7 facts about yoga that will impress your friends
You’ve probably heard that yoga is a great way to improve strength, balance, and flexibility. It can be adapted for all levels of fitness, and a session of yoga can be as gentle or as challenging as you choose to make it. Yoga can be done with an in-person class, a virtual group, or home alone. And it doesn’t take a lot of space or fancy equipment.
You may even know that yoga has been shown to slow aging, reduce stress, improve the immune system, and help control diabetes.
But did you know…
7 fun facts about yoga
- There are close to 1 billion yoga poses on Instagram. Yoga has 84 basic Asanas or poses. The lotus is the most popular, and the headstand is the most dangerous.
- Yoga is more than 5,000 years old and was introduced in the US in the 18th Century, though women weren’t invited to participate until 1937.
- Men that practice yoga are yogis; women are yoginis.
- The first yoga mat was created in 1982 by Angela Farmer, using the underlay of a carpet.
- Prisoners in India can reduce their sentence by getting top marks in a yoga test. This program led to a reduction in crime in the prison.
- The longest recorded yoga lesson lasted 56 hours, and the largest yoga class at a single venue had 35,000 participants.
- Dogs do yoga too. In Doga, owners, and pets practice side-by-side. Suzi Teitelman officially started the practice in New York in 2002, but those of us who practice at home have been doing this for years.
Your turn
Now you are all set with some interesting small talk for your holiday parties. When your uncle brings up politics or your cousin some embarrassing story from your past, you’ll be prepared to swiftly change direction. You’re welcome.
Now some questions for you.
- Do you practice yoga? (No surprise here…I do.)
- If so, in a group or solo? Do you have a favorite teacher? (At home, solo. I love Yoga with Adriene.)
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all…I just love to hear from you.
Sources: thegoodbody.com/yoga-facts/ and peaceloveandyoga.com
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Image by Bata Stojanovic from Pixabay
I’ve never done yoga – it’s on my wish list, but there’s never been a class nearby and so for now it stays as a ‘one day’ thing. I think that’s why I started Tai Chi – it was my compromise – close to home and fluid movements. I loved your interesting facts though 🙂
I’ve never actually taken a class, Leanne. I bought a DVD (back in the day) and taught myself. Now, I watch YouTube videos. I’m sure that I could benefit from an in-person class with a teacher’s help. Tai Chi sounds interesting. I may have to look into that when I have more flexibility (post-retirement).
I did not know women who do yoga are yoginis. (Apparently neither does my phone because it keeps trying to auto correct me.?) I have only done short sessions of yoga, usually as a warm up or cool down to my workout. I know there’s a lot more to explore and I would like too. As soon as I can lean or stretch or bend. ?
I think you would like it Cindy. Once you’re given the green light, I recommend you try Yoga with Adriene.
I’m a regular yogini (new word to me!) – now for 5 years! I try and practice 3 days a week and now one of those is back to Beach Yoga! I love Yoga with Adriene so often do a class with her. And recently I’ve even just “done my own”, letting my body tell me what it needs.
Today I tried the mermaid pose… we were on the beach after all. But you definitely have me searching for the list of 84 basic Asana to see if I know them/can do them.
What are some of your favorite poses? I love a sun salutation/warrior 2 flow sequence.
What are you “working on”? Mermaid, now! But also half moon, full chaturanga, dancer and bow pose are all that list for me.
I’d never heard “yogini” either, Pat. Beach yoga sounds heavenly, and I like the idea of just doing your own thing…listening to your body. I don’t know the mermaid pose, but I’m definitely going to look that up. Some of my favorites are sun salutation sequences, tree, and pigeon.
Hi, Christie – I love your seven Fun Yoga Facts! I did regularly practice yoga in a local studio for the first few years after retirement. But I got out of the yoga studio habit when I ramped up my hiking… compiled with the pandemic. I know do twice weekly online workout sessions with a friend who is a personal trainer. She includes yoga poses into our workout sessions which is a win-win!
I like the combo, Donna: personal training, including yoga poses, and hiking. I worked with a personal trainer for a time and really enjoyed it and learned a lot.
The first yoga mat was created in 1982 by Angela Farmer, using the underlay of a carpet?!! I didn’t know that but I do remember that in early yoga classes I took in the mid-1980s we all brought a thick blanket. No one had a mat.
I’m a late comer to yoga, Ally, so I guess I just thought yoga mats were always a thing. I was surprised that they’ve only been around for less than 40 years.
I’m now a Zoom yogini–the yoga studio where I took classes for 20 years closed with the pandemic; they sold off their props and moved the teachers online. sigh. It’s not the same.
For any of your readers poised to try yoga, here’s an additional incentive: when I had my hips replaced I was able to do chair versions of yoga poses right away and it was such a relief–physically and emotionally.
Re the fun facts: It’s hard to believe lotus is the most popular asana. (my body finds it totally inaccessible. I guess I’m alone, relatively speaking, in that.)
I’m sorry your yoga studio closed. That’s a bummer. I have always done my yoga online, so I enjoy it. However, if my Orangetheory Fitness Center closed, I would definitely be sad. I love that yoga can be adopted for all fitness and health levels. I can’t do lotus either…yet. Do you have a favorite pose?