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What is Yoga? It may seem like a silly question, but many Westerners want to know the answer to the question, “is yoga a religion?” I maintain that it is not a religion because there is no central figure who receives worship or emulation and there is not obligatory philosophy attached to yoga. While some of the term and concepts may be unfamiliar to Westerners, and practitioners come from all walks of life and all backgrounds, yoga is not a religion.

Yoga can provide us with many benefits: lower blood pressure, increased flexibility (both physical and mental), emotional clarity, mental focus, and better sleep, to name a few. We will notice some of these changes right away. Others come with time, as the practitioner becomes more accustomed to the poses.

Dating back almost 8,000 years, yoga is “scientific exercise”. the poses (”asanas”) have been developed and tested over the millenia and the provide a very specific benefit to a very specific muscle set. Originally, yoga was practiced before a time of prayer and meditation to calm the mind and fatigue the muscles so attention could be paid to transcending the “inner conversation”. That muscle strength occurs is a pleasant byproduct of the practice.

There is a humane benefit to the practice of yoga as well. Most students begin their practice for the health and beauty benefits. Because it is highly targeted exercise, students notice positive benefits right away and they’re motivated to continue to learn more. Before long, they notice a growing sense of calm in their thoughts and feelings and this is naturally shared with the people in their life. Family members often note more kindness and patience in the practitioner’s life. This is understandable because as we grow to appreciate the grace and mystery of our own body, it’s natural to want to share our wonder and joy with others.

This is when our Yoga practice has taken us off the mat and into the world. Perhaps we chose to study the philosophy of Yoga. We might chose to adopt the social and personal ethics guidelines for conscious living that this philosophy offers, our Yamas and Niyamas.

One of the great things about yoga is that we can take from it as little or as much as we like. Moderation is an essential part of healthy living, and we can enjoy life more and contribute more fully to others because the physical benefits we derive from yoga. In other words, we can take “off the mat” what we get in the class for the benefit of others.

Webster’s New Dictionary defines Philosophy as: the study of the principles underlying conduct, thought, and the nature of the universe. It defines a Philosopher as: a lover of wisdom; one who acts calmly and rationally in the affairs and changes of life.

In yoga, we study our actions, words , and thoughts with the intent of being a demonstration of peace and unity. In our practice, we enjoy the mental and emotional space to distinguish between the chatter of our worldly minds so we can listen more openly to the promptings of the Spirit. By embracing that Spirit we discover that our real design is to be good and DO good.

Learn more about the benefits of yoga. Stop by Barbara Nobles’s site where you can find out all about yoga in Jackson, MS and what they can do for you.

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