In these health conscious times where we are all too aware of the importance of keeping fit, taking excess weight off and making sure our bodies are strong and flexible Yoga is often a good option to achieve these things. Indeed there is little to beat it in terms of helping our bodies gain strength, keep a youthful bounce in the step and combat stress. Some of the more gentle forms of Yoga such as Restorative Yoga or Yin Yoga tend not to incorporate a cardio-vascular workout in the routines but many other styles of yoga give good workouts across the whole range of body fitness.
However there is another side to Yoga which may appeal to different people, or it may attract people who want to keep fit but in a more thoughtful way than doing 'just a workout.' Yoga was devised by philosophers and monks who wanted to experience the ultimate in self realisation. They would sit for hours in mediation and contemplation, seeking that moment of enlightenment as they connected with a Universal source of energy or Goodness. In order to prepare their bodies for such a demanding yet passive activity they found that by doing sequences of postures regularly they could get their bodies into wonderful condition to stay mobile and healthy whilst they meditated. They combined this with breathing practices which helped their lungs and heart - as well as helping them change their state of consciousness.
Yoga
This background gives a rich history and depth to the practice of yoga and for people who would like to deepen their own self understanding and have greater awareness and more control over their unruly and often unhelpful thinking patterns yoga offers this too. This aspect of yoga is often left out of everyday classes where fitness is the goal, although remnant of it remain in some breathing exercises and the all-important final relaxation. Remember next time you do a yoga class that that time at the end where you let go of tension and feel the energy and relief in your body after it has worked through all those postures is really to help you know yourself better. There is definitely a lot more to Yoga than we first realise.
Ask your yoga teacher for more information and maybe he or she will start to add extra elements of yoga practice into your classes. Or maybe you want a great fitness routine now and don't want to use yoga's other dimensions - there is no right way to do it. Whatever suits you is the best way forward.
Yoga Exercise
Restorative Yoga Workshops and more information about how to use this form of self healing can be found on Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga. The Fifty, Fit and Fabulous programme provides a step by step approach to wellbeing through holistic care and is outlined on these sites.
See Also : Yoga World Health Club