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Yoga for You
By Belinda Burke (Gita International Gold Diploma of Hatha Yoga teaching)
Perhaps you've 'tried' it in the past, or been thinking of giving it 'a go' – why not make this year the year you begin or revisit yoga? This ancient Eastern science once conjured up visions of skinny Indians standing on heads or wrapped up in weird poses – but it brings to mind celebrities, athletes and people like you and me.
Yoga is for everyone and everyone can 'do' yoga. There are many different styles of yoga and endless variations. Yoga is not competitive – with others or with yourself. We all have different strengths and levels of flexibility, different from each other and different within ourselves from day to day, season to season. Don't overdo it and don't worry about how far you stretch, how long you hold the pose or how quickly you progress. What's important is that you are in the moment working as the body needs at that time, releasing tension through correctly held postures and finding stillness through steady breathing.
Hatha yoga aims to balance body, mind and spirit. It combines limbering (warm up), physical poses (asanas), breathing (pranayama) and relaxation. All you need is a carpeted space (or a mat), loose comfortable clothing and an hour each week that you give to yourself.
By doing yoga, you can become fitter, stronger, more flexible and perhaps most importantly, you learn tools to calm the mind. Most people find after doing yoga that they sleep better, have fewer aches and pains, think more clearly and generally cope better with life. But the most popular reason why people do yoga is it makes them feel good!!
Yoga is for everyone – young and old alike. A perfect anti-dote to our busy, often stress filled lives. Incorporate yoga into your life – it makes you feel great!
Benefits of Hatha yoga.
Physically
Hatha yoga is the system of physical exercises refined over centuries into postures with specific movements and equally specific purposes.
The asanas (movements) maintain the healthy functioning of the lungs, brain, spine, nervous system and endocrine (hormone producing) glands.
The postures work in the way your body requires at that time, so without you needing to know what you need, the postures support your body to make the necessary adjustments to achieve hormonal balance.
Has a wonderful regenerative effect on the body,
The breathing techniques increase oxygen levels in the blood, boosting brain functioning and creating an oxygen rich environment in the body that inhibits the growth of virus and bacteria.
Emotionally
Yoga supports you to use the emotions as they were intended- to flow through you as the motivators for your energy, rather than getting 'stuck'.
The postures provide the ability to be the independent, non-judgmental observer of your actions, letting you grow personally and professionally.
The emotional clarity lets you connect more fully with others; able to find the right words to express your feelings accurately, able to understand what's required in a given situation.
Yoga gives you the power to cope with change, we can be flexible in both body and mind.
Mentally
Our thoughts determine where our vital energy is directed and by learning the purpose of each movement, we are able to focus consciously on each part of the body. Using the mind to channel energy for healing, balance, strength and joy.
Specific postures work to shift the level of brain activity to an Alpha state, a level of activity in the brain similar to the deep rest experienced just before surrendering to sleep.
Spiritually
Working with hatha yoga helps you connect with the 'real you'.
If you have wondered what your purpose is in this lifetime, or who you really are, the subtle shifts in energy achieved through hatha yoga let you travel along a steady path towards the answers within.
Through yoga feel a deep sense of connection to all that there is in the universe, a powerful feeling of being 'part of' rather than 'separate from'.