Balance and Harmony with Yoga
by Nash Cajee, founder of Oxygen Yoga and Pilates
June 28th, 2010.
Balance and Harmony with Yoga
What comes into your mind when you hear the word Yoga? And
why do Celebrities swear by it.... Celebrities like Jennifer Anniston,
Madonna, Raquel Welch, Tatum O'Neal, Olivia Newton-John, Jeff
Bridges, Emilio Estavez, Barbara Streisand, Danny Clover, Nick Cage,
and Cameron Diaz... just to name a few.
Yoga has become very popular, and is practiced by people all around the
world. So, what exactly is Yoga?
A lot of people think that Yoga is a type of exercise, but actually, Yoga is
more than that. Yoga is a way of life.
The ancient practice of Yoga may go back as long as 5000 years! The
word "Yoga" came from the Sanskrit word "yuj" which means "to unite"
or to "connect". Sanskrit is the language of ancient India, where Yoga
originated.
Yoga is all about relationships. The relationship you have with yourself,
people in your life and with the world around you. It's all about connection.
Yoga aims for the perfect union of body, mind, and spirit and promotes
personal health, growth and wellness. Although it is not a religion, it may
have an impact on your spiritual path.
Today you can find classes in just about every town, ranging from Yoga
studios to local gyms and leisure centers. You can buy books, DVD’s, music,
props, mats, clothes and audiobooks on Yoga in just about every shopping
center.
Most Westerners identify yoga with Hatha yoga, which includes physical
exercises that promotes health and well-being, breath work to focus your
mind, relaxation calm the body and mind, and meditation to center your
spirit. Hatha Yoga consists of eight limbs. The “father of Yoga”, Patanjali,
compiled “The Yoga Sutras”, a guide for living the right life. The heart of his
teachings is known as the eight limbs of Yoga. Here is a short description of
the eight limbs of Yoga:
1. Yama : Yama is your attitude towards others and the world
around you.
2. Niyama : Niyama is how you treat yourself or your attitude towards yourself.
3. Asanas : Body postures that are designed to free your body
from stress and tension, it brings your body and the mind into a
harmonious union.
4. Pranayama : Breathing exercises, and control of Prana
5. Pratyahara : Control of the senses. Your focus becomes
inward and you are no longer distracted by outside events.
6. Dharana : Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual
awareness. Dharana is training the mind to focus without any
distraction.
7. Dhyana : Dhyana is the practice by which there is constant
observation of the mind. It means focusing the mind on one
point, stilling the mind in order to perceive the Self. (Meditation)
8. Samadhi : This is the ultimate goal of the Eight Limbs of
Yoga. It is a state of peace and completion, awareness and
compassion with detachment.
So now that you know a little bit about the history and philosophy, how
do you get started on your Yoga journey? Well, there are many wonderful
styles of Yoga for you to choose from. No style is better than another;
it's simply a matter of personal preference. Some styles are very gentle,
like Vini Yoga, while others like Power and Ashtanga Yoga are physically
challenging. Other popular styles include practicing Yoga in a heated room,
and there are also class that focus greatly on precision and alignment.
Because there are many styles to choose from, almost everyone can find
a style that suits them physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Let’s talk a little bit about the different styles:
Hatha classes will be slow-paced and gentle. These classes provide
a good introduction to the basic yoga poses. You will feel relaxed
and calm at the end of a Hatha practice.
Vinyasa or Flow classes move in conjunction with the breath. You
will flow gracefully from one pose into another. These classes tend
to be more vigorous and you will feel physically energized at the end
of a Vinyasa class
Ashtanga or Power Yoga classes are also very popular. Prepare
to sweat! As the name implies, this is a fast-paced, intense style
of yoga. In Ashtanga Yoga, a set series of poses is performed
in the same order, and classes run for 90 minutes. Power Yoga
based on the flowing style of Ashtanga, and while is it challenging,
there is room for changing the sequence and length of the class.
Iyengar Yoga is based on the teachings of B.K.S Iyengar. His style
is based on body alignment. Iyengar practice usually emphasizes
holding poses over long periods and the use of props, such as
bolsters, blankets, blocks and belts are encouraged in order to bring
the body into proper alignment.
Kundalini Yoga focuses on the breath in conjunction with movement,
freeing Energy in the lower body and allowing it to move upwards.
Bikram Yoga is based on 26 Poses that are practiced in a Hot room.
Bikram Choudhury is the founder of this style of Yoga. Today there
are Bikram studios worldwide.
Hot Yoga is also practiced in a heated room, but the sequences are
not the same as Bikram Yoga. Today there are many different styles
of Hot Yoga. The benefit of practicing in a heated room allows you
to sweat out toxins and allows also for a loosening of tight muscles.
If you haven’t tried Yoga yet, now is a great time to give it a shot. People
of all ages, levels of flexibility, body shapes and sizes, can benefit from this
wonderful practice, and the benefits are amazing!
Yoga makes you feel great. That’s why most students come back to
yoga again and again, year after year. There are a number of reasons
why people turn to Yoga; to reduce stress, to become more flexible,
to increase strength, to help with depression, or simply just to look
better in their jeans. Regardless the reason, Yoga is for everybody!
Let’s talk about what to expect in a class. Yoga classes can range in style,
level and duration. Classes can run from 30 minutes up to 90 minutes or
even longer. During your session, your teacher will guide you through a
series of moves. The names of the poses usually come from nature, such as
mountain pose, warrior pose, tree pose, fish pose, etc. and some teachers
may use the Sanskrit name of the pose. You will find that in a class
alignment is important, and you may spend a great deal of time perfecting
poses. Classes will be built on three main structures: exercise, breathing,
and meditation. Some teachers and studios encourage music in class as
they feel it helps with relaxation, while other teachers and studios do not
play music because in their tradition the focus should be on the breathe,
and music could be a distraction. It’s a good idea to try different schools
and teachers to see which style and school resonates with you personally.
Regardless the school and teacher you try out, it is important to note that
Yoga is not a competition. By feeling that you need to do a pose or to
compete with others, you defeat the purpose of mind/body relaxation and
could risk injury.
Yoga is the perfect opportunity for you to learn about your body and mind.
Your teacher will be will remind you from time to time to let go of any type
of judgements, comparisons and competition.
Every student will be encouraged to do their personal best and to get
in touch with their own body awareness. Your teacher should also give
you variations to meet your own physical needs. While one pose may be
beneficial for one student, a different student may need some variations to
avoid injuries.
Go to class with and an open mind and an open heart and you will enjoy the
benefits of Yoga.
Yoga and You
Regardless of your lifestyle, yoga will help you grow as a person. "I've been
practicing yoga for a while now, and it's an incredibly powerful and positive
force in my life," said Madonna. Madonna has been practicing Ashtanga
Yoga and is known as the new pop guru of Yoga.
Today more and more Athletes are turning to Yoga to improve performance
and to help prevent injuries. Some of the world’s top athletes such as
Evander Holyfield, finds that Yoga helps keep him focused, both on and off
the mat.
It is said that Jennifer Aniston credits yoga with helping get her mind and
body back in shape after her traumatic divorce from Brad Pitt.
As you can see, Celebrities that practice yoga are helping Yoga become
more popular, and with their warm reception, The Yoga industry is growing
rapidly. You don’t need to be a Celebrity to enjoy the benefits of this ancient
practice. All you need is an open mind. I encourage you to attend a class
in your town. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at
oxygentraining@gmail.com. You can also find lots of information about Yoga on
Google.
No comments:
Post a Comment