2008 Woodie Awards
Meditate to a healthier being
Alberto Espinosa
Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: Health & Fitness
While yoga was originally created as a spiritual practice, today's form of yoga in the Unites States takes on a more physical and health related aspect. Originally built as a spiritual aid into Hinduism, modern yoga as we know it is far from this cry from the past, but still retains the combination of meditation, breathing exercises and variation in physical postures.
"It's calming," said Isaura Gandarilla, a yogi participant for three years. "Yoga let's you take time out of your day just to settle down and relax. It's a much needed break from work and school that helps you get through the day."
Like many, Gandarilla finds herself going through the day rushed and hurried to complete a set number of tasks and finds little time for herself and health. With growing numbers of individuals signing up for courses and yoga mats being laid out in gyms across the country, Americans are finally taking a step out of their busy schedules to slow things down and take part in yoga's attempt to become one with the mind and body.
Yoga is separated into three categories which represent the three tasks involved within a daily yoga exercise. The first is yoga as a fitness and physical exercise program. This involves stretching and strengthening the bones of the body with postures and a variety of poses, some existing from the origins of yoga and others modern manipulations of past positions. Each separate pose and variation comes with its benefit to the body. The "half moon" pose strengthens the ankles and thighs while ultimately improving balance and the "upward facing dog" pose strengthens the arms and abdomen while increasing spine flexibility. All poses are divided into beginners poses and advanced for the level of difficulty that the position presents. With time most yoga participants are able to complete all poses.
The second part of yoga that takes place during the physical poses, consists of breathing techniques. These techniques of controlled inhaling and exhaling help in lowering blood pressure and in increasing lung capacity. In addition, the slow breathing promotes the releasing of tension and stress and allows one to relax while performing complicated poses like those mentioned before.
"It's calming," said Isaura Gandarilla, a yogi participant for three years. "Yoga let's you take time out of your day just to settle down and relax. It's a much needed break from work and school that helps you get through the day."
Like many, Gandarilla finds herself going through the day rushed and hurried to complete a set number of tasks and finds little time for herself and health. With growing numbers of individuals signing up for courses and yoga mats being laid out in gyms across the country, Americans are finally taking a step out of their busy schedules to slow things down and take part in yoga's attempt to become one with the mind and body.
Yoga is separated into three categories which represent the three tasks involved within a daily yoga exercise. The first is yoga as a fitness and physical exercise program. This involves stretching and strengthening the bones of the body with postures and a variety of poses, some existing from the origins of yoga and others modern manipulations of past positions. Each separate pose and variation comes with its benefit to the body. The "half moon" pose strengthens the ankles and thighs while ultimately improving balance and the "upward facing dog" pose strengthens the arms and abdomen while increasing spine flexibility. All poses are divided into beginners poses and advanced for the level of difficulty that the position presents. With time most yoga participants are able to complete all poses.
The second part of yoga that takes place during the physical poses, consists of breathing techniques. These techniques of controlled inhaling and exhaling help in lowering blood pressure and in increasing lung capacity. In addition, the slow breathing promotes the releasing of tension and stress and allows one to relax while performing complicated poses like those mentioned before.
Be the first to comment on this story