Yoga! Much More Than Just a Fitness Tool.

Yoga! Although the time of its actual inception is unknown we do know the art and practice of yoga dates back several thousand years. It is mentioned in the Rig Veda which is one of the oldest texts known to man and dates back to approximately 1700 BC. There have also been statues found, from the Indus Valley civilization, of the meditating yogi which date back 6 to 7 thousand years ago. Still, oral tradition says it is a lot older with some lore dating it back as much as 26,000 years. We may never know when exactly Yoga first started but perhaps better questions to ask might be why did it start and what exactly is Yoga?

Learn more about the history of Yoga here.

Today, here in the western world, yoga is used mainly as a fitness and exercise tool much like Pilates. Although you can find more traditionally taught Yoga, most of what you find is instructions and classes which deal mainly with the poses (asanas) and the breathing (pranayama). Very little, if at all, is taught about the full discipline of Yoga. The benefits of the asanas and pranayama are a huge boost to your overall health but to truly get the full benefits of Yoga we need to understand that Yoga is a lifestyle and thought process not just a physical exercise.

This does not mean you need to run out and align yourself with the Hindu religion or become a scholastic expert on the ancient Indian civilization and religious practices just to do yoga. However, having a full understanding of yoga and its intentions will allow you to get the most out of this beautiful practice and its many benefits.

Yoga is an ancient practice of bringing the mind and body together. Through it you begin to gain the knowledge that neither one is separate from the other but rather they are two facets of a whole. While practicing yoga you are also meditating, relaxing and relieving stress while exercising. You are not just strengthening and toning your body but your mind as well. As you exercise the two together they become stronger and healthier, both supporting each other. There is also a spiritual aspect to Yoga. By becoming more closely in tune with your own mind/body you will also become more aware of and in tune with the universal god or energy. Yoga, in the ancient practice, is intended to bring you closer to being one with that energy. In allowing yourself to align with that energy you not only add to your mind/body fitness you also open doorways which allow you to live more peacefully and stress free.

When practiced properly, and as a whole, the health benefits of Yoga are phenomenal. I would encourage anyone who is trying to live a healthy lifestyle to incorporate Yoga into their daily routine. I would also suggest, if you are just beginning your journey with Yoga, that you find an instructor who will teach you how to gain the full benefits of Yoga. Find an instructor who will help you learn more about Yoga’s history and its full practice. Yoga is a wonderful fitness tool but it is also much more.

Interesting reading and info on Yoga

http://www.discover-yoga-online.com/history-of-yoga.html

http://www.webmd.com/balance/the-health-benefits-of-yoga

http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/yoga/Benefits.html

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/beginnersguide/yogabenefits.asp

http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/24/77-surprising-health-benefits-of-yoga/

http://yogawithsubhash.com/2010/12/03/origins-of-yoga-is-yoga-hindu/

http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/india/rigveda.html

http://bbu.pilates.com/instructor-training/what-is-pilates.html