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Smart Guide to Yoga (The Smart Guides Series) PDF

458 Pages·1999·2.1 MB·English
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Page xv Introduction Yoga is a complete science that anyone can practice. This ancient system of integrating physical, mental, and spiritual well-being is the most widely practiced health system throughout the contemporary world. People are drawn to yoga for many reasons, but the most common reason given is to keep the body and mind supple. The yoga postures in this book exercise the entire body and tone and stretch muscles and joints. The yoga breathing exercises presented will calm and revitalize the mind as well as fine-tune concentration. Yoga has several branches, and chapter 1 explores these various branches before introducing hatha yoga, the most widely practiced yoga system in the West. The Smart Guide to Yoga has as its primary focus the hatha system. This first chapter as well defines yoga and dispels common myths and interpretations that sometimes surround yoga. A very brief history of yoga and the foundation for yoga practice segues into the health benefits yoga offers. Chapter 2 explores hatha yoga more deeply and delves into the differences and similarities of the various hatha systems one might discover when ferreting out a yoga class. The next chapter is devoted to pranayama, the life force or energy that is the invisible link to all yoga practices. Pranayama is a science. Simply said, it is the science of breathing correctly. Since stress affects our breath, we conclude this important chapter with some breathing exercises, complete with visuals to aid you in your practice. Page 1 Chapter 1— Yoga and Its Branches Page 2 Yoga, the once serendipitous fad of the 1960s, is at the turn of the century the most widely practiced exercise system in the world. According to Yoga Journal, approximately 6 million people practice yoga. Maybe you are one of them, or maybe you have thought about yoga but never found the time to include it in your hectic schedule. On the other hand, perhaps your image of yoga conjures up levitating swamis, venerable vegetarians, and weightless bodies twisting toward infinity. While a few of these descriptions are valid— yes, some yogis do levitate and some physicians urge vegetarian choices— the practice of yoga is as personal as your choice in food or your taste in art. Yoga is a potent tool for stress reduction, fitness, and mental health. There is a surfeit of yoga schools, teachers, philosophies, and practices, all of which are discussed in this book. Just as we all choose different life routes, and pace ourselves accordingly to reach a personal goal, so this book shows that yoga is a compendium of small routes allowing the individual to travel at his or her own pace. Because yoga has sprouted numerous branches and a diverse assortment of techniques throughout the centuries, the most prudent place to begin your yoga practice is at the beginning, some five thousand years ago. THE KEYS • While the word yoga has a succinct definition, yoga's meaning—and practice—can be applied in many ways. • Yes, yoga is shrouded in myths—we dispel them in this chapter. • Yoga's popularity has grown due to its numerous health benefits. Yoga is a complete tool to keep the body fit and flexible and the mind focused and quiet. It integrates body, mind, and spirit and can be practiced anywhere, by anyone. • The benefits of yoga are vast and include stress reduction, enhanced mental acuity, increased flexibility, a calm mind, and relief of chronic pain. • Yoga has its own language—Sanskrit. • There are six different branches of yoga embracing a multiplicity of styles and techniques and appealing to different personalities. Yoga Defined Yoga is a complete exercise system developed more than five thousand years ago in India to energize and strengthen mind-body awareness. A time- honored practice, yoga strives to balance physical Page 3 health and psychological well-being and to create a sense of inner peace. Devised by ancient sages as a perfect method for self-integration, yoga is today recognized in the West as a potent application for both physical and mental health. Medical and managed-care facilities around the country are implementing yoga for stress reduction. At Boston's Mind/Body Medical Institute, Dr. Herbert Benson has devised stress-management methods for relaxation that include yoga and meditation. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., founder and director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, includes yoga and meditation in his chronic pain clinics. Even a few health maintenance organizations (HMOs) have added yoga classes to their health-education programs. Yoga has become a staple for many spas and is even beginning to segue into the business sector, with many companies now offering lunchtime yoga classes. SMART DEFINITION Yoga A Sanskrit word derived from the word yuj, literally meaning "yoke together" or "union." The underlying purpose of yoga was to unite the individual self with the Divine. The correct pronunciation is Yo-gah. Yogi Pronounced YO-gee, a man who practices yoga. Yogini Pronounced YO-gee-nee, a woman who practices yoga. The Practice The practice of yoga embraces a multiplicity of styles and an astonishing array of diverse techniques, all of which aim to foster holistic harmony. The best way to approach yoga is to find a class. You can read about yoga or watch tapes that can introduce you to yoga, but yoga is like swimming; you have to dive in and do it. You can't experience the crawl, the breaststroke, or synchronized breathing until you get wet. The pleasure of floating on your back in a warm pool cannot be experienced in a book or a photograph; you have to submerge your body. To experience the effects of Page 4 yoga, you have to breathe, stretch, and focus on quieting your active mind. SMART SOURCES The Yoga Research Society 341 Fitzwater St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 (215) 592-YOGA The Yoga Research Society holds a yearly conference that brings together authors, researchers, doctors, and others to share knowledgeable perspectives on yoga. Dispelling Common Myths about Yoga Myth: You have to be deeply religious to practice yoga. Fact: Anyone can practice yoga. You do not have to be religious, nor is there any imposing prerequisite or lifestyle that you must adhere to. Because yoga does not have its roots in a Western tradition, some people find the spiritual component of yoga oddly exotic. If you already have a spiritual inclination or practice, yoga will enrich it. Myth: You have to be flexible and already in good shape to practice yoga. Fact: You do not have to be svelte or have the body of Madonna and the flexibility of a gymnast to reap the benefits that yoga has offered millions all over the world. Myth: People who do yoga are vegetarians who go along with New Age philosophies and trends. Fact: You do not have to be a vegetarian, swear off caffeine, or wear beads to try yoga. Yoga is "ageless"—it is for everyone, of every age group—and it is not a New Age invention or a religion. Myth: People who practice yoga do it so they can become "enlightened." Fact: Yoga is not a spiritual light bulb that lights up when you have a problem or need to chill out. It

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