| The practice of yoga was developed by an Indian | | | | does not apply when practicing yoga. You simply do |
| Hindu by the name of Patanjali way back in the year | | | | the best you can at the time and at some point in the |
| 300. The word itself means discipline and the whole | | | | future you will find yourself doing more. |
| purpose of yoga is to stretch the muscles, increase | | | | Balance is demanded by all yoga positions and as you |
| the levels of concentration and to strengthen the body | | | | are unlikely to be able to get this right when thinking |
| in general. It is also a great way to relax and de-stress | | | | about whatever it was you watched on TV last night, |
| your body. | | | | you need to learn how to concentrate on what you |
| There is little wonder that such an ancient form of | | | | are doing. Once you have perfected this art, you will |
| discipline has turned out to be so popular amongst | | | | discover that you can concentrate on other things |
| athletes and modern day entertainers. However, yoga | | | | much better too. |
| can be practiced by anyone as an occasional simple | | | | You will find yoga exercises copy nature and many |
| exercise routine or on a regular basis as a total way | | | | yoga poses outline the shape of creatures such as |
| of life. | | | | the cat, cobra, crab, dog, eagle and tortoise. |
| The people who take part in yoga are known as yogis | | | | For instance, in the cobra pose, you would ask |
| and many of them use this form of discipline to reach | | | | yourself just what it would feel like to actually be a |
| a high level of consciousness. They respect the fact | | | | cobra. You lie on flat on your stomach with your |
| that there are certain things they should not be or do | | | | forehead resting on the floor and as you breathe in, |
| such as being greedy, hurting others, lying and stealing | | | | slowly roll your head backwards whilst supporting your |
| and they adhere to things they should do like being | | | | body with your hands. Keep that position and then |
| clean, feeling content each day, having self control, and | | | | come back down slowly, all the time moving as a |
| leading a studious and devoted lifestyle. | | | | snake would do. |
| Yogis train themselves how to have physical control | | | | All yoga exercises have been carefully thought out to |
| over their bodies by taking full and deep breaths. This | | | | encourage serenity and strength and every move |
| is considered by them to be a life force and they | | | | affects a gland, a muscle or a nerve center. |
| count their lifespan in the amount of breaths taken and | | | | With yoga you can choose to perform particular |
| not in the years of their age. | | | | exercises to get rid of certain types of back pain or |
| Yoga is different from other exercises as it assists the | | | | leg pain experienced from jogging. You can also use |
| body to become more flexible as well as improving | | | | yoga as preparation for a skiing trip or even to help |
| ones strength. Due to this, some of the yoga | | | | you overcome your feelings of fear or depression. |
| exercises and positions known as asanas can look a | | | | The many asanas of yoga, how to do them and the |
| little strange. You may feel at first that you need to be | | | | way in which they can work for you can be found in |
| some kind of contortionist to perform the exercises, | | | | any good yoga book. Do you remember doing |
| but this is not case - you just need to completely relax. | | | | handstands and cartwheels in the past? There you go |
| Yoga allows you to ease into the stretches gently and | | | | - you may well have already done some yoga without |
| you are not required to force yourself into any position. | | | | ever even knowing it! |
| The regularly used expression no pain no gain simply | | | | |