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Introduction to Yoga
Anyone can practice yoga. You don’t need special
equipment or clothes-just a small amount of space and a
strong desire for a healthier, more fulfilled life. The yoga
postures or asanas exercise every part of the body,
stretching and toning the muscles and joints, the spine and
the entire skeletal system. And they work not only on the
body’s frame but on the internal organs, glands and nerves
as well, keeping all systems in radiant health. By releasing
physical and mental tension, they also liberate vast
resources of energy. The yogic breathing exercises known as
pranyama revitalize the body and help to control the mind,
leaving you feeling calm and refreshed, while the practice
of positive thinking and meditation gives increased clarity,
mental power and concentration.
Yoga is a complete science of life that originated in India
many thousands of years ago. It is the oldest system of
personal development in the world, encompassing body, mind
and spirit. The ancient yogis had a profound understanding
of man’s essential nature and of what he needs to live in
harmony with himself and his environment. They perceived the
physical body as a vehicle, with the mind as the driver, the
soul as man’s true identity, and action, emotion and
intelligence as the three forces which pull the
body-vehicle. In order for there to be integrated
development these three forces must be in balance. Taking
into account the interrelationship between body and mind,
the yogi’s formulated a unique method for maintaining this
balance – a method that combines all the movements you need
for physical health with the breathing and meditation
techniques that ensure peace of mind.
Yoga
in your Life
Many people are first drawn to yoga as a way to keep
their bodies fit and supple – good to look at and to live
in. Others come seeking help or relief for a specific
complaint, like tension or backache. Some are merely
impelled by a sense that they are not getting as much out of
life as they could be. Whatever your reason, yoga can be a
tool, an instrument for you – giving you both what you came
for, and more. To understand what yoga is all about you need
to experience it for yourself. At first glance it seems to
be little more than a series of strange physical postures,
which keep the body lean and flexible. But in time, anyone
who continues with regular practice becomes aware of a
subtle change in their approach to life-for, though
persistently toning and relaxing the body and stilling the
mind, you begin to glimpse a state of inner peace which is
your true nature. It is this that constitutes the essence of
yoga-this self-realization that we are all seeking,
consciously or unconsciously, and towards which we are all
gradually evolving. If you can bring your mind and thoughts
under control, there is literally no limit to what you can
do – since it is only our own illusions and perceptions that
hold us back and prevent us from fulfilling ourselves.
The
Physiology of Yoga
Just as we expect our cars to depreciate in value with
age, so we resign ourselves to the fact that our bodies will
function less efficiently with the passing years – never
stopping to ask ourselves if this is really necessary, or
why it is that animals seem able to go on functioning well
throughout most of their lives, while we do not. In fact,
ageing is largely an artificial condition, caused mainly by
auto-intoxication or self-poisoning. Through keeping the
body parts clean and well lubricated, we can significantly
reduce the catabolic process of cell deterioration.
In recent years, medical research has begun to pay attention
to the effects of yoga. Studies have shown, for instance,
that relaxation in the Corpse Pose effectively relieves high
blood pressure and that regular practice of asanas and
paranyama can help such diverse ailments as arthritis ,
arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma, varicose veins
and heart conditions. Laboratory tests have also confirmed
yogis’ ability to consciously control autonomic or
involuntary functions, such as temperature, heartbeat and
blood pressure. One study of the effects of Hatha Yoga over
six months demonstrated the following effects: significantly
increased lung capacity and respiration, reduced body weight
and girth, an improved ability to resist stress; and a
decrease in cholesterol and blood sugar level – all
resulting in a stabilizing and restorative effect on the
body’s natural systems. Today there can no longer be any
doubt about yoga’s effectiveness as both a curative and
preventive medicine.
Physiology
The History of Yoga
The origins of yoga are shrouded in the mists of time – for
yoga is regarded as a divine science of life, revealed to
enlightened sages in meditation. The oldest archaeological
evidence of its existence is provided by a number of stone
seals showing figures in yogic postures, excavated from the
Indus valley and thought to date from around 3000BC. Yoga is
first mentioned in the vast collection of scriptures called
the Vedas, portions of which date from at least 2500BC, but
it is the Upanishads, which form the later part of the
Vedas, that provide the main foundation of yoga teaching,
and of the philosophy known as Vedanta. Central to Vedanta
is the idea of one absolute reality or consciousness, known
as Brahman, that underlies the entire universe.
Around the sixth century BC appeared two massive epic poems
– the Ramayana, writte by Valmiki, and the Mahabharata,
written by Vyasa scriptures. In the Gita, God or Brahman,
incarnated as lord Krishna, instructs the warrior Arjuna in
yoga-specifically in how to achieve liberation by fulfilling
one’s duties in life. The backbone of Raja Yoga is furnished
by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras thought to have been written in
the third century BC. The classical text of Hatha Yoga
Pradipika, which describes the various asanas and breathing
exercises which form the basis of the modern practice of
yoga.
The 8 Limbs of Yoga -
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