| Yoga is an excellent vehicle for slowing the mind and | | | | Hindu philosophy. It is also very likely, given the rapid |
| getting in touch with the true nature of things. While | | | | growth of Buddhism after his death and before the |
| you can achieve these benefits with no accessories, | | | | Bhagavad Gita was composed, that Buddhism had |
| sometimes having the right equipment can aid in your | | | | some influence on that work. There is a considerable |
| comfort and enjoyment of your Yoga practice. | | | | overlap between the Hindu yoga tradition and |
| Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices | | | | Buddhism. |
| originating in India. It is one of the six schools of Hindu | | | | ************************************ |
| philosophy. In India and across the World, Yoga is seen | | | | In yoga, you ease into stretches, never forcing |
| as a means to both physical health and spiritual | | | | yourself. The saying no pain--no gain simply does not |
| mastery. Outside India, Yoga has become primarily | | | | apply. You do only the best you can at the moment, |
| associated with the practice of asanas or postures of | | | | and at some later moment you will do more. |
| Hatha Yoga. | | | | All yoga poses demand balance. And since you can't |
| Yoga, which means discipline, was developed by an | | | | balance if you're thinking about last night's TV show, |
| Indian Hindu named Patanjali. Its purpose is to stretch | | | | yoga also demands concentration. Learn to |
| the muscles, strengthen the body and increase | | | | concentrate in yoga, and you will be better able to |
| concentration. It can also an excellent means of | | | | concentrate in baseball, tennis or even school. |
| relaxation. | | | | Yoga exercises copy nature. Many yoga poses can |
| It's no surprise that with all of the stress floating | | | | be traced to the shapes of creatures, such as the |
| around that this ancient discipline has become so | | | | cobra, cat, dog, tortoise, crab and eagle. |
| popular. Depending on your approach, yoga can be | | | | In the cobra pose, for example, you ask yourself, |
| simply a set of exercises or a total way of life. | | | | What would it feel like to be a cobra. You lie on your |
| Some who practice yoga, called yogis, try to use the | | | | stomach with your forehead to the floor. As you inhale, |
| discipline to reach a high level of consciousness. They | | | | you slowly roll your head back, supporting yourself with |
| respect certain abstentions (things not to do), such as | | | | your hands. You hold that pose, then come down |
| not lying, stealing, being greedy or harming other people. | | | | slowly, trying to move as a snake would move. |
| They also practice certain observances (things to do), | | | | All yoga exercises promote strength and calmness. |
| such as being clean, content, self-controlled, studious | | | | Each move's effects on a muscle, a gland or a nerve |
| and devoted. | | | | center are carefully thought out. |
| Physical control is also important in yoga. Yogis train | | | | You can choose certain exercises to rid yourself of |
| themselves to take full, deep breaths. They consider | | | | particular pains, such as back pain from back-packing |
| breathing a life force, counting a lifespan not in years | | | | or leg pain from jogging. Yoga can help condition you |
| but in the number of breaths taken. | | | | for skiing or help you control feelings of depression or |
| Unlike exercises that work only on strength, yoga also | | | | fear. |
| helps the body become flexible. As a result, some | | | | Any good book on yoga will describe various asanas |
| yoga exercises (called asanas) look a little strange, and | | | | and tell how each works. You may even have done |
| you may think you need to be a human pretzel to do | | | | yoga exercises already. Ever done a handstand, or |
| them. Not so. You just have to relax. | | | | the wheel. Many exercise programs borrow from |
| ************************************ | | | | yoga. |
| Did you know? | | | | Practicing yoga is an excellent way of breaking down |
| Buddha, who is estimated to have lived 563 to 483 | | | | the barriers that prevent us from truly experience |
| BC, is believed to have studied what was known of | | | | reality. It is one of the meditative practices that can |
| yoga at that time as part of an extensive education in | | | | increase the prosperity and abundance in your life. |