The concept of Mindfulness has already been extensively analyzed and covered in previous articles on our portal. In general, it will suffice for us to mention here that the practice of Mindfulness indicates a whole range of activities aimed at achieving physical and mental well-being. It is an approach to life in which the concepts of mindfulness and awareness of one’s existence are brought to the forefront, an analysis aimed at analyzing all the moments of our daily life, avoiding distractions and misleading thoughts that can divert our attention from what we are doing ( whether it is actual exercise or more common practices such as a walk, a meal and even breathing). One of the exercises in the Mindfulness program, and one that plays a role of great importance, is certainly Yoga.
Yoga and the body
Yoga is undoubtedly an activity that has become widely popular throughout the world in the past decade and has immediately attracted the interest of many individuals of all age groups and genders. It is a series of physical exercises designed to bring the individual to a state of profound physical and mental well-being (literally the word yoga means precisely union of body and mind). Regarding the first aspect, Yoga is most useful for improving the elasticity of our body’s muscles and joints; in addition, the stretching of muscles that is accomplished during the practice, combined with breathing, promotes oxygenation of the body, facilitating the elimination of toxins.
Yoga and the mind
As mentioned in the previous passage, yoga is a practice that also aims at the well-being of our mind. Through the attention that it is necessary to apply while performing the exercises in the various postures, yoga allows for increased concentration and is also instrumental in increasing awareness, a very important element in interrupting, or at least diminishing, the effects of that vicious cycle in which we all live and which culminates in the stress.
Just as in the practice of Mindfulness, attention also plays a key role in yoga. Throughout the performance of the exercises, in fact, attention must be paid to each and every movement of the body and also and especially to breathing, a fundamental component of yoga. According to the Mindfulness approach, the ideal would be to do 20 to 45 minutes of exercise a day, every day, varying the sequences so as to cover the full range of exercises within a week.
