Yoga is theraphy
Have you ever seen a bunch of people walking out of a yoga class? If not, have a look once. Those taut and toned yoga bodies on display, the peaceful and zen-like faces , the sweaty bodies leaving their so called sanctuary (yoga class) are enough inspiration to get you started on the path of yoga.
If you are looking to relieve stress , stretch Ghose muscles which you haven't been working other than to lie on your favourite spot on the couch, also if you want to bend and twist your body like a pretzel, the answer is Yoga . If you claim inflexibility as your excuse , then you should definitely stop reading this article, grab a mat, put on those shapely yoga pants and head out to the nearest yoga studio. Because when you say that your body is stiff, it is not the body that is stiff. Your mind is.
Coming back to those hot yogi bodies. No, a hot yogi body is not obtained from a regular yoga routine (as many would have you believe). It is obtained at the price of constant work, a lot of effort to burn calories, a bucket full of sweat and a saintly denial of carbs.
Yoga is not just about looking good. It is about feeling good. It is not a work out. It is a work in. Yoga literally means Union of body, mind and soul. It is not just a fitness routine. It is a prayerful discipline. If you come to the practice of yoga looking only for pleasure, yoga will eventually disappoint you. It is not for everyone. You should have the willingness to commit to the practice for a long time . And by practice we mean , both on and off the mat . A Shirshasna , a solid bakasana or a steady handstand are just the perks of yoga. It will definitely give you some attention , but yoga doesn't teach you just to achieve the superficial benefits . Those asanas not just make you bendy and flexible, but they also help you cope with emotional pain. We are trapped in repetitive thought patterns which lead to emotional turmoil. Every experience in the mind is accompanied by shifts in the body's chemistry . Through yoga , you can release the emotional blockages . As you stretch those muscles , you shift the bodily patterns that trap emotional pain. If something is bothering you emotionally, it is likely to show up in your body . This is the reason why emotional breakthroughs often occur during a yoga class , when you release those long held feelings of sadness , grief or any other strong emotion that you have carried unconsciously throughout your life . The nature of yoga is to shine the light of awareness in the darkest corners of the body . Yoga does not change the way we see things . It transforms the person that sees.
You can start with a gentle practice like Hatha or Vinyasa flow or try a restorative class and then move onto a more disciplined and serious practice like Ashtanga or lyengar, when your body feels ready. Go and experience a yoga class and know for yourself . Words cannot convey the value of yoga . It has to be experienced.
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