| Did you know that over fifteen million people | | | | is adjusted to the student's level and capacity. That |
| practiced yoga in 2003, according to a landmark | | | | doesn't mean it is particularly easy or particularly |
| study by Yoga Journal Magazine. And the numbers | | | | challenging - it can be either or both on any given |
| are expected to increase dramatically in subsequent | | | | day. |
| years. Your own experiences probably confirm this | | | | Then there is the therapeutic component. Yoga can |
| study - maybe you practice yoga, know someone | | | | be used successfully with conditions such as insomnia, |
| who does, or just take a walk along any busy main | | | | back problems, digestion problems, asthma, improving |
| street - your bound to see someone carrying a yoga | | | | circulation, anxiety, weight loss, just to name a few. |
| mat. In fact you can't even open a magazine or | | | | Basically yoga is non -competitive; it is not about |
| newspaper without finding an article about yoga. So, | | | | winning or losing - you can go at your own rate. Of |
| how does a 5000-year-old spiritual practice become | | | | course people still compete with themselves though |
| today's hottest mind/body trend? | | | | and compare their posture to others in class. |
| Perhaps the best way to understand yoga's | | | | In addition many of us are yearning for something |
| popularity is to go right to the people who practice it. | | | | more. Many of us have shied away from organized |
| If you ask them why, some of the more common | | | | religion yet seek a spiritual practice that connects us |
| replies you might hear are "flexibility, increased | | | | to ourselves as well as something larger - a spiritual |
| energy, improved focus, reduction of the symptoms | | | | practice that is non-dogmatic, without many rules. |
| associated with stress, and an overall good feeling." | | | | While most of the yoga practiced in health clubs is |
| The fact is that yoga can have a rejuvenating effect | | | | primarily the physical aspects of yoga - the |
| on all systems of the body including the circulatory, | | | | philosophical side seeps in. And for those that want |
| glandular system, digestive, nervous, skeletal | | | | to learn more about the philosophy of yoga |
| muscular, reproductive system and respiratory | | | | information and classes are readily available to them. |
| system. | | | | At its simplest level yoga quiets the mind and opens |
| On a physical level - according to the U.S. Dept. on | | | | the body - setting the stage for withdrawing deeper |
| Aging there four components to good physical health: | | | | inside oneself - to a place of peace, a place of |
| Strength, flexibility, balance, aerobic capacity. It is | | | | balance, a place of health. It is here where the divine |
| interesting to note that yoga can accomplish all these | | | | within us can be more easily discovered. |
| things and no fancy piece of equipment is needed - | | | | There are many different styles of yoga and it never |
| other than your own body and a yoga mat. | | | | needs to be boring - it can be slow and gentle, it can |
| Over the last 100 years our lives have become very | | | | challenge your strength, it can be aerobic or vigorous |
| fast paced: cell phones, computers, internet, | | | | or it can be very introspective. There is as style to |
| television. This along with a strong work ethic often | | | | match most personalities. There is yoga for seniors, |
| results in people out of balance - people experiencing | | | | pre-natal yoga, postnatal yoga, power yoga, gentle |
| a lot of stress. Consequently, there is a strong need | | | | yoga, etc. There are classes that focus on back care, |
| to de-stress - to quiet our minds and rejuvenate our | | | | yoga done in groups and one-on-one, privately with |
| bodies. And yoga helps achieve this - helping us | | | | an instructor. The yogic scriptures say there are |
| return to a state of balance and health. | | | | some 84,000 postures and variations. The field of |
| Yoga brings us into the moment - it is very difficult | | | | yoga is huge and there is always, always something |
| to practice and be thinking about what happened at | | | | new to learn. |
| work today or the party tomorrow night. Becoming | | | | The media has also helped spread the message of |
| present in itself is a great release from stress. At its | | | | yoga and the fact the celebrities like Madonna and |
| best, yoga meets the student where they are - so it | | | | Sting practice yoga doesn't hurt either! |