Today's pace and lifestyle is very fast and stressful. Most people deal with this by focusing on physical exercise to relieve stress and tension. Although this is beneficial, it is just as necessary to have time to heal, relax and to rejuvenate. Yoga is able to heal and to relieve modern day stress while balancing the body, mind and spirit.
In fact it is essential and should be included in a daily regiment alongside physical exercise. Physical exercise can even contribute to more tension and energy blockages if proper healing and stretches are not part of the routine. In Chinese Medicine the proper flow of energy known as Chi is essential in maintaining optimal health and well being. Tension and stress can create blockages of Chi, which can also create illness, fatigue or depression. Yoga can alleviate these symptoms while adding a wealth of health benefits. Yoga is an ancient system of stretching that was designed to achieve enlightenment.
Although enlightenment would be a great achievement, there are also many other benefits to practicing Yoga. It is a centuries old spiritual practice that originated in India. It also incorporates proper relaxation techniques and meditation as well. Through a series of well-designed stretches and gentle exercises and breathing techniques, the practitioner is able to become more limber, more relaxed, have lower blood pressure and have a more positive outlook on life. Many people report that they feel rejuvenated, invigorated and energized after a session of Yoga. Yoga also helps to maintain a youthful appearance because great circulation and relaxation is promoted throughout the body. Yoga is also free. It requires nothing to buy such as special equipment or gear. Anyone can get a free Yoga session from a local Yoga school or even go to the library and check out a book. Then you can practice it and see for yourself how good it can make you feel. The best way to find out is to just do it!
The best part about Yoga are the immediate effects. People who practice Yoga notice a positive change and feeling of well being after just one session. This usually encourages them to continue and to explore other aspects of Yoga such as proper breathing, proper diet and proper thinking. There is even a spiritual aspect to Yoga that many find to be interesting and also helpful in contributing to their well-being. There are many different practices of Yoga from Hatha Yoga, which is more aerobic and gentle stretching to other forms that incorporate different equipment or special techniques. As if all of this was not enough to convince you to try Yoga, Hollywood is even getting into the act. Madonna is an avid practitioner and stars in a movie where she plays a Yoga Instructor and Courtney Love has recently been quoted that Yoga has replaced her need to do harmful drugs. Many people are already doing stretches and practicing Yoga without even knowing it, however Yoga is a specially designed system and is more precise than the average stretching routine. In the NFL professional Football players do Sun Salutations, which is an aerobic form of Yoga, during practice. With so many benefits and healthful reasons, everyone should look into and try Yoga. Of course everyone should also consult their physician if they have any injuries, heart conditions or are pregnant before practicing Yoga.
As mentioned earlier, there are many forms of Yoga. Hatha Yoga, which is the system of stretches and exercises, is the most popular and well known in the West. The word Yoga has many different meanings and interpretations. One version is that it means Union. Some would say it is the Union with Mind and Body, then there is the Union with Soul and God, and there is also yet another interoperation of Union with all things in the universe. Which ever version you prefer it is definitely noteworthy that there is a great occurrence between you and all that is around you. That a definite achievement of balance and well-being will be attained through the practice of Yoga and that it will lead to bigger and better things in life. One of the more popular mottos in the Yoga World is that Health Is Wealth. It is so true; you can have millions of dollars but if you were not healthy enough to enjoy it than it would not be worth very much. Health and well-being are vital to happiness and joy. For optimal Health levels Yoga also incorporates and suggests that the practitioner also engage in Healthy Diet, Positive Thinking and Proper Relaxation Techniques. Traditionally a Vegetarian Diet is highly suggested for Yoga practioners, beyond the obvious health benefits of low fat and cholesterol, there are other benefits such as keeping fit, energetic and as well as promoting environmental and global healing. However not everyone is willing to give up there current diet for a complete vegetarian one, however a moderate diet is always beneficial, less meat, more fruits and vegetables, nuts and light carbohydrates such as grains and rice. Avoiding consumption of alcohol is also highly suggested. All of this may sound let's say challenging but surprisingly many people who try Yoga or practice it usually find that they will naturally lean towards being vegetarian and will not need to consume alcohol or any harmful drugs. The effects are that profound. You will find that your attitude and level of Health and Well Being will be so heightened that you will naturally choose what is most healthy for your body and mind and actually enjoy it! It very much like putting high grade fuel into an exotic car and tuning it up, you wouldn't want to put bad fuel or keep old oil in a nice car. Well the same goes with your body, once you have purified it of toxins and wastes through Yoga and exercise, you will naturally not want to pollute it with bad foods or alcohol or drugs. Courtney Love as well as many other Hollywood Celebrities have found this to be the case and are publicly announcing it to benefit others!
Positive thinking also goes hand in hand with proper stretching and exercises that comprise Yoga. Many of today's headlines are full of tragedies, bad news and heartache stories. Although this may appear interesting and helps sell newspapers, the truth is many of these negatives issues contribute to your psychological make up. After being conditioned to receive and to desire for more new negative headlines or tragedies or stories you start to also think negatively. This does not contribute to your happiness or well-being. In order to be happy and to feel positive you must also think positive. We all know that the old saying of you are what you eat is true but it also goes further in you are what you think. It is a fact that stress and negative thinking can cause disease and illness in the body an example would be ulcers and headaches. However we can reverse this process by starting to think positive. This can be done by slowly eliminating bad news, and also by trying to look for the good in all things and people. After a while you will be in the habit of thinking positively which will in turn make you more cheerful and have a better outlook and attitude in life. We all know that yes there are bad things and people in the World but let's not dwell on that and concentrate on the things that are good and beautiful in this World, such as love, a smile on a child's face, flowers and so on. You will find that this will change your mood and levels of happiness and also level of health and well-being. Yoga says, don't be a sour puss! Happiness and cheerfulness is very attractive and infectious. If you are happy and cheerful you find that others around you will be too and so you will be doing your part on uplifting your health and well-being and of those around you as well!
Proper relaxation is so important today. With people's busy schedules many are getting stressed out or burned out. It is like a candle that burns twice as bright, it also burns out twice as quickly. But if we can properly relax, then our body's natural healing mechanisms will be able to function and heal and rejuvenate or body and mind. If we continue to just be busy all the time without relaxation then we may be headed towards very unhealthy consequences. In every Yoga routine there is a period of total relaxation. This gives the body time and energy to recuperate from the stretches and exercises and to fully recover. It also just feels really good and many consider it to be a treat or a reward. It starts out with lying on the back with palms and hands facing the sky with the eyes closed. Then slowly you repeat in your mind that each part of your body is completely relaxed starting with your head all the way down until you get to your toes. All the while you are also breathing slowly and smoothly and naturally. You will find that this feels very nice and relaxing indeed! Yoga has other methods that also include meditation. To get proper benefits and instructions it is highly suggested that you find a book or even better yet take a class at you local Yoga School. Your health, well-being and happiness can only increase! You will be glad that you did!
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