Discover Yoga

              We have all heard the name yoga. More people are now incorporating  yoga in their daily life. There are even studies now praising yoga on how it relaxes people and it improves their health. That leads us to a real important question. What is yoga ?

               You will learn what it is and how it works. Also, we will provide you with a beginning video in starting your routine. With the help of about.com, they give us a clear explanation of yoga.


What is Yoga ?
              The word yoga means "union" in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. We can think of the union occurring between the mind, body and spirit. What is commonly referred to as "yoga" can be more accurately described by the Sanskrit word  asana which refers to the practice of physical postures or poses.Asana is only one of the eight "limbs" of yoga, the majority of which are more concerned with mental and spiritual well-being than physical activity. In the West, however, the words asana and yoga are often used interchangeably.


What are the eight limbs of Yoga ?
            According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, one of the ancient texts that is the basis for the philosophy behind yoga, there are eight “limbs” (Ashtanga in Sanskrit) of yoga. Each limb relates to an aspect of achieving a healthy and fulfilling life, and each builds upon the one before it. You may be surprised to hear that only one of the limbs involves the performance of yoga postures. Here is a description of the eight limbs.

1. Yama: Five ethical guidelines regarding moral behavior towards others:

Ahimsa:  Nonviolence
Satya : Truthfulness
Asteya : Nonstealing
Brahmacharya:  Nonlust
Aparigraha:  Noncovetesness

2. Niyama:Five ethical guidelines regarding moral behavior towards oneself:

Saucha: Cleanliness
Santosa: Contentment
Tapas: Sustained practice
Svadhyaya: Self study
Isvara pranidhana: Surrender to God

3. Asana:Practice of yoga postures.

4. Pranayama:Practice of breathing exercises.

5.Pratyahara:Withdrawal of the senses, meaning that the exterior world is not a distraction from the interior world within oneself.

6. Dharana:Concentration, meaning the ability to focus on something uninterrupted by external or internal distractions.

7. Dhyana:Meditation. Building upon Dharana, the concentration is no longer focused on a single thing but is all encompassing.

8. Samadhi:Bliss. Building upon Dhyana, the transcendence of the self through meditation. The merging of the self with the universe. Sometimes translated as enlightenment.

Yoga Poses        

           Many people think that yoga is just stretching. But while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses or postures, each of which has specific physical benefits. The poses can be done quickly in succession, creating heat in the body through movement (vineyasta style yoga) or more slowly to increase stamina and perfect the alignment of the pose. The poses are a constant, but the approach to them varies depending on the tradition in which the teacher has trained.


Yoga Practice 
          Yoga teachers will often refer to "your practice," which means your individual experience with yoga as it develops over time. The amazing thing about yoga is that your practice is always evolving and changing, so it never gets boring. Although the poses themselves do not change, your relationship to them will. Anyone can start a yoga practice, even if you don't feel like you are very flexible or very strong. These things will improve the longer you practice. Another great thing about thinking about "your practice" is that it encourages the noncompetitive spirit of yoga. One of the most difficult, but ultimately most liberating things about yoga is letting go of the ego and accepting that no one is better than anyone else. Everyone is just doing their best on any given day.

Yoga Classes
        In addition to practicing the poses, yoga classes may also include instruction on breathing, call and response chanting, meditation, or an inspirational reading by the teacher. The variety and amount of this will depend on the individual teacher and the yoga tradition in which he or she has trained. Typically, a yoga class at a gym will be more focused on the purely physical benefits of yoga, while one at a yoga center may delve more into the spiritual side. Some people find that the physical practice of yoga becomes a gateway into a spiritual exploration, while others just enjoy a wonderful low-impact workout that makes them feel great. Whatever your tendency, you will be able to find a yoga class that suits your style.


Here is a video link on getting started with yoga : yoga.

We hope this was an eye opening experience to learn all about yoga. If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback you can reach us by email.

Thank you for visiting !
Joseph A. Jones & The WellLife Team

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