What is Yoga?

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Yoga is considered to be India’s oldest cultural heritage. "Unity" is what the word Yoga means in Sanskrit and consequently we take this tiny word as having a very large meaning: thre uniting of discipline.

Students of Yoga aim to develop "arogya", which is the cultivation of mental and moral development in order to better the total wellbeing of the individual. The exercise also cultivates "chirayu", which is longevity. Yoga in its whole aims to engender peace and positive, perennial joy. As such, Yoga is thought of as being essential for an individual's ultimate completion in life.

Yoga is really a type of science that not only affects one's consciousness, but also one's subconscious. Yoga's physiological training practice (Kriya Yoga) when practiced correctly, can lift people to a supra-mundane level.

Yoga shows people how to live life. It teaches mental control and self-development and brings forth the noble in any human, thus removing the ignoble in any being. Yoga is relevant to all people regardless of their creed, caste, religious inclination and gender. Undoubtedly everyone can benefit from Yoga – the healthy and the sick, the bad and the good, the believer and the non-believer, the educated and the ignorant and the young and the old. Age does not matter; anyone can reap the advantages of Yoga.

Yoga began as wandering Hindu monks searched for solitude in the forests to practice meditative techniques. These monks (Yogis) shared their teachings with keen students who resided at ashrams (Hindu hermitages). The Yogis were quite guarded when it came to the practice of Yoga, and they did not consider popularizing the techniques. The postures along with the different stages of the Yogic techniques were only passed on to students who deserved them, so the art of Yoga remained in distant caves and forests and was not shown to anyone apart from the Yogis and their students.

Developing Yogic techniques (like the Asana - a sitting posture) accelerates blood circulation. Other techniques (like Pranayama - controlled breathing) reduce carbon dioxide in the body, and this ensures good health: Yoga presents a wealth of benefits to people.

Many doctors prescribe shower baths, steam baths, air baths and sun baths to maintain blood purity and toxin elimination. Yogis have developed the "Neti" (nasal cleaning), the "Dhouti" (stomach cleansing) and the "Vajroli" (purgation of the intestines, reproductive organs and bladder).

Yoga can also have major benefits on the nervous system. The physiological activities are non-tiring and also engender composure of the mind and body. Almost every other type of exercise centers more on muscle activity whereas Yoga focuses on taking care of every part of an individual's anatomy.

Yoga is not a "reach down and touch your feet" exercise: for example, asanas is an all over exercise that develops one’s physical and spiritual body function.

The effects of Yoga are:

- Physical – through relaxing, stretching, strengthening and healing the muscular, skeletal, cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems.
- Spiritual – the preparation of contemplation.
- Mental – developing a tranquil and calm mind, concentration and alertness.

Yoga truly offers something for anyone.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Javier Melendez is a writer for various fitness websites such as the Muscle-and-Fitness website. His recent work concerns aerobic exercise research.

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