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Foundation Of Yoga Is Built On Five Principles
The five principles are based on the ancient Indian science of health, life and longevity known as Ayurveda, which suggests that each of the principles be adhered to individually and within specific seasons to achieve health and well-being. So what are the five principles? Simply put, the five principles of yoga are proper exercise, proper relaxation, proper breathing, proper diet and medication. Let’s examine each one. Proper exercise is the principle based on the concept that our bodies need movement and exercise to maintain good health. To maintain good health, the body must be put through special yoga asanas, or postures, that are designed to strengthen and maintain all parts of the body by enhancing flexibility, toning the muscles and improving circulation. In addition, the proper exercise also improves mental functions as well by relaxes the body and improves the performance of the systems within. With the proper exercise, the body and mind are brought together and are taught to work in harmony. Proper breathing, also known as Pranayama, helps you learn to control the flow of the life force (prana) and thereby control your mental state. By learning proper breathing, a yoga student can learn how to increase their mental clarity and energy by practicing slow, deep, measured breathing. By successfully learning proper breathing, you can learn how to refresh your body, particularly at times of stress when tensions may be high. In short, proper breathing can help created a more rested and focused mind. Proper relaxation, also known as Shavasana, means teaching the muscles to relax, thereby reducing stress and recharging the nervous system, leaving the yoga practitioner relaxed and with inner peace. This inner peace can impact your entire life, giving you the ability to release tension and regain energy almost at will. Proper relaxation does not involve only the muscles, but the mind and spirit as well. Proper diet helps the yoga practitioner achieve a pure mind and body, and yoga promotes this by offering a pure (satvic) diet which is made up of food that is A) easily digested and B) promotes health in the body and mind. Natural or organic food (grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts and dairy) are the most common components of a yoga diet and vegetarianism is not uncommon. For many yoga instructors and practitioners, the eating of meat and meat products can make the body slow and listless, thanks to the energy needed to digest meat, which they feel unnecessarily takes energy away from the body. A proper diet to yoga practitioners means also eating in moderation and only when you are hungry. To yoga experts and students, diet is as equally important to maintaining a healthy body, mind and spirit as any of the other principles. Finally, proper meditation is considered one of the most, if not the most, important principles. The mind controls all aspects of the human body and keeping it in top condition means practicing exercises that keep it at peace and relaxed. It may only involve a few minutes a day or regular 20-minute weekly sessions, but clearing your mind of stress by means of meditation is important to reaching a state of well-being and peace. Each of these principles, when combined into a complete yoga program, can help the practitioner achieve a state of mental and physical clarity that can have far-reaching affects on their entire body. Use these five principles as the building blocks for a life filled with peace and harmony of both mind and body. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Linda Adams enjoys all things health related. One of the most excellent yoga websites Linda has found is Kamloops Yoga Instructors, which is a exceptional mix of yoga and exercise. For more information, have a look at Yoga Poses can Benefit the Inside as Well as Outside one of the finest Yoga blogs. |
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