Yoga. We’ve all heard the word and seen the colorful mats and bags everyone seems to carry around with them these days. But can yoga REALLY help improve your life? The answer is YES, definitely, IF you know the reasons for doing it and start safely and sensibly.
What Does Yoga Mean?
The word means union, the union of body, mind and spirit within a person, and the union of that person with the universe, being connected with others mentally and spiritually.
Why Do Yoga?
The benefits to the body have been proven by countless studies and more than 5,000 years of practice.
Yoga helps you get fit fast, and safely if you don’t overdo things, because it uses the weight of your body to tone and trim, not lots of fancy equipment. It is low impact, which means it is suitable for everyone no matter what their age or overall fitness level. It improves fitness and flexibility.
In terms of the mind, yoga improves concentration and focus. Traditional forms of yoga like Hatha and Kundalini also have a specific meditation component that can involve chanting, or repeating words and phrases (mantras) aloud.
The most common and well-known mantra in relation to yoga is Om, which can be roughly translated from Sanskrit into English as, “I bow to the wisdom within you.” The ‘you’ refers to both one’s self, and to the universe as a whole.
Is Yoga a Religion?
No, it is not. It is used by certain religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, in order to advance their spiritual progress. Yoga can improve meditation, that is, mental abilities, and vice versa. A healthy body equals a healthy mind.
Thousands of Years of Proof that It Works
Yoga has been used for thousands of years for health, healing and fitness. It may seem weird or “New Age” to us in the West, but the truth is that Hatha yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years and is part of both traditional Indian and Chinese medicine.
The Health Benefits of a Regular Yoga Practice Include Increased:
- Concentration
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Long Lean Muscles, which boost your metabolism, to help you lose weight
- Stamina
Yoga Will Decrease the Following Health Issues:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Tension
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Stiffness
- Poor balance
- Weight
If you’ve been looking for a fun, interesting and effective exercise that can help you lose weight and look and feel great, it’s time to try yoga.
