The Pros And Cons Of Yogic Practices

The reality, however, is far from this perception. Believe it or not, anyone who has the ability to breathe on their own can practice yoga.

Yoga is a comprehensive system of mind/body techniques that is thousands of years old. Its techniques are designed to improve physical and mental health and well being, and include such practices as physical postures and stretching, breathing exercises (pranayama), focused concentration, meditation, visualization, and chanting (mantra) (Desikachar, 1999; van der Kolk, 2014).

According to the Osteopathic.org website, yoga is proven to provide physical benefits of the human body, including increased flexibility, increased muscle strength and tone, improved respiration, energy and vitality, maintaining a balanced metabolism, weight reduction, cardio and circulatory health, improved athletic performance, and protection from injury. Not only are there physical benefits to yoga, but also mental benefits such as improving a person’s mental health and is proven to increase coping skills. Furthermore, the American Osteopathic Association states, “Regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness; increases body awareness; relieves chronic stress pattern; relaxes the mind; centers

The instructor of the yoga class was Amanda, who is a current student at Rowan University. Yoga is an exercise that enables people to relieve stress, balance emotions and relax and strengthen their muscles at the same time. Amanda had many different objectives that she wanted each participant to accomplish by the end of the yoga class. She wanted us to be able to relieve our stress and feel better about ourselves through a relaxed exercise. Not only does yoga relive stress, it also builds muscle strength and coordination.

Deemed the “land of opportunity,” by those who emigrated to America, it is only natural that as our country grew, so to would the development of new concepts, introduction of new practices, and influence from outside nations. While it may not be common knowledge, the concept, and practice, of yoga was introduced to the United States just over 100 years after the Declaration of Independence

The art of doing yoga we know today originated 5000 years ago in India. The infinite cognitive, physiological, and neurological benefits of yoga have been found and proven effective in regaining energy, balance, and health. Practicing this ancient body art, even just for few short minutes, will enable an individual to regain balance and physical energy. Regular practice of yoga can bring improvement in health, in mind and body, increased energy, well-being, and

It is not surprising to those of us who are long time yoga practitioners that the popularity of this profound spiritual science is now exploding on a world wide scale. Unfortunately though some of the authenticity and truths about yoga are being lost and some myths are creeping in with regard to what yoga is and how it is to be practiced. In this article I will look to clear up what I find to be the top 5 myths about yoga.

When an individual participates in yoga, the individual is more aware of their surroundings and mind, and they are engaged with their breath while they transition from one pose to the next. This can allow for physical control and the mindset for the person that they are able to control their physical symptoms without the related arousal or tension that would occur normally. Over time, the individual may be able to tolerate an uncomfortable symptom or thought therefore, they can simultaneously live his/her life in a meaningful way with distraction from the

Ross, A. and Thomas, S. (2010). The Health Benefits of Yoga and Exercise: A Review of Comparison Studies. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(1), pp.3-12.

The moment I enter the yoga studio my heartbeat slows and my body immediately morphs into a calmer version of myself. During the few moments that I stand and wait for my class to open I watch as other students silently float about the room around me. Having just finished their class, they now exit with a refreshed outlook on life. Having a dazed yet childlike smile and an overall sense of happiness about him or her, as if they just woke from a much needed yet refreshing yearlong nap. This is why I choose to roll out my mat multiple times a week; to reap the physical, mental and spiritual benefits those 90 minutes of pure bliss, known as yoga, can offer me.

Traditional Hinduism regards yoga as mindful and spiritual. It is still seen as the core of Hindu teaching (Doniger, p. 116). A classical interpretation of the importance of yoga was all about control – the breath, the mind, the spirit, the body – literally “yoking” that leads to spiritual growth and well-being. This is still regarded as an important part of modern yoga practices because controlling your breath with movement allows for ultimate control. What remains consistent between classical yoga and modern, recreational yoga is that it is about discipline. In traditional Hinduism, the discipline comes from the different yoga paths – yoga of action, yoga of meditation, and the yoga of devotion (Doniger, p. 118). In modern yoga, the discipline

“Derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to yoke, join or attach, ’yoga’ can most broadly be thought of as any practice aimed at helping facilitate a union between the limited self and the Divine, or Ultimate Being” (Heerman, 6). For thousands of years the practice of yoga has been used to connect one’s mind, body and soul. We as humans live in a time where it is easy to become detached to our bodies, minds, and spirituality to the world around us. Yoga is a metaphysical practice this is infamous for connecting people to the unexplainable and magical side to life. Realization is a major component to yoga in the sense that people are always looking for self-worth, happiness, inner peace and acceptance. With yoga’s abilities to connect one thing to another, it is valuable to realize that everything humans need for fulfillment comes from within. We are caught up in unimportant matters rather than being in action and aware. It is hard for us to imagine a circumstance of complete calmness and repose in which thoughts and feelings cease to dance in eternal motion. Yet it is through such tranquil circumstance that it is impossible to achieve a level of enlightenment. “Tranquility of thought comes through the cultivation of friendship, compassion, joy, and impartiality in spheres of pleasure or pain, virtue or vice” (Miller, 38). Yoga is a simple process of reversing the ordinary outward flow of energy and consciousness, but it requires Meditation in order to practice. In this

The benefits of Yoga are endless. It effects the human mind and body in a variety of ways. Roughly 15 million Americans practice yoga, annually there is an expected increase of twenty percent in participants in the United States ("Yoga Statistics"). While Yoga is often thought of as a practice that involves circus like poses and seemingly impossible flexibility; it not. Even bedridden patients can gain benefit from imagining themselves going through the poses and practicing breathing techniques that are appropriate to them (Dickenson 24-25). Yoga is not something that you do at the studio and leave behind. It becomes a way of life; leading to healthier habits, improving psychological health, and encouraging spiritual growth. An article on

In today’s environment, many people are suffering with the stress and anxiety of day to day living and are finding themselves unable to cope with life’s little emergencies. Prescription drugs are on the rise due to the increasing need for people to deal with their stress and anxiety. However, many people are searching for ways to be less stressed and live a happy and healthy life without drugs. If stress and anxiety are getting the best of you, then think about grabbing a mat and giving yoga and meditation a spin. With that in mind, this paper will take a look at the benefits of yoga and meditation to create a more peaceful and healthy lifestyle.

Lisa Diamond, a nurse practitioner and coach for health and wellness, studied yoga as a way for her patients to incorporate self-management into their care. From a more biological approach, yoga is viewed as a method for stress management and anxiety relief. Yoga activates the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system, the autonomic system controls involuntary actions in the body while the endocrine releases hormones in response (Diamond, 2012). The autonomic system is split into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems which are both greatly affected by yoga. The sympathetic system controls the “fight or flight” response and get the heart pumping under stress; parasympathetic works