Yoga is known to be India’s most ancient cultural gift to people. "To unite" is what the word Yoga means in Sanskrit and consequently we take this small word as having a very big meaning: uniting discipline.
Yoga is practiced for mental and moral development and helps generate whole health - Yoga practitioners call this "arogya". Yogic exercise also cultivates "chirayu", which is longevity. Yoga in its whole is designed to engender inner peace and positive, perennial joy. As a result, Yoga is thought of as being essential for an individual's ultimate goal in life.
Yoga is really a kind of science that not only affects one's consciousness, but also one's subconscious. Yoga's physiological training practice (Kriya Yoga) when done correctly, can raise students to a supra-mundane level.
Yoga shows people how to live life. It teaches mental control and self-development and brings forth the noble in any being, thus removing the ignoble in an individual. Yoga is pertinent to all beings irrespective of their belief system, position, religion and gender. Undoubtedly everyone can benefit from Yoga – the healthy and the sick, the good and the bad, the believer and the non-believer, the ignorant and the educated and the young and the old. Age is irrelevent; anyone can reap the benefits of Yoga.
Yoga began as wandering Hindu monks searched for solitude in the forests to practice meditative techniques. These monks (Yogis) shared their knowledge with ardent students who resided at ashrams (Hindu hermitages). The Yogis were very guarded when it came to the practice of Yoga, and they did not consider popularizing the technique. Yogic postures along with the different stages of the Yogic techniques were only passed on to students that deserved them, so the practice of Yoga remained in remote caves and forests and was not exposed to anyone but the Yogis and their students.
Developing Yogic techniques (such as the Asana - a sitting posture) accelerates blood circulation. Other techniques (such as Pranayama - controlled breathing) reduce carbon dioxide in the body, and this ensures good health: Yoga presents a wealth of benefits to people.
Many doctors prescribe air baths, sun baths, shower baths and steam baths to maintain blood purity and toxin removal. Yogis have developed the "Neti" (nasal cleansing), the "Dhouti" (stomach wash) and the "Vajroli" (purgation of the intestines, reproductive organs and bladder).
Yoga can also have major benefits on one’s nervous system. The physiological components are non-tiring and also bring about composure of the body and mind. Almost every other style of exercise centers more on muscle activity whereas Yoga focuses on looking after every part of the being’s anatomy.
Yoga is not some "reach down and touch your feet" exercise: for example, asanas is an all over exercise that affects one’s mental and physical body function.
Yoga's effects are:
- Physical – through healing, relaxing, stretching and strengthening the muscular, skeletal, cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems.
- Spiritual – the preparation of contemplation.
- Mental – developing a peaceful and calm mind, concentration and alertness.
Yoga really offers something for anyone.
Author Resourse Box
Javier Melendez is a writer for several fitness websites such as the Muscle and Fitness site. His recent work concerns citrucell supplements research -
