| Before we go into the benefits of yoga and its adjunct, | | | | combines prayer and meditation. The simplest of |
| stretching, we first have to understand what yoga is. | | | | asanas, wherein the body is maintained in a particular |
| Most of us think that yoga is some exotic spiritual ritual | | | | position for a relatively brief period of time, helps |
| practiced by the mystics of India and shrouded in | | | | release tension and relaxes and stretches the body. |
| secrecy. In some ways, this belief is correct because | | | | Regarding the control of the body -- the physical |
| yoga was generally practised by the ancient mystics | | | | aspect, that is -- yogic postures stimulate the glands, |
| of India some 5,000 years ago. However, it has since | | | | organs, muscles, and nerves in ways that traditional |
| been demystified and has come to mean something | | | | exercise just cannot. Yoga improves muscle tone, |
| quite different from how it was known earlier. The | | | | flexibility, strength, and stamina; it also reduces stress |
| word "yoga" has a lot of definitions in Sanskrit, an | | | | and tension, lowers fat, improves blood circulation, and |
| ancient classical language of India. Some of these are | | | | strengthens the immune system. |
| "union," "conjunction," and "manner." Yoga is a very old | | | | On the mental and spiritual plane, the postures of yoga, |
| system of assuming postures (asanas) and performing | | | | together with meditation techniques, definitely improve |
| relaxation methods, breathing exercises, and healing, | | | | concentration and creativity and induce a sense of |
| and has its origins in the philosophy of ancient India. The | | | | well-being and serenity. It boosts self-esteem. Just as it |
| earliest known descriptions of yoga are written in | | | | reduces physical stress and tension, it also reduces |
| Sanskrit, and foremost of these are The Yoga Sutras, | | | | mental stress. Combined with prayer, the spiritual |
| written more than 2,000 years ago. | | | | effects are far-reaching and beneficial to a great |
| Yoga, as defined by one of the greatest sages of | | | | extent. They are also wonderfully permanent. |
| India named Maharishi Patanjali, is a technique used to | | | | Breathing exercises, called pranayama, help clear the |
| control the body, the mind, and the soul. It is a way of | | | | nadis, or channels, that carry the universal life force |
| life. It is beyond the consciousness of body, mind, and | | | | prana, allowing the prana to flow freely. When the |
| intellect. It is this way of life that is now propagated and | | | | channels (nadis) are clear and the block at the base of |
| practised. | | | | the spine has been opened, kundalini rises through the |
| Why perform yoga? To be brief, yoga makes you | | | | spine through the central channel called the |
| feel better. Period. The practice of the various stances, | | | | sushumna-nadi, and joins the crown, chakra. According |
| the relaxation or meditation techniques, and the | | | | to tradition, the release of kundalini leads to |
| breathing exercises make you healthier in body, mind, | | | | enlightenment and "union," which is the ultimate goal of |
| and soul. Yoga tunes you up just as you tune up a | | | | yoga. An oversimplification of kundalini may be |
| car's engine to make it run better. It keeps your body in | | | | explained as an "awakening". Literally translated, chakra |
| shape by firming and toning it. You simply feel better. | | | | means "wheel". A chakra is a center of activity that |
| The advantages of yoga are manifold. Most of the | | | | accepts, absorbs, and also expresses life force |
| treatments that we undergo are purely symptomatic. | | | | energy (prana). |
| During hectic days when we can't afford to just sit | | | | The ultimate aim of the yogi, or the practitioner of |
| and stare at the wall, we go in for "gunshot" | | | | yoga, is to attain "union" with the divine consciousness |
| treatments. The symptoms of headache are gone! | | | | known as Brahman or Atman. This embodies the |
| Good! Back to work! We often don't even bother to | | | | attainment of true happiness, liberation, and |
| find out the root cause of the ailment until such time | | | | enlightenment. The concentrated and dedicated |
| that the symptoms take on alarming proportions and | | | | practice of the postures, the breathing exercises, and |
| refuse to go away with over-the-counter-drugs. | | | | the meditation techniques are all directed to this one |
| This is where yoga steps in. The practice of yoga is | | | | final spiritual goal. |
| directed towards the goal of eliminating the root cause | | | | The dedicated practice of yoga is bound to change |
| of the disease. The workings of the techniques of | | | | your physical, mental, and spiritual life, as well as your |
| yoga are not fast-paced; they are subtle and delicate | | | | outlook of life, in ways that you never thought existed. |
| and border on the miraculous. As a way of life, it | | | | Yoga encourages you to lead a harmonious way of |
| embraces a code of ethics, follows a set of | | | | life. |
| regulations, places a premium on discipline, and | | | | |