| Unlike most religions around the world which are | | | | postures hence they should be performed by the |
| essentially based on a belief system, yoga assumes | | | | individual with the view of holding them for longer |
| nothing. It can simply be described as a part of the | | | | durations of time. While performing an asana one |
| Hindu spiritual discipline that originated in India that | | | | should always attempt to transcend the mind beyond |
| includes simple meditation, breathing exercises and | | | | the mundane and should be aware of only things like |
| specific body postures. Yoga pretty much proceeds in | | | | breathing the music the movement from one posture |
| a systematic and scientific manner. You need not | | | | into another or the target muscle that is being |
| believe in it. All you have to do is to practice this | | | | stretched in the posture. Breathing right is very |
| system as a life experiment. Yoga to start with, make | | | | important for the practice of yoga. A simple rule to |
| the body physically fit and helps the various systems | | | | follow is to inhale when you bend backwards and |
| function normally and eventually makes you reach a | | | | exhale while bending forwards. |
| state of mental and spiritual bliss that cannot be | | | | Difficult and intense yogic postures should not be |
| disturbed by any external phenomenon. | | | | performed soon after lunch or dinner. A minimum gap |
| People who practice yoga are known as yogis and | | | | of an hour after heavy meals and half an hour after |
| they consider themselves to be scientists but of a | | | | breakfast is recommended it is always advisable to |
| different dimension - they research within themselves | | | | practice yoga on an empty stomach for best results. |
| whereas scientist research outside. They are known | | | | One has to be very regular with yogic practices as |
| to live a very simple and disciplined life. They give | | | | muscles and joints take time to become flexible. |
| importance to every aspect of life- food, lifestyle, and | | | | Practicing for a few days and then taking a break |
| habits and thus follow certain basic laws that can bring | | | | leads back to square one. People with specific medical |
| about clarity and freedom. These laws besides being | | | | problems should consult their doctors before they |
| of a strict moral view of life also constitute certain | | | | perform certain asanas. |
| Asanas. An asana is a posture that gives a feeling of | | | | Today in this hectic world a balance between stress |
| well being and balances, along with the posture a | | | | and mental peace are key. A discipline such as yoga |
| rhythmic pattern of breathing also forms an integral | | | | helps in developing an inner strength and awareness |
| part of the yogic way. | | | | that once you start practicing you find that when you |
| There are 840,000 different postures in yoga and all of | | | | should be stressed you actually are not. This is what |
| them basically prepare a person for just four basic | | | | freedom from stress actually means and this is what |
| postures known as - siddhasana, padmasana, | | | | yoga is all about. |
| vjrasana, and sukhasna. All these are meditative | | | | |