Friday 10 March 2017

By Kimberly Butler


During the latter part of the eighteenth century an Indian philosopher, Swami Vivekanada toured the USA and Canada, spreading his philosophy of Asana. The aim of his philosophy was to improve the mind, the body and the soul. He could never dream that this philosophy would become so popular. Today, at any yoga studio Orange CA residents and millions of others across the world still practice this ancient philosophy.

Even though Asana is so popular, there are still numerous people that misunderstand the entire concept underlying this discipline. Many believe that this is nothing more than ritual stretching exercises performed by hedonistic people. A surprising number of people still think that it is a religious sect intent on gaining new converts. This is a false belief. Asana is only about personal growth.

While Asana is not all about stretching exercises, stretching and various poses do form part of it. These poses and exercises are tools that not only strengthen the muscles and improve overall flexibility, but they also contribute to increased spirituality. There are numerous different exercises and poses, none of them seen as superior. Some are very easy to master and others require much more physical effort.

Many Asana practitioners love the fact that this discipline does not involve any form of formal structure or competition. Each individual grow and learn at the pace that they find comfortable. A single session, attended by many practitioners, may include absolute beginners and advanced practitioners that have been practising Asana for years. Another big plus is the fact that Asana can be practised by just about anyone, even people with physical disabilities.

There have been studies, empirical studies, medical studies and even religious studies into the philosophy of Asana. None of them have found negative aspects. As far as health benefits go, the news is excellent. People suffering from a wide variety of ailments, ranging from depression, anxiety and other mental problems to medical problems such as hypertension and arthritis have benefited almost immediately after taking up Asana.

It is extremely easy to take up Asana. There is a proliferation of clubs all over the world. It is not even necessary to be a member of a club because the discipline can be practised at home, out of doors or anywhere else, for that matter. However, beginners are advised to take a few classes to begin with. It will help them to get into a certain routine and it will put them into contact with others that can provide advice and encouragement.

Those that want to take up Asana will find that there is no shortage of resources. There are numerous books, articles and websites that aim at helping beginners to learn the various techniques involved in practising the discipline. Many clubs offer free introductory lessons too. It is worthwhile to take some time to study the various approaches before settling upon a particular one.

The fact that yoga is practised by millions of people and that the discipline is growing on an almost daily basis is a sure indication that it is found to be beneficial. There is no danger of injury. There is no pressure or competition. Perhaps it is worth looking into.




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