...The word 'yoga' is taken from the Sanskrit word 'yuga' which means 'to join.'

Pantanjali, an Indian philosopher, wrote what is thought of as the "bible of yoga" approximately two thousand five hundred years ago. While certain aspects of yoga were being done well before Pantanjali, his writing "encouraged" the practice of yoga and it began widespread practice throughout India.

Written in Sanskrit it contained the eight sutras that are the basic principles of yoga practice. Physical activity focuses on the body, meditation on the mind and emotions. yoga combines the practices to give you an overall sense of physical and mental health. Let's look at the sutras and learn a little about each one.

Those eight are:

1. Yama

2. Niyama

3. Asana

4. Pranayama

5. Pratyahara

6. Dharana

7. Dhyana

8. Samadhi

The first two sutras, similar to the Ten Commandments of the Bible, deal with moral and ethical issues. They are basic laws to govern the actions of humanity.

Asana refers to the different postures, or poses, that can be used to st...more

Prenatal yoga

...nly does prenatal yoga offer physical health benefits, it offers great mental health benefits as well. Studies show that pregnant women who keep their stress levels down have a healthier pregnancy than the more stressed out moms-to-be. Yoga is a great way to achieve a higher level of relaxation, keeping you cool and calm as you plan for baby's arrival.

And don't ...more

yoga for Kids - The Benefits That Keep on Giving

...Kids and yoga. This may seem like a curious conceptmixing young children, whose boundless energy brings up images of wrestling and food fights, with the ancient art of yoga, a calming discipline to align body and mind.

But yoga and children do mix, and there are incredible benefits.

In our modern society, yoga is thought of as a physical practice of postures or poses (known in yoga as asanas.) The word yoga means 'union' and the practice of yoga is believed to bring together body, mind, and spirit. More and more, educators are seeing that a program of yoga brings these benefits to not only adults, but children as well.

Benefits

Physically, yoga addresses an awareness of the body through stretch, strength, coordination, and balance poses. Yoga aids many body systems including digestion, ...more

Yoga in Practice: Projecting Happiness

...We are all human, living life with its many ups and downs, but how can we keep our spirits up in difficult times? There are many types of Yoga, and not all are physical styles, like the many popular Hatha Yoga sub-styles. To name one that is not Hatha, and classified as one of the nine main Indian Yoga styles, there is Bhakti Yoga - the union of love, devotion, and worship.

The principle of Bhakti Yoga is universal to all people of all religions. A person who sings, prays, worships, and helps another person is practicing this form of Yoga - whether they have heard of bhakti Yoga or not. It does not matter what religion you are because singing, praying, worshiping, forgiving, and helping are morally right.

To quote one of the most enlightened men of the 20th century, The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. - Mahatma Gandhi

Th...more

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