Information on yoga

what is yoga?
( 3 Aug 2007)

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Yoga is the name given to a set of traditional Indian disciplines that are associated with mental and physical meditative practices. By practicing these mental and physical disciplines, the union of body, spirit, and mind is achievable.

Yoga is associated with ‘asanas’ or postures.

The word ‘asana’ means ‘seat’. It is the seat of man vis-à-vis his spirit and divinity that Yoga talks about. There are many branches of yoga, each with different meditative procedures, all aiming towards physical, emotional, and spiritual well being.

There are several schools of yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga being some of them. Each one was created by a different sage.

The yoga principles are very theistic and even though Yoga has been in existence for a long time, Patanjali, who came much after yoga, is widely known as the founder of the Yoga philosophy as we know it today. Sage Patanjali was the one who compiled the Yoga philosophy into a single treatise called ‘Yoga Sutras’

It is a popular belief that Yoga is just a series of stretching exercises. Stretching however, is just a small part of the larger discipline. Yoga intends to create both strength and flexibility in the body to make it completely balanced. To achieve this, each posture of yoga is carefully devised to have specific benefits.

The poses are sequenced together to increase strength or stamina. The greatest thing about Yoga is that your experience enhances as you continue your practice. It keeps evolving and changing. It’s not that the poses or the postures evolve, just that your relationship with these poses evolves.

Today yoga has become a widely practiced art. If you want to experience the benefits of yoga, you could try going to a gym that teaches yoga. Although there is a huge difference between yoga as described in the scriptures and as it is practiced in gyms, the benefits will still be there.

Yoga essentially unites the physical and spiritual aspects of the body. The instructor at your gym will most likely teach you yoga as an exercise to build up your stamina or to lose weight. In essence yoga will bring you closer to self actualization and help you attain a different level of self awareness.

Many breathing exercises are also a part of yoga. These teach you how to control your mind. These techniques can help you build up concentration, will power, and mental stamina.

answered by G M on 23 Sep 2009, 12:12:49

The name Yoga comes from a Hindu philosophy used to attain spiritual insight and harmony, but generally refers in common use to a system of exercises as well as now a days system of medicine that is practiced as part of this discipline. Yoga Means union with the divine, yoga is a philosophy and discipline applied to the development of mind, body, and spirit. Read more info. here -http://ayurveda-foryou.com/yoga/yoga.html

answered by Dr S P on 3 Aug 2007, 6:11:22

Information on yoga

what is yoga? ( 3 Aug 2007)

what is yoga?
( 3 Aug 2007)