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And You Thought Yoga Was Just
Stretching!
While on the way to spot a friend of mine at the local YMCA, he
asked why I didn’t just join the gym and I explained to him
that I practice Yoga and occasional calisthenics at home for my
exercises and really didn’t feel the need for a gym membership.
His response was predictable: “Yoga…isn’t that just
stretching?”
I smirked at the familiarity of the question and proceeded to
explain to him the theme of this article. As I told him and for
those who may not know otherwise: No, Yoga is way more than
just stretching or getting into supposedly awkward looking
poses and positions. It is a combination of stretching,
breathing exercises, meditation and perhaps the most overlooked
limb, adherence to a proper diet.
The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind
and is often interpreted as a "union" or a method of
discipline. Its ultimate goal is the union of man with God or
the universe in one breath. Furthermore, it aims to liberate
the spirit as the mind and spirit are equally involved in its
practice. Yoga is indeed the oldest existing physical-culture
system in the world.
Besides being a systematic and scientifically proven path to
attaining physical fitness, it delays aging, rejuvenates and
improves one’s appearance, maintains suppleness and increases
vitality and the creative part of life. With its core warm-up
exercises known as the Sun Salutations (which are somewhat
similar to the calisthenics exercise known as ‘burpees’), the
inversion poses, forward and backward bending poses, balancing
exercises for the arms and building focus, the average
practitioner will attest to the fact that for attaining
fitness, Yoga can stand its own.
Think Yoga can’t help with building strength? Think again.
Heck, I challenge the most adept body-builder to hold the
simple yet powerful peacock-pose for 90 seconds straight. Bet
you they’d crash half-way in its execution-if they make it that
far. Yoga also offers unique breathing exercises which are
wonderful for patients with respiratory disorders and even
singers and public speakers, moreover with its unique
relaxation pose, oft times practiced during and after its
execution,
Yoga offers a systematic means of deeply relaxing the entire
body perhaps the way no other exercise can. (Keep in mind of
course that several of the poses give a deep body massage not
unlike the ones received in salons…just thought I should throw
that in.) With countless books, DVD’s, videos and classes being
offered for all ages, levels of fitness and experience (some of
them being actually free for the first couple of lessons to try
Yoga out),
I suggest you give it a trial and see for yourself what it can
do. One thing I promise you is this; you will walk out of your
class and nod in agreement that indeed: “yoga is way more than
just stretching.” It is THE exercise.
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