Yoga
Yoga, taken from the Sanskrit word meaning, "union," represents the union of mind, body and spirit. Although Yoga originated in the East as a spiritual practice, the Western world has embraced Yoga as a great way to get fit, increase flexibility in the body, and de-stress from the chaos of modern life. So, in our modern, Western culture when we speak of Yoga, most people think of the asanas or poses from the physical practice of Yoga, but if you look just a little deeper you will see that Yoga is so much more than simply stretching the body into a series of difficult poses.
While most Westerners think that Yoga is all about stretching and performing difficult poses, there are really several facets or limbs--eight of them actually--that really define what Yoga is. Performing Yoga poses is simply one aspect of this fascinating philosophy that can take many lifetimes to master.
The Yoga Sutras of Patangali is one of the ancient texts that Yoga is derived from. The Ashtanga, or Eight Limbs of Yoga are as follows:
- Yama
- Niyama
- Asana
- Pranayama
- Pratyahara
- Dharana
- Dhyana
- Samadhi
One of the more appealing aspects of Yoga is the individual nature of it. When you begin your Yoga practice you can give yourself permission to take it easy. If your body is not happy doing a particular pose, you can modify it so that you do not cause unnecessary strain. The idea is to take it easy and listen to your body. As you continue your Yoga practice you will grow stronger and more flexible and you may find in a few months that pose that you once found difficult can now be performed with ease.
Typically, Yoga classes that you take in a gym will be focused purely on the physical aspects of Yoga. Many people enjoy the low-intimidation factor of Yoga, as well as the great stress reducing side benefits of taking Yoga classes regularly. Others may find that they want to know more about the spiritual side of Yoga practice. If this is the case, there are many books available that can guide you as you explore Yoga's spiritual path. Bear in mind that Yoga is not a religion. It is simply an approach to that ever elusive concept of union, the goal of which is harmony between body, mind and spirit.
