Yoga
Why Yoga?
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yui, meaning yoke or union. The aim of this ancient Eastern practice is to create unity between the self and the outer world and to resolve inner turmoil in order to help us achieve our full potential.
Regular Yoga practice creates harmony between the mind and the body. This calms the “disorder” of our thoughts—as if stilling the ripples on a lake—so that we better perceive our connection to the world around us.
There are many forms of yoga, the most well known being hatha, which literally translates from Sanskrit as “union through determined effort”.
Hatha uses the discipline of physical postures and breathing techniques to “yoke” the body and mind, thus opening a pathway to physical health, emotional stability, and mental balance.
The benefits of this ancient practice are recorded in many writings and sacred texts which date back to 400 to 200 BC. The true intended purpose of the physical part of the practice, the asanas, is to prepare the body for hours of meditation. The transformation of the mind was and still is considered the greatest desired goal of yoga practice.
The basic principle of yoga is that the key to happiness resides within each of us. This practice is simply a means by which we discover and draw upon this innate wisdom. This practice opens the door to our full potential as individuals through a system of conscious exercise that trains not only the body, but also the breath, and ultimately, the mind.
Basically yoga helps achieve harmony between the body and the mind. The practice of poses (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama) cleanse the body, restores energy, makes you stronger and more flexible.
It will also enable you to achieve emotional balance, leaving you better equipped to deal with the demands of your lifestyle.
