Yoga: Why I'm Going to Try It

My wife took a Yoga class not long ago.  I asked her what they did at the class and by the time I heard about her class I decided that I really did not understand anything she said.  This caused me to do a little research to find out just what Yoga is all about.  Here are a few things I discovered.

Yoga dates back millennia. Some say that it goes back over five thousand years.  It’s believed that yoga originally developed in India.  It is supposed to help develop suppleness, strength and relaxation and also relieve stress.  After learning this, I was all for my wife continuing on with her classes.

Yoga started out in the East as a spiritual practice focusing on meditation, but in the West it is normally seen as a physical practice, for the benefit of staying healthy and in shape. It consists of ancient theories, observations, and principles about the mind body connection which is now being studied and proven by modern medicine. Practically all the information you could ever want in order to yoga is currently available in classes, books and on yoga websites.

Some people think that practicing yoga is one of the best physical and emotional healers available. They say anyone can practice yoga and benefit from it and there are some very basic reasons why. Practicing Yoga is one of the most effective ways of handling stress and it is also effective in treating back problems that result from postural defects. Complementary therapies can help people feel good.   

These are some things I discovered about the practice of Yoga.  I found that practicing yoga is different for each person and the best thing about it is that you can tailor it to suit your needs and activity level.  Practicing Yoga is altogether a liberating experience. Yoga is a philosophy that helps in the overall development of your body and mind.  Practicing yoga is a great way to slow down and appreciate the changes that are happening in your body during pregnancy. Yoga encourages you to listen to your body, to accept it as it is, and to surrender to its sometimes-uncomfortable changes. Practicing yoga is generally safe, but take it easy in your first few classes; there's no reason to push beyond your limits. Also, if you have back, knees, or other physical problems, get the go-ahead from your doctor first, since some poses can aggravate injuries. Practicing yoga is a great workout, but also an engaging process that you will want to experience to its fullest. Most people in the west today classify it as a means of exercise.

I also found that practicing yoga is an opportunity to give up the need to move faster, stronger, and try to keep up with someone or something else. It’s about putting the physical, emotional, and spiritual pillars in balance so that you can make wise, informed decisions. 

After discovering all the benefits of Yoga, I think I’m going to join my wife.

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