Dear Yoga


What is yoga and which are the benefits of practicing yoga

yoga, yoga benefits, yoga asanas, kinds of yoga

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word 'Yug' that means union. Union between matter and spirit, union between the microcosm and the macrocosm and union between men and God, although today it is often translated as the union of the body, mind, and spirit.

Yoga is more than 5,000 years old, and was created in India as a means to increase strength, flexibility and balance, but most of all as a means to reach God through meditation.

Yoga has a series of "Asanas" or body postures and breathing exercises that help to achieve control of the body and mind, while promoting health, strength, flexibility, and peace of mind.

Although many people think so, Yoga is not a religion, but a means to develop the body, the mind and the spirituality.

Many agnostic and atheist practice yoga because of its numerous benefits, or because they are seeking verifiable experience and personal transformation. And many christians, muslims, hindus and jews, practice some kind of Yoga meditation, in order to contact their higher consciousness, or commune deeply with the Lord.

And it is very important to distinguish spirituality from religion. You can be a spirituality giant and not be religious, or be very religious and not spiritual. Or you can be a giant in both, but spirituality or interest in the spiritual world and matters is not the same as religion.

And that's why Yoga is for everyone, regardless of age, size, shape, or faith. The Yoga "asanas" gently nurtures your body, stretch and tone the muscles, release pressure in the joints, and align and strengthen the spine. While the breathing exercises, also called "pranayamas" are meant to calm and relax the mind helping you get in contact with the deepest part of your inner self.

Many think that the Yoga is a means to let go stress and negativity, and you can really achieve those results utilizing Yoga, although the best way to get free from stress is learning to say "thy will be done".

Do what you have to do, in the best way that you can do it. Do it with love and a disinterested attitude. Do not link your work with the results. Do your best and live the results in the hands of God, and this will release stress and anxiety from your life. 

But if you like the idea of practicing Yoga, at the same time you will reach an improvement of your health, peace and harmony, and a greater awareness and connectivity to your true essence.

That's why Yoga is highly recommended for people that live in a competitive and stressing work environment, for people that has health problems, and for any one that seeks spiritual illumination.

There are eight different kinds of yoga, one for each nature in mind, so you can choose the one that appeals you more, but they are all lead to the same end.

The eight different kinds of Yoga are:

Bhakti Yoga

Karma Yoga

Jñaña Yoga

Raja Yoga

Mantra Yoga

Laya Yoga

Tantra Yoga

Hatha Yoga

Some also talk about a nineth Yoga: Yogananda's Yoga, the Kundalini Yoga or the Kriya Yoga but we will talk about them in other articles.

(to be continued)

Written by Dr. Roberto A. Bonomi

You will find all that you need to know about, self help, stress control, weight control, stop smoking, mind control, relax, motivation and meditation with subliminal messages at Dr. Bonomi's web site: http://www.drbonomi.com and you can post free your own articles, or find free articles for your web site or ezine at http://articles.drbonomi.com