When Swami Vivekanada, an Indian philosopher, toured the United States and Europe in the late eighteen hundreds he could probably not foresee just how popular his introduction of Asana would become. His philosophy of holistic development of the mind, body and spirit became popular immediately and today many millions of people practice this unique discipline all over the world. It is so popular, in fact, that when looking for a yoga instructor Temple TX citizens even have a choice between many teachers.
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.
Practitioners of Asana have to master specific poses and exercises. However, mastering these poses and stretching exercises is not the aim of Asana. They are merely used as instruments to master spiritual, mental and physical issues. This remains the main aim, even though their are many different forms of the philosophy. Some are more physical and strenuous whilst others are more focused upon the spiritual. Choosing a specific branch of the philosophy will depend upon the needs of the individual concerned.
Practitioners of Asana love the fact that they do not have set goals with set target dates. Everyone progresses at his own pace and learn new techniques and exercises only when they feel ready to do so. There is also the benefit that it can be done by anyone, from very young to advanced age, from weak to strong and from fit to unfit people.
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.
Once on the go, there are many resources that may prove to be very helpful. There are lots of reputable websites dedicated to help motivate practitioners and to help them progress. Many sites even offer visual training programs and advice on how to master new poses and techniques. There are also many publications dedicated to help people get the most from Asana.
There can be no doubt that Asana can benefit most people. It can be practised anywhere and it can be done alone or as part of a group. It is not an expensive activity and it will suit anyone that desires to improve his fitness, mental alertness and spiritual well being.
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.
Practitioners of Asana have to master specific poses and exercises. However, mastering these poses and stretching exercises is not the aim of Asana. They are merely used as instruments to master spiritual, mental and physical issues. This remains the main aim, even though their are many different forms of the philosophy. Some are more physical and strenuous whilst others are more focused upon the spiritual. Choosing a specific branch of the philosophy will depend upon the needs of the individual concerned.
Practitioners of Asana love the fact that they do not have set goals with set target dates. Everyone progresses at his own pace and learn new techniques and exercises only when they feel ready to do so. There is also the benefit that it can be done by anyone, from very young to advanced age, from weak to strong and from fit to unfit people.
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.
Once on the go, there are many resources that may prove to be very helpful. There are lots of reputable websites dedicated to help motivate practitioners and to help them progress. Many sites even offer visual training programs and advice on how to master new poses and techniques. There are also many publications dedicated to help people get the most from Asana.
There can be no doubt that Asana can benefit most people. It can be practised anywhere and it can be done alone or as part of a group. It is not an expensive activity and it will suit anyone that desires to improve his fitness, mental alertness and spiritual well being.
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