When searching for the best-suited exercise regime, factors like calorie expenditure, functionality, injury prevention, stronger muscles, personalisation based on bioindividuality, fluidity, and stress reduction are instrumental. Yoga excels in all these factors with flying colours. This book will thoroughly dive deeper and help you understand the role of yoga with relevant research. Yoga, especially vinyasa and sun salutations, can burn more than 400 calories per hour, higher than basketball, tennis, callisthenics, and strength training (Gordon 2014; Joshua and Dunbar 2016; Carroll et al. 2003). In terms of functionality, yoga mimics real-life body movements and is safer than machine-based exercises, primarily because the sense of joint positioning (proprioception) supersedes and prevents injuries, whereas machine-based exercises have more risk of injuries (Maior and de Assis 2023). For those who strictly need aesthetic gains and enhanced muscle mass, I recommend a 'muscular yoga' regime where dumbbells, barbells, resistance bands, etc. can be integrated. However, it goes against the conventional approach. Based on needs, exercises should be personalised-with more modifications, yoga can accommodate more individuals and perform better than other physical exercises (Govindaraj et al. 2016, 242-53). Beyond physical realms, yoga's mental, social, and spiritual gains are unparalleled. As you will witness throughout the book, yoga is an ancient wisdom relevant to date with the backing of science and many proven benefits.
The Idea of this Book: After going through an 15-year-long yogic journey and learning yoga from reputed teachers and institutions, I found several contradictions in perceived yoga alignment, science, and more. The differences became stark based on institution, style, and place. I found my fellow yogis to be travelling in the same boat. This paved the way for my personal research, which took four more years. This book is an attempt to demystify and visualise the understanding of yoga concerning biomechanics, anatomy, and physiology that I learnt through consistent endeavours, gurus, reading several research journals, ancient yogic texts, contemporary science books, and more.
My Personal Journey: A sports injury-right after discovering yoga-could not prevent me from embracing it. Persistent, I developed my yoga practice to the point I could perform Urdhva Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand Pose), an advanced balancing asana. For the next few years, I bonded well with most asanas. Yet, life intervened, I was pulled to the paths of science and engineering, and my journey of yoga was temporarily halted. In my engineering years, when life struck me with multiple challenges and depression, I rekindled my love for yoga. It changed my world to be more vibrant and livelier than ever before.
What to Expect: Through this book, we will embark on a journey into the world of yoga, bridging ancient science with contemporary science and uncovering its underlying mechanisms. While a multitude of research has shown yoga to be effective across most health parameters, much of its potential is clouded due to the widespread mysticism backed by unsupported claims. This book unearths the anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics of yoga while retaining its rich legacy. Furthermore, we will learn about more than 50 asanas, well-suited for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. Whether you are an enthusiast or professional this comprehensive book will guide you to elevate your knowledge and practice of yoga, backed by research and ancient scriptures.
Hearty congratulations on this impressive work and outstanding contribution to the world of Yoga! This book is a shining example of reverence for ancient traditions seamlessly blended with contemporary scientific insights. Divyansh's unique approach masterfully integrates yoga with biomechanics and research, offering practical solutions for beginners, in-depth insights for seasoned practitioners, and comprehensive guidance for holistic health and well-being.
The research-backed benefits of yoga on every organ and system are meticulously presented. I particularly appreciate the thoughtful sections addressing FAQs and debunking myths, which adeptly tackle common challenges faced by practitioners. The detailed descriptions of each asana, accompanied by line diagrams, potential benefits, modifications, and biomechanics, make this guide an invaluable resource for practitioners of all levels.
This comprehensive guide provides practical solutions for those seeking to explore unique dimensions of yoga. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of yoga's transformative power through a scientific lens.
Awakening the Yogic Way
Have you wondered how yoga, a 5,000-year-old ancient science, can empower you with its undeniable benefits? Imagine a more resilient, active, healthy, and serene life. However, how can yoga unlock the hidden potential within you? How did ancient yogis design yoga? With this segment, let's commence the yogic journey while navigating through the various yogic scriptures and understanding yoga's ancient roots.
Meaning of Yoga
Yuj Samyoge
'Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit root word Yuj-which means 'to join' or 'to yoke' or 'to unite. The union of a being with the Supreme Being is called 'yoga. Primarily, this definition arises from Vyasa Bhasya. However, apart from this definition, we also have a few other definitions that interpret yoga differently. In this segment, we will discuss more traditional definitions of yoga directly from various yogic scriptures:
a. Discipline in action is yoga Atha Yoganusasanam [1.1] According to the Patanjali yoga Sutras, the correct meaning of this shloka is 'now, we will start the discipline of yoga. However, people often interpret it as 'the discipline in our actions is yoga.
Asana (101)
Bhakti Yoga (21)
Biography (52)
Hatha Yoga (93)
Kaivalyadhama (58)
Karma Yoga (33)
Kriya Yoga (85)
Kundalini Yoga (60)
Massage (2)
Meditation (341)
Patanjali (139)
Pranayama (70)
Women (33)
Yoga for Children (13)
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