YOGA
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Yoga for Mind and Body
By Chad Lynch
Life today for many people is a stressful situation. We have
worries of making enough money to pay for the ever rising cost
of housing, food, clothing and other bills. Many deal with work
that they do not really enjoy. It seems we are usually in a rush
to get to jobs, finish projects and chores, and get children to
school or their other activities. As we are trying to do these
things we find ourselves faced with traffic and crowds. All
while we are trying to find quality time to spend with our
families and friends. All of this puts a lot of stress on us,
draining a large amount of our energy.
Research has shown that the mind and body are interconnected.
What effects us on a mental and emotional level will also
effects us on a physical level. People who have emotional
problems are usually found to have physical ailments, ranging
from headaches to much more series diseases. If we do not deal
with our mental and emotional stress, the physical ailments will
manifest and get worse.
This is where yoga can be a tremendous asset for us to practice
regularly. Yoga helps us connect our mind to our body's
movements and rhythms. It teaches us to relax and be at ease.
Our bodies become more toned and flexible. Our minds become more
clear. We find an inner balance and peace that leads to a
healthier life.
Yoga teaches us to be at ease so that when these challenging
life situations arise we can deal with them constructively. If
we are not relaxed and do not have inner harmony we tend to deal
with such circumstances by creating anxiety. It is not the
events that bring distress on us, but how we react to them. When
we come to this realization it should be easy to see that the
power to find happiness is also within each of us. We each have
the power to make ourselves more harmonious, and in turn the
world a better place.
We find this inner peace by practicing yoga poses, also called
asanas, and through breathing. Asana is the Sanskrit word for
the poses and positions you practice in yoga. These include many
different twisting, standing, back bending, and balancing
positions of different parts of the body. This all helps with
alignment and balance, making the mind and body stronger. Anyone
of any age or ability can practice yoga, though some positions
require more skill than others to perform. Breathing awareness
and control is also important. It helps strength the mind and
body connection while also helping us to slow down and relax.
With how most of our lives are today and the benefits yoga
brings, it seems like the two should be brought together. Many
people are coming to this realization. Yoga has been gaining in
popularity in the West for many years. It has become very common
to see its influence very day. Even small towns have been known
to be home to a yoga studio.
About the author:
Chad Lynch has been practicing yoga for several years and wishes
to share the benefits it brings. You can learn more by visiting
his blog, http://exploringyoga.blogspot.com
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