| It is argued among scholars that the earliest signs of | | | | If you cringe when the word exercise is mentioned, |
| yoga were evidenced in the stone seals discovered | | | | then yoga is for you. Yoga involves creating a |
| at Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300-1700 B.C.E.) sites in | | | | balance in the body through developing both strength |
| Pakistan. Figures were depicted in positions resembling | | | | and flexibility through the performance of poses and |
| a common yoga or meditation pose. The Buddhist | | | | postures. In simpler terms: strengthening through |
| texts are probably the earliest texts describing | | | | stretching. The more you practice, the more flexible |
| meditation techniques. They describe meditative | | | | you become and the more body strength you |
| practices and states which had existed before the | | | | develop. |
| Buddha, as well as those which were first developed | | | | Proper Breathing |
| within Buddhism. In Hindu literature, the term 'yoga' | | | | We all know that breathing is a natural reflexive |
| refers to the control of the senses and the cessation | | | | action. Most of us go about our daily routine without |
| of mental activity leading to a supreme state, a | | | | being mindful of our breathing. Yet the average |
| spiritual discipline, a meditation. | | | | person is unaware that there is a proper way to |
| Hatha Yoga is a particular system of yoga that | | | | breathe. We come into the world as good breathers; |
| focuses on the purification of the physical body as | | | | inhaling and exhaling from our abdomens. Over time, |
| leading to the purification of the mind and vital | | | | we unlearn this process due to adverse external |
| energy. Hatha Yoga marks the development of the | | | | influences such as stress. Through Yoga you will |
| full body postures now in popular usage. In its many | | | | relearn that slow, deep breathing allows the abdomen |
| modern variations, Hatha Yoga is the style that many | | | | to expand bringing into the lungs the amount of |
| people associate with the word 'Yoga' today. | | | | oxygen needed to nourish all the cells of the body. It |
| Modern yoga is based upon 5 basic principles: | | | | also slows down the heart rate, relaxes muscles and |
| Positive Thinking and Meditation | | | | calms the mind. |
| Proper Relaxation | | | | Proper Diet |
| Proper Breathing | | | | Along with breathing, eating is another reflexive |
| Proper Exercise | | | | action. And, just like breathing, over time we begin to |
| Proper Diet | | | | develop an improper means of mollifying our hunger |
| Most people think of yoga as 'the twisting of ones | | | | pangs by indulging in junk foods and fast foods. An |
| body into pretzel form'. The true definition of yoga is | | | | improper diet has many adverse effects on the |
| the union of ones mind, body, and spirit. It is the | | | | human body. Overall, it's an auto-intoxication, which |
| coming together of the three in one accord that | | | | means self-poisoning. All of the body organs are |
| make it possible for 'the twisting of ones body into | | | | effected by this auto-intoxication. A proper diet does |
| pretzel form'. It would be impossible to start out in | | | | not mean giving up everything that tastes good. |
| pretzel form unless, of course, you are a | | | | Also, the average person will eat all of what's in front |
| contortionist. So, let's start with the first principle: | | | | of them rather than eating until they are full. It's |
| Positive Thinking and Meditation | | | | more a habit than a means to suppressing their |
| According to history, Yoga was first referenced as a | | | | hunger. They continue to eat even after they are no |
| form of meditation. Meditation has been defined as | | | | longer hungry. An improper diet is learned, therefore, |
| the self-regulation of attention, in the service of | | | | you just need to unlearn it. Take time to look at how |
| self-inquiry, in the here and now. The various | | | | and what you eat. Then just slowly begin to give up |
| techniques encompass a wide range of disciplines | | | | those bad habits. I don't recommend anyone going on |
| that may emphasize different goals such as a higher | | | | a crash diet. That too is harmful to the body. It took |
| state of consciousness, greater focus, creativity or | | | | time for you to learn your bad eating habits, it will |
| self-awareness, or simply a more relaxed and | | | | take time to unlearn them. |
| peaceful frame of mind. | | | | When you consider the 5 basic principles of Yoga, it |
| Proper Relaxation | | | | should be evident to you that gaining total balance of |
| One of the definitions of relaxation is 'the freedom | | | | the whole person is a concept that is necessary to |
| from activity', which, for some people in today's | | | | the well-being of every human. A beginner's yoga |
| world who are trying to balance home, family, and | | | | practice should start you off slowly, as should any |
| work, is the equivalence to sleep. Another definition | | | | new exercise program. Yoga has postures and |
| of relaxation is 'a feeling of refreshing tranquility and | | | | breathing techniques for almost all diseases, health |
| an absence of tension or worry'. You should be able | | | | disorders, allergies, pains, and so on. Many of the |
| to easily reach that level of relaxation if you started | | | | exercises are simple and will prove to have a |
| with the first principle: Positive Thinking and | | | | qualitative influence on whatever ails you. |
| Meditation. | | | | And why not get the whole family involved! Yoga is |
| Proper Exercise | | | | for everyone of all ages. |