Having just begun a new career as a Realtor, I know as well as anyone the benefits of a regular practice of mind and body. Life is quick paced when it is slow, which means when times are busy, they really move, and… well, we need to remember to breath.
Thankfully, our modern society has realized its need for peaceful breaks in between cell phone calls. Especially in the last decade or so, perhaps after first stumbling over our own two feet, we have willingly reached into the past to scoop up what was once understood by the ancients—the mindful practice of yoga.
Mary Dunn, who began yer yoga studies with B.K.S. Iyengar in 1974 and is now senior teacher and director of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York, elaborates: “Yoga deals with timeless questions so it is relevant whether we are speaking of the contemporary world or a historical context.”
According to http://sanscrit.org, the term, yoga, is “derived from the Sanskrit root, yuj, to join, to unite, to attach.” A further implication is that a practitioner of yoga, a yogi, is one who joins with “the soul” or “the soul of God.”
Let’s cover our bases here—modern practitioners of yoga may not feel dedicated enough to consider themselves yogis, but still may seek and discover the benefits of healing and fitness from the practice.
Yoga, Healing, and Fitness
Those who seek improved health do satisfy one requirement similar to the yogis: they apply the principle of consistency to their practice.
With regular practice, yoga is bound to improve all areas of a practitioner’s life. One will become physically stronger while also attaining an increased awareness of relaxation and peace of mind. Again, the Sanskrit root, yuj, says it all and speaks of a body, which has all its multitudinous aspects united and functioning as one.
“I benefit from yoga because it puts a broad framework around the way I live,” says Mary. “It provides a philosophical structure that includes ethical behavior and psychological well-being, and is a practice that provides for a healthy lifestyle.”
Physiological Benefits
Some of the most common benefits of yoga are physical in nature, such as increased flexibility, enhanced performance of the joints, ligaments and tendons, toned muscles, and a higher degree in purity of blood through the elimination of bodily toxins.
How are these effects achieved? Yoga is a science both complex and simple, depending on the perspective of the observer. With that said, for a beginner exploring yoga, it is best to assume a perspective of high regard and patience. Because, yoga, if practiced correctly and regularly over time, has the potential to strengthen, stretch and heal the body from its surface to its core.
Psychological and Spiritual Benefits
“The states of meditation which were practiced in the past and said to benefit the practitioner are now scientifically verifiable as to their effects on the brain,” adds Mary.
In our modern society, one of yoga’s most sought after results is its ability to quiet the nervous system. We fast-pacers enjoy yoga because it provides a healthy contrast to our lives, as it is slow and gentle. Certain forms of yoga such as pranayama (yogic breathing) especially assist in gaining a calm mind.
To most, achieving a calm mind seems impossible in this world. Nevertheless, it is a virtuous and respectable goal, and yoga offers us hope.
Experienced practitioners can tell the difference, as yoga teaches a person how to properly relax when there is an opportunity to do so, as well as how to endure difficulties and stress when there is no break.
Spiritually, yoga encourages a positive mentality. It boosts confidence and the ability for self-acceptance. For most, yoga offers a feeling of oneness with others and the world around.
Adam Johns writes articles and music reviews for The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times web version may be accessed at http://english.epochtimes.com The author is currently promoting New Tang Dynasty’s Chinese New Years Spectacular. He hopes you will visit: [http://newyeargala.ntdtv.com/2007/en]
