What is Yoga?
Yoga is a Centuries Old Science that enhances and Maintains Health, Peace and Equilibrium.
Developed in India, Yoga is a psycho-physical discipline with history going back more than 5,000 years .
The real Yoga – The science of the art of Yoga is still shrouded in mystery. Many people consider it to be nothing more than a sequence of postures, which once mastered, would give them instant weight loss or great health. In fact yoga is much more than just postures (Asana). It is a whole school of thought , a spiritual code of life. It introduces, trains and develops it’s practitioners into a spiritual life style.
Most of us who have some understanding about the concepts of yoga and its broad aspects take yoga as a therapy which purifies the body, mind and soul. No yogi should ever take up yoga just to fit into a new pair of jeans. An initiate has to understand the logic and reasoning behind the very philosophy of yoga. One must realize that unlike other exercise regime, yoga attempts to cleanse the body, mind and soul from within.
The origin of the word ‘yoga’ shows the real logic and purpose of the system. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’ meaning TO UNITE. Any discipline that unites one with the Supreme is called YOGA, and according to the SANKHYA PHILOSOPHY, YOGA means separation of spirit from matter. That’s what yoga is all about -the separation of baser material from purer ones. Your physical well-being will be restored once the grosser elements are reduced from your spirit, mind and body.
Yoga is all about the practice of psychic discipline which sharpens and enhances the intellect, and frees the mind from the murkiness of illusions and fantasy.
The secret of yoga is introspection, self-scrutiny and inner cleansing. The Yoga writers introduce the concepts of the subconscious and the unconscious mind as determining natural tendencies, and also as showing how, by the process of yoga, the conscious mind can dominate the subconscious and the unconscious minds.
Yoga is about the body, mind and spirit. A yogi learns to use his/her body, breath and mind to stretch, relax and energize themselves. Yoga helps him/her take control of their body and mind and trains them how not to succumb to their weaknesses and negativity.
Yoga is all about transcending the ordinary, the baser and crossing through the grosser layers of your being; it is about reaching higher and touching deeper into your soul and getting your self aligned with the natural course of life and nature. It heightens your sensory capabilities and enables you to feel life itself, along with the blood surging through your veins, the energy pulsating through your nerves, energising your whole body .
Benefits of Yoga
o Lowers stress and increases powers of relaxation
o Boosts physical strength, stamina and flexibility
o Develops greater powers of concentration and self control
o Improves impulse Control
o Aids rehabilitation of old and new injuries
o Increases tolerance to pain and enhancing mental clarity
o Boosts functions of the immune system
o Improves posture and muscle tone
o Purifies and improves overall organ functioning and blood circulation
o Results in healthy, glowing skin
o Bestows peace of mind and a more positive outlook to life
o Infuses a sense of balance and internal harmony
Above all, Yoga is highly therapeutic. Some of the conditions proven to be relieved, reversed and even healed through the practice of Yoga are acidity , allergies, Alzheimer disease, anemia, anger, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, bronchitis, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, colitis, common cold, constipation, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, eye problems, facial wrinkles, gastro-intestinal disorders, headaches, heartburn, hemorrhoids, hepatitis, high blood pressure, hypertension, immune-deficiency, impotence, menopause, menstrual cramps, migraines, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, nervous tension, obesity, osteoporosis, prostate, enlargement, sciatica, skin problems, sleep apnea, slipped disk, sterility, stiffness, stress, insomnia, intoxication, thyroid problems, kidney stones, stuttering and stammering, urinary tract disorders for women, vaginal infections and many more…
The real aim is to strike a balance among the multi-being entity that is man. Yoga harmonizes the physical, emotional, intuitional, intellectual, astral and ethereal beings of a man. Yoga is not about mind over body. On the other hand, Yoga is all about developing harmony between them. In Yoga, you use your mind to perceive (diagnose) and guide (heal) your body.
Yoga is a way of life, not a set or series of learning principles. The dexterity, grace, and poise you cultivate, as a matter of course, is the natural outcome of regular practice. Trying too hard will turn your practices into a humdrum, painful, even injurious routine and will eventually slow down your progress. The therapeutic effect of Yoga is the direct result of involving the mind totally in ‘breathing’ the body to awaken completely.
Contrary to common perception, Yoga positions are not about how far you can reach to touch your toes or how many repetitions you can perform. It is all about paying attention to how your body feels; how it moves without that excruciating pain or agony! Yoga is all about breathing correctly, about integrating that breath into your being. Yoga does not call for you to force or strain your muscles – it is learning how to do the exercises correctly – to do less and get more!!
Yoga increases your strength, energy, vitality, flexibility and levels of endurance. Your body and mind start to become more balanced and, gradually, you find that it takes so much less energy to move through the day and you will realize that many of your problems were in fact self- created or self- imposed. You will be able to face and embrace life without the baggage that you have been dragging around for so long!
