You may have heard others talk about yoga and meditation, but there may still be something mysterious about what it involves. One common perception is that you can essentially practice yoga by simply doing the series of physical exercises and yoga positions. There is indeed an exquisitely refined system of yoga positions to be followed, but it is important to realize that yoga is immensely more than physical exercise if you really wish to maximize the benefits of yoga.

Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuk (literally meaning “yoke” which gave rise to the modern English words yoke and union). In yoga, your immediate objective is to gain control of the body and the mind. By controlling the body through yogic exercises, you eventually learn to control your mind. Unless you can control body and mind, you will not reap the real benefits of yoga and meditation.

The meaning of yoga, and the ultimate objective of yoga meditation, is to achieve the union of body, mind, and spirit; union of the individual with the entirety of creation; and unity of the individual with the creative force, the divinity in all there is. The microcosm of the individual is a part of the macrocosm of the creative force. By helping you achieve unity with this life force, you discover who you truly are.

The path is a long and exciting one. Yoga has developed a rich system of exercises and techniques that are used to promote harmony and well-being of body, mind, and spirit.

The system helps you gain soundness of body, clarity of mind, and vitality of spirit. By regularly performing the various yoga positions, you enhance the functioning of your musculoskeletal and circulatory systems. By regularly practicing yoga meditation, you achieve deeper levels of relaxation and strengthen your mind’s power of concentration.

It is easy to see why the practice of yoga can become the core of your health and wellness program:

• Many yoga positions enhance the flexibility and improve the alignment of your spine. If you suffer from chronic back problems, you can well appreciate the relief to mind and body this can bring.
• A number of yoga positions are designed to improve circulation, enhance digestion and promote more efficient elimination of toxic wastes. Internal organs are tenderly massaged and toned, helping them to function more optimally.
• Yoga positions stretch and tone most of your muscles, helping you achieve overall fitness. The exercises increase the range of motion in joints and help protect muscle from injury during more strenuous physical activities such as sports and athletics.
• One of yoga’s most important benefits comes from the use of meditation for stress relief. Health experts believe that stress can give rise to many of the common illnesses. Stress can lead to elevated blood pressure, faster heart rate, and production of toxic substances. Yoga meditation induces opposite effects, relieving stress and promoting relaxation.

If you follow the holistic yoga practices regularly, you will soon find that they open up opportunities to reconnect with the self and to learn self-acceptance. Through sustained yoga and meditation, you can experience the invaluable benefits of inner peace and joy that can come with a healthier body and more self-awareness.

FREE BOOK! We are currently offering a free mini ebook on yoga as a ‘taste test’ for the full version ”Enrich Your Mind, Body and Soul with the Power of Yoga” http://digitalinformationdownloads.com/wellness/yoga Click this link then click on the FREE BOOK offer.

For a full guide to holistic yoga and yoga meditation techniques grab your copy of ”Enrich Your Mind, Body and Soul with the Power of Yoga” at http://digitalinformationdownloads.com/wellness/yoga Buy now to claim your 2 free bonus books!   

Tags: benefits of yoga, holistic yoga, meditation for stress relief, yoga and meditation, yoga meditation, yoga positions

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 12th, 2009 at 1:28 am and is filed under Wellness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.