Introduction to Yoga

While much that you read and hear about in the health and fitness world relates to hype and fads, that can definitely not be said about yoga. Yoga has a 5000 year history that has embedded the practice of yoga in Hindu and then other religions, especially Buddhism. In all that time, probably hundreds of millions of people have become proficient in the practice of yoga, and derived great spiritual and physical benefit from it.

Yoga in its full form is deeply spiritual, with the exercise part of it being integral to that spirituality. For those who truly follow yoga, it is a lifetime journey, a process of continual learning and practice of what is a comprehensive way of life.

For those of us from the West, however, yoga has a more diluted meaning, and mostly refers to yoga exercise and maybe meditation. So, for those considering yoga for the first time, an early decision to be made is whether to truly embrace yoga as a way of spiritual life, or to utilize the diluted version.

Most Westerners are actually seeking the diluted version of yoga, without its religious connotations and with less spiritual intensity. The chances are, if you have not already practised yoga, your interest in the topic has been raised because of wanting to learn to relax more, or you want a means of exercise, or you have met people who have recommended yoga as a healthy way to improve suppleness and fitness, and even lose weight.

This web site is really aimed at those who fall into that category, the type of person who will probably attend yoga lessons in the United States, UK or other Western country. There is really nothing to be ashamed of in seeing yoga in its limited and watered down Western form. After all, it is not part of your upbringing or culture as it might be if you were brought up in the Hindu religion or as a Buddhist. It would take many years for you to become imbued with yoga in its totality, and your interest is most likely wanting to become fitter and healthier, and be able to relax.

There is no law that says you cannot learn and use some of yoga's elements as a means to improving yourself; that is what most of us do who have ever practised yoga in the West. You can also gain considerable benefit from yoga exercises and meditation alone. Due to my own physical restrictions due to back and hip problems, I have found even the limited exercises I could do are better than nothing. Furthermore, I have found the meditation training priceless.

If you decide to pursue yoga, in whatever form, I hope you can reap similar or greater benefits to those I have experienced. It is well worthwhile, and there are millions of people alive today who would probably tell you the same.