If you are new to yoga, you may have different ideas of what it is all about. You have seen people doing impossible looking poses and you may have wondered if you could do that. You may have also wondered what yoga can do for your body. How is it beneficial to your health?
Health is more than being free of illness. We need to think about health as a positive state of being. To be full of health is more than a well functioning body and mind. It is to have vitality and be connected and aware of your environment. Part of being healthy is happiness as well.
No one has perfect health all the time, in fact perfect health is a fleeting image. Even a small paper cut will throw your health out of balance because your body will react to the injury. By practicing yoga regularly you will create the best conditions in your body for self-healing. You will help to boost your immune system for better health and faster healing.
Yoga doesn’t cure, it promotes healing. Many times our illness or injury and the healing of those takes place in the mind and in the way you live. Yoga promotes self understanding and thereby allows your body to heal itself.
Most people do not take an active part in their health. They wait until a problem arises then run to the doctor for a pill to fix them. Yoga helps you to take control of your health, not by self diagnosis but by learning to be responsible for your well being. Doctors believe that a patient who takes an active part in the healing process has a much better prognosis than one who relies on modern medicine to provide a cure. For instance a doctor can treat digestive problems with medications for the rest of your life, but if you eat better, get enough rest, exercise and reduce stress there is a good chance you can be medication free.
While you may never run a marathon or achieve a perfect dance pose, you can greatly increase your health and well being by regularly practicing yoga. Yoga helps to focus your mind and a focused mind can help shape your body! The mind is powerful and what we think we can become.
You can learn to do yoga by attending a beginning yoga class or rent a video from the library. The Nintendo Wii Fit has a great yoga program that forces your body to stay balance. There are a lot of different options and making it a game can be a fun alternative.
Find the yoga method that fits you, but keep a few things in mind:
Don’t expect health from junk food. You need good fuel for the best performance!
Don’t expect something from nothing. You need to work a good program to get optimum results.
Don’t expect other people to make you happy. You are in control of your emotions. No one can make you feel a certain way. You make the choice to feel that way.
Don’t expect good results from poor yoga practice. You need to stay focused and in control of your body.
Yoga can improve your flexibility, mental clarity, and sense of well being. Don’t we all want to feel peace in our lives again?
Tara enjoys all kinds of exercise. She realizes the importance of keeping her body healthy naturally. She writes about her findings on her blog.