Yoga
has been adapted to a broad variety of applications. While these
are not technically different types of yoga, they are distinct
applications that appeal to a specific segment of the population.
Yoga is becoming popular for adults and children who wish to
apply its many benefits to a specific situation, such as pregnancy,
performance in a sport, or as a therapeutic modality for physical
illnesses or conditions, as described below.
Pregnancy Yoga - Yoga is becoming increasingly
popular for women during pregnancy and after giving birth.
Women are finding yoga to a gentle form of exercise which
keeps their bodies toned as they progress through pregnancy
and prepare for childbirth. During childbirth, a woman can
rely on the physical strength and mental focus she gained
through her yoga practice to deliver her baby with minimal
intervention. Post-partum yoga helps a woman regain her muscle
tone and can even be a bonding experience with her baby.
Yoga for Kids - As more parents enjoy the
benefits of yoga, they are finding ways to introduce their
children to the practice. Also, schools are finding the practice
of hatha yoga to be beneficial for students in the areas of
confidence, physical fitness, concentration, and more. Special
needs children are benefitting greatly from yoga programs
tailored to their specific concerns too.
Yoga for Sports - Athletes in all areas
of sports from golf and diving to baseball and football are
finding the great benefits of a yoga practice for agility,
fitness and mental clarity. There is an excellent array of
resources from books to videos which provide yoga routines
targeted to the need of specific sports. Yoga Journal features
monthly poses beneficial for various sports from skating to
tennis.
Therapeutic Yoga - Yoga is becoming an important
therapeutic modality as health care practitioners begin to
shift focus from a masking or cover up of symptoms to a treatment
of the root cause of various conditions. Doctors, physical
therapists, chiropractors and yoga teachers/therapists are
working hand in hand to treat a wide array of medical conditions
from scoliosis to heart disease.
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