Tips For Beginners Who Practice Yoga

The biggest problem that we often face in doing something new is a pessimist before trying. When we're feeling pessimistic, in fact we would lose before the fight. In the world of health and fitness, we must continue to feel optimistic and have a positive attitude. So that we can get the best results. This article is addressed to those of you who want to start practicing yoga. I want to share my experience about practicing yoga, because I was a beginner in yoga practice.

Yoga is an activity that is more than just exercise. Even yoga have existed long long before you were born. When you actually have the intention to join a yoga class, or want to learn yoga by self-taught, then not only physical factors that you should be prepared. You also have to prepare mentally and have enough knowledge. Remember! to dispose of all your negative thoughts.

Open your mind

Yoga is an art of classical physical exercise. You must open your mind to be able to establish a good mentality. It would be better if you throw away first all of your life problems. Leave your thoughts into a clean mind when we want to start practicing. We shouldn't think that yoga is an ancient type of exercise, and less relevant today. You should never underestimate yoga if you want to really learn it. Forget all your doubts and excessive expectations, then gradually you will get the benefits. In fact there are some people who think that yoga is a forbidden activity, as they relate to a particular religion. Of course we must be critical in addressing this opinion. Therefore, an open mind will be very important.

Don't worry about your body shape

Perhaps many of you who think that yoga can only be done by people who have a lean and athletic body. We should not think like that, because yoga can be done by everyone. We know that the one of our goals practicing yoga is to erode the body fat. The people often you see as the image model of yoga are the ones who practice diligently, they didn't suddenly can do that movements. Perhaps these people, at first also had full body fat.

And often we saw some of yoga pictures, that these images show a difficult movements. Because the movement is probably the upper level movements. For you are a beginner, you should try to move from the basic level. You don't need to afraid if you aren't currently have the flexibility of the body, because by itself it will be formed if we practice regularly and routinely. Sure, it can be a challenge for us, so that one day we can do the difficult movements that require a high level of flexibility.

Choosing a suitable type of yoga

When you want to start practicing yoga, and join a yoga class, it's a good idea to choose one type of flow yoga that you will focus on. There are many types of yoga flow, I don't know how many exactly, because yoga is also experiencing growth at any time. However, when I first practiced yoga, I prefer Hatha yoga, because this flow is a type of yoga that I first heard and it's quite common. Here are some examples of the flow of yoga that can be chosen by beginners.

Hatha Yoga

This stream focuses on techniques asana (postures), pranayama (breath though), bandha (locks), mudras (gestures), and deep relaxation. Hatha goal is to maintain body balance alarm with five principles of yoga practice (Regularly practiced, breathe deep, well-balanced diet, adequate rest, positive thinking and meditation). This technique is very effective for reducing stress and train your concentration. At first, hatha yoga are very similar to meditation.

Bikram Yoga

This yoga is an unique type, because it must be done in a room temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. The place to practice is like a sauna which aims to make the body expend a lot of sweat, and aims to improve blood circulation. Bikram yoga consists of 26 poses performed systematically. This type of yoga is suitable for you who like to work up to sweat very much. Bikram yoga course is not suitable for those who have sensitivity to heat, and hypertension. For those of you who are experiencing an injury, is also not recommended to do bikram yoga.

Asthanga Yoga

System training on asthanga divided into 6 series of asana. Starting from a low level of difficulty, moderate, and higher. The advantage of this system is that we can practice in accordance with our respective capabilities. But for a beginner, it would be better if the movements are determined by the instructor. Asthanga yoga performed non-stop at high enough speeds. Thus, proper regulation of breath is also required. This type of yoga would be very much to burn calories and expend a lot of sweat. When we are proficient with these movements, don't keep on expecting guidance from the instructor. Maybe this flow is also suitable for those who practice self-taught.

So everyone, don't ever hesitate if you have a desire to practice yoga. Trust me, it would be a lot of benefits that we will get. Remember to always think positive! Keep healthy :)

Practicing Yoga on The Beach

Indeed Yoga can be done anywhere, as long as there is enough space, then we can do yoga exercises. However, there is one thing that caught my attention. When I type the keyword "yoga" in the search engines, especially in image search, so many photos of people doing yoga on the beach. Of course this makes me curious, why are so many people who have pictures of yoga exercises on the beach? From these pictures, there are a variety of poses. Some of them practicing yoga on the shoreline, practicing when the sun goes down, and there are those who practice yoga on the edge of the cliff above the beach.

Initially I had thought that it was just for a good perspective only, for a background that has a broad horizon. Of course, the ocean can be a nice background images. Then I started looking for information on the internet, what exactly are the advantages doing yoga on the beach. But I didn't find a satisfactory answer. But I found some testimonial comments on some websites of popular beach. Or testimonial for hotels located near the coast. Many have commented, the location is very good for doing yoga. And these comments makes me more curious.

My country is an island nation, then I won't have trouble finding attractions beach in my place. The nearest beach that i can visit is the south coast of Java. I live in Central Java, and very close to Yogyakarta. In Yogyakarta, there are many beaches that are be a favorite attraction. For example are Parangtritis beach, Depok Beach, Baron Beach, Indrayanti Beach, and many other coastal attractions. Even some of them more beautiful than Kuta beach in Bali (in my opinion). Therefore, it's not uncommon there are many tourists from various countries who visit there.

2 Months ago I visited Depok Beach. My curiosity was finally satisfied. I can try to do yoga there. And it feels really different when you are doing yoga in the room. The atmosphere in  there was also support me, since I visited in the morning, shortly after sunrise, and the beach is still not crowded with tourists. Doing some yoga asanas accompanied by the sound of waves and wind, it's really gives enjoyment. This feeling became more calm, the mind becomes more open. Doing yoga is much more fun when done in the open. Natural atmosphere, it gives an aura of its own. It looks like I found the answer at that time. More than just for taking good photographs, or graphic beauty. But because doing yoga on the beach gives a different spirit.

These are some photos I took with the help of my friend uses his pocket camera :

For those who are fond of doing yoga, or a professional Yogi, maybe it's something usual. But for me that is still new to learn yoga, it's a great first experience. What is clear, doing yoga can be done anywhere. What is important is the goal to obtain your physical and mental health.

So, keep healthy everyone. :)

Laughter Yoga

Have you ever heard of laughter yoga? The first time I heard it, it sounds strange but unique. Yoga which we know, particularly hatha yoga, is a variety of combinations of movements that regulate our body posture. Laughter is certainly an activity that is fun and makes us happy, isn't it? Moreover, if the laughs become part of the practice of yoga, of course practicing yoga would be a more exciting workout.

The concept of yoga which was introduced by Dr. Madan Kataria of India has been spread in various countries around the world, and can be done by all ages. This unique concept is the combination of Pranayama (art of breathing in Yoga) and games that produce laughter. The games that are commonly used are usually children's games. To get the benefits, laughter has to do with the expression of loose, loud noise of the diaphragm cavity. This will increase the supply of oxygen to the body and brain, thus making the person doing laughter yoga healthier and more energetic.

Naturally, we need something that is funny to make us laugh. And something that funny and make us laugh is often come accidentally. If we do laughter yoga, then we will make laugh knowingly. We just came and laughed, we do not need to find a reason to make laugh, just laugh. For indeed, our bodies can not distinguish between genuine laughter or contrived, natural laughter or artificial laughter. When in a state of laughter, our body will produce endorphins that can improve the feeling of joy.

If the general practice of yoga can be done alone, then the laughter yoga should be done in groups and in control. It can be imagined if we have suddenly laughed out loud alone, of course we could be mistaken for crazy (hehehe). Because laughter yoga done with the game, then it's requires interaction with other people. The first to do is look at each other's eyes, regulate our breathing, followed by applause or other movements were later accompanied by laughter.

Sometimes there are difficult people to laugh in front of many people, the laughter yoga can also be used to resolve the issue. Where we come together with people who laugh out loud without feeling embarrassed. I also believe that laughter is contagious. So, in laughter yoga exercises, participants are able to transmit their laugh to the other participants. When we share laughter to each other, that means we also transmit happiness, and if we share happiness, surely the world will be more peaceful and beautiful.

If you find laughter yoga clubs around you, there is nothing wrong if you join them. Laughter yoga club should be led by a certified laughter yoga teacher and under the supervision of Laughter Club International in India, and Laughter Yoga International. Laughter does have many benefits, especially for our mental health. Laughter is very powerful way to relieve stress, amid the problems we face. So, let's laugh before laugh is forbidden :)

The Art of Practicing Yoga

It's already few weeks I studied yoga with a purpose as a replacement if I get bored of practicing cardio. I am self-taught in learning yoga practice, and  i'm not using yoga instructor or joining a yoga studio. I just rely on books that I bought, which contains guidelines yoga movements. The first time I practiced yoga, it is quite difficult to practice the movements at the advanced level, but after a few weeks of this, a lot of the benefits that I felt, even more than the physical effects. It was indeed as if i'd been doing a meditation. This is what motivated me to seek more information about yoga.

Yoga, so far i think only as one of the sports movement alone, but it turned out is more than just physical exercise. Physical exercise is only a small part of yoga itself. Yoga is derived from the word YUJ (Sanskrit), which means a single unit (to unite, to joint or to connect). Which means that yoga is an activity in which a person focuses his whole mind to control; concentrate; regulate the senses and the body as a whole. Yuj is to focus your mind or equal with meditation, with the aim to center one's thought, to concentrate oneself or to meditate deeply.

Yoga originated from India more than 3000 BC ago. And yoga is synonymous with Hinduism and Buddhism. There was even a conflict in other religions due to differing views on yoga, and there are religious sects that forbid the practice of yoga. In terms of spiritual, it is quite difficult to study yoga in an instant of time, and I prefer to learn yoga with a priority as physical exercise.

There are nine yoga flow that so far I'm concerned, namely: Jnana yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, yantra yoga, tantric yoga, mantra yoga, kundailini yoga, hatha yoga, and raja yoga. And the most often used as a general physical training in public is "Hatha Yoga". This stream focuses on techniques asana (postures), pranayama (breath though), bandha (locks), mudras (gestures), and deep relaxation. Hatha goal is to maintain body balance alarm with five principles of yoga practice (practiced regularly, breathe deep, well-balanced diet, adequate rest, positive thinking and meditation).

Yoga is the art of exercising is smooth and not rushed. The exercise that combines mind, breathing and physical strength has a lot of asana postures that connote different. Asana or posture settings, provides a lot of benefits including flexibility for muscle, bone and ligament strength, and balance hormones. There are around 840,000 asanas in yoga, and there are many options that can be used by everyone from children to seniors. So, the practice of yoga can be done by all ages.

Practicing yoga also means training your concentration. Because the asanas will make us aware of every part of the body, so our thought would focus on the conditions at that time. This is the same as when we do meditation. When we only focus on ourselves right now (while doing yoga), then we will throw our problems in the past, and the other thoughts. And it's also what makes yoga can relieve stress.

People doing yoga called Yogi. For you are a beginner who wants to try to practice yoga, I suggest using a yoga instructor. Because this exercise also has many risks if performed incorrectly. Besides the issue of physical injury, incorrectly movement  can also be harmful to the brain. Yoga exercises properly will provide tremendous benefits for your body, in addition to physical health, yoga will relieve you from stress and improve your concentration.