The Yoga rules

By Victoria Primicias

Before we go into the benefits of yoga and its adjunct, stretching, we first have to understand what yoga is. Most of us think that yoga is some exotic spiritual ritual practiced by the mystics of India and shrouded in secrecy. In some ways, this belief is correct because yoga was generally practised by the ancient mystics of India some 5,000 years ago. However, it has since been demystified and has come to mean something quite different from how it was known earlier. The word "yoga" has a lot of definitions in Sanskrit, an ancient classical language of India. Some of these are "union," "conjunction," and "manner." Yoga is a very old system of assuming postures (asanas) and performing relaxation methods, breathing exercises, and healing, and has its origins in the philosophy of ancient India. The earliest known descriptions of yoga are written in Sanskrit, and foremost of these are The Yoga Sutras, written more than 2,000 years ago.

Yoga, as defined by one of the greatest sages of India named Maharishi Patanjali, is a technique used to control the body, the mind, and the soul. It is a way of life. It is beyond the consciousness of body, mind, and intellect. It is this way of life that is now propagated and practised.

Why perform yoga? To be brief, yoga makes you feel better. Period. The practice of the various stances, the relaxation or meditation techniques, and the breathing exercises make you healthier in body, mind, and soul. Yoga tunes you up just as you tune up a car's engine to make it run better. It keeps your body in shape by firming and toning it. You simply feel better.

The advantages of yoga are manifold. Most of the treatments that we undergo are purely symptomatic. During hectic days when we can't afford to just sit and stare at the wall, we go in for "gunshot" treatments. The symptoms of headache are gone! Good! Back to work! We often don't even bother to find out the root cause of the ailment until such time that the symptoms take on alarming proportions and refuse to go away with over-the-counter-drugs.

This is where yoga steps in. The practice of yoga is directed towards the goal of eliminating the root cause of the disease. The workings of the techniques of yoga are not fast-paced; they are subtle and delicate and border on the miraculous. As a way of life, it embraces a code of ethics, follows a set of regulations, places a premium on discipline, and combines prayer and meditation. The simplest of asanas, wherein the body is maintained in a particular position for a relatively brief period of time, helps release tension and relaxes and stretches the body.

Regarding the control of the body -- the physical aspect, that is -- yogic postures stimulate the glands, organs, muscles, and nerves in ways that traditional exercise just cannot. Yoga improves muscle tone, flexibility, strength, and stamina; it also reduces stress and tension, lowers fat, improves blood circulation, and strengthens the immune system.

On the mental and spiritual plane, the postures of yoga, together with meditation techniques, definitely improve concentration and creativity and induce a sense of well-being and serenity. It boosts self-esteem. Just as it reduces physical stress and tension, it also reduces mental stress. Combined with prayer, the spiritual effects are far-reaching and beneficial to a great extent. They are also wonderfully permanent.

Breathing exercises, called pranayama, help clear the nadis, or channels, that carry the universal life force prana, allowing the prana to flow freely. When the channels (nadis) are clear and the block at the base of the spine has been opened, kundalini rises through the spine through the central channel called the sushumna-nadi, and joins the crown, chakra. According to tradition, the release of kundalini leads to enlightenment and "union," which is the ultimate goal of yoga. An oversimplification of kundalini may be explained as an "awakening". Literally translated, chakra means "wheel". A chakra is a center of activity that accepts, absorbs, and also expresses life force energy (prana).

The ultimate aim of the yogi, or the practitioner of yoga, is to attain "union" with the divine consciousness known as Brahman or Atman. This embodies the attainment of true happiness, liberation, and enlightenment. The concentrated and dedicated practice of the postures, the breathing exercises, and the meditation techniques are all directed to this one final spiritual goal.

The dedicated practice of yoga is bound to change your physical, mental, and spiritual life, as well as your outlook of life, in ways that you never thought existed. Yoga encourages you to lead a harmonious way of life.

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