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The Benefits of
Yoga is a style of exercise concerned with the health
and well being of the person as a whole. The word Yoga means
‘union’ or ‘joining together,’ and if there were one single word used to
describe yoga it would be balance. It is a balancing of the body, mind and
spirit through a system of self-development that involves breathing,
stretching, and focusing. When the body is strong and healthy, the mind
and spirit will follow suit.
The body is the house of the spirit. Life is breath. You
can live for weeks without food, days without water or sleep, but only
minutes without breathing. Therefore, the single most important thing we
do is breath. Breathing brings in one form of ‘Qi’ (see
the TCM
diagnosis page for explanation of Qi.) The more Qi in your body, the
more alive you feel. Most people have a habit of shallow breathing, using
only the upper parts of the lungs. As we focus on deep, slow breathing in
class, that practice carries over and out of class, becoming a new habit.
The increased Qi that follows improves the quality of your blood,
complexion, and general health. Anxiety and tension decrease,
concentration and focus grow stronger.
Tension is tightness or squeezing that
occurs mentally, emotionally, or physically. Great amounts of energy are
wasted in this squeezing, tightening, and contracting. So, with constant
tension, you feel tired and worn out all the time. In Yoga, we decrease
tension and allow everything to flow more smoothly – be it thoughts or
muscles - with movement, stretching, and breathing. These are the keys to
relieving tension and allowing energy to be free flowing. If you feel
better physically, you will also feel better emotionally and mentally.
True relaxation needs to become a way of living everyday, rather than
something that happens in just given moments (like class). After
practicing Yoga for a time, the habits developed will help you walk
through each day with less tension and stress. An ancient saying:
’Practice Yoga for three months and it will change your body. Practice for
three years and it will change your way of dealing with life.
The Yogi (the one who practices Yoga) attaches great
value in terms of both health and beauty to a strong, elastic spine.
Gaining flexibility of the spine is vital. Yogis’ say, "You are as young
as your spine is flexible." Just look around to determine the truth of
this statement. Young people whose spines have grown rigid appear to be
much older than their actual years. So, Yoga is a means of feeling
younger. Flexibility in the body will help create flexibility in the
thinking as well: Being ‘Strong enough to bend.’
Yoga accomplishes whatever you want it to accomplish.
Perhaps you want a healthy body, flexible spine, strong lungs, clear mind,
improved self-confidence, or liberation from stress and worry. Yoga unites
the concepts of inner self and self-actualization in the fulfillment of
the unique potentialities inherent in each of us. In the words of Dr.
Abraham Maslow, ‘self-actualization’ is "the desire to become more and
more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming."
Yoga, then, may be defined as the science of self-fulfillment. It allows
us to utilize our capabilities to the fullest while permitting us to
choose our own goals.
There are many forms of yoga. What we practice is my
class is a combination (no pure form) designed to relax, stretch,
strengthen, and tone the body, mind, and spirit. The emphasis is on the
breathing and the movements – ‘the asanas’. Movements are performed in a
relaxing, slow motion with very few repetitions. No strain should be felt,
and the practice sessions leave you feeling relaxed and energized, not
drained.
Yoga is both an intellectual system and a practical
means to achieve a specific end: harmony of the whole being. It has a
theoretical foundation that dates back thousands of years into India’s
cultural past, yet the essence of Yoga does not lie in theory. It is not a
religion. The Yogi is a practitioner, not a philosopher or theologist.
There are hundreds of different Yoga postures. Many of
them require astonishing dexterity of the spine and limbs that only
happens after many years of practice. These are often the forms we see
advertised – and knowing we can’t possibility do those, we never begin.
Such postures are impractical and unnecessary for the average person. They
are not an intrinsic part of Yoga especially the Yoga we practice here.
Our movements are easily adaptable to the typical individual who will gain
flexibility and strength by regular practice - starting exactly at the
point that they are now.
Many of us are not disciplined enough to exercise on our
own, so being part of a class helps us to carry through with our plans. We
can answer any questions you might have by calling the office. Our classes
are Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30p.m. at the Methodist Church in Clarion. Join
anytime. Bring a mat. Dress to allow for easy movement. Breath. Cost is
$25 monthly or $7 each class.
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Yoga
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