Cover of Living Yoga
Yoga is a generic term for a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline originating in Ancient India. Specifically, Yoga aims to use meditation movement to attain spiritual insight and tranquility.
Hundreds of thousands of people in over 90 countries have experienced that yoga leads to a unique inner transformation that brings one closer to their own spirituality, no matter what the individuals’ beliefs may be. It’s popularity is increasing globally.
Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning Yoke, Union or Join. It is all about joining and balancing the body, mind, and spirit. The term “yoga” first appears in the Hindu scripture Katha Upanishad, a primary Upanishad where yoga is defined as the steady control of the senses, which along with cessation of mental activity which leads to the supreme state
Yoga has gained popularity among masses as it is an easy way to reduce stress, improve mood, calm the mind, improve concentration, bringing relaxation, flexibility, strength and endurance to the muscles, joints and overall body systems. It increases the stamina of lungs and improves oxygen consumption. It also balances the nervous system, reduces high blood pressure, improves symptoms of heart failure, enhances cardiac rehabilitation, and lowers cardiovascular risk factors.
Since the beginning of Twentieth century, the popularity of yoga in the USA has been on a constant rise and is now more extensively practiced in the States than in its country of origin, India. There has been some media attention in which Yoga has been criticized for being potentially dangerous and being a cause for a range of serious medical conditions.Yoga is a generic term for a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline originating in Ancient India. Specifically, Yoga aims to use meditation movement to attain spiritual insight and tranquility.
However, if yoga is taught by an experienced qualified instructor who emphasizes proper alignment and moving within a pain free range of motion, the practitioner will be safe and will easily experience all the good benefits of the practice. As more yoga studios pop up in neighborhoods, it is important for the aspiring yogi to look for instructors who have the certification and experience to recognize their students’ limitations and be capable of modifying the poses to fit the individual’s needs and placing the student in an class level that meets their physical limitations. Experts do agree that yoga is hugely beneficial to the practitioner if taught by a fully trained and skilled instructor.
