Some historians believe that yoga comes from India, some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. Yoga literally means union or to join, integrate, and comes from the Sanskrit language.
Many believe that yoga was actually part of India’s philosophical system. However, not everyone there practiced yoga and it is not known to have been a religion.
Today, over 4.5 million people in the United States alone practice some type of yoga. In fact, at gyms and fitness centers round the globe, stretching, dance and other exercise classes often contain elements that are directly derived from yoga. Physical therapists and other healthcare practitioners also incorporate yoga in with some of their therapeutic exercises.
Of the many different types of yoga, the most popular and well known, often witnessed in movies, on the television and in local health establishments, hospitals and other healthcare facilities and adult educational classes is called physical yoga or hatha yoga, also referred to as yoga for health. Hatha yoga consists of three parts: a series of movements or exercises referred to as asana (postures or poses in English), many different kinds of breathing techniques plus relaxation.
What is Yoga all About
Yoga is all about discipline. The purpose surrounding yoga is to help you stretch your muscles, strengthen your body, enhance your mind or concentration and help you relax and have a flexible body. Some try to reach higher levels of consciousness; for example, they try to abstain from negative things (greed, lying, cheating, etc.) and practice positive things (self-controlled, contentment, etc.).
Yoga invites participants to gently ease themselves into positions, never forcing painful movements. And the exercises copy nature, with poses being traced to animal shapes: god, cat, cobra, eagle, tortoise and crab, as examples.
Note that yoga poses require calmness, concentration and balance. And yoga exercises promote strength. The bottom line is that every yoga movement has an effect on a muscle, nerve or gland. Each movement is carefully thought out ahead of time.
There is much more to learn about yoga. And with the Internet growing in popularity, you can search for yoga instruction via online bookstore, health stores, even auction sites like eBay.com. Find in depth books and articles about types of yoga, postures, exercises, floor mats to help with practice time and a lot more. Videos, DVDs, CD and audio cassettes can also help teach you lessons and postures, along with healing techniques that incorporate yoga.
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