Yoga is an ancient technique that is good for us. What kind of yoga is right for me? What are its benefits? Postures, exercises... You will know everything about this wellness practice.

Yoga, which originated in India several thousand years ago, is practised by more than 2.8 million people in France. This philosophy of life, which is gaining in popularity, consists of a series of postures and breathing exercises to achieve physical and mental well-being. There are no contraindications. You just need to adapt the exercises to your state of health. Open your chakras wide to discover the different types of yoga.

What are the benefits of yoga?

Practising yoga is great for the body and mind. As well as improving breath and breathing, it helps reduce stress and gives you a more peaceful outlook on life. It helps to be more connected to the present moment and to work on concentration. If practised regularly, it develops flexibility and elasticity of muscles. Of course, certain sequences and postures offer a real muscular reinforcement for a progressive but long term weight loss.

Which yoga postures to start with?

The lotus pose: sit with your legs folded in a lotus or cross-legged position. Stand up straight and join your hands in front of your chest before placing them on your knees.
Tree pose: stand and stare at a point in front of you. Anchor one leg in the ground. The other leg bends while the sole of the foot is placed on the inner side of the opposite thigh.
Child's pose: on all fours, lower your hips to your heels and ankles and then release your arms to the ground, palms up.
Warrior poses: stand with your right leg out to the side and turn your foot to 45 degrees. The other foot does not move. Stretch your arms to shoulder level, then bend your right knee as if you were going to do a lunge. Look away.
The Sun Salutation is one of the best-known exercises. It combines 12 asanas (postures) and should be practiced 8-12 times a day.

What type of yoga to choose?

Yoga is a trend. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced practitioner, whether you are looking for a gentle, dynamic or spiritual practice, your choice of yoga will not be the same. Between Hatha yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Bikram yoga and all the others, you will be spoilt for choice. Here is an overview of the different types of yoga.

Hatha yoga: the moon and the sun, yin and yang... This method consists of bringing together the most antipodal energies. In fact, other yogas have their origins in it. The principle: to seek balance and physiological and anatomical well-being at the same time. How does it work? By adopting postures, designed to make the joints more supple, to learn how to position one's breathing and to gain concentration, while paying close attention to one's gestures. This practice also aims to be attentive to oneself, and therefore to others. And with so many virtues, isn't Hatha yoga the royal road to well-being?
Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga: an ultra-dynamic and energetic variant of Hatha yoga, Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans of it! Its success can be explained by its multiple therapeutic benefits. Based on synchronised breathing and movements, Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga considerably improves the cardio-respiratory faculties. The session is divided into three stages: alignment of the body, cleansing of the nervous system and work on flexibility. A very complete programme which, in addition, sculpts the silhouette!
Vishranta yoga: need for relaxation and softness? Vishranta yoga is very relaxing and is the right method for you. While the body surrenders to the floor exercises, the mind remains alert. The student becomes fully aware of the breath and sensations. He eliminates the small evils related to the stress and finds an absolute plenitude.
Yin Yoga: very cocooning, Yin yoga is one of the yogas that relaxes. It is a gentle activity that combines stretching, breathing and postures that must be held for several minutes. It allows you to regain calm, to relax while working the tissues in depth.
Iyengar yoga: don't be a beginner! Based on "asanas", postures, and "pranayama", the breath, this sports method requires a lot of rigour and a healthy lifestyle. It focuses on the alignment of the body. Foam blocks, chairs and belts help to maintain different postures. The result is natural breathing and purification of the body, freed from the toxins accumulated in daily life.
Vidyaa yoga: is good for strengthening the mind, this practice allows you to refocus on yourself and stimulates concentration. The programme? Postures that follow one another to a soundtrack with fast but regular rhythms. An excellent way to learn how to gather your energies so as not to lose any of them.
Yoga Nidra: in Sanskrit, the language of Indian culture, yoga Nidra means the yoga of sleep. However, it requires a few years of practice... The principle? Infiltrate the unconscious state of rest to stir up energy and display greater vitality. How does it work? With meditation sessions where letting go is a must, to help you fall asleep.
Bikram yoga: a room heated to 40°C and no less than twenty-six postures to be linked together. The principle of Bikram yoga is simple: combine breath, movement and heat to stimulate the evacuation of toxins. Originally, this method was dedicated to the simple stretching of muscles. The practice in a heated room has made it very caliente! Get ready to sweat!
Prenatal yoga: ideal for preparing for childbirth, this method has drawn from Hatha yoga the postures that are beneficial to the arrival of the baby. The movements evolve according to the time of the pregnancy. Based on the control of the breath, prenatal yoga provides the keys to giving birth as serenely as possible.
Facial yoga: the face is a particularly solicited area that deserves to be studied. It is made up of a multitude of muscles that can be worked to relax and tone them. Thanks to exercises that can be done at home, volumes are redefined and cheekbones are enhanced for an assured lifting effect.

Why does yoga make you lose weight?

Yoga is a discipline that is thousands of years old and aims to achieve a form of harmony between the body and the mind. By integrating it into your lifestyle, you learn to better control your emotions and manage your anxiety. As a result, you sleep better and feel less like throwing yourself on food! There are many yoga classes that will help you sculpt your figure! For a tonic and dynamic practice, you can initiate yourself with Ashtanga, which solicits the muscles and the endurance. The postures practised in yoga help to tighten and slim the body.

If you want to get rid of a small belly, adopt the boat position without delay. To do it, nothing could be simpler: sit with your legs tight and bent, lean back gently and hold the position to work your abdominal muscles.

To challenge your whole body, try the warrior pose. With your left foot forward, place your right foot back and bend your legs. Keep your back straight and extend your arms to either side of your body, keeping them in line with your shoulders.