A discipline doesn't manage to exist for 5,000 years unless it has something to offer. That's about how long yoga has been around in one form or another. It may have begun as a meditative discipline and grew into a physical one or vice versa. The word itself means "union" and its purpose is to break down barriers between mind and body, soul and spirit, self and god.
Today, there are many branches of yoga. The meditative branches go as far as Transcendental Meditation with little or no physical aspect. The physical branches go as far as Pilates without much meditation. Often when a Westerner thinks of yoga, he pictures a form of Hatha Yoga which combines the physical demands with some meditation and stress reduction.
Basic Benefits
The benefit of yoga comes in three forms: physical health, stress reduction and -for those who seek it - spiritual growth. There are many forms of exercise that produce results similar to yoga. What makes the benefit of yoga superior is the stress-busting aspect. The American Medical Association estimates that over 75 per cent of diseases are stress based. Yoga emphasizes breathing techniques meant to relax the body and free the mind. Some forms of yoga use the breathing techniques to encourage meditation on the god force within the yogi. These techniques are meant to relax the body and free the mind.
The benefit of yoga on the physical side includes increased strength and energy, toned muscles, increased flexibility and posture, reduced blood pressure, improved balance, better digestion, relief of pain, improved memory and concentration. Health conditions that receive the benefit of yoga include high blood pressure, arthritis, osteoporosis, poor circulation, back pain, depression, headaches, and breathing problems. It is also true that when a person is dedicated to any form of exercise and does it consistently, health benefits will definitely follow.
Depending on the type of yoga practiced and the belief system of the teacher, another benefit of yoga is increased spiritual growth. A yoga teacher or guru can lead a practicing yogi to self-realization and even to the advanced state of meditation called Samadhi in which there is absorption of ecstasy called Ananda. While most Western practitioners of yoga have a specific goal in mind, usually a physical one, the many forms of yoga can include a journey of self-discovery. The benefit of yoga can be the achievement of your goals or the discovery of new life goals.
