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Benefits Of Yoga

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YOGA

As a practioner of yoga for nearly 20 years , I have come to see, feel and reap the benefits of this practice, not only on a physical level but on a physiological and spiritual level too.
Yoga is a way of life, an intergrated system of education for the body, mind and inner spirit.This art of right living was perfected and practised in India thousands of years ago but, since yoga deals with universal truths, its teachings are as valid today as they were in ancient times. Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. Yoga is union with all.

WHAT IS YOGA ?

The word Yoga comes from the sanskrit root word 'yuj' which literally means 'yoking,' in the sense of the coming together of a harmonious relationship between our seperate aspects. Different aspects of our perception make yoga either exoteric or esoteric. The yoga teachings regarding bringing the body, mind and emotions into harmony, such as Hatha Yoga, are exoteric. Those teachings focused upon the outer self in harmony with the Inner Self, such as Classical Yoga, are esoteric. In exoteric-based Hatha Yoga, the practices focus on developing health to optimal physiological and psychological levels. In esoteric-based Classical Yoga, …show more content…

The word yoga was first mentioned in the oldest sacred texts, the ' Rig Veda'. The vedas were a collection of texts containing songs, mantras and rituals to be used by Brahmans, the vedic priests. Yoga was slowly refined and developed by the Brahmans and Rishis (mystic seers) who documented their practices and beliefs in the 'Upanishads', a huge work containing over 200 scriptures. The most renowned of the yoga scriptures is the 'Bhagavad-Gita', composed around 500 B.C. The 'Upanishads' took the idea of ritual sacrifice from the vedas and internalized it, teaching the sacrifice of the ego through self-knowledge, action (Karma Yoga) and wisdom (Jnana

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