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Yoga
& Meditation
Introduction Quite a self contradictory statement it
is: "Yoga - the new age fitness mantra",
because Yoga is not new age at all. It's just that the
benefits of the same are being discovered again. An
ancient Indian philosophy, the principles of Yoga are
timeless, holding true as much in today's time as it
did centuries ago.
In Sanskrit, Yoga means "to unite".
Primarily an exercise in moral and mental cultivation
of poses and practices that aim towards harmonising
your mind, body and soul to achieve a state of oneness
with the universe. It's a spiritual practice that does
not subscribe nor promote any particular faith; hence
it can be practised by all. A lifestyle choice by
many, the universally timeless philosophies of yoga
can be incorporated into any belief system. Stress,
anxiety, ill-health, unhappiness and anger can be
transformed into peacefulness, vibrant health, service
and love towards all creation. The techniques are
important in this process but the goal should be kept
firmly in mind.
The three main aspects of yoga are -
Asanas or poses
The various yogic poses that give your body
flexibility, strengthen the muscles and even reduce
fat build-up. More importantly many asanas or poses
are aimed at improving the blood circulation and
functioning of specific organs in your body. Keeping
in mind your body's specific needs, you can work out a
set of asanas for yourself.
Pranayama or breathing
Pranayama can be called the singular most important
aspect of yoga as they are means to purify the subtle
energies flowing through the body. Yogic breathing
techniques are an effective tool to calm, energize,
harmonise and tranquillise the body and mind. All
poses are to be properly coordinated with inhalation,
exhalation and holding of breath. Breathing patterns
if not followed correctly could result in the asana
not having its desired effect.
Meditation
Mediation is a means to still the mind's restlessness.
An invaluable tool in managing stress and anxiety.
Regular meditation trains the mind to be calm, centred,
relaxed and detached. This is extremely helpful while
responding to stressful situations. It curbs
overreaction, emotional outbursts and losing temper,
thus giving the mind the time to rationalise and think
about practical solutions.
Pranayama and meditation have amazing capacity to
reduce the stress inducing hormones. It restores calm,
promotes positivism, and encourages patience and
harbours compassion. It will keep you fresh and
rejuvenated throughout the year both physically and
mentally.
What not is Yoga?
Most people associate Yoga with mystical other worldly
aura, dark rooms filed with incense and rows of men
and women sitting in the lotus position and chanting
in trance like unison. There are many misconceptions
in people's mind about Yoga. One has to be flexible
and in shape to start yoga. Thinking your self to be
inflexible to start yoga is wrong. You can start
practicing yoga from where you are and how you are.
Everybody is different with innate strengths and
weakness. Yoga makes you flexible in mind, body and
soul.
Yoga is easy.
Yoga is much more than sitting in a lotus position and
chanting in unison. It is challenging on many levels -
physically, emotionally and mentally. Yoga helps us
get in touch with our selves in many different facets.
There are many different types of yoga, and depending
on your personal needs, you will find the right one
for you. Some are gentle and some are more strenuous
but all are challenging.
Yoga is process oriented activity in which what you
experience is much more important than what you
achieve. So it is not a goal accomplishing mission.
Yoga is not boring.
There is nothing more interesting than watching the
workings of your own mind. By awakening the beginner's
mind through the practice of yoga and meditation, we
learn about ourselves and our perceptions that create
the world. Over time, you will gain more control of
your emotions as you learn to breathe through
difficult situations. Thus yoga, for many, is a way of
life.
Yoga is only for stress relief.
Said to be a powerful stress buster, a single session
of yoga can make you feel calmer. Stress is the most
common factor in host of medical conditions. By
practising Yoga, you can strengthen muscles, deepen
breathing, improve balance and enhance flexibility.
Yoga is mistaken to be a religion as its
origins came out of ancient India.
Not bound by any religion, yoga is happily practised
by Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, and many more
people alike. In short, there is place for everyone
with Yoga.
In the traditional sense, yoga means union. It
is the practice of joining mind, body and soul that
culminates into positive and perennial happiness and
peace. Said to be indispensable of the ultimate
accomplishment in life that affects not only the
conscious self but the subconscious as well. An
exercise that is accessible to everyone young and old.
By YOGAWIZ
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