There is a increasing trend to practicing Yoga for many different reasons, which include attaining the yoga body or physique, relaxation and peace of mind, or to prevent injury and ailments. The most commonly practiced is Hatha Yoga, which focuses on postures and stretching the body.The word Yoga means 'union', it is an appropriately descriptive term since yoga's principles are based on the notion that the body and mind cannot and should not be considered as being separate from each other.
For hundreds of years Yoga has helped millions maintain flexibility, good health, and a positive outlook. Today, yoga is proving an effective therapy for stress reduction. Most people first come to yoga to alleviate pain and tightness, to acquire flexibility and agility, and to feel more in control of their body.yoga works wonders for:
Increasing Flexibility – yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really on the ‘radar screen’ let alone exercised.Increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons – the well-researched yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of the body.It has been found that the body which may have been quite rigid starts experiencing an amazing flexibility in even those parts which have not been consciously worked on.Massaging Organs of the Body – Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner.Complete Detox – By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as well as providing nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as the delay of ageing, energy and an amazing zest for life.
Fine toning of the muscles – Muscles that have become flaccid or weak are stimulated repeatedly to shed excess flab and flaccidity.
There simply is no other discipline quite like yoga because it utilized the body, mind and spirit, all in one practice. Yoga is indeed a spiritual path that is based on ancient sacred philosophy, but one does not need to make an ethical decision when practicing yoga, rather finding your own path is wholly accepted. The secrets of yoga are inwardness, concentration, and purification of mind and body with cleansing thoughts and food.