Wed 1 Jul 2009
Millions of people all around the world are practicing yoga these days. They range from the lady next door and go right up to well known public figures and celebrities. If you are wondering what is the reason for the new-found popularity of yoga then let me explain some of the main benefits that the regular practice of yoga can bring to you.
Before I get into the most important reasons for practicing yoga, it would be good to have a basic overview of yoga itself. Yoga was developed in India several thousand years ago and it is a system of physical, mental and spiritual development. It consists of physical postures, deep relaxation techniques and meditation exercises. These days the physical postures (called “asanas”) are the most widely practiced form of yoga and you can learn them in studios and clubs around the world.
Now that you have a basic overview of yoga, let’s look at why you should think about beginning the practice of yoga.
1. Yoga is a key to improved physical well being. Usually this is what most people want when they sign up for a yoga course, and yoga is indeed efficient in helping people on the physical level. The various yoga postures, when combined with a proper diet and other exercise, can help you to reach high level of health, fitness and vitality. The key to this is in the digestive system where yoga postures can help you to overcome acidity, constipation and indigestion, thus preventing the many illnesses that have their root in the digestive tract. Furthermore, when yoga postures are combined with deep relaxation and meditation they help to lower blood pressure, and this becomes especially important as you grow older and become more susceptible to heart disease.
2. Yoga can help you to look better. It is common knowledge that a lot of people practice yoga in order to lose weight and look more attractive. Can yoga really be of help in this? Simply put, outer beauty is but an indication of inner health. If you take steps to improve your health, you will look better. The biological explanation of “beauty” is useful here. According to modern biology, animals (and humans) choose partners who appear to be able to produce offspring and successfully spread their genes. A beautiful appearance here means an appearance that is a sign of inner health and vitality. You may not be thinking about spreading genes when you see a beautiful man or woman but this is where our conceptions of beauty originate according to the biologists. Thus, the ability of yoga to make you feel better and have better overall health, will also give you an outer appearance that is more pleasing to everyone around you.
3. Yoga is a great way to manage stress
By practicing yoga postures and augmenting them with some relaxation and meditation you can attain a state of inner mental peace that will keep you calm in even the most challenging situations.
There’s a lot more that can be said about yoga, but the three aspects that I have described are probably enticing enough for you to at least inquire more and possibly to begin your own personal practice of yoga as soon as possible.
