Buddha said, “He who experiences the unity of life sees his own self in all beings...” It is believed by many that coming together with a similar purpose can enhance the experience. The positive energies that fill the air during a yoga session are addicting. It is unbelievable sometimes, the people found in a yoga session. A young girl walks in to the room, followed by two beautifully aged women. A male in his early twenty’s follows them, and an older, rounder gentleman after him. The different shapes and sizes, beliefs, races, sexual orientations: they all disappear, they are all just human. The unity felt by a spiritual practice so enlightening brings them all together in respect and understanding for one another. It is not a competition to be won, it is a journey; an opportunity to find one’s self.
In the United States, things such as yoga and meditation are being prescribed by doctors more often. (Oxford Valley Pain and Spine Center, 2011) The benefits of those two practices have proven to be very effective in some cases. People with any levels of stress, anxiety, depression or any other invisible chronic illness (such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia…etc.) have more than likely been prescribed yoga by their doctor. Some may wonder how twisting the body into crazy positions could help anyone, but there is a lot more to it than that. There is relaxation involved in order to rid the body of all worries to help one commit to a beneficial practice. The more one lets go, the deeper they can get in to learning about and healing themselves. Yoga can improve a person’s mood, social skills and memory. It is promoted as a safe, non-impact exercise but is not to be underestimated. (Ireland, 2011) Some find that yoga can als...
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...ough meditation. If a person is practicing for physical benefits then they may practice Hatha yoga which incorporates strengthening and healing poses. Some will combine different types of yoga to fulfill both mental and physical aspirations. (Advaita Yoga Ashrama, 2012)
The beauty of yoga is that anyone can do it! Everyone’s yoga is different because everyone’s journey is different. It is never too late to begin or enhance a spiritual journey. Yoga makes this possible for every person to achieve. No matter what a person’s goals happen to be, a yoga session and some meditation will always be there to help guide the way. Namastè.
Works Cited
Atma, Swami. Advaita Yoga Ashrama. 2012.
Ireland, Jae. Side Effects of Yoga. 14 June 2011.
Oxford Valley Pain and Spine Center. 2011.
Rodefer, Erica. 5 Surprising Benefits of Yoga. 12 July 2011. yogawiz.com. 12 September 2010.
It is the most appropriate yoga for those who are more intellectually or philosophically inclined. This yoga can be broken into three distinct steps. The first step is to learn, this means seeking out teachers and gurus who can pass their knowledge unto you. The second step is to think; this step requires you to separate your true Self from the self you are currently occupying. The final step is to change, that is, to change your self-identification to your true Self. This step can often include referring to yourself in the third person to further drive a wedge between Self and self.
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, throughout many cultures to help with the balance of physical and mental well-being. Throughout the years yoga has also been incorporated with many healings, whether with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or many other things that cause us mental and physical pain. However, recently yoga has been intertwined with cancer patients who have just been diagnosed, are currently going through the treatments, and for the miraculous people who have survived this destructive disease.
...at was conducted as a dissertation submitted to the institute of transpersonal psychology for the degree of doctor of philosophy by James spencer in 1987. In this study spencer made 2 groups of people practice yoga. One group has no knowledge whatsoever in yoga and other have a strong foundation in it and other group were masters in yogi. Both groups practiced the same type of yoga and then spencer asked both groups the same questions (49).
Becoming a healthier person interests us all, from young to old, being fit is something we strive for. Nowadays, one means of achieving that goal is through yoga. Though the use of breathing exercises, meditation and strength postures, people have actually lowered their blood pressure, aches and pains fade away as their body becomes more athletic.
The yogas are active spiritual paths, a way for people to achieve illumination by the Divine Spark within us all. The word yoga literally means “union” and is related to the English words "join" and "yoke". Through yoga, we “unwrap” the Divinity within, thereby allowing our true spiritual natures to shine forth ever brighter. There are numerous types of yoga; here is a short explanation of some of the main ones:
Today, many people are taking up yoga techniques for physical exercise, and most don’t know the history of yoga. They believe there is nothing wrong with implementing this form of exercise into their daily regiment to promote a more healthy body.
I wanted to write my topic on a topic I read about which the Yoga of Devotion is. The most noteworthy beliefs and practices of the yoga of Devotion are. Worshipping with absolute faith, devoting yourself to works which are pleasing to the divine, working for his sake only in order to achieve perfection, surrendering yourself altogether , controlling the lusts of your heart and renouncing the fruits of every action, freeing yourself from the selfishness of I and Mine, being friendly and compassionate to all, you must be equally accepting of pleasure and pain, always be ready to forgive, ever contented and self-controlled, a true believer must also not be swayed by joy, envy, anxiety or fear, a person should be unaffected by the desires of the body, a true person of faith must also have an unshakeable resolve, he must not be vain nor anxious and unmoved by good or evil fortune, he should also treat friend and foe in the same manner, this person must be intellectually and mindfully dedicated to him, and he is free from attachments and content with whatever he gets, his mind is fixed upon the divine and his heart is full of devotion. If a person follows these practices and is faithful in his devotion he will ultimately be rewarded with immortality.
Yoga experiences in everyday life is therapy for the mind and soul, particularly individuals with depression, anxiety, and other disorders, because it prospers where conventional medicine fails by lifting the moods of individuals. However, though yoga is empowering and safe, it is not meant to be a substitute for medical care. Yoga practices are most effective and useful as additional self-care to counseling and medical advice for those with a history of intense anxiety. Therefore, professional treatment, including conventional medicine, plus yoga practices can have a calming and positive effect on the body and mind of individuals with disorders impacting their mindfulness. Depression, anxiety, and stress have been implicated as causes for decreased quality of life. An option of a non-pharmacological therapy to help relieve stress and anxiety is yoga.
Everyday society assumes yoga is just a physical health practice that will make people substantially fit. Social media is making people believe that Yoga is mostly good for exercising in a social, trendy fashion environment. What society does not know is Yoga plays a huge role in emotional hygiene, more so than physical health, Yoga develops a healthy emotional stability for its participants that lead to a healthy lifestyle. Emotionally, Yoga can develop a healthy emotional lifestyle for its participants while leaving a person with more positivity, determination and strength in the human mind.
Yoga is a discipline with a scientific background that was developed over 2000 years ago. In this system of self-development the restless mind is calmed and energy is placed into constructive channels. It is not a religion as some people may be led to believe. It is a philosophy of life. The lessons learned are just as relevant today as they were when they were first created, still keeping the main principle that before you can train your mind to reach a higher consciousness you must first discipline your body. Yoga's popularity is largely due to its wide range of benefits, including therapeutic effects, muscle toning, energy increasing and concentration of the mind.
All forms of yoga; though, can be traced back to Hindu principles. The main focus of any kind of yoga is targeted to bring your mind and actions into focus by using your body; this is done by moving your body into specific positions and breathing smoothly (Webb). The final most common way to spiritual enlightenment is the use of psychedelics. While common belief is that psychedelic drugs are dangerous, there is really no solid science to back those claims up (McGreal). Some psychedelics can be eaten, smoked or taken in a pill
The benefits of Yoga are endless. It effects the human mind and body in a variety of ways. Roughly 15 million Americans practice yoga, annually there is an expected increase of twenty percent in participants in the United States ("Yoga Statistics"). While Yoga is often thought of as a practice that involves circus like poses and seemingly impossible flexibility; it not. Even bedridden patients can gain benefit from imagining themselves going through the poses and practicing breathing techniques that are appropriate to them (Dickenson 24-25). Yoga is not something that you do at the studio and leave behind. It becomes a way of life; leading to healthier habits, improving psychological health, and encouraging spiritual growth. An article on using yoga in intimate relationships, by Kate H. Feldman says; "It means learning and using relational skills which you intentionally build into your daily interactions: taking time to listen to, and learn about who your partner is; learning how to make agreements; learning how to set boundaries; learning how to use skillful language when you are speaking and being able to identify your feelings and speak them out without losing your temper or perspective (16-20)."
In a world full of skepticism towards the alternative, Yoga has created a place of growing belief for itself. As Timothy McCall, M.D. states in his book Yoga As Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health & Healing: A Yoga Journal Book:
Yoga is a practice that anyone of any age can complete anywhere at anytime. It originated in ancient India and is estimated to be nearly five thousand years old. Through yoga, one is able to find his or her path to peaceful bliss within him or her self (Finney 25). The mind and the body become balanced with each other, giving one the sense of enlightenment (The Magic of...Meditation). Depending on the styles and poses a person is to choose, yoga benefits a person not only physically, but mentally as well.
Through the practice of yoga, I have begun to learn many things about myself that I did not know before. These new findings are due to the implementation of the practice of yama and niyama into my everyday life. Yama means restraint or behavior to avoid. While, niyama means observance or conduct to cultivate. Yama principles focuses on a person’s interactions with the world while niyama is more of a self observation and how to deal with ourselves. I find that these ten commandments of yoga have caused me to examine myself and the world around me in a way that isn’t negative but of understanding. I think that as humans we tend to fear the unknown but the unknown is only unknown until we actively engage in finding the truth. Thus, we can go on in life being afraid of the things that we don’t know about ourselves and the world around us or we can enthusiastically search for the truth.