Moksha Yoga – Origin Poses and Benefits

Moksha Yoga is another variant of hot yoga which was developed by two Canadian Yoga teachers Ted Grand and Jessica Robertson. In this type of yoga, vigorous exercises are carried out in a heated yoga studio with a temperature of almost 105 Fahrenheit maintained continuously. Famous as Moksha Yoga in Canada, it is also called as Moda Yoga in the USA. Moksha Yoga has 40 different poses which have its roots in the Traditional Yoga System.

Further, these exercises relax the mind and stress and also helps in weight loss. The heated temperature leads to excessive sweat, which helps in detoxifying the body while the muscles are relaxed so that stretching can be done safely and effectively.

Moksha Yoga Poses:

A few of the yoga Moksha exercises have been mentioned below to avoid confusion-

1. Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana:

One has to stand in an upright position and lift up the right leg, at the same time the person has to hold that very leg with the right hand only.
The head is to be positioned in a straight manner and the other hand at the side. After a few seconds, one has to repeat the same thing with the other set of hands and legs.

Benefits:

This Moksha Yoga pose is very effective in relieving stress, anxiety, and depression.
The liver, as well as the kidneys, are activated.
It strengthens the calves and thighs of the legs.
The digestive system is also improved.
It helps in curing the menstrual disorders.
Headaches can be relieved by practising this asana.
Regular practice of this asana can cure insomnia.

2. Utkatasana:

This kind of asana is also known as the ‘chair pose.’
The person has first to stand straight and then bend his or her knees by keeping them a little apart from each other.
Thighs have to be straight, and both the knees have to be parallel to each other.
The body, in the end, must look like a person sitting on an imaginary chair.

Benefits:

Practising this moksha yoga poses helps to strengthen the spine, hips, legs, and chest muscles.
The lower back, as well as the torso, is also strengthened.
The legs, thighs and calf muscles are toned.
It creates a sense of balance.
The abdominal organs are strengthened, and digestive disorders are resolved.
Effective weight loss is possible, especially from the buttocks.

3. Warrior Pose:

The person has to stand straight and then create a distance of about five inches between the two legs.
After this, the left leg has to be turned towards the left side in the ninety-degree angle.
And then the arms have to be lifted up and stretched in the opposite directions.
This helps the body to stretch and makes the muscle way more flexible.

Benefits:

This yoga asana gives a good stretch to the legs and the ankles.
It stimulates the abdominal organs and thus helps in curing the digestive disorders.
Stamina is boosted by practising this asana regularly.
The spine is strengthened, and backache is relieved.
It also provides considerable relief for flat feet, osteoporosis, sciatica, and infertility.
It is a very graceful pose to practice and inculcates a sense of peace and courage.

[See More: Nada Yoga Asanas]

4. Dwikonasana:

This kind of posture is also known as ‘double angle pose’ where one is expected to stand straight and then move both the hands in the backward direction and interlocked. Knees can be kept apart.
The person has to bend forward until the back and face are parallel to the ground.
After this posture is attained, the hand has to be lifted as up as much as possible.
One has to be careful while performing this pose; legs have to be kept firmly stiff to avoid any danger.

Benefits:

This pose is extremely beneficial for the healthy development of the children
It relaxes the back muscles and also helps in curing the hunchback.
The mobility of shoulder joints is improved and is a great asana for regulating the blood circulation.
It induces peace and calmness in the person.

5. Garbhasana:

One is expected to first sit down on the floor and put his or her right hand between the right thigh and calf muscle whereas the left hand is to be put between the left thigh and the left calf muscle.
After doing this, one has to hold the left earlobe with the right hand and the right earlobe with the left hand.
This might take time to attain, but regular practice will make it easy.
One has to remain steady while doing this and try not to misbalance the legs.

Benefits:

This asana is very effective in alleviating nervous disorders.
This is one of the best asanas to tone the belly and thus reducing the protruding belly.
It improves digestion and also increases appetite.
It is an advanced asana that improves the balancing sense of the body.
Anger, anxiety, depression is reduced, and a person goes calm and peaceful after practising this asana.

6. Moksha Yoga Benefits:

Here are top moksha yoga benefits associated with these asanas.

All these above moksha hot yoga postures with the rest can turn out to be a great help for people.
It not only helps them to lose weight but also tones up the flabs and tightens the loose skin. These are good moksha yoga weight loss procedures to try out.
Helps the person to feel fresh and burdenless.
Raises the metabolism level, which in turn keeps the body active throughout the day.
The person feels less drowsy and remains active.
At the same time, it also helps one with proper sleep at night.
The intake of oxygen makes the body rejuvenate and also helps the skin to purify.
The digestive system also improves with regular practice.
As the legs and arms are stretched frequently, it helps the body to circulate blood properly.
In short, this therapy is an extremely good way to create a perfect body in order to stay fit and healthy.

[See More: Om Yoga Asanas]

A common misconception about the Moksha Yoga which comes due to its name is that it is a type of yoga that deals with salvation. However, as seen above, it is nothing like that. It is a concept very similar to Bikram Hot Yoga and is a very effective form of yoga. So, have you tried practising Moksha Yoga? Do tell us your experiences with us in the comments below as it would help our fellow readers in deciding which form of yoga is best for them.

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers:

Q1. How many times in a week is Moksha Yoga Recommended?

Ans: If you are beginner then it is advised that you do Moksha Yoga daily for at least 2 months so that your body can get used to the temperature. As per Bikram Choudhary, the founder of Bikram Hot Yoga, you should practice Moksha Yoga once or twice every day for 100 days to see visible improvement in your health.

Q2. Can you lose weight with hot yoga?

Ans: Weight loss is the effect when you burn more calories than what you consume. As in hot yoga, you sweat more and tend to lose more calories as compared to regular Yoga. Weight loss is sure to happen provided you take care of the intake of calories as well. Besides, you can lose weight doing other activities as well.

Q3. Can you practice Moksha Yoga during menstruation?

Ans: Yes, it is perfectly okay and healthy to practice Moksha Yoga during menstruation. If you can do regular yoga, you can also do Moksha Yoga. It is all about your body’s comfort.

Q4. Does Moksha Yoga help you detox your body?

Ans: Moksha Yoga is usually practised in a hot room where the temperature is constantly around 105° Fahrenheit. Doing a workout in this high temperature, you are sure to sweat more, and this will help to detox the body as per reports you can sweat as much as two litres in a single session of Moksha Yoga. However, one must consider the fact the real toxins in the body such as in kidneys and liver cannot be eliminated from the body through sweat, and you need to carry out other activities for the same.

Q5. Is Hot Yoga better than regular Yoga?

Ans: Though Hot Yoga has gained much popularity in recent times and has stern followers when it comes to weight loss or health benefits, regular yoga and hot yoga are at par. Your body gets dehydrated due to sweat and will show an instant reduction in the pounds but as soon as you rehydrate yourself those pounds are going to return to you.