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What
Is Yoga?
Yoga is a complete science of physical health, mental clarity, emotional
stability and spiritual expression. It is a practice that transforms.
Yoga is one of India's six great ancient philosophies. As a systematized
body of knowledge, it represents the world's oldest method for spiritual
and physical development.
As a physical practice, hatha yoga consists of asanas, or postures,
that embody controlled movement, alignment, concentration, strength
and flexibility; pranayama, or the practice of conscious breathing
and breath control; and meditation, an inward quieting of the mind.
You may practice combinations of these three things in a class setting.
A near-perfect fitness routine, hatha yoga provides the means for
people of any age not only to get and stay in shape, but also to
develop balance, coordination, and a sense of centeredness. It renews,
invigorates, and heals the body—stretching and toning muscles,
joints and spine and directing blood and oxygen to the internal
organs. Yoga is different from any other type of exercise in that
it generates motion without causing strain and imbalances in the
body.
 Yoga
is meditation in motion.
The types of yoga vary greatly in their expression of practice.
Some are very restorative and meditative, others vigorous and physically
challenging, and yet others spiritual and filled with ritual. That's
one of the great things about it—most everyone can find something
that resonates with them, and it can be tailored to meet anyone's
goals and needs.
The most widely acknowledged text on the system of yoga is the Yoga
Sutras (sutra means "threads" in Sanskrit). Basically,
the Yoga Sutras, which are thousands of years old, consist of aphorisms
to guide yoga practice. The work is attributed to the physician,
sage and scholar Patanjali, who was the first person to put the
verbal teachings of yoga into writings.
The sutras offer succinct, practical statements on how to concentrate
the mind through correct practice. They also discuss the ethical
precepts, or yamas, that govern social responsibilities and relationships
with others; and niyamas, which represent the fundamentals of all
yoga practice. At the core of these teachings is what is known as
the Eight-fold Path.
Meant to compliment each other, the components of the Eight-fold
Path are fundamental to practicing meditation, correct posture,
stable breathing and moral discipline. The components include:
- Yamas – 5 moral restraints: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya
(non-deception/truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing/honesty), Brahmachary
(non-lusting), Aparigraha (non-greed)
- Niyamas – 5 personal practices: Saucha (purity), Santosha
(contentment), Tapas (discipline), Svadhyaya (self examination),
Ishvarapranidhana (spiritual attunement)
- Asana – posture
- Pranayama – breath control
- Pratyahara – control of the senses
- Dharana – concentration
- Dhyana – meditation
- Samadhi – inner peace or union
| Yoga is as much about the way you
approach a pose—do you push, do you mentally criticize
your abilities, do you give up—as it is about the
pose itself. "It's all yoga" reminds
us that there is no "destination"—there
is only the experience of the journey, just as it is not
always important to ‘get to' the pose. |
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What are the benefits of Yoga?
Yoga can be as much or as little as you want it to be. For some
it is purely a physical pursuit, keeping the body toned, strong
and flexible. For others, yoga becomes more of a mindset and a way
of living.
This ancient practice was traditionally used to create self awareness
and inner peace. Today, we acknowledge the benefits on many levels.
Regular practice of yoga will:
Increase strength, flexibility range of motion and balance
Calm the mind, reduces stress and anxiety
Slow heart rate
Lower blood pressure
Increase circulation
Help to detoxify system
Improve function of internal organs including digestion and elimination
Increase metabolism and energy
Help reduce depression and insomnia
Increase focus, discipline and mental clarity
Improve lung capacity and respiratory function
Improve posture
Increase self confidence
Purify and regenerate the nervous system
Aid in physical and emotional healing
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