Yoga: An Ancient Favorite
by Carolyn Postura
http://www.fgyoga.com
Quiet, gentle stretching, balanced, long limbs, Lotus
position, Eastern, Mysterious.
All of these words describe a form of eastern meditation
and exercise called "Yoga." These words are applicable
to each individual.
Yoga makes a connection between brain function and
physical motion. The benefits of it are spiritual, physical,
and emotional and it has been practiced in many
different ways since ancient times.
Something that has been practiced since ancient times
is pretty hard to be skeptical about. Yoga's appearance
looks kind of "contrived" and it is very strange to many
westerners. Yet it is a very good way to mentally and
physically express yourself.
There are many different styles and practices of yoga.
If you go to a book store and look around you'll see
for yourself. Specifically go to the "Health and
Spirituality" section of your local bookstore and find
the books on yoga. And, the books are very popular
and moving from the shelves.
If market research were done on yoga it would
probably indicate that the ancient art is getting more
popular among the westerners. The popularity probably
stems from the fact that this is a very relaxing,
exercising, and gentle art form. It's really kind of
surprising that in this day something like this would
catch on so well.
Yoga has some exercises with titles that just make them
stand out. The titles help to describe Yoga as a very
refined art form. It has titles such as: "Warrior Pose"
(stretching your leg behind your back and on the other
leg bend you knee, look up and lift your hands towards
heaven); "Climbing to Heaven" (raising your arms and
climb an imaginary ladder); "Tree Pose" (Your hands
will be folding as if praying and you will balance on
one foot); "Opening the Heart" (put palms together like
you are praying, reach up, and extend arms out on both
sides); "Breathing" (all in the name).
Yoga differs from traditional gym and health club
exercises and it has to do with the attention and
awareness levels. Gyms and health clubs do borrow a
lot from Yoga but it is not the same. With Yoga, the
focus is on the breathing. The whole point behind the
exercise is to develop a bond between your breathing
and yourself. You are attempting to make your
breathing, body, and your mind work together as one
system.
With yoga, you learn to work with body using
concentrated attention. Yoga poses are to be done
slowly, with constant observation. You won't come
away with it doing amazing feats of strength, but you
will realize a difference in your mental clarity and
physical balance.
There are some other benefits to Yoga too such as
you'll get rid of the "slumping" posture. And, you will
be able to take a refreshing break into a brief period
of peace and stillness. You will be able to make
yourself comfortable in you skin and in the world you
live in.
Now, go find your local Yoga class and sign up. What
are you waiting for?
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