Benefits of Yoga
So what is Yoga? That is a tough question to answer as yoga can accomplish different goals for each individual. A basic definintion of yoga might be, a system of developing the mind and body using natural methods. Using these natural methods Yoga helps to improve the person's confidence, discipline, and fitness, which will leave them as a more contented individual. There are literaly thousands of different asanas, (positons or techniques) and the proper ones for each person must be determined on an individual basis with the help of a trained instructor. You will find there are yoga positions for beginners, to more advanced techniques for the masters of yoga. Retreats dedicated soley to yoga can be found just about anywhere in the world. As you do your research into yoga you will find information about clothes for yoga, yoga books, yoga mats, yoga videos, and the list goes on.
Benefits of YogaThere are many benefits that we can all achieve out of yoga. Physically, it is a cleansing practice and has so far proven to be very effective for many disorders. Yoga can increase one’s flexibility as it has various positions that act on the various joints in the body including those that are rarely exercised. It also increases the lubrication of the joints, tendons and ligaments as the well researched positions exercise the different ligaments and tendons of the body. Many people are surprised that yoga has made their rigid bodies very flexible. This is due to the extensive research behind yoga positions. Non – strenuous yoga positions work on certain parts of the body in an interrelated manner. When these are done together, they work in harmony, creating a situation that attains flexibility relatively easy. Yoga is believed to be the only activity that massages all the internal organs and glands of the body thoroughly. This also includes the prostate which hardly gets stimulated externally during one’s lifetime. The stimulation and massage of the body’s organs benefits us by preventing disease and gives us a warning of a potential disease or disorder of the body. The gentle stretch of the muscles and joints along with the massage of the various organs ensure an optimum blood supply to the essential parts of the body. By doing this, toxins are helped to be flushed out and nourishment is provided. Benefits such as delayed ageing, a remarkable zest for life and energy levels are found from yoga. Yoga helps to tone the body’s muscles, especially those that have become flaccid, slothy or weak, by stimulating them repeatedly to shed the excess fat and flaccidity. These physical benefits are side effects of yoga. Yoga harmonises the mind with the body which results in quantum benefits. The will of the mind has allowed people to achieve powerful, extraordinary physical feats, proves the ‘mind and body’ connection. Harmony is achieved via yoga through meditation. This helps the mind work in synchronisation with the body. This helps us to perform our activities properly in a satisfying manner during our daily tasks, without confusion and conflict in our minds. The number one killer that affects our physical, endocrinal and emotional systems is stress and this can be corrected through the practise of yoga meditation. Yoga and meditation work together to achieve a common goal which is unity of the mind, body and spirit, all creating an eternal bliss. The practice of meditation through yoga can help one achieve an emotional balance through detachment. This means that meditation can create certain conditions when a person is not affected by what is happening around them. This can create a remarkable calmness along with a positive outlook on life. This creates tremendous benefits of one’s physical body and its health. Yoga is not without it's Christian criticsMany in the Christian circles are dead set against the practice of yoga, citing the Hindu background of yoga and claiming that the practices of yoga are designed to have the practioner become one with other gods. It is considered to be another facet of the new age movement by many Christians. Christians hold to one God in three "persons" (The Trinity) Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to give recognition to another so called god is considered to be blasphemy. There have been attempts to create what is being called "Christian Yoga" but even this is being opposed in many circles. Better Your Health will be doing further research into this matter, and by signing up for our newsletter, you will be notified as soon as the material is availiable.
We at Better Your Health hope you have found this article to be very helpful in your research into Yoga. Please feel free to check out the many other articles we have on this site about Yoga. Click here to add this page to your favorites. Be sure to check out Better Your Health for more Health Related Topics. |
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