WHAT IS YOGA?
Yoga, meaning ‘union’, is a science of life, originating in India many thousands of years ago. In his introduction to the ‘Gita according to Gandhi’, Mahader Desai defines yoga as ‘a poise of the soul which enables one to look at life in all its aspects evenly’. Through regular practice of asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing techniques), yoga is a way of remembering our true nature. It is not about self improvement, rather a process of deconstructing all the barriers we may have erected that prevent us from having an authentic connection with ourselves and with the world. Essentially joyful and peaceful, yoga is a way of living and being that makes real happiness possible.
WHY PRACTICE YOGA?
When you begin to practice yoga regularly, you have taken a very important step towards positive living. Not only does it improve strength and flexibility of the physical body, but we can begin to feel more centred and balanced.
Everyday modern living prevents us from using the body as nature intended. The yoga poses help us to change postural habits of a lifetime which, if ignored, create stress and imbalance. By stretching and strengthening the body, yoga provides an opportunity to regain comfort, innocence and freedom.
Yoga can help to ease physical ailments, by:
- protecting the back and vulnerable joints
- regulating organs and glands
- improving posture
At the same time, practice of yoga increases:
- relaxation
- peace of mind
- inner awareness
As we learn to still the mind, we can begin to know the self, which in turn helps us to both nurture body and soul more effectively and to achieve our innermost desires.