Everyone's
Talking About Yoga
by Randal Schober, ED.d
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It
has been around since the second century before Christ, but
Yoga is pretty new to most of us. Still, everywhere you look,
the New Age 4-letter word is being marketed as an essential
part of our daily lives. Yoga sessions now share the old "aerobics
only" room in our fitness clubs. Yoga studios have opened up
in our communities. Hollywood celebrities are praising its results.
But is it right for all of us?
Created
by a man named Patanjali, Yoga originated in India and has
flourished there for over two thousand years. "Yoga" translated
literally means "to yoke or unite" with the intention being
to unite body, mind, and spirit. Any yoga practice will generally
include three main elements: posture (hatha), breathing exercises
(pranayama), and deep relaxation / meditation.
In
Yoga thinking, one of the main reasons for the feeling of
tension and restlessness in the body is a 'toxic build-up'
of metabolic by-products. Through their internal messaging,
Yoga postures are believed to promote a healthy blood supply
to the body. The enhanced blood flow flushes the cells of
waste and replenishes them with fresh blood, allowing the
body to become pure and connected.
Breathing
is believed to be the critical link between the body and the
mind. With a quiet body and slow breathing, the mind has
no choice but to follow. When the mind is slow, the natural
peace that resides just below the surface of the noisy mind
is allowed to bubble to the surface and inner peace follows.
'Deep
relaxation' is achieved when one focuses on each breath entering
and leaving the body; this deep relaxation, it is believed,
will lead to meditation. A good analogy to describe meditation
is to think of the mind as a pipe with water flowing through
it. Our normally scattered mind is like this pipe with lots
of spigots turned on. Little water pressure is exiting any
single spigot. With meditation, you turn off all the spigots
but one, allowing the mind to focus on one thought only.
The mental strength that is developed through this process
then gives you the capacity to transcend and quiet the mind,
leading to a deep peace. Yoga masters believe that this peace
is always present, and that it is our true nature of being.
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"Yoga
helps us to have a peaceful mind, an ease filled body,
and a useful life" Swaniji Satchitananda (yoga
master)
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The
overall result expected is a vast improvement in one's awareness
of mental and physical tension, how this tension manifests
itself, and how to prevent it from causing mental and physical
'dis-ease.' (Not to mention a major improvement in one's flexibility.)
Yoga is certainly viewed as a spiritual experience, bringing
you closer to what you may perceive as a higher power.
Various
'yoga schools' have been introduced to the west. These include
Ashtanga, Integral and Sivanada, just to name a few. Essentially,
the different schools are numerous interpretive styles of
the various yoga masters, highlighting their own particular
emphasis and positions.
People
begin yoga for various reasons; to compliment a fitness program,
to heal or prevent a sports injury, and/or for stress management.
Yoga is suitable for all ages and, with minimal equipment
required, can be performed in a group setting or individually
at home. Keep in mind that no matter what your reason for
taking up Yoga, it is important that Yoga beginners start
with their focus on flexibility, relaxation, and gentle exercises.
The
general purpose of yoga is to integrate or unite all aspects
of being physical, emotional and spiritual. To those who attain
the required physical skills and mental control, Yoga can
truly allow for internal healing and unification. Those of
you who have yet to try or are beginners in our classes can
look forward to a great opportunity not only to increase our
flexibility, but also to gain some inner peace.
Editor's
note: More information on Yoga can be obtained online at "americanyogaassociation.org,"
at your local health club, and/or the health section in your
local bookstore
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