Yoga is an ancient science and healing art of self-development. This 6,000-year-old system of self-improvement is complete and comprehensive in its nature, utilizing body, breath, mind, and spirit as tools for transformation.
Yoga is an ancient science and healing art of self-development. This 6,000-year-old system of self-improvement is complete and comprehensive in its nature, utilizing body, breath, mind, and spirit as tools for transformation.
Returning one to Wholeness
Yoga will do more than make you flexible and strong. It is also a unique way to reduce stress, enhance the immune system, relax, improve concentration, and clarity, and reclaim your inherent health and well-being.
Health is a balanced state of body and mind, where each part of the body functions at full potential and the mental and emotional aspects are sound too. Through practicing yoga one is able to gain control over their health, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
The physical stretching and strengthening exercises in yoga are known as asana’s. They involve both psychological and physiological processes. These asana’s were used as a way of freeing the body of tension, in order to remain undisturbed in deep states of meditation for long periods of time.
Many common physical ailments including chronic disorders such as anxiety, stress, fatigue, migraines, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and scoliosis, just to name a few can be improved by the practice of yoga. The postures work on specific areas of the body, such as the joints, muscles, liver, kidneys, heart, endocrine, and nervous system.
The movements in the postures have a profound effect on how these organs function, strengthening and toning them. The body is oxygenated and filled with healthy blood, decongested and rested.
The body’s stamina, lung capacity, heart performance, nervous system, muscle tone, circulation, and cardiovascular health all improve!
The asana’s take time to perfect, so it is important to work at your own pace, recognizing your present limits and honoring them. Don’t attempt postures that are too difficult for you, until you have mastered the easier ones. Always practice with compassion and respect for your body.
Try dropping the ego, focusing instead on the details of the posture and on how your body feels in that particular moment. Take time between postures to rest and integrate the effects you feel.
Proper breathing in the postures is important. As a general rule, inhale into a backward-bending pose and exhale into a forward-bending one. If you are holding a pose for longer than one breath, breathe deeply for the duration of the posture (usually working up to 5 breaths). Don’t hold your breath.
Yoga develops the body, mind, and breath in a compassionate and non-judgemental way. Through continued practice of these techniques, the student of Yoga quickly experiences the benefits of increased relaxation, normalized blood pressure, the relief of minor back problems, a steadied metabolism, and relief from stress.
Yoga teaches us body and breath awareness and develops strength and coordination. It can also be helpful for conditions of fatigue or recovery from illness or surgery, because of this meditative, mindful movement of the body and breath. Inviting calmness, harmony, and balance into the body and mind.
A typical yoga class is 1 1/2hour long. Beginning with a brief centering, focusing on breath and relaxation, then moving into warm-ups and yoga postures (asana’s), followed by relaxation (the most important posture!) and closing with a brief pranayama (breathing practice) and meditation.
- Improves flexibility, stamina, strength, muscle tone, and range of motion in the joints
- Creates healthier breathing patterns, more efficient metabolism, and healthier cardiopulmonary functioning
- Cultivates mental skills, such as concentration and focus, leading to better decision-making, enhanced self-confidence, and mastery in life
- Enhances skin quality, aids in metabolizing stress hormones, and balances sexual libido
- Promotes overall well-being and detoxification
- Enhances immune system
- Supports good posture, which assists with the healthy functioning of organs
- Enhances digestive function and elimination
- Helps with lymphatic drainage, which cultivates a healthy immune system
- Supports addiction recovery
- Stimulates and tones the nervous system, fostering a more stable mood
Yoga also offers relief to various symptoms of:
- Tension headaches
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Low libido
- High blood pressure
- Chronic pain
- IBS
In recent studies at the Boston University School of Medicine, researchers found that just one yoga class increased levels of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric) by an astonishing 27%. Low GABA levels are associated with depression and anxiety disorders.
0 comments:
Post a Comment