When the Indian philosopher Swami Vivekanada traveled to the United States and Canada in the late eighteenth he hoped to spread the word about his philosophy which he called Asana. He could not possible envisage that it would become so extremely popular in such a short time. Today, countless people in all countries and from all cultures practice Asana. When starting with yoga Washington DC practitioners quickly start experiencing the benefits.
There are many misunderstandings about Asana, despite the fact that it is practiced everywhere and by so many people. There are still those that think it is an eastern form of religion that involves mysticism. Yet others think it is nothing but a series of stretching exercises and demanding poses. Asana is none of that. It is a holistic approach that aims to improve the spirit, the mind and the body.
Asana does entail certain stretching exercises and a number of poses that have to be learnt. However, the discipline is not about exercise alone. These exercises and poses are nothing but instruments that are used as vehicles to promote discipline, health, the ability to focus and a host of other benefits. There are many different forms of Asana. Some are more physically strenuous while others are more contemplative.
This philosophy involves no form of competition whatsoever. People practice Asana on their own at home or they attend classes. Classes consist of individuals at various levels and each person master new stretching exercises and poses only when they feel ready to do so. For many people, the absence of competition and a fixed program is a huge plus. This means that everybody can take it up.
There have been a number of studies that focused on the health benefits of Asana. The findings have always been extremely positive. People suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions, heart disease, depression, high blood pressure and high stress levels all benefit greatly. Practitioners do not have to be physically strong in order to benefit. It is not surprising to learn that many people take up the discipline purely for their own health.
Starting off with this discipline is easy and cheap. There is no need to buy special clothes or equipment. It is not even necessary to join a studio, but experts advise that beginners are better off if they take some classes, at least initially, from an experienced instructor. This is because beginners need to assess their own needs and find the particular form of Asana that will best suit their particular needs.
There is absolutely no shortage of material on this subject. Numerous websites offer training programs, discussion forums and advice. In most cases these sites are free of charge. There are also numerous books on the subject. Unfortunately, because there are so many forms of Asana, beginners are often at a loss to decide just which site or book is best for them.
It is not surprising that yoga has become so popular all over the world. It offers many benefits and it is suitable for everyone. Practitioners are healthier, fitter and more flexible. They generally feel better mentally too and many practitioners say that Asana helps them to cope with the many demands of modern life.
There are many misunderstandings about Asana, despite the fact that it is practiced everywhere and by so many people. There are still those that think it is an eastern form of religion that involves mysticism. Yet others think it is nothing but a series of stretching exercises and demanding poses. Asana is none of that. It is a holistic approach that aims to improve the spirit, the mind and the body.
Asana does entail certain stretching exercises and a number of poses that have to be learnt. However, the discipline is not about exercise alone. These exercises and poses are nothing but instruments that are used as vehicles to promote discipline, health, the ability to focus and a host of other benefits. There are many different forms of Asana. Some are more physically strenuous while others are more contemplative.
This philosophy involves no form of competition whatsoever. People practice Asana on their own at home or they attend classes. Classes consist of individuals at various levels and each person master new stretching exercises and poses only when they feel ready to do so. For many people, the absence of competition and a fixed program is a huge plus. This means that everybody can take it up.
There have been a number of studies that focused on the health benefits of Asana. The findings have always been extremely positive. People suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions, heart disease, depression, high blood pressure and high stress levels all benefit greatly. Practitioners do not have to be physically strong in order to benefit. It is not surprising to learn that many people take up the discipline purely for their own health.
Starting off with this discipline is easy and cheap. There is no need to buy special clothes or equipment. It is not even necessary to join a studio, but experts advise that beginners are better off if they take some classes, at least initially, from an experienced instructor. This is because beginners need to assess their own needs and find the particular form of Asana that will best suit their particular needs.
There is absolutely no shortage of material on this subject. Numerous websites offer training programs, discussion forums and advice. In most cases these sites are free of charge. There are also numerous books on the subject. Unfortunately, because there are so many forms of Asana, beginners are often at a loss to decide just which site or book is best for them.
It is not surprising that yoga has become so popular all over the world. It offers many benefits and it is suitable for everyone. Practitioners are healthier, fitter and more flexible. They generally feel better mentally too and many practitioners say that Asana helps them to cope with the many demands of modern life.
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