Yoga is the practice of a set of postures and breathing exercises aimed at providing physical and mental well-being. this ancient art of living as it is explained in the texts is revealed as an initiatory path which transcends physical discipline.

The earliest references to yoga are found in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali written about 200 years BC. In this book we understand the basis of the philosophy of yoga and its possible application in all spheres of our life.

There are several styles of yoga and each one emphasizes a specific aspect of the practice.

• There are dynamic yogas in which the sequence of postures is done to the rhythm of breathing such as ashtanga and vinyasa, in these rather physical classes while relaxing and strengthening the body, the cardiovascular system is improved.

• The Iyengar which is a more static yoga emphasizes the alignment of the body, here we take the time to dissect each of the asanas, we develop the understanding of our body.

• Hatha yoga is a gentle yoga that is easily practiced by older people.

it is important to find the style of yoga that suits us the best, it depends a lot on our potential.

It is preferable, to benefit from the benefits of dynamic yogas, to be in good general health and to have a certain physical condition, otherwise it becomes difficult to keep pace, which generates a risk of injury.

For those who have back problems and who are not athletic, it is necessary to turn to a less dynamic yoga where one takes the time to fully explain postures such as Iyengar and Hatha.

Today when we talk about yoga we mainly talk about the practice of asanas and pranayama, that is to say the postures which aim to relax and strengthen the body and the breathing exercises which regulate the flow of vital energy.

Yoga brings a large number of physical benefits including the relaxation of muscles (yoga postures are varied to stretch all of the large muscle groups). Some postures help to build muscle gently, others instead work on balance.

With regular practice we can correct postural errors that have developed throughout our life, which greatly alleviates chronic back problems. A 2008 study by Temple University found that practicing Iyengar yoga improves balance in women over 65.

Yoga helps reduce stress. During the session the attention is completely focused on the body and the breath, we are in the “here and now” which is a form of meditation. A Boston University study published in 2010 showed that the yoga was effective in relieving anxiety.

On the mat we are invited to take the time to listen to the body, attention is constantly brought back to the breath, we develop our capacity for concentration. For example in the balance exercises all our attention is required to maintain the posture

When you practice at home, the best is to do simple postures so as not to injure yourself, for example:

• The triangle (trikonasana): stand with your feet together, take a step forward with the right foot, put the right hand on your right ankle and raise the left arm in the sky, try to keep the bust in line with the right leg. Do the same on the other side.

• The child’s posture (balasana) which is excellent for relieving lumbar tension: kneel with your feet and knees together then put your forehead on the floor in front and bring your arms to your sides, listen to your breathing.

The sessions can be very different from one type of yoga to another. For dynamic yogas, the whole body is warmed up at the start of the class, with an emphasis on the muscle group that the teacher has chosen to work more particularly.

Once warmed up, we advance in the intensity of the practice with the sequence of standing postures and balancing postures. The last part of the course aims to slow down the heart rate so that it returns to normal, then we focus on stretching in seated and lying postures. We end the session with the posture of the dead or “shavasana” which consists of lying on your back and relaxing all the muscles of the body.

What equipment to follow a yoga class?

The practice of yoga does not require a lot of material, just a mat for more comfort, in certain styles of yoga, in particular the Iyengar, we can use “bolsters” which are big cousins ​​on which we can rest a part of the body.

The yoga teacher: what is his training?

The yoga teacher must undergo a minimum training of 200 hours which he can then complete with a training of 300 hours to deepen his knowledge and improve his teaching techniques.

In conclusion, yoga is a way of life and a complete physical activity for body and mind. The practice of yoga brings real benefits by improving strength and flexibility but also by reducing stress and anxiety.

Yoga as revealed by Patanjali is a path that leads to Samadhi, union with the original principle. This route has 8 branches. To advance on the path of yoga, it is first necessary to follow a set of ethical principles which represent the cornerstone of this philosophy: The Yamas and the Nimyamas (do not steal, do not covet, have discipline, study self and sacred texts …)

Then comes the practice of asanas which are the postures that are taught in a yoga class, asanas soften and strengthen the body and teach us to focus our attention in the present moment.

Once the practice of the postures is well integrated, we can move on to the third step which is the harmonization and regulation of breathing: pranayama. Breathing exercises regulate our life force called prana.

the path of the yogi (the one who practices yoga) then becomes more subtle and includes notions such as the abstraction of the senses and meditation always in order to unite with the higher principle and return to unity: samadhi .