What Is Yoga?
The word “yoga” can refer to a number of different spiritual and philosophical practices that originate in India and are practiced in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Yoga practices are most likely older than Hinduism itself and date back at least to the fifth century BCE. There are many schools of yoga, each with a different philosophy and set of goals. In the Western world, what we most often mean when we refer to yoga is the Hatha yoga tradition. Hatha yoga as practiced in the 21st century, Western world focuses on a series of asanas, or physical postures. Yoga practitioners practice these postures for physical exercise, meditation, and relaxation. The Indian teacher Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (born 1888, died 1989) is often credited with introducing Hatha yoga to the West.
Pranayama
One teaching often associated with Hatha yoga in the West is pranayama. The word combines two words from India’s ancient Sanskrit language. “Prana” means “breath” and “ayama” means “stretching.” Pranayama is the practice of mindful breathing, and breathing exercises are often practiced in conjunction with the asanas.
Kundalini
Also associated with Western-style modern Hatha yoga is kundalini, Sanskrit for “the coiled one.” In this metaphysical philosophy, energy in the metaphorical form of a coiled serpent or serpent-goddess resides in each person’s body at the base of the spine. By observing certain meditation practices, devotees can cause the serpent to rise through the seven chakras, conceptualized as seven energy centers within the body along the spine and in the brain, each represent by a different color of the rainbow. When the serpent reaches the crown chakra, located at the top of the head, the practitioner is said to have a spiritual enlightenment experience. Although rooted in traditional Hinduism, the practice of Kundalini yoga has been adopted in Western culture into many New Age religious practices.
Health Benefits of Yoga
Practicing the asanas of Hatha yoga has many health benefits. It burns calories, tones the muscles, improves flexibility, increases range of motion, and builds strength. Yoga in general is a low-impact workout that doesn’t place much stress on the joints, so almost anyone can practice hatha yoga. It requires no special equipment and can be practiced by people of all ages and activity levels at no cost. Are you interested in yoga? Follow the links below to learn more information about yoga.
