Importance of Yoga ball
April 5, 2008
Using the Yoga Ball
Yoga ball is used in Yoga teaching after second half of the twentieth century. When yoga started being before 5,000 years ago, the emphasis was probably on the spiritual aspect of the discipline. Most of the branches of yoga today have little or nothing to do with physical exercise or the development of the body. As the practice developed from being only for those who devote their lives to spiritual study to those who seek health and relief from stress as a part of lives devoted to work and family, the practices changed and new branches developed.
Vision of Yoga Ball
As the study of yoga became more westernized, new visions appeared to help yoga reach more people. One of those visions was the yoga ball. Certainly the ancient gurus and masters did not see the need for an inflated ball of vinyl in the spiritual study of yoga. In fact, it wasn’t until the second half of the twentieth century that such a vision was experienced.
Perfect Poses with Yoga Ball
The emphasis was not on the perfection of the postures before Iyengar Yoga grew out of Hatha Yoga. Many of the Hatha branches emphasized the vinyasa flow instead. The vinyasa flow is the fluid transition from one pose to the next in a series. This makes the movement as important as the pose itself. Iyengar Yoga makes the pose more important. The Iyengar teacher helps the student attain the perfect alignment of each pose, which is then held for a long time compared to other styles of yoga. To make this possible for beginning students and for those whose health or strength is impaired, Iyengar Yoga uses props like the yoga ball. The yoga ball can help keep a leg elevated for a long period in a balancing pose or be used to perfect the arch of a back. The yoga ball can also be used to support the weight of a sitting person.
Yoga Ball makes Yoga accessible to all
The use of props like the yoga ball make Iyengar Yoga more accessible to those without the strength or balance needed to achieve the perfect poses unassisted. They also help the expert expand his abilities to achieve more difficult poses or to hold difficult poses for a longer time without injury.
Yoga Balls in various sixes and shapes
The few props used in Iyengar Yoga are easy to find in a selection yoga balls of various sizes and types. Besides the yoga ball, there are bricks for support; straps for bound poses and blankets that can be rolled up for back support or comfort in holding a sitting pose. Iyengar Yoga does not have the cardiovascular benefits of the types of yoga that use the vinyasa flow, but does offer muscle strength and development.
Summary:
Yoga ball is used in Yoga teaching after second half of the twentieth century. As the practices changed with purpose and mode, new branches developed. As the study of yoga became more westernized, new visions appeared to help yoga reach more people. One of those visions was the yoga ball. The emphasis was not on the perfection of the postures before Iyengar. Yoga grew out of Hatha Yoga. Many of the Hatha branches emphasized the vinyasa flow instead. The vinyasa flow is the fluid transition from one pose to the next in a series. This makes the movement as important as the pose itself. Iyengar Yoga makes the pose more important. The use of props like the yoga ball make Iyengar Yoga more accessible to those without the strength or balance needed to achieve the perfect poses unassisted. They also help the expert expand his abilities to achieve more difficult poses or to hold difficult poses for a longer time without injury.
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