TSIB is largely in gratitude of yoga, because many people struggling with mental obstacles, including TSIB’s founder, have found that yoga is one of the best forms of medication.
What is yoga?
Yoga is actually a general term for many different forms of practice, all of which help people in different ways. Yoga is considered a “practice” because there is endless potential for self-improvement and mastery. Each yoga teacher has their own unique style based on one or a blend of the different types of yoga. Teachers design each class with a specific intention such as opening a specific body part, energizing the body, or calming the mind.
The practice of yoga brings our attention to our breath, which helps us to still the fluctuations of the mind and be more present in our everyday lives. Yoga is the connection of the mind, body, and spirit in order to find ease.
How does yoga help to cope with mental obstacles?
The Indian sage Patanjali’s famous definition of yoga is “yogas chitta vritti nirodhah”, which means “the restraint of the modifications of the mindstuff.” In other words, the practice of yoga calms the mind and frees us from the 900 million negative thoughts that love to crowd our brains.
Yoga helps to cope with mental obstacles by using different asanas, breath, and meditative techniques to release and move past emotional stress, and discipline ourselves to respond to stress in a focused and clear way.
Benefits of yoga:
- Improves mood and functioning
- Tames and modulates the stress response
- Increases blood circulation
- Relieves pain
- Increases focus
- Calms and/or energizes
- Improves immunity
- Increases joint mobility
- Helps digestion
What types of yoga are there?
1. Hatha
- At almost every yoga studio, you’ll see a class titled “hatha.” Chances are this class will be a blend of a few of the types of yoga listed below.
- I suggest you ask the teacher where he or she was trained, if the poses are held for a long length of time or if you will be expected to move quickly from one pose to the next, and if meditation or chanting is included. This will give you a better idea if the class is vigorous or more meditative.
2. Vinyasa
- Vinyasa or flow yoga combines an intense sequence of postures that flow together coordinated with rhythmic breathing.
- These classes are vigorous, athletic, and heat your body a ton, meaning, you will sweat!!
- A couple of types of vinyasa flow yoga are ashtanga yoga and power yoga.
3. Restorative
- Focuses on healing, relaxation techniques, and the recovery of injuries.
- Popular amongst injured athletes, people with chronic pain, and the elderly.
- Incorporates props such as belts, blocks, blankets, chairs, tennis balls, pillows, bolsters, and more.
- One type of restorative yoga is viniyoga.
4. Iyengar
- Alignment, alignment, alignment!!
- Poses are often held for long periods of time.
- Uses props and offers many variations to accommodate injuries or structural imbalances.
- Created by B.K.S. Iyengar.
You can learn more about different types of yoga here.
Try Yoga for Depression and Anxiety here.