| Yoga is an ancient art of staying fit, both physically and | | | | joy and also lengthen life span. Certain exercises, such |
| mentally. The yoga benefits are so enormous that | | | | as Laya Yoga practices serve liberation, salvation of |
| they are still being discovered almost everyday. The | | | | the soul and reinvent our relationship with God. Yoga |
| benefits of this ancient art include physical, mental, | | | | thus provides mental peace and spiritual harmony. The |
| emotional health, spiritual benefits and natural healing. | | | | realization of ones spiritual self makes us a better |
| The art of Yoga has evolved over many centuries in | | | | person. |
| ancient India. The earliest records of this form of art | | | | The three main components to the practice of Yoga |
| are found in the ancient Hindu texts and mythologies. | | | | are: breathing, concentration and posture also known |
| Yoga keeps the mind and body of a person fit by | | | | as asanas. All three components work together for |
| slowing down the natural aging process. It reduces the | | | | specific objectives. |
| amount of toxins absorbed by our body cell and thus | | | | One of the most commonly practiced asanas is the |
| slows down its deterioration. | | | | Sirsha asana or the Headstand Pose. To do this |
| The physical well being of a person is an obvious | | | | exercise firstly kneel down and place your arms flat |
| benefit of Yoga. There are specific yoga poses or | | | | on the floor. Interlock fingers of both hands. Place your |
| asanas that are aimed at increasing height, losing | | | | head between your hands, flat on the floor. Raise your |
| weight from waist or hips, improving blood circulation, | | | | back from the kneeling position so that you are on the |
| solving Gastrointestinal problems and respiratory | | | | tip of your toes, with your head still on the floor. Slowly |
| problems, normalizing blood pressure levels and in | | | | raise your legs off the floor so that it extends |
| keeping it under control, improving our cardio-vascular | | | | upwards, keeping the body aligned and balanced. |
| efficiency, improving physical strength and stamina are | | | | Breathing techniques used during the exercise enhance |
| to name only a few. | | | | the overall effect. |
| Beyond the more obvious physical benefits, there are | | | | Breathing techniques, also known a pranayama, is |
| many spiritual benefits of Yoga. At a basic level Yoga | | | | aimed at bringing more oxygen into our blood stream |
| helps by improving our level of concentration and | | | | thereby improving the efficiency of our system. |
| mental clarity. At an advanced level it improves | | | | Breathing techniques go hand in hand with the various |
| thought control, mind control and is also known to help | | | | asanas. |
| in developing psychic powers. On a higher level Yoga | | | | Yoga finds immense use in our present day lives. |
| unites ones self with the environment and the people | | | | From relieving office work tension to keeping |
| around us. It helps us realize and experience how we | | | | de-stressing ourselves on a long flight to making us a |
| are One with nature. It is a sort of enlightenment that | | | | better person in todays outright competitive and |
| makes us feel at par with the universe. We become | | | | religiously divided world. It brings out a harmony in our |
| more aware of the lives of people around us and how | | | | precariously unbalanced lifestyles and emotional |
| they are intertwined with our own. This makes us feel | | | | stability to our personal lives. It is surprising that sparing |
| at peace with ourselves. Purifying, healing and | | | | only a few minutes a day to practice this art can bring |
| rejuvenating exercises can restore health, force of life, | | | | us enormous benefits. |