| Yoga has become an increasingly popular form of | | | | of inward enlightenment. |
| exercise and meditation the last several years. Many | | | | Most people who practice yoga today are involved |
| people look at yoga as just that, though. But yoga | | | | with the limb asana. They use these physical postures |
| encompasses more than simply exercise and | | | | to increase physical strength and flexibility, while |
| meditation. This article will "enlighten" you to some facts | | | | purifying the body at the same time. These asanas or |
| about yoga. | | | | postures are known as the increasingly popular hatha |
| Yoga started out in the East as a spiritual practice | | | | yoga. The word hatha can mean forceful or willful and |
| focusing on meditation, but in the West it is normally | | | | can be translated into "ha", which means "sun" and |
| seen as a physical practice, for the benefit of staying | | | | "tha" meaning "moon". Hatha yoga is the physical |
| healthy and in shape. Hatha yoga is the variation of | | | | exercises and postures of yoga that allows the |
| yoga that describes exercise. It is estimated that | | | | free-flow of energy throughout the body, as well as |
| around sixteen million North Americans practice this | | | | creating balance and inner peace and harmony. |
| form of yoga. These yoga classes focus on breathing | | | | When some people picture someone doing yoga, they |
| exercises, physical exercises and meditation, which are | | | | have an image of a person sitting cross-legged with |
| especially beneficial for people with back, heart, or | | | | their eyes closed, thumb and fore finger pressed |
| breathing problems. | | | | together, chanting the word "Om". What is Om and |
| In studies, yoga has helped young and old people alike | | | | what does it mean? Repeating the word Om is a |
| who have heart problems. The studies have shown | | | | mantra; it is a vibration of the universe around us. |
| that yoga helped to lower blood pressure and increase | | | | Everything has a pulse and ancient yogis created Om |
| resistance to psychological stresses. Yoga aids to | | | | to represent that universal pulse. Chanting Om at the |
| improve physical flexibility, strength and endurance, | | | | beginning and end of a yoga session brings the person |
| which is particularly beneficial to people with back | | | | a sense of connection to the entire universe and is |
| problems. The yogic breathing and meditation assists | | | | meant to be soothing and uplifting. |
| those people to better manage their back pain. | | | | Yoga is beneficial no matter how much or how little of |
| A male who practices yoga is referred to as a yogi or | | | | it you can fit into your weekly schedule. It is |
| yogin, whereas a female who practices yoga is called | | | | recommended to start practicing yoga two or three |
| a yogini. The word yoga means to yoke and it can | | | | times a week for an hour each time and work your |
| loosely be translated as "to join" or "unite". It can also | | | | way up from there if possible. However, any time that |
| be taken to mean as "union" or a method of discipline. | | | | you can find for a yoga session will work too. Nothing |
| Yoga is believed to be made up of eight limbs: the | | | | special is required to begin a yoga session. The only |
| asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), dharana | | | | things that are needed for a yoga session are your |
| (concentration), dhyani (meditation), yamas (restraints), | | | | body, mind and comfortable, well-fitting workout |
| pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), niyamas | | | | clothes. Then you are ready for your first yoga |
| (observances) and samadhi (absorption). The goal of | | | | experience! |
| traditional yoga is to achieve samadhi, which is a state | | | | |