Benefit Both Your Mind and Body With Yoga

Yoga is very fashionable these days, and without a doubt, it has numerous benefits. It has a low frequency of injury, it lowers stress levels and anxiety, and improves muscle strength. And maybe best of all, it really doesn’t seem like exercise. So how come more people don’t take up the practice of simple yoga?

Those who are uninitiated to yoga think that it’s mystical and passive, a “New Age” activity that doesn’t relate to everyday life. Oftentimes, these days, people experience a vacuum in their lives because most of their activity is directed outward. And just as often, to get back to health and balance, they’re going to have to redirect their attention inward, to go back to experiencing self.

In fact, yoga is an Indian discipline that has been practiced for more than 5000 years. Yet, here, it still boasts few followers. Almost half of the American adult population swims, while about 25% run or jog, but only 2% practice yoga.

The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit “yuj,” which means to yoke or connect. With yoga’s various techniques, you can achieve mental and physical equilibrium, inner peace, and improved health. Indeed, yoga is commonly said to provide not just a workout, but a “work-in”.

There are at least eight main branches of yoga and several offshoots of each, but essentially there are only two concerned with exercise: hatha yoga and kundalini yoga.

Hatha is the most popular type of yoga in the Western world. It is a slow-paced discipline that emphasizes controlled breathing and assuming various physical poses. It is said to aid the nervous system, the glands and the vital organs.

Kundalini, which was introduced to this country in 1969 by Yogi Bhajan, is more active, combining various modes of breathing, movement and meditation. It is based on the idea that body energy that is coiled below the base of the spine can be tapped so that it travels upward through different energy centers or chakras until it reaches the head. At this point one arrives at one’s highest potential.

There are 84 basic yoga positions, classically speaking, also called asanas. These are done in tandem with special breathing techniques. The asanas or yoga positions can be simple twists and bends, or can be as complicated as pretzel-like contortions that only the most advanced practitioners are capable of. These various positions help build flexibility and make muscles longer. When used with proper breathing, they can help you rid your body of tension. The utilization of static holds helps isolate and strength in particular muscles.

Asanas have evolved over the centuries so as to exercise every muscle, nerve and gland in the body. They secure a fine physique, which is strong and elastic without being muscle-bound, and they keep the body free from disease. They reduce fatigue and soothe the nerves. But their real importance lies in the way they train and discipline the mind.

Tags: Yoga