What is Yoga
Many people as I did start yoga as a way to keep fit and flexible, or to help with an
existing condition such as stress or backache. They soon realize there is more to yoga than they first thought.
At the basic level the question of "What is yoga?" could be answered by describing yoga as a series of particular
postures (asanas) with some breathing techniques
The history of Yoga started in India over 5,000 years ago. The word 'yoga' is derived from Sanskrit, one of the
world's most ancient languages and means 'union'. This is referring to the union with
the divine consciousness in order to attain enlightenment.
There are many different types of yoga including kundalini yoga,
ashtanga yoga and hatha yoga. Hatha Yoga is the most commonly practiced form, but the practice of
postures and breathing techniques are only a small
part of yoga.
There are eight "limbs" of Yoga as described in the ancient texts. The Sanskrit names for the eight limbs are
as follows:
Yama -attitudes toward other people and our world
Niyam -attitudes about ourselves
Asana -practice of using/improving the body
Pranayama -practice of using/controlling the breath
Pratyahara -use and restraint of our senses
Dharana -ability to direct the mind
Dhyana -ability to interact with the object of our concentration
Samadhi -absorption within the object of our concentration
What are the benefits of Yoga
The benefits you should feel and see from practicing yoga include an increase in your
flexibility and strength, more energy, improved concentration and relaxation and a boost to your immune system
function. These benefits are now well known and documented.
The use of Hatha yoga in healing muscular/skeletal problems and in the training athletes and dancers is commonly in the news.
Where can I learn more
A qualified teacher should be able to answer of your questions. If you are looking for more
in-depth knowledge of yoga a book may
be the way to go. If you want to start practicing yoga, learning from a qualified teacher is the best way to start, but if this is not
available a Yoga DVD or Video would be the next best option.
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