Ever since the Indian philosopher Swami Vivekananda toured Europe and the United States in the eighteen nineties and introduced a new form of meditation, spiritual growth and physical exercise, the world was hooked. The new discipline, properly called Asana, that was then introduced to westerners was nothing new, however. It has been practised in the East since 500BC. Today, it continues to grow in popularity. For example, when looking for a yoga instructor Temple TX citizens can choose between dozens of qualified and experienced professionals.
There are many misconceptions about this philosophy and they sometimes lead to unfair criticism such as allegations that it is nothing but a cult trying to convert people to Hinduism. Others think that it is nothing more than a series of exercises and some even think that it is one of many methods for learning meditation. Asana is not a religion. Instead, it is a philosophy aiming at helping people to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.
Basically, to practice Asana it is necessary to learn a series of poses and stretching exercises. These exercises have many physical benefits, but they are also used by teachers to bring home very specific spiritual and philosophical principles. There are many approaches to this philosophy. Some are more strenuous whilst others are more introspective. Beginners are encouraged to experiment and choose the discipline that will best satisfy their needs.
One of the reasons why Asana has become so popular is the fact that it does not entail any form of competition. Practitioners progress at their own pace and they only learn new techniques and poses when they feel ready. The fact that everybody can participate, even physically handicapped people, also adds to the attraction. It is the perfect holistic activity for the entire family.
The medical benefits of Asana has been the subject of numerous clinical and empirical studies. It seems that there is evidence that it can be of great benefit to people suffering from asthma, muscle pain and heart disease. It has also been lauded to help lower the blood pressure of hypertension patients and there have even been studies to investigate its effectiveness in helping to prevent several types of cancer.
The physical aspect of Asana is low impact. Injuries are rare and practitioners are able to control their own efforts. It is still recommended to join a class at first, not to avoid injuries but to learn the basic principles and to settle into a regime. Classes are offered everywhere, even in the smallest communities. It is not expensive and it is not necessary to buy any equipment.
Both beginners and experienced practitioners can also benefit from a wealth of resources on the internet. There are many excellent sites that contain advice and instructional videos. Some focus on the spiritual aspects while others aim to teach users new poses and stretching exercises. Care should be taken, however, to use only those sites that are managed by recognized experts in this field.
Most experts agree that there are numerous benefits to be had when practising Asana. It improves the general health, helps people to focus and concentrate and in many cases, relieves the symptoms of chronic conditions. It is easy to start and it can be afforded by anybody.
There are many misconceptions about this philosophy and they sometimes lead to unfair criticism such as allegations that it is nothing but a cult trying to convert people to Hinduism. Others think that it is nothing more than a series of exercises and some even think that it is one of many methods for learning meditation. Asana is not a religion. Instead, it is a philosophy aiming at helping people to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.
Basically, to practice Asana it is necessary to learn a series of poses and stretching exercises. These exercises have many physical benefits, but they are also used by teachers to bring home very specific spiritual and philosophical principles. There are many approaches to this philosophy. Some are more strenuous whilst others are more introspective. Beginners are encouraged to experiment and choose the discipline that will best satisfy their needs.
One of the reasons why Asana has become so popular is the fact that it does not entail any form of competition. Practitioners progress at their own pace and they only learn new techniques and poses when they feel ready. The fact that everybody can participate, even physically handicapped people, also adds to the attraction. It is the perfect holistic activity for the entire family.
The medical benefits of Asana has been the subject of numerous clinical and empirical studies. It seems that there is evidence that it can be of great benefit to people suffering from asthma, muscle pain and heart disease. It has also been lauded to help lower the blood pressure of hypertension patients and there have even been studies to investigate its effectiveness in helping to prevent several types of cancer.
The physical aspect of Asana is low impact. Injuries are rare and practitioners are able to control their own efforts. It is still recommended to join a class at first, not to avoid injuries but to learn the basic principles and to settle into a regime. Classes are offered everywhere, even in the smallest communities. It is not expensive and it is not necessary to buy any equipment.
Both beginners and experienced practitioners can also benefit from a wealth of resources on the internet. There are many excellent sites that contain advice and instructional videos. Some focus on the spiritual aspects while others aim to teach users new poses and stretching exercises. Care should be taken, however, to use only those sites that are managed by recognized experts in this field.
Most experts agree that there are numerous benefits to be had when practising Asana. It improves the general health, helps people to focus and concentrate and in many cases, relieves the symptoms of chronic conditions. It is easy to start and it can be afforded by anybody.
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