For some it is an extremely dangerous practice which should be limited to only those who have renounced the world. Few others think it to be a kind of mental and physical acrobatism that is compatible only to a Hindu mind.
Yoga had its origin in the wandering ascetics who sought the solitude of the forests to practice this ancient science and then imparted their knowledge to the ardent students (mumuksu) who lived in their ashrams. The ancient yogins were possessive about this art form and did not make any effort to popularize yoga.
The yogic postures and the subsequent stages of yoga were handed down only to the deserving students. Hence, this science remained limited to the confines of the forests or remote caves.Very little was known about this Vedic practice until the Yoga Institute of Santa Cruz, Mumbai was founded in 1918, which became India's oldest technical institute on Yoga.
Yoga is one of the most ancient cultural heritage of India. The word yoga in Sanskrit means "to unite", and so yoga can be said to connote a unitive discipline. In this sense it is an exercise in moral and mental cultivation that generates good health (arogya), contributes to longevity (chirayu), and the total intrinsic discipline culminates into positive and perennial happiness and peace.
Therefore, yoga is the said to be indispensable of the ultimate accomplishment in life. It is a science that affects not only the conscious self but the subconscious as well. It is a practical physiological training (kriya yoga), which if practiced can exalt man to the supra mundane level.
Yoga is an all-embracing way of life, a science of self-culture and mental discipline that ensures the purgation of the ignoble in man and brings forth what is most noble in him. It is pertinent to all people irrespective of his caste, creed, sex, and religion.
It can be beneficial to all the good and the bad, the sick and the healthy, the believer and the non-believer, the literate and the ignorant, the young and the old. A person may begin at any age and can go on reaping its benefits.
Yoga is more than a physical discipline of keeping fit. It's an ancient concept, and has a lot to do with the philosophical and the spiritual. So there're a lot of Yoga-related terms or types of yoga you'll come across. Don't get confused. Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Astanga Yoga are the most common disciplines of Yoga, which give you the strength, relaxation and flexibility the combined benefits one looks for. But there are various other disciplines and kinds of Yoga.
Scientists today ascertain that the intrinsic organic health of a human being is of prime importance along with the outer development of the body. This was realized thousands of years ago by the ancient Indian yogis. The practice of yoga has a substantial foundation in science. Yogic asanas accelerate blood circulation in the body and Pranayama abates carbon dioxide content ensuring sound health.
Yoga provides all-round benefits to a human being. To maintain the purity of blood and elimination of toxins, both outer and inner cleanliness is indispensable. Scientists prescribe sun bath, steam bath, shower-bath, air-bath and to this the yogis include the nasal cleansing (neti), stomach wash (dhouti), the depuration of the alimentary canal (basti), the purgation of the intestines, the bladder, and the sexual organs (vajroli).
Yoga is much more than "a new-found ability to touch your toes." Asanas have an all-pervading effect on the physical and mental functioning of the body. Physical benefits include through healing, strengthening, stretching and relaxing the skeletal, muscular, digestive, cardio-vascular, glandular and nervous systems. Yoga can certainly have mental benefits, through the cultivation of a quite and a peaceful mind, alertness and concentration. Yoga also can also have deep spiritual benefits.
Yoga exercises have a strengthening effect on the nervous system through its non-tiring physiological activities that bring about poise of body and mind. Unlike the normal workouts that concentrate more on the inflation of the muscles, Yoga takes care of every little part of the anatomy.
The most important things you'll need to get started - as they say - are a big heart and a small ego. The time most suitable for Yoga is in the morning before breakfast when the mind is calm and fresh and the movements can be done with ease and vitality. A person must seek a place of quietude, which is well ventilated, free from dust, insects, unpleasant smell, draught, and moisture. There should be no distraction whatsoever.
Before you start your exercise you should empty your bowels and bladder, clean your nostrils and throat of all mucus, consume a glass of lukewarm water and then begin the exercises after 15 minutes.
Always remember that you should begin with the easy postures and then proceed to the difficult ones. One must follow the graded steps of Yoga. In the beginning, all movements should be practiced lightly and you must cease to go further if fatigue shows.
Yoga must pep up and not impart weariness and despondency. Periods of relaxation are advisable if a particular exercise proves to be tiring. Yoga is a wonderful way to get physically fit, and to alleviate daily stress. Give it a try, and maybe you will fall in love with it.
Yoga is a very popular form of exercising these days. There are many kinds of Yoga and they are all considered a good way to keep both a healthy body and a healthy spirit. There are many benefits for doing Yoga on a regular basis. It is estimated that about 6 percent of Americans are doing Yoga once a day. This number increased a lot in the last few years as Yoga came to the front line of what is considered a healthy way of life. Although almost all physical exercise also benefits the mind Yoga is perceived to be unique in its equally important influence on both the body and the mind. The saying healthy mind in a healthy body is synonymous to Yoga. Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years although it became so popular just recently. Yoga was developed with mind and body as one entity that needs to be nurtured. Yoga does not consider the body and the mind to be separate but aims to unite them into one healthy and wholesome entity. Yoga does not put unnecessary physical stress on the body. Instead it brings the body and mind into a harmony that can help delay the aging process and make one feel younger and healthier. Yoga is not the same as meditation and or spiritual ceremonies although many times it is confused to be exactly that. One of the most important elements of Yoga is breathing. Yoga focuses on breathing on stretching and on using all of the body muscles from the large muscle groups to each small muscle in the body. Breathing helps control the mind. Yoga is usually done in a quiet room or with some soothing music. Yoga is not a competitive sport basically it is everybody to themselves and thus there is no unnecessary competitive stress when practicing Yoga. Yoga promotes self awareness and meditation quality. By slowly and deeply breathing and by staying in one position for a long time the mind can concentrate and can communicate with each part of the body. Oxygen flow can increase to parts of the body where it otherwise depleted. It is believed that Yoga can help many illnesses from random pain to diebitis and more. There is no scientific proof for that but it is believed that due to better oxygen flow and better physical and spiritual condition the body immune system gets stronger and the body can fight such illnesses more effectively. Like any other form of exercise Yoga should be accompanied by a balanced and healthy life style. Doing some Yoga and then running to the local joint to eat a cheese burger is not the recommended way in order to benefit from Yoga. Yoga looks at a person as a wholesome entity. In order to benefit from Yoga and to be healthier and feel better you should not just exercise Yoga on a regular basis but you should also live a Yoga life style. Eat in moderation and try to consume as much nutritious and healthy food. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits and drink lots of water.
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