By Linda Goldsborough
Yoga is no more a mere fad in the West, but a way of life. People in the west have certainly awoken to the benefits of yoga and are supposed to be more adept and regular than the place where Yoga originated-India. Yoga, thus has become the panacea for all illnesses.
The word Yoga is derived from Sanskrit word 'Yuj', meaning to unify. While yoga seems on the surface like any other fitness regime, it is very different, as the aim of Yoga is to harmonize the practitioner's body, mind and spirit together.
Inhaling and exhaling that forms at the grass root level, first stills the body and tense muscles and enables the mind to achieve stillness or a time when thoughts cease to exist.
Yoga asana or postures depict natural actions like boating or rowing to the posture a peacock assumes, a lion assumes etc. these postures, along with breathing in and out are known to create certain vibrations in your body, that bring out the overall vitality of the spirit.
The famous Surya Namaskar or salutations to the Sun-the giver of light, energy, warmth, wisdom and the sustainer of Life on Earth, is supposed to be refreshing, rejuvenating, bringing instant nimbleness to tense muscles, thus enabling us to kick start the day! From the head to the toe, including the spinal cord, the arms and legs, are flexed. Surya Namaskar is known to be a natural detoxifying ritual, toning the digestive system, preventing constipation, improves the lung capacity, boosts memory, by toning the nervous system, ensures balanced functioning of the thyroid glands, improves circulation and thus rendering a glow to the skin, prevents premature graying, makes one lithe and graceful. A ten minute ritual can add decades of health and years to your life!
Bhastrika is a highly effective practice where the practitioner kneels and brings the arms to either side, inhales while raising the hands and exhales forcefully while bringing them back to the sides. This practice has the dual benefits of forcing out the accumulated phlegm from the head and also toning abs. the posture of sitting in Vajrasan (kneeling by bending the feet outwards) aids in quick digestion too.
The ancient practice of grinding herbs by rolling the pestle in circular motion has been incorporated in Yoga, and is good for the shoulders and tummy. Simhasana or kneeling with the tongue protruding out is supposed to clear the throat of coughs. Kapalbhatti, which includes only deep exhalation, is supposed to clear the head of phlegm, thus preventing sinus.
Exercising to the tune of music in a gym may be good for your muscle, but Yoga can be truly exhilarating to the mind as well.
To discover more about fitness for busy people, please visit http://greathealthguides.com/keepingfit
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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 9:56 AM
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