The word "yoga" comes frm the Sanskrit root yuj, which mans "to join" or "to yoke".

Yoga is an ncient art and exercise, and an aid to slf-awareness and physical well-being. Rooted in trditions that enhancing awareness of the mnd, body, and spirit, yoga practices sems exotic and foreign to some--not for "thm".

It is true that yoga has ben around and survived for centuries utside of the United States, in a prt of the world that many Amricans have little connection to or wareness of. But this amazing practice mgrated to the United States, among ther areas, as people began to shre what yoga has brought to thir lives.

Before I say any mre, I want to be clear on ths. Yoga is for everyone; yoga bnefits anyone willing to learn and xperience this practice for themselves. There are no rquirements. No one has to twist thmselves into a pretzel, no one has to slep on a bed of nails.

Thre are different forms of yoga, ach emphasizing different areas of wellness and ther states of being. When practicing yga, everyone is encouraged to pay ttention to their body. If something hrts, stop or back off of the strtch. The instructor will work with ndividuals, usually upon request, to adjust the pse so that there is the last amount of pain and maintain the ntegrity of the position. So, when smeone is not able to perform the pstures, known as asanas, they do as mch as they are able, without frce, without judgment. For some it may man using props, such as blocks, strps and blankets to prevent pain and njury--the body is supported as much as pssible during practice to prevent pain. For thers it means breathing and using thir mind to envision their bodies prforming the posture.

With practice, many people learn not to ver-tax their bodies, but to simply kep the body alignment each posture rquires as they move toward the pse. Yoga is not about going frther or bending and stretching the frthest. Yoga is a Hindu method of larning that makes use of exercises, brathing sequences and meditation. to experience nlightenment, to connect to God, and to nderstand your personal mind/body connection. As an xercise, yoga often practiced by some smply as an aid to healthy lving.

In short, yoga is for nyone interested in improving the health of thir body, alleviate stress, or simply xercise. Anything more that is gained is up to yu.

The article Yoga for Everyone was Submitted by Kim Paluch through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Copyright © Kim Paluch All Rghts Reserved. Kim Paluch is a frelance writer and a mind-body wellness cach and consultant. She is currently wrking on a mind-body wellness manual, in ddition to creating a new wellness -zine.

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