Some people view yoga as an exercise that you do at the gym. For other people, yoga is a way of life, a way of balancing body, mind and spirit. For these people, yoga is also a way of achieving optimal health with little or no pharmaceutical intervention.
Yoga is based on principles known to East Indians for thousands of years. It has been practiced in India and other areas of the Middle East and southern Asia since the beginning of recorded history. While yoga does have a large following in the United States, many people misunderstand what yoga and its practice are all about.
For those who live yoga, its practice consists of three main elements.
The asanas - Asanas in yoga are gentle postures or exercises that are done at least once a day. These postures can be simple stretching movements or complex routines of combined movements. Known as the salutation to the sun, or soorya namaskar, asana reportedly stretches, tones and firms every muscle in the body. The sun exercise consists of twelve individual poses that are combined into one routine.
The key to yoga exercise is to remember not to strain. Yoga is not an exercise where you 'feel the burn'. Instead, you should only go as far as comfortable in each posture, allowing your body to relax as you hold the pose.
The mind or meditation - Most yoga routines start and end with meditation. This stilling of the mind before doing the asanas allows you to focus on the postures and your body and not on outside concerns.
Meditation at the end of practice can be as simple as closing your eyes and allowing your mind to go blank. Many practitioners also follow guided meditations where they are led to quietly relax and let go. After any form of meditation, you should always find yourself grounded and alert.
The diet - Most practitioners of yoga as a lifestyle are also vegetarians. Many others carry it further and are vegans. Yoga postulates a gentle way of life, and as such, sees the consumption of meat as an obstacle.
The vegetarian diet is seen as a healthy diet also. Based strongly on grains, fruits and vegetables, it is believed that the diet provides all the nutrients needed for a healthy lifestyle. Vegans, because they do not eat dairy products or eggs, may need to watch their B-12 intake closely, as this important nutrient is most commonly found in animal products.
If you are considering trying yoga as an alternative lifestyle, the thing to remember is to go slowly. Plan on spending at least ninety minutes daily doing meditation and asanas. Early morning is favored for this, as it will start your day off feeling balanced. Switching to vegetarianism after a life of eating meat will be much harder. Go slowly and gradually, replacing the meat in your diet one meal at a time with healthier alternatives. The yoga lifestyle is not for everyone, but those that do live it swear by its benefits.
Yoga is not a religion. It is a personal, private way to balance and add stability in your life. To practice yoga does not mean you have to give up your personal beliefs, your association with religious groups and organizations or that you are one of those “new age” tree-huggers. It only means that you are a seeker, someone who is trying to live a happier, healthier life.
