin yoga or restorative yoga. We believe that there is a yoga practice for everyone, but it is also worth mentioning, that we should strive a balance in everything we do: It’s important to find a balance of strong and relaxing yoga classes. For some, that might mean to go strong for 5 or 6 days a week and have one rest day with a relaxing practice while others might prefer to have 3 or 4 days of a relaxing practice.