Yoga naked classes. The most unusual types of yoga
Historically, "naked yogis" - "naga sadhus" - have appeared in India since time immemorial, perhaps even several millennia ago. Of course, it was not the cult of the body or foppishness that pushed the ancient yogis to “nudism”, but the idea of asceticism - a conscious, voluntary restriction of comfort and even self-flagellation somewhere, in order to harden the spirit. They practiced and walked naked not only because in a large part of India it is almost always hot. In fact, an ascetic who refuses to wear clothes in India is actually doomed to suffer from the scorching sun - so this is more likely not a refusal of warmth, but a refusal of protection from the sun! In addition, the culture and social order in India since ancient times have sharply condemned public nudity. In a country where “there is a clear differentiation of pants”, the naked is excluded from the structure of society. (Even today, the police in India do not pay attention to the existence and antics of naked ascetics - they usually do what they want). So, the ancient ascetics - "naga baba" or "naga sadhu" - at the expense of nudity, sought to develop non-attachment to worldly comforts and conventions, deliberately expose the body to the vagaries of the weather in order to develop strength of mind. They were almost always celibate, and sometimes even further damaged their reproductive organs in order to get rid of natural desires (this is still practiced by some such ascetics today).
This culture has analogues, starting with "hypnosophists" - "naked wise men" Ancient Greece. However, in Ancient Hellas, nudity and physical education, gymnastics - since ancient times went hand in hand, and did not cause complaints from society, but even vice versa. Many philosophers, who are depicted in school textbooks dressed in togas, were not averse to walking around the "philosophical gardens" naked, this did not cause any reaction in people, everyone understood everything - the person is "blissful". So the Greek philosophers were, in fact, the prototype of the "nudists" of Europe and the USA. There is a version that the Greeks spied the custom of walking “dressed in heaven” in India (there were trade routes), but this is difficult to verify, just like the fact that Jesus Christ studied yoga in India in his youth.
At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. information about yoga has largely reached the West (Great Britain and the United States, in the first place). In the 60s of the 20th century, a real "boom" of yoga and Indian culture as a whole came, provoked by the hippie movement. Therefore, although the first commune of nudist yogis appeared in Europe at the end of the 19th century - just such a “modern” style even for the 21st century was practiced in the politicized self-development group Lebensreform (Germany and Switzerland) - still really mass "naked yoga" became intoxicated and happy 60s. "Naked yoga" turned out to be very appropriate in an environment that, even without any yoga, was not averse to throwing off its clothes. Numerous groups appeared that followed the philosophy of "gymnosophism" - that is, naked yoga training, including the most famous one - in (California, USA).
The second wave of popularity of "naked yoga" in modern world rose in 1998, in New York, at the suggestion of an American who called himself by the yoga name Jayadev, and organized the first naked yoga group in the city. It was called "Midnight Yoga for Men" and soon became famous in yogic circles. Jayadev encouraged his students to practice "naked in the face of Infinity" like the ancient naga sadhus. (By the way, the Jayadeva group had no relation to sexual minorities - just like the Indian yogis). The group practiced what is now called "purna yoga" - a practice aimed at spiritual, rather than physical, development.
An even more powerful impetus to the “revival” of “naked yoga” came from a more commercially successful yogi, Aaron Star, owner of the Hot Nude Yoga studio. Opened in April 2001, the center became a real sensation, it was written about in newspapers and talked about in yogic circles and beyond. It is clear that at the beginning of the 21st century, American society has already accepted both gays and naked yogis, so the project has easily found acceptance among both. After the resounding success of Aaron Star, similar "naked yoga" groups began to spring up around the world. From the very beginning, the public associated such activities with homosexuality, which is not always true. There are a large number of "rainbow" "naked yoga" centers, as well as completely heterosexual ones. Usually there are separate classes for men and women, but there are also mixed classes. In order to start exercising in such a group, written consent is often required, including the refusal of photo and video recording (which is quite logical). No selfies!
Behind modern "naked yoga" is, in general, the same idea as in ancient times - the rejection of identification with the body, accepting it with all its shortcomings, an attempt to rise above the level of physiology. So such a practice, although not intended, apparently, for a wide range of practitioners - for obvious reasons - can be useful in individual cases. For example, if someone is very complex about their fullness or other defects in appearance: the opportunity to “spit on everything” and go to “naked” yoga can radically change the situation, break the pattern. But "naked yoga" is a powerful "medicine", and you quickly get used to it. Some note that the first shock - and with it the psyche-liberating effect of "naked yoga" - already passes somewhere around the 15th minute of the lesson, then it becomes all the same. Someone else will probably need a few sessions. But sooner or later, the focus returns to the practice itself - the need for "naked" yoga disappears. After all, except for nudity, it is no different from the usual Hatha.
I think there are few who want to do "naked yoga" every day - and it's not convenient, and hygiene considerations are not in favor of this method. And why? If you conduct such a lesson as a ritual, with the thought that you are really practicing "in the face of Eternity" - as the stern American yogi Jayadev suggested - you should not part, because with each repetition the effect will inevitably come to naught. When something becomes habitual and “not important” for a person, the energy leaves this action. And to follow in the footsteps of “naga sadhus” and try to bring “naked yoga” into society, or, more simply, to go out into the streets, is simply crazy in our latitudes: it’s cold, and even criminally punishable. In addition, if the Hindus have an ancient tradition of stripping to the waist (men) during a visit to the temple, then we, under the influence of Christianity, have developed a completely different semantic connection with nudity - it inevitably alludes to sex, and starts the thought process in the wrong direction. Therefore, in my opinion, it is very difficult for a Westerner to achieve with the help of “naked yoga” the same results that, undoubtedly, the “naga sadhus” in India have achieved and are achieving.
But often in modern society, "naked yoga" generally serves other purposes. Representatives of sexual minorities often come to such classes (in special groups, though) in order to feel involved in their community, to communicate with like-minded people. Lonely people (including heterosexuals) come to mixed groups to remove, sublimate sexual tension. There are "naked yoga" groups and a bit of a specialty that encourages interaction with a slight sexual connotation, such classes are usually marketed as "naked yoga and tantra" (watch out!). There are some yoga centers where another "naked yoga" is practiced - emphasized for "real men", and here athleticism is at the forefront - in this vein, the need to practice naked becomes another motivation to work hard on the body so that its shape tends to ideal. Such a tradition is already, perhaps, closer to the spirit of ancient Greece and Rome than to the ancient Indian roots, the ideas of “naga-sadhu”, who did not at all strive for an ideal form, but deliberately ignored the body (and its clothes), and sometimes crippled their bodies, demonstrating complete disinterest in physical, "mortal" well-being.
Thus, in many cases, naked yoga, originally conceived in the East as a severe asceticism and practice for disidentification with the body, in our West, it develops rather than weakens such identification with the body, and may even have overtly sexual overtones.
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About what yoga is great option training for those who care not only about the physical, but also about, today even doctors say. But if yoga is good, then naked yoga is even better. So, in any case, say the teachers of naked yoga, which is becoming an increasingly popular direction of "harmony of body and spirit" abroad.
What is the advantage of exercising without clothes, in comparison with? About this Femail ( Daily Mail) told naked yoga teacher from Australia Lee Holmes (Lee Holmes). And we summarize for you the most interesting information on the topic.
“There are some studies that say that not wearing clothes, for example, when you are at home, helps improve body image, mood, sleep and many other things,” says Holmes, adding that one of the reasons why people choose naked yoga, is that they want to learn how to feel . If you want, you can call it directed not at others, but at yourself.
“All people like to feel good, and this is very natural,” continues Lee Holmes. “Exercising in the nude makes you feel more comfortable overall, even when you put on your clothes and go to work.” And this, according to the coach, is especially important in the modern world, where we continue to evaluate each other by the cover, and more and more often find fault with our own bodies for no reason.
“Naked yoga, I am absolutely convinced of this, allows you to build the right relationship with your body, reduce shame, increase self-acceptance and work with self-esteem,” says Holmes. According to the expert, any training without clothes or with a minimum of clothes is a way to understand that we are all different, but we are all at the same time.
Lee Holmes also believes that naked workouts, among other things, can motivate a person to complicate things that he may not have originally thought about. This, she says, is because in such a workout you have the opportunity to see how each muscle moves in response to a particular exercise. “They say that just 15 minutes of training without clothes helps to become more confident. So why not try an hour of classes?” the coach urges.
Not less than important point, according to the adherents of naked yoga, is the fact that during training in the nude it is very clearly visible over which areas you really are. “When you know exactly which zones you don’t like, it’s easier for you to change the approach to training to target correct muscles' adds Holmes.
An added bonus for some may be that excessive sweating in sportswear that is not breathable or poorly breathable can affect the condition of the skin. While if you train without clothes, this will definitely not happen.
But despite the fact that there are quite a lot of positive aspects in naked yoga, of course, there were also some negative ones. Lee Holmes says that in the case of a naked body, sanitization of the premises is of great importance - this is the time. Two - like yoga in general, naked yoga is not for everyone, because there are people who are psychologically uncomfortable to undress in front of strangers.
“Not everyone is comfortable with being naked, let alone being naked during the event, so it’s important to consider your individual needs,” Holmes concludes.
Subject excess weight and weight loss is a burning topic, equally interesting for both men and women. Many modern yoga teachers say that the practice of yoga allows you to lose weight. But is it really so? And is it possible to lose weight and tone the figure thanks to yoga? Let's try to understand this issue.
Intensive yoga for weight loss: reality or fiction?
Slimness and health is what modern “yoga gurus” promise as a result of practice to their students, such as:
- former model-turned-yoga instructor and author of Slim Calm Sexy Yoga, Tyra Silez.
- the author of the "hot" style of yoga, assuring that during a class according to his method, you can burn up to 1000 calories and become "supermen and superwomen" Bikram Chhoudi.
- the president international association yoga therapist Larry Payne, who released a weight management yoga course for fat people and stating that yoga can stimulate metabolism.
They are echoed by other teachers of "intense" types of yoga: Ashtanga Vinyasa, Vinyasa Flow, Power yoga, Slim yoga, etc. They explain the possibility of losing weight by the miraculous effect of performing asanas, which supposedly have a special effect on the human body. But why did these teachers decide that physical exercise yoga give the desired harmony? And is there any evidence for this?
Maybe they found this information in ancient books? However, such statements modern teachers not supported by classical yoga texts. These treatises describe the many beneficial effects of yoga exercises. For example, the ability to relieve fatigue, improve digestion, and even achieve certain siddhis (supernatural abilities). However, not a word is said there that asanas can somehow affect a person’s weight.
If the ancient texts do not help answer the question of whether the practice of yoga can promote weight loss, let's turn our attention to modern research. We will consider works not only on this, but also on related topics. This will allow us to conclude whether it is possible to lose weight doing yoga.
In 2005, several experiments were conducted that answered the questions: “Does yoga meet the minimum requirements for aerobic exercise recommended by world health organizations? " And " How intense are the calories burned during yoga practice?».
One of them was conducted by researchers at Texas State University in the field sports medicine. In their work, they measured the level of oxygen during different activities: during yoga training, while walking fast, and also while sitting on a chair. The experiment involved 26 women who had a yoga experience of one month or more. The yoga session included Surya Namaskar (Sun salutation) and was built in the form of a standard fitness center workout. Each workout lasted 30 minutes.
Measurements were taken before, after and during the session. For this, special masks with tubes connected to computing equipment were used. This made it possible to compare the difference in oxygen absorption by the body during rest and during maximum load, as well as calculate the maximum oxygen uptake reserve (MOC). The results obtained were compared with the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine, which recommends training using 50-85 percent of the maximum oxygen uptake. As a result, Texas State University found the following: when walking fast, the subjects used 45 percent of the maximum oxygen reserve, and when doing yoga, only 15 (that is, 35 percent less than the lower limit). Of the entire yoga complex, Surya Namaskar turned out to be the most dynamic part.- during the Sun Salutation percentage of oxygen uptake increased to 34 percent, that is, almost approaching the results from brisk walking.
Surya Namaskar - the most "aerobic" component of yoga Another study on the same topic was conducted by scientists at the University of Wisconsin. They selected 34 women who had never practiced yoga before and had no experience regular classes fitness. The participants were divided into two groups. The first, as before, did not engage in any special physical activity, and the second began to perform a 55-minute yoga complex three times a week. The study lasted 2 months. The conclusion of the scientists was unequivocal: during the experiment subjects showed no change in IPC indicators . However, it should be noted that other indicators, such as endurance, muscle strength, flexibility and balance, showed positive changes.
That is, these studies confirm that yoga is not aerobic training and does not even reach the lower limit of the recommended percentage of the IPC. But why are these works so important within the framework of the question "yoga and weight loss"? What is aerobic exercise and how does it help you lose weight? How does BMD affect fat burning? Understanding these questions will allow you to better understand the full value of the research.
How does oxygen help you lose weight? Everything you need to know about fat burning and oxygen
Aerobic exercise is needed in order to start the process of losing weight. During it, fat oxidation occurs, which is necessary for fat burning. is a mode of energy production during which ATP(fuel to create energy) is produced by obligatory condition the presence of oxygen. How does this mechanism work? Let's turn to biochemistry.
At the beginning of any physical activity, the body begins to expend the previously accumulated supply of ATP. However, it only lasts for a few seconds. Further, the body begins to use creatine phosphate to synthesize new ATP from it. But the reserves of creatine phosphate also do not last long. After that it starts anaerobic glycolysis A process in which ATP is synthesized without the use of oxygen. This process of energy production occurs in the initial stages of intense muscle work. Its by-product is pyruvic acid lactate (lactic acid). The pain that occurs in the muscles some time after exercise is due to the accumulation of this acid in the muscles.
During prolonged physical activity of low intensity, the process starts aerobic lipolysis, that is, the process fat oxidation. It proceeds only under aerobic conditions, that is, it requires oxygen. Aerobic lipolysis allows burn fat and start the process of losing weight. That is why information about whether yoga is an aerobic exercise or not is very important for understanding the relationship "weight loss - yoga."
Maximum oxygen reserve(MIC) is the amount of oxygen consumed by the body, including muscles. Its level indicates the fitness of the student: the higher it is, the better man physically prepared. That is, the number of IPC is an opportunity to understand how the muscles will work in aerobic mode. After all, oxygen, as mentioned above, is a necessary component to start the process of fat burning. And without oxygen, fat does not burn. A high percentage of maximum oxygen uptake indicates that during aerobic exercise, a person will be able to burn more fat, using it as fuel.
From this follows the following. Despite the fact that the above studies did not focus on the issue of weight loss, their results give a specific answer: during yoga, fat is not consumed.
Naked myths about weight loss thanks to yoga
Attentive readers could notice one nuance: it is not known for certain which complexes were chosen for these studies. Maybe the scientists used insufficiently active styles and this is what influenced the results of the work? As if anticipating these doubts, scientists at the University of Wisconsin conducted another study in 2005, choosing him as the object power yoga- a highly active direction of yoga, consisting of complex ligaments and dynamic transitions from one pose to another. Especially for this work, 15 participants were selected who have sufficient experience in yoga and are physically ready for high-intensity training.
However, even in this case, the picture changed insignificantly. It turned out that one yoga class burns about 144 calories- slightly more than slow walking. As one of the researchers, John Pokkari, stated about Power Yoga: “You sweat, but you still can’t call it aerobic training.”
Perhaps such disappointing results had another reason? Indeed, during these studies, very specific equipment was used: voluminous masks that the subjects wore during the exercises. Could this cause inconvenience to the practitioners and cause a decrease in performance indicators?
With funding from the National Institutes of Health, Long Island University's Brooklyn Affiliate and Columbia University's Joseph Mailman School of Public Health were able to use a specially equipped metabolic chamber. The study focused on how effective is yoga as a fat burning workout.
Scientists approached him very responsibly. Firstly, they used the most advanced and modern technology in their work. The metabolic chamber made it possible to carry out the study without the use of additional bulky and inconvenient equipment. In it, it was possible to track the respiratory process as accurately as possible: to see all the changes taking place in it and calculate the exact amount of oxygen consumed. Secondly, the researchers carefully approached the choice training complex for the test subjects. They chose an active variety of yoga: Ashtanga Vinyasa style, known not only for high intensity, but also for the presence of a standard sequence. This allowed anyone to get an idea about the course of the experiment: to find out what program the subjects were doing, it was enough just to find the sequence of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.
The session consisted of a 28-minute Surya Namaskar complex; then there were standing asanas, which were performed for 20 minutes; after - the final shavasana for 8 minutes. 20 advanced practitioners were selected for the study: 2 men and 18 women. The selection criterion was knowledge of the sequence of Surya Namaskar and the ability to perform such complex asanas as a headstand. During the session, the exact amount of oxygen consumed by the subjects was measured; exhalation of carbon dioxide and metabolic activity. To eliminate all errors, in this chamber, in addition to practicing yoga, the subjects read books and walked on the treadmill in two modes: medium and high intensity.
But this study, carefully and highly technically organized, and freed from all possible inaccuracies and errors, confirmed the already known idea. Even Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, rightfully one of the most intense styles of yoga, does not meet the minimum recommendations for aerobic exercise. According to the scientists, the amount of oxygen consumed during it "indicated low levels of physical activity" of this type of physical activity.
This is what P. Jois's face might look like if he was told that Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga has a "low level of physical activity" It turns out that even the most active styles of yoga are not aerobic workouts, that is, they do not contribute to the burning of fat during exercise. But perhaps yoga helps to lose weight thanks to another. After all, as you know, there is another way to lose weight - it is to "disperse" the metabolism.
Metabolism: what is it in simple terms?
(metabolism) is the process of converting the nutrients that enter the body into energy. It consists of two interrelated processes: catabolism(splitting of complex substances into simple ones, leading to the release of energy) and anabolism(formation from simple organic substances complex). The rate of metabolism determines how quickly nutrients are absorbed from food. Fast metabolism provides a kind of protection against excess weight. A slow, especially in combination with malnutrition and low physical activity On the contrary, it can lead to excess weight.
Another important indicator showing the intensity of the reactions taking place in the body is called the basal metabolism. It allows you to find out the amount of energy the body needs daily at rest to ensure its vital activity. The higher the basal metabolism, the more calories are needed to maintain all the processes in the body. That is, these calories do not need to be burned in a special way, they will be spent on their own. Accordingly, h The higher your basal metabolic rate, the more nutritious foods you can eat without fear of gaining weight.
The shameful secret of yoga. What modern teachers hide
It turns out that a fast metabolism will allow you to maintain harmony, minimizing the influence of such a dangerous factor for the figure as high-calorie foods. Therefore, if yoga really speeds up metabolism, it will mean that it promotes weight loss. But how is it really?
“Asanas will relieve you of folds on the stomach. And the practice of yoga will help to lose overweight promises M.D. Larry Payne enticingly in his book Yoga for Dummies. “Even if you think you have a slow metabolism, doing this sequence twice a week will kickstart your metabolism. And it will help you burn calories all day long,” Tyra Stiles, the founder of her own style of yoga, echoes him in the book Slim Calm Sexy Yoga. But can these claims be trusted? After all, giving them, the authors do not refer to any source. And is there scientific work dedicated to the effect of yoga on metabolic rate?
Yoga affects metabolism. Such a study was carried out, but for some reason its results are not advertised. This is possible for two reasons. Or yoga teachers who promote the idea “yoga speeds up metabolism” did not consider it necessary to study the relevant materials. Or for some reason they decided to keep silent about them. In any case, it has been known for 10 years that yoga not only cannot speed up metabolism, but rather, on the contrary, can slow it down.
In 2006, Indian physiologist Mayasandra Chaiya led a study to find out if the practice of yoga affects basal metabolism, and if so, how. More than 100 men and women were selected for the study, average age who was 33 years old. An average sequence was created, including the most common asanas in yoga classes: Trikonasana, Sarvangasana, Shalabhasana, Dhanurasana, Bhujangasana, Vajrasana and others. In addition, the complex included various pranayamas (breathing techniques of different rates). Finished with Shavasana.
The study lasted six months. His results were impressive. First, it turned out that yoga does not have a positive effect on increasing the metabolic rate. Secondly, it was found that the practice of yoga, on the contrary, reduces the basic exchange by 13 percent. Third, when the results were divided by gender, it turned out that the decrease in basal metabolic rate in women was as much as 18 percent, while in men it was only 8 percent. It turns out that classes affect the basic metabolism of women more than the corresponding indicator of men.
What causes this decrease in basal metabolism? A group of researchers said that as a result of yoga, slow down physiological functions. As a result, the need for calories in yoga practitioners is reduced. Therefore, if the practitioners do not revise and change their diet, this can subsequently lead to "weight gain and the appearance of body fat."
If athletes do not review and change their diet, this can subsequently lead to "weight gain and the appearance of body fat." The results of this study are shocking and surprising. After all, hand on heart, it is impossible not to notice that full yoga are extremely rare. Most often, yoga teachers are athletic and fit. And those who practice regularly, in contrast to the statements of scientists, over time begin to look more and more slender and attractive. Mayasandra Chaiya, who led this controversial study, was able to explain this too: “Yoga affects the mind and helps control desires. So people start eating less.” It turns out that yoga really allows you to lose weight, but this is due not to physiology, but to psychology.
It turns out that the impact of yoga on the psyche is very great. Perhaps this influence can be used to combat excess weight?
How does yoga protect against stress overeating?
It's no secret that one of the reasons for the appearance of excess body fat is the "jamming" of stress. It leads to overeating, consuming too many calories and, consequently, to being overweight. Therefore, if a person manages to reduce the level of anxiety, then one of the factors influencing the appearance of excess weight will be eliminated. In combination with moderate physical activity and healthy eating and at all it will be possible to get rid of unwanted kilograms.
It should be noted that yoga is one of the most effective means of dealing with stress. Some scholars have devoted entire books to this topic. For example, in 1978, the work “Stress and its management by yoga methods” was published by Katil Udupa, a doctor from the Hindu University in Benares. There he describes the results of his many years of research and says that the practice of yoga can reduce high level hormones produced in response to stress.
This means that the practice of yoga will help fight anxiety and protect against stress-induced overeating. But the question still remains open: does yoga allow you to lose weight? To find the answer to it, it is necessary to consider this topic from a different angle.
How to lose weight from yoga?
What happens if you study the potential of yoga for weight loss, guided by not only the physical aspect? After all, real yoga is not only asanas, but a whole range of means (including pranayama, concentration and meditation techniques). Perhaps then it will be possible to obtain more accurate and reasonable results?
It turns out that back in the 70s, such a comprehensive study was conducted, dedicated, however, not to losing weight, but to improving the cardiovascular system. Yoga, combined with a vegetarian diet, allows you to lose weight.
Yoga combined with vegetarianism helps to lose weight. In 1977, in Germany, scientists from the Hannover medical university reported the results of an experiment that lasted 3 months. During this time, 100 people practiced yoga and meditation while eating vegetarian food. Meals were organized by the yoga school where the experiment took place. From this we can conclude that it was healthy and balanced (that is, it was not excessive, but saturates the body with all the necessary elements). As a result of this study, it was found that yoga has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. One of the side effects was that participants managed to lose weight.
Despite the fact that in this study very little time was devoted to the problem of excess weight, this work perfectly demonstrated the relationship between yoga and weight loss. And once again she confirmed the idea known to many: in order to lose weight, it is not enough to add or exclude one single element, an integrated approach is needed.
Naked yoga: the whole truth about weight loss
Based on the above, the following conclusions can be drawn:
- Yoga is not an aerobic exercise, meaning it does not burn fat.
- Yoga does not improve metabolism, but rather slows it down.
- Yoga reduces basal metabolism. Therefore, for those who regularly practice yoga, it is advisable to reduce the number of calories consumed so as not to gain excess weight.
- Yoga lowers anxiety levels, one of the causes of weight gain. Therefore, yoga practitioners lose the desire to “seize” problems.
- Combination of asanas, meditations and proper nutrition allows you to lose weight.
It turns out that you can lose weight from yoga. Of course, the number of pounds lost is unlikely to be as impressive as from cardio and strength training. But yoga practitioners will be able to get rid of not only excess weight, but also anxiety and stress. The main thing in this process is to remember that the practice of asanas is not a “magic pill” that solves all problems, but only one of the components of the practice. Only an integrated approach that affects both the physical body (through asanas and nutrition) and the psyche (through meditation) allows you to achieve the desired results.
Devyataikina Elena, nutritionist
I would like to thank Elena Devyataikina, doctor, fitness nutritionist, functional nutrition specialist, coordinator of the Russian program "Healthy Eating-Health of the Nation" and just a good person, for her help in writing the article!
Information about them is taken from William Broad's book Scientific Yoga. Demystification".
Information taken from study guide 2003 "Biochemistry: A textbook for high schools", written under the editorship. E.S. Severin.
29/03/2014
Improving memory, mental harmony, physical health and an inexhaustible source of energy - these are just some of the benefits that yoga gives us, but that's not all ... Surely you have heard that it has a beneficial effect on the body, mind and soul, but there is another benefit of this ancient teaching.
Yoga You Didn't Know About
We offer you to learn more about the benefits of yoga and plunge deeper into this mysterious world.
Longevity
It is believed that people who practice yoga live much longer than others. This is largely due to the constant practice that helps to expand the lungs through the kapalabhati exercises ( deep breathing stomach) - which is very good for the heart. The effect is so strong that regular practice can lead to a decrease in heart rate during and after exercise.
Breath
Have you ever heard of the dominant nostril? The fact is that during breathing one of our nostrils opens wider (dominates) than the other. Dominance changes approximately every 20 minutes during the day. It is believed that during the greater opening of the right nostril, we are more active, adventurous and cheerful. When the left nostril dominates, we are relaxed and calm. It turns out that there are various breathing techniques to regulate the opening of both nostrils in order to create balance in the nervous system.
sex life
If you wish, you can devote more time to some sun salutations (surya namaskara). More and more scientific studies confirm the unconditional benefits of yoga for intimate life by improving general condition health of the cardiovascular system. It's hard to believe, but exercise can prevent and even cure some sexual problems. You can also improve orgasms with pelvic floor strengthening exercises (mula bandha), which experts say are much more effective than similar Kegel exercises.
Activities with pets
Yes, there is such a thing as “Doga” - this is a type of yoga that is practiced to achieve harmony between a person and his pet. Doga yoga was first taught in New York in 2002 by Susie Teitelman with her Cocker Spaniel. During classes, dogs can perform poses on their own, together with the master or with their owner. Now you know how to surprise your four-legged friend!
naked yoga
Of course, it's not for everyone. But the number of fans of naked yoga is constantly growing. Now such classes are especially popular in America and Europe. For these purposes, there are special yoga classes where you can perform asanas “in what the mother gave birth”. It is hard for an ordinary person to take such a step, but people who have conquered themselves are delighted with such an experience. It is believed that naked yoga classes help to better understand and love your body, contribute to raising self-esteem, as well as building intimate bonds with people from a community of their own kind. If you're looking for thrills and a new friend, try naked yoga!
Eternal youth
Yoga is your chance to look younger. Consistent practice helps reverse some of the body's aging processes, such as hyperacidity, cell damage, and tissue inflammation, which can lead to serious illness over time. Studies have shown that regular yoga practice in the long term can slow down all these processes and significantly rejuvenate the skin.
And in addition to the above, we offer a small video set of yoga exercises for beginners, which will help your body become more flexible. Do not miss!
Yoga is a great way to relax and get rid of stress. It seems to us that this activity is, in general, standardized. People just accept different poses while exercising flexibility to relaxing music. In fact, there are many varieties in the world, some of them are really unusual.
Naked yoga. This direction of yoga appeared in the West, in California in the 1960s, thanks to the hippie movement. They believed that a person is beautiful, regardless of what he wears. Clothes only fetter us, preventing us from opening up. Perhaps in those years nylon sportswear really prevented to take difficult poses? Today, naked yoga has become popular, despite new clothing materials. The surge came in 2001, when yoga star Aaron Star's classes became very popular in New York. Soon imitators appeared all over the world. It seems to fans of this direction that without shorts and T-shirts they can better accept and feel their asanas. And the famous New York studio now offers courses in various combinations of nudity, co-ed or single-sex. In any case, students are asked to leave all ideas of a sexual nature at the door. Those who are looking for an orgasm are advised to stay away from this yoga course. The organizers assure that naked or naked yoga will help get rid of shame or negativity associated with one's own body and instill self-confidence in people. True, historically, naked exercises became popular among gay men who practiced their midnight yoga in New York in the early 1990s.
Doga. The very name of this practice implies that it is meant for dogs. Doga fans believe that the direction arose back in ancient india. Allegedly dogs watching the dervishes' meditations joined them in relaxation exercises. Today there are dozens of thematic sites in America, Europe and Russia. They intelligibly tell why dogs need a dog at all. This technique provides for joint gymnastics of a person and his friend, stretching and massage. Thanks to this, communication between us is better ensured. Urban dogs in general, due to a sedentary lifestyle, have many health problems. These are arthritis, diseases of the spine. Therefore, the dog is important to animals, allowing you to strengthen muscles, tendons and ligaments. If active walks are not available, why not combine business with pleasure and do yoga together by performing asanas. For dogs - health, and the owners at least get rid of stress. True, there is an opinion that the ancient practice is deliberately simplified, becoming not a spiritual occupation, but a simple hobby. But another opinion - Doga teaches dogs to listen to commands and take certain positions. Instructors also remind that doga is not just dog fitness. It would be nice for each of us to find a trusting and open puppy inside ourselves and establish contact with him.
Hip hop yoga. This direction was invented by Canadians Angie Lo and Sarah Schwartz. Unusual relaxing meetings take place once a month. The role of the guru is performed by DJ MC Yogi, who famously manages with vinyl. Instructors in colorful costumes constantly sing and dance along. A rap DJ sings mantras, and Black Eyed Peas mixes are the soundtrack. If you suddenly turn off the sound track, it turns out that people are doing regular hatha yoga or Iyengar yoga. It turns out that standing in a warrior's pose works better with music than in complete silence. Fans of hip-hop yoga admit that such rhythmic music does not spoil the mood at all. And even more than that, these rhythms are much closer to the modern European than the monotonous howls in Sanskrit.
Rave yoga. Alcohol, tobacco and drugs are known to be popular in clubs. Yoga offers a more positive and sustainable alternative. In rave yoga classes, people start to listen slow music and meditate on it. The music gradually speeds up - a full-scale club dance party is formed. Here only non-alcoholic drinks and vegetarian products are accepted.
Circus yoga. This direction has already acquired its own Facebook page, it already has more than a thousand fans. And the number is only growing. The movement is headquartered in New York City and has branches in several locations. big cities America and even Australia. It is proposed to participate in circus yoga of all family members: mothers, fathers and even grandmothers, and friends will come in handy. How more people- so much the better, because you will have to build living pyramids from your bodies, and acrobatic tricks will have to be put in pairs. The similarity with the classic yoga lesson is the shavasana exercise. It is done at the end of any yoga class. It means just lying on your back with your eyes closed. And I think that doing circus exercises on your own is much more useful than watching them from the hall or on the TV screen.
Yahweh yoga. It turns out that the church can not only take care of the soul, but also conduct special trainings to relax the mind. It is precisely such classes that the evangelical church "Society of Hope" conducts. Yahweh yoga classes are held in Palm Beach, California. First, the students read a prayer of thanksgiving to God, and then meditate to passages from the New Testament. And what's wrong with that? After all, this approach allowed us to bypass the conflict that prevents religious people from practicing yoga. After all, not all are Buddhists, who are in the spirit of Sanskrit and mantras. So why not sing those prayers that you like and not think about the language chosen for this?
Ganja yoga. It's no secret that it allows you to relax. In America, cannabis is generally made legal in many states, allowing smoking "weed" for medical purposes, and just for recreation. As a consequence, ganja yoga appeared in Toronto. Its founder, Di Dussso, encourages her students to smoke a good joint before class. Surprisingly, the idea works well. The body becomes extremely flexible, and all the muscles relax. At the same time, the guru of the new direction is not at all afraid of the police, believing that they have more important things to do than to understand the specifics of the new yoga. Yes, and classes are held only once a month. Di Dusso herself claims that marijuana can stop the internal dialogue and open the heart. There is a similar studio in New York. Only there students are not allowed to smoke in the classroom. The class is intended for those who use marijuana for medical purposes, and these people are encouraged to come to class already relaxed. And although this combination of practices seems unthinkable, there is an opinion that yoga and cannabis are excellent and natural partners that both allow you to calm a person.
Yoga Guru Ar Santem. Under such a complex name, our compatriot Gennady Statsenko is hiding. He became famous yogi even under the Soviet Union. One day he decided to bring in Indian doctrine national color. Now classes are held under Russian folk songs. Listening to motives familiar from childhood, changing asanas is much easier. Twisting in different vinyasas is accompanied by the playing of the button accordion and the singing of the students themselves. The difficulty lies in the fact that you have to have time to listen to the commands of the guru Statsenko himself. Anyone who first saw such an unusual practice will most likely see in it not yoga, but some kind of pagan ritual, like the holiday of Ivan Kupala.
Laughter Yoga. The healing power of laughter is known. In the West, as well as in India itself, they decided to combine this "weapon" along with the ancient practice. Invented this kind of yoga Madan Kataria. Today he promotes laughter-based exercises at a special Laugh Institute in Bombay. And there are studios and schools of this direction in America, Japan and Germany. Dr. Kataria himself believes that yoga is needed for enlightenment. To achieve this state with the help of laughter will be much easier than with the help of standard meditation.
Yoga for real boys. This direction was created by three-time world wrestling champion Diamond Dallas Page. It is understood that such yoga is needed for those who would not turn to such training without special need. At 42, Page was told that it was time for him to stop his career as a wrestler - his lower back did not allow him to carry loads. And at 48 a real man decided to return to active life. Only now, sitting in asanas and chanting mantras is, in his opinion, an unworthy occupation for real boys. He offered his version of yoga. It involves a warm-up that really allows you to sweat. Page says that when he sees classic yogis, he just wants to hit them with a chair. Former wrestler created his own own methodology. It turned out to be so successful that Page became popular and leads master classes and private lessons in Los Angeles. Yes, his CDs sell well. And instead of the traditional gratitude "namaste" in the lessons of such yoga, "boobs" and "ass" are heard. What else to expect from real boys?
Aerial yoga. While meditating, you can feel how the soul breaks away from the earth. Why not do the same with the body? Aerial yoga combines pilates, gymnastics, acrobatics, modern dances And traditional yoga. For this, special anti-gravity silk belts are used, which help a person soar above the ground. It is believed that this practice allows you to relieve tension from the spine and sometimes stretch up to four centimeters.
Yoga horse breeding. Riding a horse means connecting with the rider and achieving mental and physical harmony. Yoga has also appeared, which exploits the close relationship between man and the graceful beast. In the classes, participants in asanas sit next to the horses, focusing on their breathing. Upon reaching unity with the beast, you can continue to take new postures already on horseback. Through the movement of the horse, you can help maintain focus and balance.
Hysterical yoga. This practice allows people to find their way to health through loud cries. The class looks like a classic yoga, there are also stretches, breathing exercises. But unusual is the presence of dance and vocal techniques. Students are allowed to express their emotions by screaming, screaming, stomping and beating their chests. And as in the case of a child in hysterics, a period of relief soon follows. People find themselves relaxed and cheerful, they are ready to take life's difficulties in a balanced way.
Karaoke yoga. Karaoke is a good way to relax. And if you combine this activity with yoga, you can buy and physical training. In the classroom, students not only sing, but also dance and stretch. Training here is much more free than in classical yoga. There are even TVs in the classrooms, where stars and DJs light up on the screens. People repeat favorite lyrics and even play imaginary musical instruments. There are also traditional yoga poses that allow you to focus. And the main part of the emotional experience are the songs of Elton John and the Beatles, which make the participants laugh and cry.
Mother yoga. These activities enable mothers to postpartum period bond with your spiritually and physically child. Yoga classes can sometimes compensate for artificial feeding and lack of appropriate contact with the baby. At the initial stage of parenthood, such yoga provides an excellent opportunity to communicate with other young mothers. It is believed that even in infants, yoga will help develop motor skills, stimulate knowledge of the world around them. Thanks to this practice, the child will sleep longer, as the lulling movements in yoga can imitate those that the baby is used to in the womb.
Boat yoga. There is a whole world organization, Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), which encourages yoga on the water. Instead of the usual mat, it is proposed to use a boat, for example, from windsurfing. As a result, it becomes possible to practice yoga on the water, both on a small pond and on the surface of the ocean. This is the main difference from practicing in halls on a hard surface. Fans of this yoga need to constantly make sure that their boat does not capsize, reacting to a change in the balance of weight. After all, the surface will react very sensitively to all human movements, and strive to get out of balance. But like most yoga practices, this one increases stability, flexibility, and increases strength. The mind should be rejuvenated from such activities, and the spirit should be strengthened.
