Yoga Is For Mind, Benefit To Body Is Incidental
Most people think of yoga as asanas only as a way of physical exercise. Some people think of oga as postures and breathing exercise. Few know of yoga as a technique of neditation. Yoga is a technique of eveloping awareness of mind with a iew to enjoy life with fullness. The penefit that comes to body is incidental. Sage Patanjali defines yoga as the process of gaining mastery over mind. The second appropriate definition of oga, given in the Yoga Vasishta is "Manah Prasamanopaya Yogah",which means 'Yoga is a subtle technique to calm Bownthe mind'.The Bhagwad Gita defines yoga as a state of equilibrium of mind-"Samatvam Yoga Uchyate". AuroDindo calls yoga as a process of rising above our base nature to divinity. Vivekamanda calls yoga as a tool for condensing che process of evolution of man to cosmic Deing or super consciousness. Who is the rulerof our life? Undoubtedly it is our mind. Raja Yoga is so called because it is a technique of training our mind, which is controlling our life. Many people mistake yogasana to be one of the alternatives available for physical workout. This is so untrue. First of all the purpose of physical exercise is to improve the body, while the purpose of yogasana is basically to control modifications of mind. When we do asanas in the way prescribed by scriptures, our mind becomes steady and quiet. Once you practise asanas for a long period, the mind learns to be steady in all situations. In the process, the body also becomes flexible and toned. Another major distinction between asana and other physical exercises is in the method of performing them. In physical exercises, it is believed, that faster the movement, better it is. But in asanas, slower the movement, better it is. Andthe main benefit of asana comes in maintaining the posture in the final stage. Also, in yogasana, the coordinationof breath with body movement has to be perfect. Then it becomes more beneficial. Breath carries prana, the life-energy of our body. The disturbance in flow of prana in our body causes restlessness of mind and disease in body. Systematic breathing practice removes the imbalance of prana in our body. So along with asana, breathing coordination is necessary. The third main distinction lies in the level of awareness. hile doing asana, one has to remain fully awareof the body partwhich is beingaffected by the posture. Listening to music while doing asana can also cause distraction. This is not the case with physical exercise. Most people workout while listening to loud music or watchingTYogasana has to be done in a quiet anpleasantsurrøunding where one can link body and mind properly bymaintaining awareness. Because of all these differences, yogasana is far superior in its benefito both body and mind. While both physical exercise and asana improveour skeletomuscular, cardiorespiratand circulatory systems of the body,yogasana also improves the neuromuscular system and endocrinsystem which control our sympatheand parasympathetic reactions in caof perceived stress. So, in lifestylerelated diseases such as hypertensiodiabetes, anxiety and depression, yogasana gives spectacular results.Happiness is a state of mind. Ouridea of 'what makes us' happy changfrom time to time depending on howtrained our mind is to experience happiness. This technique of traininyour mind is nothing else but yoga.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Hasmukh Adhia kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Hasmukh Adhia Speaking Tree , Times of India
Yoga Is For Mind, Benefit To Body Is Incidental
Most people think of yoga as asanas only as a way of physical exercise. Some people think of oga as postures and breathing exercise. Few know of yoga as a technique of neditation. Yoga is a technique of eveloping awareness of mind with a iew to enjoy life with fullness. The penefit that comes to body is incidental. Sage Patanjali defines yoga as the process of gaining mastery over mind. The second appropriate definition of oga, given in the Yoga Vasishta is "Manah Prasamanopaya Yogah",which means 'Yoga is a subtle technique to calm Bownthe mind'.The Bhagwad Gita defines yoga as a state of equilibrium of mind-"Samatvam Yoga Uchyate". AuroDindo calls yoga as a process of rising above our base nature to divinity. Vivekamanda calls yoga as a tool for condensing che process of evolution of man to cosmic Deing or super consciousness. Who is the rulerof our life? Undoubtedly it is our mind. Raja Yoga is so called because it is a technique of training our mind, which is controlling our life. Many people mistake yogasana to be one of the alternatives available for physical workout. This is so untrue. First of all the purpose of physical exercise is to improve the body, while the purpose of yogasana is basically to control modifications of mind. When we do asanas in the way prescribed by scriptures, our mind becomes steady and quiet. Once you practise asanas for a long period, the mind learns to be steady in all situations. In the process, the body also becomes flexible and toned. Another major distinction between asana and other physical exercises is in the method of performing them. In physical exercises, it is believed, that faster the movement, better it is. But in asanas, slower the movement, better it is. Andthe main benefit of asana comes in maintaining the posture in the final stage. Also, in yogasana, the coordinationof breath with body movement has to be perfect. Then it becomes more beneficial. Breath carries prana, the life-energy of our body. The disturbance in flow of prana in our body causes restlessness of mind and disease in body. Systematic breathing practice removes the imbalance of prana in our body. So along with asana, breathing coordination is necessary. The third main distinction lies in the level of awareness. hile doing asana, one has to remain fully awareof the body partwhich is beingaffected by the posture. Listening to music while doing asana can also cause distraction. This is not the case with physical exercise. Most people workout while listening to loud music or watchingTYogasana has to be done in a quiet anpleasantsurrøunding where one can link body and mind properly bymaintaining awareness. Because of all these differences, yogasana is far superior in its benefito both body and mind. While both physical exercise and asana improveour skeletomuscular, cardiorespiratand circulatory systems of the body,yogasana also improves the neuromuscular system and endocrinsystem which control our sympatheand parasympathetic reactions in caof perceived stress. So, in lifestylerelated diseases such as hypertensiodiabetes, anxiety and depression, yogasana gives spectacular results.Happiness is a state of mind. Ouridea of 'what makes us' happy changfrom time to time depending on howtrained our mind is to experience happiness. This technique of traininyour mind is nothing else but yoga.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Hasmukh Adhia kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Hasmukh Adhia Speaking Tree , Times of India