What is Yoga?
Most people have heard about Yoga, however do they know it is more than people performing contorted positions?
Yoga dates back thousands of years from India. Since Yoga deals with universal truths its teachings are as valid in the modern day as they were in ancient times. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “yuk” literally meaning yoke or to bind or to bring together – however more commonly the word union is used to define Yoga. This union is further described as the union of the body and mind or on a deeper level the Self and the Universe.
People usually think of Yoga as the various physical postures, those contorted positions mentioned earlier – this is one aspect of Yoga.
When you begin to practice Yoga you start with what you know, the physical body. In Yoga the word practice is often used to describe your own personal experience with yoga, which evolves and changes as the practice is after all about you and what you do on your yoga mat. So back to the physical body and your practice – you practice the postures- asanas which in Sanskrit means, steady pose, and then you start to notice a change in the body as it tones and sculpts into shape, increases in strength and flexibility, which is encouraging…Yes? As well as the asanas you then learn to control the breath, pranayama in Sanskrit through breathing exercises and using the breath in each asana. Then you learn to relax on all levels, savasana in Sanskrit. When you combine the physical postures, the breathing and the relaxation then the union of Yoga occurs. By using your body and breath in the asanas, you centre yourself in the pose, this calms and concentrates the mind and helps focus and awareness. You allow your body and mind to surrender with the yoga postures and relax into them and this surrender leads experience of inner stillness, – union of body and mind, which is Yoga.
Through Yoga you learn to deeply relax by letting go of hectic everyday life, which then releases new energy, you carry this forth in your daily life by finding your centre in other areas of life, which helps you to cope better with the stresses and strains of a hectic life. Yoga is about discovering your strengths, even your limitations and going beyond them, leaving you to feel comfortable with whom you are; thus balancing the body and mind.
Michelle Cross Michelle Cross teaches Hatha Yoga and is passionate about assisting people to find their own Yoga within, leading to health, wellness and abundant happiness. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/what-is-yoga-1358962.html
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