Yoga in London for beginners

Are you are thinking about starting up yoga in London? Would you like to understand a little bit more about the practice? Then take a look at our Yoga Wellbeing facts about the Wonderful World of Yoga;

Facts about Yoga

1.    Yoga is over 5,000 years old
2.    Yoga originated in India
3.    Yoga is inspired by practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and
4.    The earliest Yogis are said to have been intoxicated
5.    Yoga was originally practiced as a form of healing
6.    Yoga is one of the oldest physical disciplines in existence
7.    Yoga connects the mind, body and spirit
8.    Yoga combines body postures, breathing and meditation
9.    The official language of Yoga is Sanskrit
10.   The word yoga means yoke or union
11.    There are 19 different types of Yoga
12.    There are 66 official yoga postures
13.    Yoga breathing is called pranayama
14.    Yoga hand positions are called mudras
15.    Mudras affects the flow of prana (life energy) within the body
16.    Bikram or hot yoga is practiced in rooms heated to 40°C and 50% humidity
17.    Jivamukti yoga is performed to music
18.    In Mysore yoga students are invited to practice whatever postures they please
19.    Hasyayoga or Laughter Yoga is practiced in more than 60 countries
20.   Chair Yoga is practiced by seniors / people with disabilities
21.   The largest yoga center in Asia is the Markandeya Yoga City in Bali
22.   The bestselling yoga book in English is Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika by B. K. S Iyengar
23.   Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat Pray Love” has sold 8 million copies worldwide

Yoga in the US & UK

24.    Yoga was first practiced in the UK in the late 19th century
25.    The most popular type of Yoga in the UK is Hatha Yoga
26.    The largest yoga center in North America is the Kripalu Center Massachusetts
27.    Americans spend $5.7 billion a year on yoga classes and products*
28.    6.9% of US adults, 15.8 million people practice yoga
29.    72.2% of US yoga practitioners are women, 27.8% are men
30.    71.4% of US yoga practitioners are college educated
31.    Yoga to the People is a donation-based yoga movement that started in New York
32.    Naked yoga is gaining in popularity across Europe and the US

Yoga Benefits

33.    Yoga relieves anxiety, depression and stress
34.    Yoga can increase self-confidence
35.    Yoga can improve your mood
36.    Yoga can lead to a more positive outlook on life
37.    Yoga can alleviate anger and hostility
38.    Yoga can improve concentration and motivation
39.    Yoga can improve memory
40.    Yoga can improve reactions times
41.    Yoga can make you live longer
42.    Yoga can help you quit smoking
43.    Yoga aids weight loss by improving metabolism
44.    Yoga reduces cellulite through muscle stretching
45.    Yoga improves posture
46.    Yoga can help you sleep better
47.    Yoga can improve sexuality through better control, relaxation and confidence
48.    Guarasana or Eagle pose can help improve male sexual performance
49.    Yoga can reduce menopausal hot flashes
50.    Yoga improves balance
51.    Yoga can make you more graceful
52.    Yoga can help prevent migraines
53.    Yoga delays aging by stimulating detoxification in the body
54.    Yoga can relieve constipation
55.    Yoga can alleviate allergy symptoms
56.    Yoga increases pain tolerance
57.    Yoga reduces blood pressure and pulse rate
58.    Yoga helps prevent disease by massaging internal organs
59.    Yoga can make you more aware of an impending health disorder or disease
60.    Yoga can help improve your immune system
61.    Yoga can heal the body and prevent injuries
62.    Yoga can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease
63.    Yoga can alleviate Asthma symptoms
64.    Yoga can reduce OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) symptoms