"The silencing of the mind's activities through physical and mental self-discipline which leads to the complete realization of the intrinsic nature of the Supreme Person."
Yoga is many things, all of them beneficial. Whenever we think of yoga, most of us immediately bring to mind people contorted into positions that we find difficult to ever imagine ourselves in. In the more advanced levels of yoga, it is true that some of the positions seem akward and difficult. Fact being they are difficult. They are meant to take time, practice, and patience in order to achieve them. While achieving those positions your body benefits in a variety of ways, as does your spirit and sense of well-being.
This site has been designed to introduce you, the viewer to one kind of yoga: Hatha yoga . There are programs for slimming, specifically designed programs for children, men and women, and a few others that I felt you might be interested in.
Yoga can benefit your metabolism, relieve tension, muscle aches and help you to maintain great health all of your life. Of course with anything you have to remember that not only exercise can keep your body and mind healthy. You also have to be conscious of what you eat and be aware of yourself. Yoga can help you in these areas and encourage you to live a better life.
A few guidelines for practicing any yoga are:
Practise regularly. Even if you only have a little time each day, it takes nothing to spend fifteen minutes doing a few of the exercises.
Never hurry. It is not a race. All postures achieve their best results when you do them slowly, taking your time to come in and out of them.
Hold each posture. When you have reached each posture to the point that is comfortable for you, hold that position for 5 seconds. Increase the time that you hold each posture as you become more familiar with it.
Come out of an exercise slowly. It is important to come out of each slowly so that you do not strain or injure yourself.
Never force a position. remember that the pictures you see of the positions are done by people who have been doing yoga a long time. Only go as far with a position as is comfortable for you. the more you do the the positions the farther you will be able to stretch.
Never compare yourself to anyone else. Yoga is based on personal goals and personal progress. Each person's body is different. Yoga is not a competitive sport. Do what your body feels comfortable with.
Concentrate fiercely. Feel each movement of your body with each pose. Concentrate with each movement. If you lose your balance or tilt slightly through poses do not be embarrassed but concentrate harder. Your progress will amaze you.
Rest between exercises. The idea of yoga is gentleness. You are exerting yourself, but it is not going to be painful or stressful to your body.
Breathe normally. Most important is of course to remember to breathe. It will help you to relax with each pose and naturally give your body the oxygen it needs.
Before you embark on your new journey into yoga I would like to add a few more suggestions that pertain to breathing:
All breathing must be done through the nose. Your nose acts like a filter and helps to prevent your lungs from clogging.
