With life comes stress, strict deadlines, long working hours, financial problems, illnesses, and maintaining relationships. There comes a time when the body, mind, and spirit become overwhelmed. As a way out of ailments caused by these shortcomings, people have opted for natural remedies like Yoga. Some people say that yoga is more effective while taking CBD oil daily. This post will dig deep and enlighten you on what Yoga is and how CBD can potentially enhance the effects of this practice.
The History and Origin of Yoga
The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’ which means yoke or to unite. It generally means the individual self-being in union with the supreme self. According to Maharishi Patanjali’s classical definition of Yoga, it states that it is controlling the modifications of the mind. Yoga comes in different styles, but the idea is that every style controls the mind. The current concept of Yoga can be traced back to the Indus valley civilization.
The practice has since undergone various modifications, and the current Yoga is way different from what was originally practiced. The Pre-Vedic period (before 3000BC) was the period when Buddhism came into existence. During the Vedic period (3000 BC to 800 BC) Yoga was a ritual practice that helped develop concentration and transcend the mundane. During the Preclassical period (800 BC to 250 BC) referred to as the Upanishads, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita period.
The Bhagavad Gita explained the different forms of Yoga that included Bhakti yoga, Raja yoga, Karma yoga, and Jnana yoga. Krishna stated that it was possible to attain a higher state of consciousness by seeking reality with reverence and humility. During this period, Yoga was a lifestyle and not just breathing or taking postures. The classical period (184 BC to 148 BC) involved the Indian sage Patanjali compiling 195 sutras of Yoga into a single form. This form was referred to as Raja Yoga. This practice involved eight limbs that also fused physical postures and breathing regulations.
Post-Classical period (800AD to 1700 AD) gave Yoga a new outlook. Followers of Patanjali yoga gave greater importance to the kriyas yoga for keeping the body and mind pure. The Modern period (From 1863 AD onwards) is when Swami Vivekananda introduced Yoga to the rest of the world. He did so during his speech at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Yoga was then accepted as a secular spiritual practice worldwide.
Benefits of Practicing Yoga and Meditation
Yoga is a natural remedy for many ailments. Doing a few yoga poses daily can relieve back pain. This is possible as the stretching exercises and poses improve flexibility in the spinal and gets rid of the lower back pain problems. Iyengar Yoga has also proven to help patients with Rheumatoid arthritis. This type of Yoga uses belts, blocks, and different positioning props. Other forms of Yoga like gentle and Bikram Yoga also helps with Rheumatoid arthritis as it involves easy-paced poses and movements that work on your bones, muscles, and joints. Experts also explain that Yoga has the power to detox your system, making it an ideal remedy for people nursing a hangover.
As a result, the practice makes you feel fresh faster. Specific Yoga poses like “shoulder stand”, “bow” and “low” work on your thyroid gland. Hence, you will have an improved metabolism that gets rid of toxins from the body. While you may want to have a healthy heart, the lifestyle choices you make may deprive you of that privilege. However, daily Yoga and meditation reduce the risk of heart disease, considering that its cardiovascular benefits eliminate arterial plaque. Since meditation lowers heart rate, it gradually improves blood circulation.
Asthma patients have also benefited greatly from Yoga. A study published in the Cochrane Library proves that adults who suffer from mild to moderate asthma can have a remarkable improvement if they do an eight-week session of Yoga. The breathing technique, combined with regular meds is effective against asthma.
Types of Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Different forms work for different types of people. Hatha yoga is among the most popular type of Yoga. The term “Hatha” generally describes the physical practices of Yoga. The term is general and therefore commonly used interchangeably with “Yoga”. This is a slow-paced form of Yoga that stretches the body and also involves controlled breathing. The goal of this type of Yoga is to help you maintain poses and work on your breathing. The movements could be slow, but they effectively relieve stress.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga is the other form of Yoga that’s among the oldest. Just like Hatha Yoga, Kundalini yoga also focuses on a combination of breathing and poses. The different poses and breathing techniques can intensify your workout. Since this Yoga is done rapidly and repetitively, it is ideal for people thinking of raising the intensity of their workout. As much as this is physical yoga, it also benefits the spiritual and mental health of a person.
Ashtanga yoga
Ashtanga yoga is a different type of Yoga. It’s practiced by individuals who enjoy a more athletic and advanced form of Yoga. This type of yoga is more challenging and follows a particular structure. There are six different sequences involved, and each one of them focuses on a different aspect of the human body.
Hot and Bikram Yoga
Hot and Bikram Yoga are all about intensity and sweating. It’s about holding the positions in a room heated above 40 degrees Celsius with a humidity level of 40%. The heat loosens your muscles and enhances flexibility. Since Hot Yoga involves sweating, it also stimulates fat burning rates. Bikram yoga, on the other hand, is a sub-type of hot Yoga. This Yoga involves 26 postures done in a hot room.
DOGA and CAGA
If you are a pet lover, doing yoga with your furry companions is a trend that you might want to try. What is Doga and Caga?
Does CBD Oil Help for Yoga and Meditation?
CBD is a compound found in the cannabis plant and has been regarded as the miracle medicine. This is because it doesn’t contain any psychoactive elements that give you a “high” feeling. Instead, the oil relaxes your body and makes you feel at peace. CBD oil is helpful for Yoga and meditation as it improves focus. Putting your brain to rest as you meditate actually activates cannabinoid receptors. This is proven in a 2018 study published in the Frontiers in Neuroscience.
According to some studies, CBD oil can improve flexibility and alleviate muscle pain when directly applied to the body. According to this study, it does so by enhancing the production of natural cannabinoids. This is why the oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, your body will also become flexible during Yoga. Savasana is the last pose you do at the end of your Yoga. This pose helps you find your center so that you can focus only on your breathing. CBD oil can help you feel calm and relaxed for a longer period when executing this pose as it has the ability to suppress the enzyme responsible for breaking down Anandamine, the bliss molecule that makes you feel good. Additionally, poor sleep can mess up systems that handle inflammation, immunity, and general wellbeing. CBD alleviates sleep disorders to improve your yoga experience.
Do you practice yoga and use CBD products? How has CBD improved your yoga routine?