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Yoga: The How Now of the World's Oldest Exercise
By Elizabeth Penning

The humming, the incense, the candles, the crazy positions and the rather cool looking workout clothes. What is it that comes to mind when you think about yoga? Well the humming is actually part of the meditation process, but and that part is optional. The candles are optional too. But the crazy and insane looking positions stay put, like you will be when your foot gets stuck right up behind your head.

All jokes aside, yoga is a heavenly choice if you are aiming to strengthen your muscles and condition your body without the need for lifting weights and risk getting all bulky and Rambo looking. There is also the relaxation, a calming effect, which helps greatly in realigning the mental muscles. Most people are not aware of the fact that there are actually eight main types of yoga, these are:

1) Bhakti
2) Karma
3) Jnana
4) Raja
5) Mantra
6) Laya
7) Tantra
8) Hatha

Each of the eight types of yoga is as unique as the student who struggles with the variety of positions. There are plenty of benefits which range from physical to spiritual regardless of which path you take. Even if you chose yoga for the exercise rather than as a way to meditate, it is difficult to avoid feeling calmed and relaxed during some of the many breathing exercises. Not only can you decrease all of your anxieties, you will also be lowering your blood pressure as well as combating a host of chiropractic conditions at the same time.

The Origins

From the area of the world that gave us the Karma Sutra, India is also responsible for the development of yoga. Madonna should really be thanking her lucky stars. There are ancient texts which date back six or seven thousand years which first mention the art of stretching/meditating. Ancient weathered statues depict possible yogis sat in a lotus position.

There is much evidence to help yoga lay claim for the title of being the oldest form of exercise in the world. That is if you forget about the frolicking gods on Mount Olympus; but it is just as likely that they borrowed all of their moves from the lusty god Kama, so the torch goes right back to India. About two thousand years ago an Indian guru called Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutra, which is an anthology or a guidebook of the practice. From the Sutra come the eight limbs:

1) yamas (restraints)
2) niyamas (observances)
3) asana (postures)
4) pranayama (breathing)
5) pratyahara (withdrawal of senses)
6) dharana (concentration)
7) dhyani (meditation)
8) samadhi (absorption)

Each one of these limbs present a stage of ashtanga, or the "enlightened path." When approached correctly and executed well, they can be a basic recipe for better living. This is probably the best way possible to take to strengthen mind, body, and soul. So grab yourself a mat and strike a pose.

Author Details:
Elizabeth Penning, copywriter for various web sites writing articles about natural health and other related subjects.

Article Source: Articles from Simply Top

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