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Using Yoga to recover your health

It is many years since Yoga became accepted in the West as a healthy way to keep fit but it also has a fantastic role to play when it is used to help recover from injury or illness.

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Sixties pop stars such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys had interests in Eastern culture and helped bring yoga to the attention of many who had not heard of it before. Nowadays good quality classes are available for anyone to join, taking place everywhere from sessions at local church halls to more expensive ones in high class gyms.

Wherever you choose to practice and learn Yoga, and for whatever reason, whether it is merely to achieve optimum fitness of to recover from an injury or illness that may have led to you receiving medical compensation, there are several different approaches and styles which all cover various physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines.

Hatha is probably the most popular of all the different styles of Yoga and it basically forms the basis of the other kinds, as it incorporates Asanas (postures), Pranayama (regulated breathing), meditation (Dharana & Dhyana) and kundalini (Laya Yoga).

There is no equipment involved other than a mat and simple clothes which allow freedom of movement. The sessions produce a calm and meditative mood making it perfect for those looking for a relaxed route to fitness and well being.

Bikram Yoga was founded by gold medal Olympic weight lifter Bikram Choudhury and is a method of yoga application that comprises a tough workout which is focused on developing muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular flexibility and weight loss.

The unusual part of this particular discipline is that it takes place in background conditions of 105 degree heat and 40% humidity, which is intended to promote more flexibility and detoxification as well as prevent further injuries.

Iyengar Yoga requires precise body alignment and aims to promote strength and endurance through poses which are held longer than in other styles of yoga. The use of a range of equipment such as cushions, blocks and straps are a distinguishing feature of Iyengar and makes it perfect for the elderly or disabled. It is also well suited to anyone who has had reason to seek the help of a medical negligence solicitor due to problems that may have arisen through clinical treatment.

Ashtanga Yoga is perhaps the most physically demanding of all the main types as it involves learning to synchronise breathing patterns with a continuous series of postures, which in turn produces intense internal heat with the aim of it resulting in profuse sweating. This is thought to help removes toxins of all kinds from the body.

Fans of this type of approach say that the result is improved circulation, flexibility and stamina along with the production of a calm and meditative state of mind. It is however a demanding discipline which is not suitable for beginners.

The range of different Yoga styles means that no matter what kind of health you are in there is something there for you to join in with and enjoy whilst making a positive difference.

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