Late in the eighteenth century Swami Vivekananda undertook an extensive tour of Canada and the United States to introduce his philosophy which he named Asana. He was a philosopher by profession and hailed from India. Little did he know just how quickly his philosophy will be embraced by so many people. Countless people practice Asana, better known as yoga, all over the world. By taking up yoga Ann Arbor MI practitioners hope to better the overall quality of their lives.
Despite the popularity of Asana, many people still have a misconception about what it is actually all about. There are those that think that it is nothing but a collection of bodily poses and stretching exercises. Then there are those that think that it is some form of religion originating from the East. None of this is true. Asana is not a religion but a philosophy that aims to improve the body, the mind and the spirit.
It is true that Asana involves stretching exercises and poses but this is not really what it is all about. There are various forms of Asana. Some of them demand physical strength and fitness while others are more focused on the inner self. Regardless of the variation of the philosophy that one practices, poses and stretching always form part of it in order to improve concentration and to focus on the inner self.
Asana can easily be practiced by entire families. This is because classes are mixed with some members more experienced, others only beginners, some older people and some very young ones. Nobody is ever compared with another practitioner and there is never any form of competition. There is also no schedule according to which practitioners have to master new poses and exercise. Everyone progresses at his own pace.
There have been numerous studies focusing on various aspects of Asana. One thing is certain and that is that Asana holds many health benefits. It improves the flexibility and physical strength of practitioners. Those with heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes benefit in particular. It has also been proven to be an excellent aid in the treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders as well as those struggling to concentrate.
Taking up Asana does not involve the purchase of costly equipment or special clothing. It can be practiced anywhere, even in isolation at home. Experienced practitioners advise that beginners should consider joining a class, however, even if just for a short while in order to learn the basics from an experienced practitioner. Anyone can take up Asana, even physically disabled people, those with mental disorders, the elderly and even young children.
Beginners often find it difficult to choose the variation of Asana that will suit them best. Joining a studio where different versions of the philosophy are practiced can certainly help. There is also a host of material available and many websites that are dedicated to Asana. It may be a good idea to try out a few different versions before making a final decision.
The immense popularity of Asana all over the world is not surprising at all. It is not risky in any way and it offers numerous mental and physical benefits. Practitioners improve their concentration levels and they are better able to focus on the inner self.
Despite the popularity of Asana, many people still have a misconception about what it is actually all about. There are those that think that it is nothing but a collection of bodily poses and stretching exercises. Then there are those that think that it is some form of religion originating from the East. None of this is true. Asana is not a religion but a philosophy that aims to improve the body, the mind and the spirit.
It is true that Asana involves stretching exercises and poses but this is not really what it is all about. There are various forms of Asana. Some of them demand physical strength and fitness while others are more focused on the inner self. Regardless of the variation of the philosophy that one practices, poses and stretching always form part of it in order to improve concentration and to focus on the inner self.
Asana can easily be practiced by entire families. This is because classes are mixed with some members more experienced, others only beginners, some older people and some very young ones. Nobody is ever compared with another practitioner and there is never any form of competition. There is also no schedule according to which practitioners have to master new poses and exercise. Everyone progresses at his own pace.
There have been numerous studies focusing on various aspects of Asana. One thing is certain and that is that Asana holds many health benefits. It improves the flexibility and physical strength of practitioners. Those with heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes benefit in particular. It has also been proven to be an excellent aid in the treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders as well as those struggling to concentrate.
Taking up Asana does not involve the purchase of costly equipment or special clothing. It can be practiced anywhere, even in isolation at home. Experienced practitioners advise that beginners should consider joining a class, however, even if just for a short while in order to learn the basics from an experienced practitioner. Anyone can take up Asana, even physically disabled people, those with mental disorders, the elderly and even young children.
Beginners often find it difficult to choose the variation of Asana that will suit them best. Joining a studio where different versions of the philosophy are practiced can certainly help. There is also a host of material available and many websites that are dedicated to Asana. It may be a good idea to try out a few different versions before making a final decision.
The immense popularity of Asana all over the world is not surprising at all. It is not risky in any way and it offers numerous mental and physical benefits. Practitioners improve their concentration levels and they are better able to focus on the inner self.
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