| With yoga, you can develop a deep sense of | | | | Yoga increases healthy energy flow. The yogis of |
| yourself. It does sound like something positive and | | | | ancient India discovered nadis which are energy |
| beneficial but one cannot help but wonder what that | | | | pathways that flow through the body. As we grow |
| is really all about. How does it feel? What does it look | | | | older, the nadis constrict and because of this, the |
| like? | | | | amount of vital energy flowing through the body |
| Yoga is not a solution but more of a process. It can | | | | increasingly lessens. This results in aging, loss of |
| help you get in touch with yourself enabling you to | | | | energy and eventually, death. Yoga keeps these |
| fix yourself. Yoga turns your attention inward instead | | | | energy pathways open which allows plenty of vital |
| of pointing you to some external solution (such as a | | | | energy or life force to continuously flow into the |
| new exercise gadget, a trendy weight loss ingredient, | | | | body. This helps you to stay young and healthy. |
| a pair of the latest model running shoes). This may | | | | Yoga focuses the mind. Another widely known |
| sound like a cliche but truly, you have inside of you | | | | benefit of yoga is that it significantly increases ones |
| the answer to every question. | | | | ability to concentrate. The physical postures |
| The most popular form of yoga in the United States | | | | developed by the yogis of ancient India are such that |
| involves physical postures which reflect the | | | | they are impossible to do if your mind is on |
| meditative aspects of yoga. Its practice provides | | | | something else. With yoga, it is essential to focus on |
| numerous health benefits and below, I will be | | | | what you are doing at the present moment and |
| discussing the seven life-enhancing benefits of a | | | | nothing else, otherwise you might end up in a tangled |
| good, solid physical yoga practice. | | | | heap on the floor. |
| Yoga increases flexibility. Needless to say, yoga is | | | | Yoga gives you power. Once you practice yoga, you |
| synonymous to flexibility. Regular stretching of the | | | | will quickly understand that thinking is a choice and |
| connective tissues in the body improves their | | | | not an obligation. The mind is very similar to a |
| elasticity. In the same way that a rigid tree would | | | | powerful computer and its an awesome tool to be |
| break due to strong winds and a more flexible one | | | | used by YOU when it is helpful. |
| would bend without breaking, a person with good | | | | Yoga gives you the choice to whether to use your |
| flexibility is less susceptible to torn muscles, ligaments | | | | power of thinking or not. It puts you in the position |
| or tendons. They have built-in protection from injuries | | | | to be the master over your mind, which is probably |
| because their tissues stretch and therefore would | | | | one of the most powerful things in the world. You |
| not easily tear. | | | | can use it to overcome compulsive eating, angry |
| Yoga prevents aging. With age comes rigidity of the | | | | outbursts, all sorts of addictions and other behaviors |
| connective tissues and organs. In the same way that | | | | which all start off as a thought your mind. The |
| a plant that has not been watered for a long time | | | | essence of all power lies in this ability to decide which |
| would have trouble extracting nourishment from the | | | | thoughts you want to empower. |
| soil, a body that is not regularly stretched will have | | | | Yoga gives you love. As you practice yoga, you will |
| circulation problems because the tissues become | | | | begin to realize that all of us are in this together. In |
| dense and coated with fibroid tissues. Because of | | | | its essence, yoga means union and this manifests |
| this, blood, vitamins, minerals, and energy cannot flow | | | | itself on many different levels. You will come to |
| smoothly through them. This is how being flexible | | | | know who and what you are, and also find |
| keeps the body young and combats the effects of | | | | integration in many aspects of your life. But it doesn't |
| aging. | | | | end there, you will also come to know others for |
| Yoga tones the organs. Yoga positions serve several | | | | who they really are. We all wear masks but |
| functions. The forward bend for instance, helps to | | | | underneath we are all the same in that we go |
| flush the kidneys, while the triangle opens the liver. | | | | through life in the same way. All of us are in search |
| When done correctly and held for a sufficient length | | | | for union with each other and with a higher power. |
| of time, yoga practice can tone and improve the | | | | Yogic practices will enable you to see through the |
| functioning of every internal organ of the body. | | | | masks of the ego and to look deeply into your own |
| Keeping ones internal organs in good condition does | | | | heart as well. It will lead you to ponder on such |
| not only benefit ones health, it also greatly reduces | | | | questions as, Why am I here? What is life showing |
| the possibility of developing medical problems which | | | | me? And How am I looking at the world? Knowing |
| may lead to expensive transplants. Thus, indirectly | | | | ones real self is loving oneself with the unconditional |
| yoga also provides financial benefits to those who | | | | love of a mother. And to love oneself is to love the |
| practice it. | | | | world and everyone and everything in it. |