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Yoga meaning ‘joining’ was first heard of in the Western world in the 19th century, being invented by Hindu yogis over 2500 years ago. Involving physical as well as mental training yoga will eventually (if carried out properly) affect your body, mind an spirit and according to some it may lead to spiritual enlightenment. The basic principles include proper exercise, breathing, relaxation, diet, positive thinking and meditation. Once learnt you can achieve inner peace, total health, calmness and a sense of well being. Most people today practice yoga as a form of relaxation and exercise.
Traditionally yoga is associated with Indian philosophy. One point of this complex set of ideas is that Hindus believe that the universe is only a manifestation of reality – Brahman. Which is believed to be responsible for every single thing in the universe, including everyone’s soul. Thus, the theory behind yoga is that if we can ‘link’ with this Brahman and therefore become one with the universe and everything in it, we will no longer be tied to time, space or self in the actual physical sense.
In order to practice yoga on the spiritual level, you must be able to clear your mind and bring all your attention on to one thing. The bases of meditation, which will help create a sense of freeing yourself from your body. You may eventually begin to fell that you are in some way connected to the universal Brahman and thus releasing all your problems and pain.
To those who seriously practice yoga, their body and mind are part of an illusionary world, with a limited life span, but one where the spirit passes on to another body, when the original body wears out. This is known as reincarnation. However, to those whose spiritual believes do not coincide with Hinduism, yoga can help improve your physical fitness, health and leaves you with a sense of harmony. It may also help those with an extremely stressful lifestyle to relax and develop a less stressful attitude towards life.
The various postures used while practising yoga are known as asanas and have been developed to exercise every part of your body. Thus improving the body from the outside as well as from within, it is believed that these postures can increase the flow of energy passing through your body. Some yoga sessions also involve meditation by means of using a mantra (simple word, phrase or sound) which is repeated silently or aloud. The constant repetition of positive words or phrases to oneself is believed to bring these qualities into your life.
No special equipment is needed to practice yoga but most purchase a mat, which sticks to the floor better then a towel or blanket. While practising yoga it is best to wear loose fitting, cotton clothing without socks. All you have to do then is relax, switch off and stretch. However, depending on why you decided to start practising yoga there are different styles to use. To get fit Hatha yoga, which is based on stretching, especially of the spine, can be used. Iyengar yoga is best for the physically minded individuals, and is done by focusing on correct postures by means of ropes and blocks. Raja yoga is mostly concerned with the mind and spiritual side of yoga.
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