Yoga
Yoga is a divine science of life, developed in India with roots going back
about 5,000 years. Yoga is a method of training designed to lead the practitioners
to ultimate reality and a greater sense of Self. The English word "Yoke"
is derived from this word, a means of becoming united with the supreme being,
the self and the God.
A system of exercises to attain bodily or mental control and spirit. There
are various forms of Yoga which include physical postures and movements (asana)
which helps in building strength, (pranayama) breathing exercises for cleansing
and meditation, the concentration of the mind, for relaxation and stress reduction.
These days there is a focus on a specific form of Yoga which is dedicated to
physical exercise to promote health and well-being. Yoga is beneficial in the
treatment of many common physical ailments through the regular practice of yoga,
and it is never too late or too early in life to take it up. There is no age
limit to practice yoga.
Forms of Yoga
Hatha Yoga is an age-old discipline of Yoga which deals with the physical body.
It is popularly called as yoga of the body. The two most important parts of
Hatha Yoga are
Physical positions which are called "Asanas" in Sanskrit.
Breathing Exercises (controlled breathing)
The Royal Path or 'kingly path' of Union with the Supreme through the right
use of the mind. It offers a systematic approach for gaining control over the
mind.The attention is fixed on an object, mantra, or concept until it becomes
completely still. It is suitable for people who like to apply their willpower
in dealing with life’s situations and who wish to learn about all aspects
of their minds. It's a case of sitting in a cross-legged position, does not
involve any kind of exercise, a focused concentration if mind. It works wonders
for stressed out people.
Yoga of service to others, without any concern for success or failure.Where
you devotee yourself on the path of detached actions. You do not care about
rewards or results. The consequences of our actions should only bring benefits
to others and no harm.
Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion to God. The Yogis act with the feeling
that they are doing verything as an offering to the God, the surrender.
The word jnana pronounced as gyan means knowledge, insight and wisdom. Yoga
of knowledge, arrived at through reasoning and discrimination. to attain knowledge
from what you hear from your gurus. Jnana yogi has the wisdom to discriminate
between real and unreal.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga has positions that act upon the whole body, the entire body is trained
together. The different kinds of postures practiced in Yoga help gently stretch
the muscle tissue of the legs. Breathing exercises can also increase lung capacity
and improve your breathing patterns. Yoga act upon the various joints of the
body including those joints which have not been consciously work upon. eventually
a rigid body at the initial stages of learning yoga experience a remarkable
flexibility in all parts of the body.
The regular practice of yoga has been shown to produce physical benefits including
reduced anxiety, reducing weight , stress and blood pressure levels, and increased
relaxation of muscular strains, strength, enhanced immune system , and energy
levels.
Meditation focuses and clarifies the mind better than any other activity. It
improves creativity, concentration, mental alertness and memory. Improves decision-making
skills, mood and feeling of well-being.
Practicing yoga brings in perfection, peace and lasting happiness. It will
infuse you with confidence and self-reliance. Yoga discipline gives inner peace
and tranquillity and new dimension to one's life. It is the only way to connect
you to yourself.
Is yoga different from normal exercise?
Normal exercise routine is focused towards a certain goal, such as loosing
10 pounds or increasing the number push-ups than what you did yesterday. Yoga,
on the other hand, is a process. Yoga is the only way to tone the body and calm
the mind at the same time. The difference between the traditional exercise and
yogs is philosophical, not physical.
The physical positions is yoga are really aimed at the mind, to attaining balance
and composure. Whereas the our regular exercise routine strengthens the muscles
and improves the alignment of the body. Yoga is all about how you feel about
the world and the self,to attain the balance in our lives and lifestyle. On
the other hand our traditional exercises is about the way we look.
If you are aiming on toning your muscles and building strength then pilates
is a better choice. If you want to improve a flexibility a little more and also
looking for a way to reduce stress and the feeling of peace then try yoga.
What you should know?
1. If you can do yoga everyday - that is great. If you have a busy schedule
then start from 20-30 minutes of yoga a day, two days a week. Gradually increase
it to 60-90 minutes a day, three to four days a week.
2.Yoga is for everyone. There are many kinds of yoga so there is one for you.
There is no age constrain to do yoga, anybody can do it whether young or old.
3. Yoga involves stretch positions so do them slowly and carefully. Make your
moves gently and stretch further than is comfortable.
4. Do not do yoga immediately after eating. Always wait for an hour and half
after a meal.
5. It is recommended that you gradually change your eating habits, including
more of fiber and food with nutritious value. Replace your junk food with tofu,
cereals, whole grain, and so on.
6. Yoga can help reduce weight. The regular practice of stretching, twisting,
bending and inverting the body squeezes the internal organs, cleansing the body
of impurities including the build-up of excess fat. Regular practice of right
kind of yoga four to five times a week will help reduce weight.
