Background & Essential Question
Research: History, Types, & Medical Benefits of
Yoga Research Product
My product: Teaching a Yoga Class
What I Learned
The Early Historyof Yoga
• Originated in India over 5,000 years ago
• Ancient stone seals found depicting yoga poses found that date from 3000 BC
• Even older: roots of yoga may be traced to Stone Age Shamanism (the earliest form of religious practice)
• Evidence of yoga is found in the oldest-existing text, Rig-Veda--a composition of spiritual hymns
• Originally focused on understanding the world-- later changed to the self with self-enlightenment being the ultimate goal.
• Sixth century B.C.: poses and meditation were implemented by Buddhists
Modern Yoga
• Five basic principles• Proper relaxation• Proper exercise• Proper breathing• Proper diet• Positive thinking and meditation
• Swami Sivananda (1887)• South India• Gymnastics and medicine • Treated and cured a sickly wandering monk, who taught
him yoga• Traveled in search of a Guru and eventually became a
monk• Wrote over 200 books on yoga and spirituality by hand
Swami Sivananda
• Modern yoga is physical with an optional spiritual part
• In the U.S., yoga is a 6 billion dollar industry
• About 20 million Americans practice in some form
• While yoga is a Hindu practice, most Westerners separate it from Hinduism
• Most Westerners practice yoga to relax
Contemporary Yoga
Bikram
Hatha
Vinyasa
Kundalini
Ashtanga
Bikram: •Hot yoga•Flushes toxins•Injury recovery, flexibility•Good for advanced & beginners Hatha:
•Older form•Gentle, basic poses•Relieves stress•Good beginners
Vinyasa: •Breathing, Sun Salutation•Link breath with movement•Strength & flexibility•Reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure
Kundalini: •Constantly moving•Energizing•Chanting & meditation•Good for advanced
Ashtanga: •Power yoga•Spiritual•Stress, coordination, weight loss•Good for advanced
Five Commonly Practiced Forms
HEALTH BENEFITS
• Lower blood pressure & reduce heart rate reduced risk of heart disease
• Lower cholesterol levels and improve circulation reduce effects of cardiovascular disease
• Regular morning practice eating less, eating more slowly, and choosing healthier foods
• Alleviate specific kinds of pain reduce effects of migraines, back pain, arthritis
• Increases levels of a neurotransmitter called GABA improves mood, reduces depression
• Increases alpha waves in the brain causes relaxation
• Increases strength and improves flexibility reduces injury and improves quality of life
Before I could teach…I shadowed my mentor who teaches children’s yoga classes at the Namaste Yoga Studio.
Teaching my class…
Purvottanasana
Upward Plank Pose:
Stretches the front side of the body and strengthens the core and arms
Cobra Pose
Bhujangasana
Strengthens the back and stomach muscles
Stimulates digestion by invigorating the internal organs
Savasana
Total relaxation
Parasympathetic state: (relaxation response),
•breathing slows•blood pressure lowers•energy is drawn toward the vital organs
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