Spirituality At The Heart Of Yoga – Yoga has long been a popular choice for those seeking a healthier lifestyle, and with good reason. Many of the benefits of yoga are well known to the general public and range from purely physical to emotional, mental, and spiritual. Although many of these benefits have also been proven effective by science in recent years, many practitioners would suggest that the only way to truly understand how beneficial they really are is to experience them for yourself.
Effective yoga practices can cleanse the body and mind of built-up stress and negativity, shaping a happier and healthier being along the way. This art is not only safe and enjoyable for all ages, but encourages growth in areas such as self-knowledge and creativity, as well healthier perceptions of the human body, the practitioner’s own mind, and the universe at large.
The physical aspects of yoga increase bodily awareness, posture, and balance. Muscles and other tissues are stretched, strengthening the body, and the lactic build-up that causes things such as fatigue and soreness is released. Balance, coordination, and endurance will also see improvements, and many physical conditions, including asthma, irregular heart rhythms, high blood pressure, and pregnancy symptoms can be eased or relieved through effective yoga practices.
In order to ease a conflicted mind, caused by worries and anxiety over the past, future, and present events, the spiritual aspect of yoga is an utmost necessity. Reflecting its old Indian origins, spirituality is an important aspect of yoga. Spirituality, as defined by yoga, is best defined as the process of becoming self-aware, learning self-discovery, and the realisation of one’s self. This is achieved through complete relaxation, with a side benefit of improving concentration and focus as well as leaving the practitioner feeling better rested and at peace. Learning more about one’s inner consciousness and finding enlightenment has long been one of the major reasons for practicing yoga, and can only be achieved through a clear mind and peaceful understanding of the way things work. Although it may seem difficult for some people at first, the spiritual and emotional benefits of yoga are by far some of the greatest.
People suffering from anxiety, depression, a lack of self-control, or other emotional and mental shortcomings can also experience positive effects from yoga. Yoga itself is an art that can help to assist people in thinking more positively and even improve symptoms of certain disorders, including ADD and ADHD, Post Traumatic Stress, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The refined synchronized breathing and movement of yoga help improve the mind-body connection, which in turn retrains the mind to seek inner calm and find peace. Once this has been achieved, it becomes easier for the mind to decrease the occurrence and sometimes overwhelming experience of negative emotions while simultaneously boosting the experiences of positive ones. When feelings of loneliness, anxiety, frustration, and fear are being relieved, it becomes much easier to find satisfaction with one’s sense of purpose or inner consciousness. Strong emotions, such as anger and fear, become easier to control and a deeper sense of insight and more control over negative and positive feelings is gained as a result.
Some people are more drawn to the physical or spiritual aspects of yoga, but both of these things are important to maintain an effective balance. Balance, in both a literal and metaphorical meaning of the word, is essentially what yoga is all about. To begin with yoga, it’s important to begin slowly and allow yourself time to understand the limitations and needs of your own body. When practised with consistency and awareness, anyone can experience the benefits of a stress-relieving yoga workout.
Lilly Light