Yoga as a lifestyle

Over the last few years, yoga has become an integral part of many people's life around the world. Even those who have never stepped on a yoga mat before will have a general idea of what yoga stands for. At the same time, very few will know the deep essence of the ancient practice. Let's have a look today, what yoga actually is, and why everyone should practice yoga regardless of their lifestyle or physical form. 

The term yoga derives from the Sanskrit word "yuji", meaning yoke or union. The core of yoga is the unification of body, mind and soul for a fulfilling and happy life. It combines breathing and physical exercises in a certain way to help you to understand your body. It also guides you to use your potentials, that nature has generously empowered us with. 

The practice of Yoga has started with the very dawn of civilization. But historical evidences of the existence of yoga date back to the second millennium BC. While physical and mental health are natural consequences of yoga, the actual goal is more far-reaching: "Yoga is about harmonizing oneself with the universe. It is the technology of aligning individual geometry with the cosmic, to achieve the highest level of perception and harmony."(*)

*B.K.S. Iyengar was the founder of the style of yoga known as "Iyengar Yoga" and was considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world

How yoga can improve your life

Practice mindfulness.

Yoga teaches you to practice mindfulness and to take control over your thought flow to channel it in the right direction. As we know, where attention goes energy flows. The more we focus on what goes "right" in life, the more likewise energy we attract.

Take control of your breathing.

One of the most powerful aspect of yoga is the ability to control your own breathing. Did you know that 5 minutes of deep breathing can reduce the activation of your stress level and encourage your body to move into a thrive state? Knowing the right techniques of breathing can help to saturate your body with right amount of oxygen so it can maintain its youth state for as long as possible.

Bring harmony to your body and mind.

Regular practice of asanas, yoga poses, help to increase body's flexibility, strength and balance, lubricating the spine and alignment to aid in everyday activity. Maintaining an "open body" helps to maintain a clear mind, control your thoughts, being present and staying connected. Tuning in with your body while performing asanas, will help to develop the skill of awareness and being present in the moment. One of the keys to live and enjoy life now!

Transform routines into rituals.

We often associate "rituals" with something religious, but yoga teaches us how to transform our daily “routines” into something more meaningful and purposeful, like “rituals", which can noticeably improve the quality of our life. Great examples could be rituals related to waking up and setting the right intentions for the day, eating for better digestion, or for going to bed. Yoga offers valuable advises and techniques on how to improve quality of many aspects of life and be happy!

To summarize, Yoga is not only a physical activity that will stretch and strengthen your body. It's an ancient knowledge that provides you with tools to empower you to become a solo creator of your life. Yoga helps to develop awareness and mindfulness. It teaches you to cope with emotions and channel your thoughts. It gives knowledge on self-healing and amazing potentials human body can do. And last but not the least, yoga guides you how to live in piece with yourself, be present and enjoy life!

Namaste,

Inika Team