5 Tips To Maximize the Benefits of Yoga

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In the yogic lore, it is said that the god Shiva transmitted yoga to humanity as a path to enlightenment. But though it was created for this purpose, there are also many things that yoga offers on the level of physical and psychological benefits. Let’s look at some ways to get the most out of the benefits of yoga and meditation.

Pick Loose-fitting Clothes

Take a break from tight-fitting and figure-hugging clothes and pick something that allows a little room for your body. Tight clothes could distract you when you are meditating or doing some practice and might spoil the whole experience. Clothing made of organic materials like silk or cotton is much more supportive than synthetic garments.

If you are planning to meditate, find yourself a comfortable seat. A good posture to meditate in is to sit cross-legged on a comfortable mat or cushion. Avoid cushions or seats that are overly soft or plushy since these could deflate too much and result in you going off-balance. Find a seat that is stable yet comfortable.

Visit Some Powerful Places

There are many places where powerful energy spaces have been created to aid those on the yogic path. These places can provide a great boost to a person’s yogic practices. There are quite a few such sacred sites around the world and especially in and around the Indian sub-continent, and there are many “yatras” or pilgrimages that can be made, such as the Mount Kailash yatra.

Understand Yoga’s Perspective on Physiology

According to yoga, the energy body of the human system has 72,000 nadis. A nadi is a channel of energy or prana, which is not made of matter in the everyday sense. It is made of a much more subtler substance. These 72,000 nadis arise out of three basic nadis – the Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna or the left, the right and the central respectively, which pass along the spinal column. Practices such as Hatha Yoga balance the two nadis and thus promote physical, mental and emotional health.

Learn a Little History

Learning a bit about the many great yogis in the history of yoga can serve as an inspiration to make that little extra effort in your yoga class. For example, Bodhidharma, the first Zen patriarch and 28th Patriarch of Buddhism, who brought Zen to China from India, was actually a South Indian prince. He left his palace in search of the deeper meaning of life and is said to have attained enlightenment in his early twenties.

Be Careful!

Yoga isn’t dangerous, but doing things your system is ready for can have a negative effect, even if there is nothing wrong with the technique. Don’t try out things like Kundalini Yoga by reading a book for example. The dangers of Kundalini Yoga are quite serious if practiced unsupervised. Be sure to choose a basic meditation to begin with and move forward with proper guidance.

Ananya Mathur