The Benefit Of Yoga
Helping Women Get Lighter, Healthier and Happier
Yoga, and the benefit of yoga, is generically defined as a Hindu
discipline that helps unite the body and mind. Aimed at achieving a
state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility, it is practiced in
the West most commonly as physical exercise practiced as part of the
discipline.
The benefit of yoga practice is nothing new. It has been recognized for
many years as the perfect discipline to help one achieve tranquility,
better health, and longer life.
Many people view the benefit of yoga as some weird discipline that
involves yogi’s contorted in unnatural positions, doing strange acts of
the body, and living on a mountaintop somewhere in India. I personally
remember a television documentary many years ago featuring a yogi that
had his tongue split, using it to clean his sinus cavities! Anyone
interested in yoga has probably also seen images of yogi’s supporting
great weight with their genitals.
In this modern age, much has been learned about the benefit of yoga.
Yoga practitioners achieve greater mobility, longer life, and internal
happiness through their practice of the art. Yoga as we know it today is
aimed at uniting the mind, body,and spirit. The mysticism of the Hindu
discipline is no longer a myth, and is reachable by all willing to
learn.
Yoga practice is roughly grouped into three categories – the Yoga
Postures (Asanas), Yoga Breathing (Pranayama) and Meditation. These
categories embrace physiological, psychological, and biochemical
effects. In addition, clinicians have compared these results against
the Western practices of jogging, aerobic exercise, and weight training,
and find results comparable.
The most popular style of Yoga in the West today is Hatha Yoga. It is
designed to focuses on the physical well-being of a person and believers
in the practice consider the body as the vehicle of the spirit.
Ananda Yoga, a classical style of Hatha Yoga, uses Asana and Pranayama
to awaken, experience, and take control of the subtle energies within
the body, and focuses on the energies of the seven Chakras.
Anusara (a-nu-SAR-a)yoga is defined as “stepping into the current of
Divine Will”, “following your heart”, and “moving with the current of
divine will.” This new style, which was developed by John Friend, is
defined as “yoga positions that flow from the heart.” It is
heart-oriented, spiritually inspiring, and is based on a deep knowledge
of outer and inner body alignment. It is based on the principles of
Hatha Yoga and biochemical practices. Students of this discipline base
their practice on attitude, action, and alignment.
Ashtanga yoga could possibly be the perfect Yoga for those looking for a
serious workout. Ashtanga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois, and is
very physically demanding. A series of flows, moving quickly from one
posture to another, is utilized to build strength, flexibility and
stamina. This style is not good for the beginning practitioner, as it
requires 6 series of difficulty. The physical demands of Ashtanga are
not for the casual practitioner beginning the journey of yoga fitness.
Bikram Yoga, named for its founder Bikram Choudhury, is practiced in a
room with a temperature of up to 100 degrees. Twenty six Asanas are
performed in a typical session, and focus is on warming and stretching
muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Each pose is accompanied by Kapalabhati
Breath, the “breath of fire.” Practice of this style promotes
cleansing of the body, the release of toxins, and ultimate flexibility.
One must be in very good physical shape to practice Bikram Yoga.
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