Orchidea
09-28-2005, 04:07 PM
It's the hot trend: you've heard Madonna talk about it in her quasi-British accent; aside from which, your Starbucks addiction is in full swing and you need something relaxing to balance it out. And with your work/classes/illicit or hectic affairs, some deep breathing might help, especially if you put down that cigarette. Let's relax ourselves from stress and everything else which may cause it or get in the way to your internal peace.
Still, you're not sure exactly what yoga means, or exactly what it will require of you. Well, let's see if we can help clear up some misconceptions and get you on the road to your first handstand. Learn about the background of yoga.
What is yoga? Yoga first popped up more than 3,000 years ago in what we now call India. The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word "yuj," which means "to bind, join, attach, and yoke." So now you're thinking: "Am I going to relax, or am I going to plow a field?!" Calm down, of course we'll get there, someday. :tongue10: This whole thing is about relaaaaaaaaxing. See, "yuj" also means "union, to direct and concentrate one's attention on, to use and apply." In other words, yoga is about concentrating on your mind and body. It's about disciplining yourself to balance your mind, soul, and emotions, so that you can connect with your individual spirit which is in turn part of G-d. It's about focusing your energy into constructive channels. And the name of an individual who follows the teachings of yoga is known as a "yogi." :iprayu:
Did you know that there are actually lots of different types of yoga; it is not strictly a term for the stretchy exercise we will be discussing. The term "yoga" can refer to any of these things:
karma yoga -- focuses on giving of oneself without expecting any reward (yawn)
jnana yoga -- a philosophical approach to unveiling the illusions of the world
bhakti yoga -- channeling emotional energy into one's spiritual practice
rhaja yoga -- focuses on concentration and mind control
As there are many styles of dance, so are there many forms of yoga. In fact, a new one might be developing right now, as a teacher puts his/her own stamp on a specific technique. Current popular styles include (but are not limited to):
Gentle yoga, which is sometimes also called by the generic name "hatha yoga" --this usage of "hatha" is debatable; some folks believe the term should only be used to refer to the general idea for all physical yogas, while others use it colloquially to refer to the gentler style. In Gentle yoga, the focus is on long stretches and flexibility, with slow, deep breathing focusing on the mind.
Kundalini yoga, which works on the premise that the body has eight "chakras," and through use of "breath of fire" (rapid breathing), one can heat up the body from the bottom up, eventually "raising kundalini" to achieve a feeling of high enlightenment.
Power yoga, which is also known by the Sanskrit term Vinyasa yoga (a "vinyasa" is a series of rapid movements which warm up the body all over). This is a very active form of yoga, in which a person is moves quickly through the poses (called "Asanas"), not holding them as long as in other styles. It is virtually guaranteed that you will sweat a lot in this; it is not for the faint of heart and gives a real challenge to the muscles.
While yoga is for many a fantastic way to exercise, it definitely isn't for everybody. Some people get bored, others don't think it's worth the money, and many don't have the time to make a commitment to it (to really get into yoga, you have to do it more than once). So we've come up with 5 categories for you to consider: health, difficulty, lifestyle, time, and money.
Health: First off, there are many reasons why participating in yoga is good. It strengthens your cardiovascular system, for one, and we know how important that is. It also strengthens your muscles and stretches them out, which can help avoid muscle aches from any previous workout or just daily living. Sitting at a desk all day can round the spine and constrain the neck; yoga helps make up for that. Yoga is especially ideal for people that are overweight, elderly, pregnant :pregnt: , or all three. It's gentle, so it doesn't shock the body.
There are mental health benefits too. Yoga promotes a feeling of clarity and serenity -- there's a reason many people who do yoga seem so relaxed and focused. When you're trying to balance on one foot with the other foot held up three feet in the air, you learn how to center the mind on just one thing. This can be helpful in all sorts of situations. You also will become more centered and focused, your body will be more limber and those little creaky pains will dissolve, and you will wake up each day feeling calm and refreshed. You will also have something in common with yoga-crazy stars like Julia Roberts, and Ricky Martin. My advice: enjoy!
Difficulty: Pretty much everyone can do some aspect of yoga. However, if you do have any injuries or are pregnant, there might be some things to avoid. However, in general, even the novice can find some position that feels good. You don't have to put both legs behind your head on the first day (or ever). However, if you simply do not enjoy stretching of any sort, then you probably won't mesh with yoga classes.
Lifestyle: You may be wondering, "But I like a good steak and really really enjoy all my material possessions, including my new Benz. Can I still do yoga?" Well, sure. Although some people adopt vegetarianism or veganism as part of a complete yogic lifestyle, you are under no pressure to change anything. Take what you want, and just enjoy. After a few months, you will become so selfless and "deep" that you will probably sell your new Benz to help the less fortunate. :innocen:
Time: Most classes range from an hour to an hour and 45 minutes, and for home practice we recommend at least 45 minutes. Since much of the benefit of doing yoga comes from the deep breathing and focusing on the sacred experience, trying to sneak in a 20-minute series might not give you enough time to shed the weight of the world that rests on your shoulders. So you need to give yourself time to let go of that repressed anger at your boss, take a deep breath, and start moving. If you can't take an hour or two out of the day, then yoga might present a problem to you.
If you prefer to try out some yoga at home, find yourself a quiet room where you can have some solitude. It is preferably to use an uncarpeted floor, as thick carpeting can affect your balance. Lay out a sticky mat or a large towel for slight cushioning.
You may have heard that yoga positions and movements have funky new age names like "turtle greeting rock" and "tree growing toward sun." Yes, there are some fun names, but that's part of the fun of yoga! :happy34:
In Judaism, yoga, which is considered part of meditation, I certainly believe is not allowed for the fact that the concentration of mind, soul and body is connected to G-d and concept of Enlightenment, and of course for many other significant reasons concerning our Torah and its commandments. But as a relaxation technique to free yourself from stress and daily concerns, which at times seems impossible to do, yoga and other relaxation exercises such as Tai-Chi, is in my opinion, a good way to relieve stress and to relax.
If anyone is interested to know more about yoga, refer to the following site.
www.yoga.com
Still, you're not sure exactly what yoga means, or exactly what it will require of you. Well, let's see if we can help clear up some misconceptions and get you on the road to your first handstand. Learn about the background of yoga.
What is yoga? Yoga first popped up more than 3,000 years ago in what we now call India. The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word "yuj," which means "to bind, join, attach, and yoke." So now you're thinking: "Am I going to relax, or am I going to plow a field?!" Calm down, of course we'll get there, someday. :tongue10: This whole thing is about relaaaaaaaaxing. See, "yuj" also means "union, to direct and concentrate one's attention on, to use and apply." In other words, yoga is about concentrating on your mind and body. It's about disciplining yourself to balance your mind, soul, and emotions, so that you can connect with your individual spirit which is in turn part of G-d. It's about focusing your energy into constructive channels. And the name of an individual who follows the teachings of yoga is known as a "yogi." :iprayu:
Did you know that there are actually lots of different types of yoga; it is not strictly a term for the stretchy exercise we will be discussing. The term "yoga" can refer to any of these things:
karma yoga -- focuses on giving of oneself without expecting any reward (yawn)
jnana yoga -- a philosophical approach to unveiling the illusions of the world
bhakti yoga -- channeling emotional energy into one's spiritual practice
rhaja yoga -- focuses on concentration and mind control
As there are many styles of dance, so are there many forms of yoga. In fact, a new one might be developing right now, as a teacher puts his/her own stamp on a specific technique. Current popular styles include (but are not limited to):
Gentle yoga, which is sometimes also called by the generic name "hatha yoga" --this usage of "hatha" is debatable; some folks believe the term should only be used to refer to the general idea for all physical yogas, while others use it colloquially to refer to the gentler style. In Gentle yoga, the focus is on long stretches and flexibility, with slow, deep breathing focusing on the mind.
Kundalini yoga, which works on the premise that the body has eight "chakras," and through use of "breath of fire" (rapid breathing), one can heat up the body from the bottom up, eventually "raising kundalini" to achieve a feeling of high enlightenment.
Power yoga, which is also known by the Sanskrit term Vinyasa yoga (a "vinyasa" is a series of rapid movements which warm up the body all over). This is a very active form of yoga, in which a person is moves quickly through the poses (called "Asanas"), not holding them as long as in other styles. It is virtually guaranteed that you will sweat a lot in this; it is not for the faint of heart and gives a real challenge to the muscles.
While yoga is for many a fantastic way to exercise, it definitely isn't for everybody. Some people get bored, others don't think it's worth the money, and many don't have the time to make a commitment to it (to really get into yoga, you have to do it more than once). So we've come up with 5 categories for you to consider: health, difficulty, lifestyle, time, and money.
Health: First off, there are many reasons why participating in yoga is good. It strengthens your cardiovascular system, for one, and we know how important that is. It also strengthens your muscles and stretches them out, which can help avoid muscle aches from any previous workout or just daily living. Sitting at a desk all day can round the spine and constrain the neck; yoga helps make up for that. Yoga is especially ideal for people that are overweight, elderly, pregnant :pregnt: , or all three. It's gentle, so it doesn't shock the body.
There are mental health benefits too. Yoga promotes a feeling of clarity and serenity -- there's a reason many people who do yoga seem so relaxed and focused. When you're trying to balance on one foot with the other foot held up three feet in the air, you learn how to center the mind on just one thing. This can be helpful in all sorts of situations. You also will become more centered and focused, your body will be more limber and those little creaky pains will dissolve, and you will wake up each day feeling calm and refreshed. You will also have something in common with yoga-crazy stars like Julia Roberts, and Ricky Martin. My advice: enjoy!
Difficulty: Pretty much everyone can do some aspect of yoga. However, if you do have any injuries or are pregnant, there might be some things to avoid. However, in general, even the novice can find some position that feels good. You don't have to put both legs behind your head on the first day (or ever). However, if you simply do not enjoy stretching of any sort, then you probably won't mesh with yoga classes.
Lifestyle: You may be wondering, "But I like a good steak and really really enjoy all my material possessions, including my new Benz. Can I still do yoga?" Well, sure. Although some people adopt vegetarianism or veganism as part of a complete yogic lifestyle, you are under no pressure to change anything. Take what you want, and just enjoy. After a few months, you will become so selfless and "deep" that you will probably sell your new Benz to help the less fortunate. :innocen:
Time: Most classes range from an hour to an hour and 45 minutes, and for home practice we recommend at least 45 minutes. Since much of the benefit of doing yoga comes from the deep breathing and focusing on the sacred experience, trying to sneak in a 20-minute series might not give you enough time to shed the weight of the world that rests on your shoulders. So you need to give yourself time to let go of that repressed anger at your boss, take a deep breath, and start moving. If you can't take an hour or two out of the day, then yoga might present a problem to you.
If you prefer to try out some yoga at home, find yourself a quiet room where you can have some solitude. It is preferably to use an uncarpeted floor, as thick carpeting can affect your balance. Lay out a sticky mat or a large towel for slight cushioning.
You may have heard that yoga positions and movements have funky new age names like "turtle greeting rock" and "tree growing toward sun." Yes, there are some fun names, but that's part of the fun of yoga! :happy34:
In Judaism, yoga, which is considered part of meditation, I certainly believe is not allowed for the fact that the concentration of mind, soul and body is connected to G-d and concept of Enlightenment, and of course for many other significant reasons concerning our Torah and its commandments. But as a relaxation technique to free yourself from stress and daily concerns, which at times seems impossible to do, yoga and other relaxation exercises such as Tai-Chi, is in my opinion, a good way to relieve stress and to relax.
If anyone is interested to know more about yoga, refer to the following site.
www.yoga.com