| Yoga is not something which has to be done by a | | | | Many people don't view a yoga routine as |
| specialized group. It is a universal exercise and is | | | | cardiovascular exercise. Proponents of more |
| practiced by children, the elderly, and everyone in | | | | strenuous forms of yoga, such as Ashtanga yoga, will |
| between. So what's the big deal about doing a yoga | | | | beg to differ. In fact, all types of yoga improve the |
| pose? Simply put, yoga is good for you. Unlike many | | | | circulation in the body and some postures, such as |
| other forms of exercise, yoga can be done at the | | | | inverted poses, serve to supply the brain with |
| pace of the individual involved and targets not only | | | | increased supplies of critical oxygenated blood. This in |
| your physical well being but your mental and spiritual as | | | | turn reduces sluggishness and boosts your energy |
| well. | | | | levels. |
| The mental benefits of doing a yoga pose are endless. | | | | Doing the body poses is a very spiritual activity. In the |
| Have you ever heard the saying that a healthy | | | | beginning many yoga classes neglected the meditation |
| mindgives a healthy body? Yoga is an important way | | | | aspect of yoga, but they are now coming to realize |
| of keeping the mind healthy. How does it do this? It | | | | what an integral part of the exercise this truly is. Have |
| does it by training you how to deal with all those | | | | you ever wondered why so many meditation |
| thoughts floating around in there. You know the ones | | | | exercises take place against a background of nature |
| that pretty much attack you when you're on the verge | | | | sounds? Through such practices it is possible to |
| of sleep and make you worry incessantly. The very | | | | transcend the fetters of the physical plane and |
| nature of the world today is such that it's virtually | | | | genuinely begins to see the beauty that we are |
| impossible to not be concerned about something. That | | | | surrounded by each and every day. Practitioners of |
| concern is good...it helps to keep you grounded. | | | | the yoga postures are often more attuned to their |
| However, it's very easy for this to become a serious | | | | surroundings and better able to draw solace from it. |
| problem if you find that you can't relax. | | | | Some even say that it makes them feel closer to the |
| What ends up happening is you become stressed and | | | | Supreme Power. |
| this can have very bad consequences for your health, | | | | How many different types are there? Personally I've |
| both mental and physical. Doing an asana helps you to | | | | never counted but they number in the hundreds. That's |
| concentrate on something other than whatever you're | | | | because there are quite a few types of yoga. Those |
| worrying about. The deep breathing done in | | | | who are new to yoga, or perhaps have not had as |
| conjunction with most of these postures puts the body | | | | much exposure, often think that yoga is practiced in |
| into a state of relaxation. Often, the teacher will give | | | | one all-encompassing form. The fact is that there are |
| simple instructions and lead you through mental | | | | many 'offshoots' of the original exercise done |
| exercises designed to calm your mind and your | | | | thousands of years ago. Now it is common to hear |
| emotions. Yoga practitioners have reported a sort of | | | | terms such as Hatha Yoga, Bikram Yoga and |
| mental rejuvenation after completing a yoga position. | | | | Ashtanga Yoga. Still, they do have more than a |
| You may ask what about physical rejuvenation for the | | | | position or two in common. Postures such as the |
| body? Each asana typically targets a particular region | | | | corpse pose and the mountain pose are typically part |
| of the body and has its own effects and benefits. As | | | | of the basics regardless of the type of yoga being |
| a whole though, yoga positions generally strengthen | | | | practiced. |
| muscles, increase flexibility and aid in proper alignment. | | | | |