| TYPES OF YOG The varied types of Yogasan's are enlisted according the different parameters like their postures, methods, and objectives. Different schools of Yog classified Yog Asan's in various ways.
One method of classification of Yog Asan's is based on the starting position of the Asan's. This is the major type of classification of Yog Asan's or poses. The Asan's are classified into four types, namely Standing, Sitting, Prone and Supine. Some schools of Yog classified Yog Asan's on the basis of the movements of final pose of the Asan's. Thus the Asan's are classified into two types, namely Meditative Asan's and Cultural Asan's.
Meditative Yog Asan's are aimed to prepare the practitioner to sit for prolonged periods of time without moving the body and without distress. When the body is steady and still in the sitting position for a long period, only then the meditation is truly experienced. Deep meditation requires the spinal column to be straight and very few Yog Asan's can suffice to this condition. In higher stages of meditation, the practitioner loses control over the muscles of the body. Initially, people find it difficult to sit in one Yog Asan's for a long period. However, through the regular practice, the legs and hips become flexible enough to comfortably maintain a steady posture. Some of the meditation Asan's include Sukhasan, Padmasan, Ardh Padmasan and Siddhasan.
On the other hand Cultural Yog Asan's are meant for culturing the body and mind. These postures are primarily aimed to physical culture and thereby maintain the health of the body. Most of the Yog Asan's come under the category of the cultural postures. The organs of human body are made up of tissues and the health of the body depends on the health of the tissues. Cultural Yogasan's keep the circulatory system in efficient condition, which ensure constant supply of proper nourishment and of the internal secretions of the endocrine Glands, elements necessary for nourishment of tissues. Thyroid, pituitary and the pineal glands are kept active by Yogasan's like Sirshasan and Sarvanghasan. The smooth functioning of the digestive system requires the gentle and automatic massage of the digestive organs. Cultural Yog Asan's postures like Bhujangasan, Salabhasan and Ardh Matsyendrasan are excellent in keeping the abdominal organs in proper health and effective removal of waste products.
Inverted Yog Asan's like Sirshasan and Sarvanghasan send a richer blood supply to the brain thus, ensuring its health and also the health of the cranial nerves that serves the different organs of senses. Yogasan postures are excellent spinal exercise. These postures preserve the health of the nerves. On the basis of final position and movements, Cultural Asan's can be further classified as Backward bending Asan's, Forward bending Asan's, Spinal twisting Asan's, Inverted Asan's and Balancing Asan's.
Various
types of Yog Asan's include wide range of practices. These practices
provide the Yogi good health and vigour. Practicing various types
of Yog Asan's allows the sadhak cope with the modern social problems,
stress and tensions. For most of the people, the different types
of Yog Asan's are a means of maintaining health and well-being
in the increasing stressful society. If one practices all the
techniques mentioned above, he or she can achieve good health
and well being. Yog practices have succeeded as an alternative
form of therapy in curing diseases such as asthma, diabetes, blood
pressure, digestive disorders and other ailments of chronic nature.
Thus the practice of different types of Yog Asan's helps the individual
to lead a happy and healthy life.
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