Late in the eighteenth century Swami Vivekananda undertook an extensive tour of Canada and the United States to introduce his philosophy which he named Asana. He was a philosopher by profession and hailed from India. Little did he know just how quickly his philosophy will be embraced by so many people. Countless people practice Asana, better known as yoga, all over the world. By taking up yoga Ann Arbor MI practitioners hope to better the overall quality of their lives.
Despite the popularity of Asana, many people still have a misconception about what it is actually all about. There are those that think that it is nothing but a collection of bodily poses and stretching exercises. Then there are those that think that it is some form of religion originating from the East. None of this is true. Asana is not a religion but a philosophy that aims to improve the body, the mind and the spirit.
It is true that Asana involves stretching exercises and poses but this is not really what it is all about. There are various forms of Asana. Some of them demand physical strength and fitness while others are more focused on the inner self. Regardless of the variation of the philosophy that one practices, poses and stretching always form part of it in order to improve concentration and to focus on the inner self.
Asana does not involve competition in any form. No one is pressurized to master new exercises and poses at a given pace. Everyone practices Asana and learn new stretches and poses when they feel ready to do so. At most studios, classes are a mixture of practitioners at different levels of proficiency, age and experience. This makes it an ideal activity for the entire family.
There have been many studies focusing on Asana, especially its potential health benefits. It has been found that people suffering from high anxiety levels, depression and other mental conditions benefited greatly after taking up Asana. Those with hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and other diseases afflicting the joints and tendons also benefit. Improved flexibility and stronger muscles are also major benefits enjoyed by practitioners. It even improves the ability to concentrate.
Practicing Asana does not involve an investment in special clothing or equipment. There are studios offering classes almost everywhere and it may be a good idea to join a class for at least a while when just starting out with Asana in order to learn from more experienced practitioners. Once the basic poses and exercises are mastered, one can practice Asana anywhere and literally anyone can do so.
Beginners often find it difficult to choose the variation of Asana that will suit them best. Joining a studio where different versions of the philosophy are practiced can certainly help. There is also a host of material available and many websites that are dedicated to Asana. It may be a good idea to try out a few different versions before making a final decision.
The immense popularity of Asana all over the world is not surprising at all. It is not risky in any way and it offers numerous mental and physical benefits. Practitioners improve their concentration levels and they are better able to focus on the inner self.
Despite the popularity of Asana, many people still have a misconception about what it is actually all about. There are those that think that it is nothing but a collection of bodily poses and stretching exercises. Then there are those that think that it is some form of religion originating from the East. None of this is true. Asana is not a religion but a philosophy that aims to improve the body, the mind and the spirit.
It is true that Asana involves stretching exercises and poses but this is not really what it is all about. There are various forms of Asana. Some of them demand physical strength and fitness while others are more focused on the inner self. Regardless of the variation of the philosophy that one practices, poses and stretching always form part of it in order to improve concentration and to focus on the inner self.
Asana does not involve competition in any form. No one is pressurized to master new exercises and poses at a given pace. Everyone practices Asana and learn new stretches and poses when they feel ready to do so. At most studios, classes are a mixture of practitioners at different levels of proficiency, age and experience. This makes it an ideal activity for the entire family.
There have been many studies focusing on Asana, especially its potential health benefits. It has been found that people suffering from high anxiety levels, depression and other mental conditions benefited greatly after taking up Asana. Those with hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and other diseases afflicting the joints and tendons also benefit. Improved flexibility and stronger muscles are also major benefits enjoyed by practitioners. It even improves the ability to concentrate.
Practicing Asana does not involve an investment in special clothing or equipment. There are studios offering classes almost everywhere and it may be a good idea to join a class for at least a while when just starting out with Asana in order to learn from more experienced practitioners. Once the basic poses and exercises are mastered, one can practice Asana anywhere and literally anyone can do so.
Beginners often find it difficult to choose the variation of Asana that will suit them best. Joining a studio where different versions of the philosophy are practiced can certainly help. There is also a host of material available and many websites that are dedicated to Asana. It may be a good idea to try out a few different versions before making a final decision.
The immense popularity of Asana all over the world is not surprising at all. It is not risky in any way and it offers numerous mental and physical benefits. Practitioners improve their concentration levels and they are better able to focus on the inner self.
About the Author:
You can get a summary of the things to keep in mind when picking a yoga Ann Arbor MI instructor at http://www.suzyadra.com right now.
0 comments:
Post a Comment