Yoga is defined as “to join together” which is evidently manifested in the uniting of the mind and body as one to attain peace and harmony. Founded on the three main structures of breathing, meditation and exercise, engaging in Yoga regularly leads to a more focused, calm, healthy and happy body. Today, more and more people practice Yoga in their lives. But have they fully understood how it originated and its effects? Let’s hop into a time machine and traverse the early beginnings and history of Yoga.

There is no definite time as to when Yoga started. The archeological findings from the Indus Valley Civilization revealed stone drawings of a person meditating like an Asana (Pashupati Seal). These stone drawings provide evidence that Yoga could have started way back to over 5,000 years ago. Although it might seem so long ago, other findings also show that the earliest signs of Yoga practice occurred during the Stone Age Shamanism. Shamanism considered and venerated the art of discernment of the cosmic order through inner vision. Shifting from their perceptual field to commune with the spiritual world using rituals was part of their culture. It is in this case that the ethnicity of Yoga and Shamanism overlap with each other. Shamans are then believed to be the Yogis’ precursors.

Yoga history has been divided into five main periods, namely Vedic Yoga, Pre-Classical Yoga, Classical Yoga, Post-Classical Yoga and Modern Yoga.

1. Vedic Yoga– Veda is a Sanskrit word that means “knowledge”. Vedas is a comprehensive collection of hymns and rituals which is a major key to cosmic evolution. The teachings found in Vedas are known as the Vedic Yoga. It is considered the divine revelation/ sacred scripture of the Brahmans, basis of modern-day Hinduism, since it is through its teachings that the mind surpasses its limitations and the visible material world is reunited with the spiritual world.

2. Pre-Classical Yoga – This period is marked by the creation of the Upanishads. The 200 scriptures of the Upanishads explain the concept of the cycle of birth and death, karma, moral source from previous acts. It also mentioned about the Koshas (one of the soul’s coverings) and enlightened people on the ultimate reality (Brahman), transcendental self (Atman) and the relationship of the two. They also explained further on the teachings of the Vedas. It was also during this period that Yoga was inculcated in the culture of Buddhism.

3. Classical Yoga- Patañjali defined Yoga by the Yoga Sutra. It contained 195 sutras (words of wisdom) that illustrate the practice of yoga into an eight-limbed path of self transcendence:

• Yama – Self-restraint or ethical conduct
• Niyama – Personal and religious observance of purity, devotion and study
• Asana – Physical activity
• Pranayama – Breath control or regulation
• Pratyahara – Abstraction of the senses
• Dharana – Concentration
• Dhyana – Meditation that leads to Samadhi
• Samadhi – Absorption in the sublime and blissful awareness

4. Post Classical – Yogis paid more attention to contemplation and meditation that they have neglected the importance of the physical body. It was during this time that began to explore into the hidden supremacy of the human body. They’ve come to regard that the human body is the temple of the immortal soul. A system of various exercises consisting of meditation and deep breathing were developed in the hopes of rejuvenating the physical body, achievement of enlightenment and prolonging life. Yoga went through many changes during this era in the development of Hatha Yoga and other branches of Yoga. It was at this moment that Yoga gained popularity.

5. Modern Yoga- During the late 1800’s, Yoga reached the West. More Yoga gurus have appeared and created an impression to the Americans regarding the practice of Yoga. One of them was Dalai Lama who inspired many Americans to know more about Yoga and Buddhism and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. The five principles of Yoga which include proper relaxation, exercise, breathing, diet and positive thinking and meditation were created by created by Yogi Swami Sivananda.

Today, the Yoga practice has become diversified. Many people from all over the world practice it with varying principles and ideals. Yet one thing prevails, the Yoga message of peace.

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Yoga is practiced in different styles. It’s a bit confusing especially now that yoga masters add some of their own techniques to enhance a certain style. But basically, each style is founded on the fundamental principles of Yoga. The postures used in Yoga are quite similar to each other but differ on its emphasis. All in all, the poses are used to achieve control over the mind and body.

When choosing a style to pursue, pick the one that will fit your character and physique. Here is a list of the selected different styles of Yoga:

ASHTANGA: Is considered as Power Yoga. Its intense athletic style makes it very popular and appealing to individuals who want to have a sense of independence and order. Derived from the definition of Ashtanga, which means “8 Limbs”, it is composed of 8 components: breathing control, sense control, concentration, absorption, meditation, ethics, posture and morality.

ANANDA: Focuses on meditation and spiritual origins to create harmony of the body, mind and soul. The main goal of this style is geared towards relaxation, increasing consciousness and development of correct alignment with the use of postures.

ANUSARA: Defined as the flowing of grace, the emphasis of this style is on heart opening. With the belief that all people are inherently good, it is a style filled with optimism and pleasure.

INTEGRAL: A combination of different branches of Yoga, Integral yoga is a gentle and non-competitive form of class. The goal is to unite the mind, body and spirit to lead the person in living a life of happiness, peace, productivity and healthy lives. Ultimately, it aims to create harmony between man and creation.

BIKRAM: Poses of Bikram Yoga is done in a heated room. Thus, the name Hot Yoga is given to this kind of style. With the combination of dynamic poses and high temperature (95-100 degrees), the body feels warm and becomes flexible. Since Bikram raises the body’s core temperature, it is not the style advisable for pregnant women to use. This style can lead to dehydration so make sure that you drink lots of water before and after the class.

These are just some of the many different styles of Yoga like Kripalu, Kali Ray TriYoga, Iyengar Yoga, Sivananda, Svaroopa, etc.. Find some moment to know about them and decide on the one that will satisfy your needs and suit your capabilities.

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To a degree, I can understand where they are coming from. From the outside looking in, we see a bunch of muscly guys lifting weight the human body should never be able to lift.

We see the bar bending in the middle from all the weight, and we see the strain in the faces of the competitors.

But what viewers fail to see are the benefits associated with the sports, and the real figures of just how dangerous it is.

The reality is, the actual sport is far from dangerous, and studies have shown there is more chance and risk for injury in all contact sports than there is in weightlifting.

In addition, research has found that those who partake in the sport actually have a lower percentage of back related issues than those who do not.

The idea weightlifting gives you a bad back is wrong, and if anything, it strengthens it and prevents it from further injury.

The biggest benefit of weightlifting is the amount of muscles used in the lifts.

The Olympic lifts involve basically every muscle in the human body and this entails a great workout. It also forces stabilizer muscles to activate to secure the weight overhead in the lifts.

People involved in the sport lower their heart rates, lean out, lower their blood pressure and increased strength.

Athletically, Olympic weightlifting increases explosiveness, and studies have shown those who do so for a few weeks will begin to improve their vertical leap and their running pace.

In addition, the sport also helps prevent osteoporosis. To put it simply the greater the bone mineral density (BMD) the less chance of osteoporosis occurring.

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Yoga has been around for centuries and has been an ancient form of meditation used for centuries.

For those who are unaware of what it is, yoga is all about mind, body and power.

The aim when practicing yoga is to allow your mind to channel your body inside and out, and that with breathing, you will be able to train yourself to cope with stresses and life problems.

Yoga also increases your flexibility and fluidity of movement so that you will stand taller and straighter., and as a result become healthier.

Your mind will also become calmer and stress in your body will slowly fade away.

The man aim is to awaken you in a whole new body with a new mindset through practicing the art of yoga.

Since the emergence of Pilates as a sufficient form of exercise for women and those who like a low physical, relaxation type exercise, yoga has been the big loser.

Many students who practiced the meditation type exercise, either gave it up to concentrate on Pilates, or did Pilates in conjunction with the sport.

But that is not to say that yoga is dying, in fact it’s the opposite. The bottom line is there is more demand for new age meditation type exercise, and more and more people are becoming interested in the benefits of practicing yoga.

Yoga studios are set up in all areas in Australia, and almost every gym will offer yoga classes to members.

If you suffer from any muscle tension, or back problems, or even just general muscle tightness, then yoga is perfect for you, and it will also open you mind up and refresh you for the day ahead.

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Yoga has been around for centuries and has been an ancient form of meditation used for centuries.

For those who are unaware of what it is, yoga is all about mind, body and power.

The aim when practicing yoga is to allow your mind to channel your body inside and out, and that with breathing, you will be able to train yourself to cope with stresses and life problems.

Yoga also increases your flexibility and fluidity of movement so that you will stand taller and straighter., and as a result become healthier.

Your mind will also become calmer and stress in your body will slowly fade away.

The man aim is to awaken you in a whole new body with a new mindset through practicing the art of yoga.

Since the emergence of Pilates as a sufficient form of exercise for women and those who like a low physical, relaxation type exercise, yoga has been the big loser.

Many students who practiced the meditation type exercise, either gave it up to concentrate on Pilates, or did Pilates in conjunction with the sport.

But that is not to say that yoga is dying, in fact it’s the opposite. The bottom line is there is more demand for new age meditation type exercise, and more and more people are becoming interested in the benefits of practicing yoga.

Yoga studios are set up in all areas in Australia, and almost every gym will offer yoga classes to members.

If you suffer from any muscle tension, or back problems, or even just general muscle tightness, then yoga is perfect for you, and it will also open you mind up and refresh you for the day ahead.

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As a keen sportsplayer, I felt that I would only reach the peak of my agility and explosiveness if I could jump high enough to dunk the ring just like professional basketballers’ do around the world.

Now, if you are just like I was when I was younger, then read on.

The following will give you an overview of ways to increase you vertical leap, and help you reach your desired goals:

When it comes to jumping higher, the number one you must think about is improving your fast twitch muscles, and you need to do to give you the muscular make up that will facilitate the explosiveness needed.

He best way to achieve this is by jumping.

At the end of the day, if you want to get better at doing something, the best way is to do it more.

But of course, jumping up and down everyday gets boring, so here’s a few other ways we can improve our vertical leap:

Skipping – This exercise is not only great for building fast twitch muscles, but also for improving timing and balance.

Calf raises – These will ensure your calves are not overlooked and worked specifically.

Leg weights – These can be worn at all times when you don’t train and when they are off, you will feel much lighter.

Stair climbs – Great for muscle building and endurance building, but make sure you do this activity as fast as you can.

It is important when you are trying to build fast twitch muscles that you do every exercise as fast and as explosively as you can.

Only when you do this will your muscles adapt and not just get bigger and stronger, but also faster and more agile.

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As a keen sportsplayer, I felt that I would only reach the peak of my agility and explosiveness if I could jump high enough to dunk the ring just like professional basketballers’ do around the world.

Now, if you are just like I was when I was younger, then read on.

The following will give you an overview of ways to increase you vertical leap, and help you reach your desired goals:

When it comes to jumping higher, the number one you must think about is improving your fast twitch muscles, and you need to do to give you the muscular make up that will facilitate the explosiveness needed.

He best way to achieve this is by jumping.

At the end of the day, if you want to get better at doing something, the best way is to do it more.

But of course, jumping up and down everyday gets boring, so here’s a few other ways we can improve our vertical leap:

Skipping – This exercise is not only great for building fast twitch muscles, but also for improving timing and balance.

Calf raises – These will ensure your calves are not overlooked and worked specifically.

Leg weights – These can be worn at all times when you don’t train and when they are off, you will feel much lighter.

Stair climbs – Great for muscle building and endurance building, but make sure you do this activity as fast as you can.

It is important when you are trying to build fast twitch muscles that you do every exercise as fast and as explosively as you can.

Only when you do this will your muscles adapt and not just get bigger and stronger, but also faster and more agile.

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So many people are more concerned about working on their chest, arms or just overall cardio, that they often neglect their core strength.

Without a doubt, however, core strength is one of the most important elements of overall fitness and well being.

If your core strength is good, you will feel better everywhere else in your body and it will improve sleep, rest and general fitness.

So, how do you increase your strength around the centre of your body??

Core strength training can be achieved through many different programmes and routines.

All of them work in their own rights.

The first thing people have to understand though, is that the core region consists of far more than just the abdominal muscles.

In fact core strength training aims to target all the muscles groups that stabilize the spine and pelvis.

It’s these muscle groups that are critical for the transfer of energy from large to small body parts during many sporting activities.

Many exercises like sit ups, push ups and stomach crunches are all great for toning and increasing your core strength.

Other sports like swimming, balancing, skipping, and general running all work to help your core strength also.

So, what are the main benefits in an athlete having a strong core??

Greater efficiency of movement, improved body control and balance and Increased power output are all benefits form an improved core.

You will also find your balance and stability improving, and your overall athletic performance lift up a level.

At the end of the day, core strength is vital in excellent health and fitness.

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I was so obsessed with the idea that I began training as hard as I could to achieve my goal.

Every day when I returned home from school I would begin exercises to strengthen my legs muscles and make them strong enough to spring me high enough into the air.

The best form of training I fund to allow this was plyometrics.

Plyometrics is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving your ability in a chosen sport.

The movements in plyometric training are very much based around the idea of contracting the muscle in rapid sequence, to increase strength, elasticity and innervation of a muscle and it’s surrounding tissues.

As a result you will be able to jump higher, run faster, throw farther or hit harder, depending on what muscles you work on.

Plyometric exercises use explosive movements to develop this muscular power and the training acts on the nerves, tendons and muscles to increase an athletes power output.

The ability to convert strength into speed is the main goal in plyometric training.

So, what sorts of exercises are involved in plyometric training???

Many exercises can include calf raises, rapid squats, step-ups, leg raises, push-ups, skipping, sprinting and boxing.

All exercises in plyometric training have to be done at a fast speed and at a rate where there is minimal rest between each rep.

The bad thing about plyometric training, however, is that your body is put at an increased risk of injury, due to the large forces generated during training and performance.

Flexibility is required to ensure your gains are not met with injury or other health issues.

In summary, plyometric training is a great way to develop strength and explosiveness, but people must have dedication and patience to achieve the best results.

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CALISTENICS is a popular sport for girls in Australia and is recognised as a fun and healthy way to keep fit for girls of all ages.

It is a uniquely Australian sport that requires discipline of mind and body, teamwork, a competitive spirit and a sense of responsibility.

It has been around for more than 60 years and helps strengthen a young girl’s body and posture.

Calisthenics is also performed on a stage therefore requiring detailed choreography and often under limited space conditions. It can be part of a dance routine and can often mean that girls can cross other forms of dance into this such as ballet.

Common calisthenics exercises include lunges, jumping jacks, sit-ups. crunches, push-ups, pull-ups, squats calf raises and dips which help get the girl’s body flexible enough to perform a calisthenics routine.

It’s become a strong culture for girls in Australia and there are many competitions across states where they compete in age groups.

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