Today’s society is much faster paced that ever before. People have more stress problems which lead
to more health problems, mental and physical.
There are more concerns with toxicity in the food we eat and the air we
breathe. Millions of Americans today
live a sedentary lifestyle, which is associated with obesity. The body, the cavities of our soul, was not
meant to deteriorate in such a way that leads to disease. Yoga was developed over 5,000 years ago in India
and it included spiritual beliefs, physical techniques, and scholarly
philosophy.
There is a growing trend to practicing Yoga for many
different reasons, which include attaining the yoga body or physique,
relaxation and peace of mind, or to prevent injury and ailments. Americans mainly practice Hatha Yoga, which
focuses on postures and stretching the body.
Yoga, which is derived from the sacred Sanskrit language of India , meaning
*union* or *to yoke or harness*. Yoga is
a way or path to transcendence and liberation from the self and the ego by
purifying the mind and body. Practicing
yoga leads to a union with the mind and body or the individual and universal
consciousness. In other words, yoga is
the union with the Individual Self and the Universal Self. Yoga predates all other religions and has
influenced and inspired many other traditions and philosophies. Yoga is better understood as a union of the
physical, physiological, mental, emotional, and intellectual bodies, which
leads to a purposeful and balanced life.
There is simply no other discipline quite like yoga because
it utilized the body, mind and spirit, all in one practice. Yoga is indeed a spiritual path that is based
on ancient sacred philosophy, but one does not need to make an ethical decision
when practicing yoga, rather finding your own path is wholly accepted. The holistic benefits of yoga are suitable
for the young or old, sick or well, with any religious background. The secrets of yoga are inwardness,
concentration, and purification of mind and body with cleansing thoughts and
food. Indian philosophy states that within man is the spirit that is the center
of everything. *Internal equilibrium is
the basis and the ground for the higher illumination,* The cultural Heritage of
India (Vol. I) - published by The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata , India
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