Yoga

Yoga has continually evolved and changed over the past 5,000 years. The practice of yoga started as a spiritual ritual initiated by a small religious group in southern India. The name "yoga" was developed by the Indian language Sanskrit, meaning "union." Different people and cultures practice yoga for various reasons, but the initial purpose of the evolution of it is to connect or "unite" the mind, body and soul of an individual. What is yoga and how is it helpful to the average person? Many people hear the word "yoga" and think of some sort of stretching and breathing, but yoga is much more complex than this. Yoga is actually "characterized by body alignment." In other words it consists of many different "poses" that stretch and relax the entire body. Yoga is not just about someone sitting on the floor twisting their body. Blocks, straps, blankets, mats, and chairs are all used to enhance positions and to make sure each position is executed properly. People have claimed that yoga has had positive effects on them. Some believe that it helps them psychologically, some mentally, some, a combination of the two. Most people relate yoga to the relief of stress, or minor pains.

Practicing Yoga is associated with establishing harmony, equanimity and balance. It has been well publicized in the media, recommended to patients by their doctors, and praised by its practicers, known as "yogis." Yoga can help relieve stress and tension in a person's daily life. The definition of Yoga in the dictionary, is a Hindu theistic philosophy, teaching the suppression of all activity of the body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation (websters dictionary). In a more general term yoga is a system of exercises for attaining bodily, mental control and well-being. Yoga means union. Union between one's individual consciousness and the Universal consciousness. Therefore, yoga refers to a certain state of consciousness as well as to methods that help one reach that goal or state of union with the divine.

Many people confuse yoga with physical contortion, or think it is a religion. Yoga isn't any of these things. Yoga is basically a way of life which allows you to conserve energy and coordinate the power of the body, the mind, and consciousness, which keeps the body healthy and the mind relaxed. Yoga is one of the world's oldest branches of spiritual inquiry, and one of the longest standing, most intense experiments of the human spirit. Yoga teaches guidelines and values to follow, and practices for purification for the body, mind and spirit. It is the exercise of discipline and the practice of purification. The spiritual tradition of yoga training has been passed down from generation to generation. In the last one hundred years, yoga has become more available to the public than it ever was before, presented through hundreds of centers throughout the world, through classes, workshops, videos, books, audio tapes and even television programs.

There are many different yogas. Yoga can be simplified into five principles. First there is proper exercise. If a person's lifestyle doesn't provide natural motion of muscles and joints then disease and great discomfort will come with time. The second principle is proper breathing; yoga teaches people how to use the lungs to their maximum capacity and how to control the breath. Breathing increases vitality and mental clarity. The third principle is proper relaxation; by relaxing deeply all the muscles, the yogi can thoroughly rejuvenate his or her nervous system and attain a deep sense of inner peace. The fourth principle is proper diet; besides being responsible for building oneselves physical body, the foods a person eats profoundly affects the mind. The last principle is positive thinking; people should exert to entertain positive and creative thoughts as these will contribute to vibrant health and a peaceful, joyful mind.

The four paths of yoga are Jnana Yoga. This is the yoga of wisdom and develops intellectual skills and will power. Next is Bhakti Yoga. The yoga of devotion which opens our heart. Karma Yoga is the path of action of selfless service. Next, Raja Yoga is the royal or psychological , which involves the mind. Hatha Yoga, which is a branch of Raja Yoga, is one of the best-known yoga practices in the United States. This yoga is a path to self awareness. It consists of three components which are meditation, poses and breathing. Hatha Yoga strives to balance strength and flexibility. Proficient students of this yoga can recapture the power of youth everyday and their