Yoga

The ancient science of self care

 Why do Yoga?

Yoga is perhaps the most comprehensive form of self-heath care available to mankind. It is time for us to take responsibility for our own health and wellness. Let's not wait until we are physically or mentally broken. Let's take our wellness into our own hands. Yoga is the tool for us to do that. Yoga promotes wellness on three levels: the physical, mental, & Spiritual.

Yoga promotes physical health
It stretches and tones the muscles. Because it is a weight bearing exercise, it helps prevent or slow down the process of osteoporosis, and strengthens the skeletal system. Yoga improves the circulatory system, effecting heart and blood pressure function. The endocrine system is stimulated to encourage greater functioning. The immune system is strengthened. The result is greater energy and vitality!

Yoga is good for the mind
Yoga cultivates concentration and focus. Through mental exercises, a restless mind is calmed. This in turn supports mental clarity and confidence. By learning to control the mind, we feel more in control of our lives.

Yoga is good for the spirit
Regardless of your religious beliefs, yoga can help to connect you to your authentic self! Yoga teaches us how to find and honor our inner wisdom. It encourages self-acceptance. Yoga connects our physical, mental and spiritual selves, and as a result, we start living more connected and fulfilling lives!

What is Yoga?                                             

Yoga is a science, which promotes wellness! It is perhaps the most comprehensive guide to a healthy life on all levels. For many years, yoga has been misunderstood in Western cultures. As we kick off the millennium, yoga is taking its rightful place in mainstream society. Doctors such as Dean Ornish, Andrew Weil , Christiane Northrup, and John Lee, just to name a few, are confirming the many benefits of yoga through their research. Yoga is finally taking its place in the new millennium as an accepted and respected form of self-care to promote physical and mental health.

The word YOGA is a Sanskrit word meaning union. This union connects the mind body, and spirit. People of all shapes, races, and creeds can practice yoga. It is through that union we reclaim our inherent sense of well being!

Yoga is a very comprehensive science, which includes many forms. The type of yoga we commonly see in the west is hatha yoga. Hatha, when broken down means sun and moon. It is the balance of light and dark, symbolizing the balance required in all things. Hatha yoga uses the body as a sacred doorway to that balance. Within the category of Hatha yoga there are many schools of yoga such as: Kripalu, Iyengar, Asthanga, and Shivananda to mention a few. Classes can vary from very gentle to very physically demanding. Getting our bodies to be healthy and fit allows us energy to live life in a fuller way!

How does Hatha Yoga promote wellness?

As mentioned previously, hatha yoga uses the body as a sacred doorway to realize our fullest potential. The physical techniques used in yoga rejuvenate and rebalance all of our bodily systems: muscular, skeletal, immune, circulatory, and digestive, glandular, respiratory, and nervous.

When these exercises or postures are applied consciously, they encourage concentration, patience, and inner stillness. Through meditation, we bring calmness to the mind. We learn to live life bearing witness to our emotions but not being them. This liberates us from constant worry or pain, and restores balance in our lives.

Many people come to yoga looking only for physical benefits. Many come searching to learn meditation and to explore the philosophic view of life that yoga offers. It really is not important why you come to yoga. Through yoga, people go away feeling more physically fit, more self-confident, in control of their health, and with a general greater sense of wellness!!! Try it!

Is Yoga a Religion?

There are no spiritual beliefs or practices that students must adhere to in order to practice yoga. 

Is Yoga only for the young, thin and flexible?

No, everyone can benefit from the practice of yoga postures. I recommend yoga to people of all sizes and all ages. It is important to work with the current size and shape of your body to work towards greater health and vitality.

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