Introduction to Yoga

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Yoga is a perfect example of holistic health because it combines body and mind. Many people practice yoga because of this body-mind connection. For some people yoga is not only a form of exercise, but also a spiritual path. Most people in the West practice Hatha yoga, but there are many kinds of yoga.

Interestingly, Hatha is the composite of two ancient Sanskrit words. Ha is the word for sun and tha is the word for moon. Hatha yoga therefore is the union between the sun and moon--the combining of opposites. It is also, not coincidentally, the combining of the mind and the body.

When you perform yoga, you'll find that not only does it lead to greater strength and vitality for your body, but it also provides an unparalleled peace of mind.

Yoga is a great form of exercise for people with physical ailments such as arthritis or fibromyalgia. Yoga exercises are expressly used to not only ease tired, tense muscles, and to improve flexibility, but to tone the body's internal organs as well. Yoga is purposely performed slowly with focus given to your breathing.

The beauty of yoga is that it can be practiced by anyone. It doesn't matter how old you are. If you desire a more limber body, yoga is one of the quickest ways to attain it. Yoga also increases an individual's physical coordination and promotes better posture. And it does all this without potentially hazard negative effects that are often incurred in high-impact forms of exercise.

Yoga is also one of the best exercises to do if you are not in the physical shape you used to be in. It's a great way to introduce your body to subtle gentle movement performed at your own pace. If you are considering an overall exercise program but feel that you don't have the energy at the moment, try yoga first. You'll find that, ironically, the gentle movements and relaxed tone of this ancient practice reinvigorates the body to provide more energy. At the same time, your body is refreshed and renewed, giving you a clear-headed feeling.

Curiously, Hatha yoga reaches much of the same effects of aerobic exercise. It improves your overall health by reducing stress, but unlike aerobics, it doesn't increase you heart rate. And many of the postures go a long way towards strengthening your bones, but without the need of lifting weights or doing other weight-bearing exercises.

When performed properly, in conjunction with proper related breathing techniques, yoga also helps stimulate the circulatory system, the digestive process as well as the nervous and endocrine system.