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What is Yoga

What comes in your mind when you hear the word Yoga?

Most people have an misperception that Yoga is all about stretching and being flexible and vividly see an image of a woman in seemingly impossible pose, which is way beyond their reach. If this is what you think, you certainly have a long way to go before fully understanding Yoga.

The Sanskrit word "Yoga" means "Union". Yoga is the science of union between our bodies, mind and spirit and ourselves with the divine. However, Yoga is not a religion. Yoga deals with universal truths and wisdom and is therefore compatible with all faiths, religions and philosophies.

Yoga originated in India roughly 5,000 years ago and since then has spread all around the world.Ancient Yogis had a belief that in order for man to be in harmony with himself and his environment, he has to integrate the body, the mind, and the spirit. For these three to be integrated, emotion, action, and intelligence must be in balance. The Yogis formulated a way to achieve and maintain this balance and it is done through Yogic exercises (Asanas),Breathing techniques(Pranayama) and Art of stilling the mind or meditation.These three components create a main Yoga structures for a modern day practitioner.

ASANAS- Yoga postures are designed to designed to move your body and spine through it’s full range of motion, by doing forward, backward, lateral, twisting and balancing positions. Particular emphasis is placed on developing abdominal strength and flexibility, and pliability and strength in the muscles along the spine.

Asanas have specific physical functions, such as stretching the back of the body or opening the front of the chest. Many asanas are intended to support healthful deep breathing by stretching and releasing tight muscles around the respiratory system. Asanas have energetic functions as well. Some are very energizing, while others are deeply releasing.Because the function of asanas is all-important, we adapt the form of the pose as required by the individual so they benefit from it. This means that any given asana will look slightly different on each person.

All asanas are done with conscious coordination to the breath.

PRANAYAMA-Yogic breathing is both the science and art of purifying the energy channels within our own bodies. Through regulated breathing , altering the rhythm of inhalation and exhalation, it is possible to control the prana, our vital force in the body. Pranayama is the process by which such conscious control is achieved through synchronized breathing. Purifying the channels along which the life stream of ‘prana’ flows, helps prevent and even cure a variety of physical and mental ailments. In the process, it also increases one’s overall immunity and resistance to disease.

MEDITATION-Meditation is defined as an activity where one will "engage in contemplation or reflection; or to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.

Meditation allows for a person to control their thoughts, and promote positive energy. Using meditation to combat stress is highly effective, especially for corporate figures and students. Meditation can also be used to promote creativity and overcome "writer’s block."Meditation can help anyone. It is a simple process to learn, and while it does take practice, it is something that anyone can develop. Meditation is an important skill that everyone should master. Mediation will allow one to keep their focus in the roughest of times, and can help one to achieve all of their goals. This process will be an improvement to one’s mood and thought processes. Life will seem more inside one’s control, because one will be in control of themselves and their reactions. When one’s mind is clear, and feels calm, there is no limit to what one can achieve.

By practicing Yogic postures, breathing techniques and meditation we will keep our bodies young and flexible, free up our minds, control our stress levels and bring ourselves into a state of balance.

 
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