| Yoga is a generic term for the various spiritual | | | | practicing yoga at any age and continue doing so |
| disciplines in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is practiced | | | | throughout life. |
| throughout South Asia. Its prime aim is to pave the | | | | For a person practicing yoga, there is an emphasis on |
| way to higher consciousness through liberation from | | | | restraint from vice through observance of virtue, |
| suffering, ignorance and rebirth. Vedic and Buddhist | | | | purity and controlling of uncontrolled desires. The main |
| literature is strewn with stories of yogis who attained | | | | technique used in yoga is 'asanas' or postures. This |
| miraculous prowess by practicing various kinds of | | | | along with 'pranayama' or breath control helps to calm |
| meditations and austerities. Today, yoga is usually | | | | the body and draw vital energy forces into the body. |
| practiced under the guidance of a guru or a spiritual | | | | Detaching the mind from the external mind through |
| guide. | | | | the withdrawal of senses is done through 'dhyana' or |
| The word 'Yoga' is derived from Sanskrit where it | | | | meditation. A common feature of yoga is intense |
| means 'to unite'. Therefore yoga connotes an | | | | concentration on a single point, be it a diagram, a part |
| exercise in mental and moral cultivation that | | | | of the body, the breath or even a mantra. |
| generates excellent health and contributes to | | | | In the modern world, it is almost impossible for man |
| longevity in life. The total and intrinsic discipline | | | | to achieve the mental prowess of the ancient yogis. |
| exercised by a yogi culminates in positive and | | | | Therefore, yoga cannot be seen as an alternative to |
| perennial happiness. It is a science which affects the | | | | medicine. But when teamed with Western healing |
| conscious as well as the subconscious aspect of the | | | | practices, yoga is amazingly effective. Yoga is very |
| mind. | | | | effective in helping patients overcome pain, and the |
| There are some misconceptions about Yoga. Yoga is | | | | anxiety or depression associated with pain. |
| NOT black magic, sorcery, white magic or mental or | | | | Yoga is not just a medical science; it's a complete |
| physical debauchery. Some consider yoga to be a | | | | way of life. It lays down strict dietary |
| dangerous practice that should be engaged by those | | | | recommendations and lifestyle practices that helps |
| who have renounced the world. Some even think of | | | | one achieve and maintain good health. Yoga has been |
| it as a kind of mental acrobatic that is fit to be | | | | adopted by people for the treatment of various |
| practiced only by certain sections in the world. | | | | conditions like constipation, back pain, indigestion, |
| Yoga is an all-encompassing science that depends on | | | | diabetes and blood pressure. Exercises prescribed by |
| mental discipline. It ensures the purgation of the soul | | | | yoga are excellent if you want to lose weight and |
| and removal of the ignoble which will bring forth what | | | | gain control over your body. One of the greatest |
| is most noble in man. Irrespective of caste, creed, | | | | benefits of practicing yoga is that it makes you |
| sex and religion yoga embraces all of human life. The | | | | aware of the various muscles in your body and |
| believer and the non-believer, the sick and the | | | | teaches you how to control any PARTICULAR set |
| healthy, the literate and the ignorant, the young and | | | | of muscles. |
| the old - everyone can embrace yoga. One can begin | | | | |