What is yoga?
Yoga originated around 4000 years ago in the Far East as a spiritual practice designed to realise the Divine nature of the self. Today in the West, yoga usually includes three elements of the traditional yoga techniques: postures (or asanas in Sanskrit), breath control (or pranayama) and meditation.
Yoga Asanas
Yoga asanas are the physical stretches or postures familiar to many of us when we think of yoga. Asanas come in standing, sitting, lying and inverted forms and are designed to improve suppleness, flexibility and posture. They also stretch muscles, move the spine and help to build stamina and strength in the body, as well as calm the mind.
Pranayama
Conscious breathing exercises are designed to master the movement of prana (or life-force) within us. The practice of pranayama enhances lung capacity, oxygenating and energizing the body and improves circulation. Like asanas, pranayama also calms the mind, allowing a feeling of tranquility and emotional well-being to develop.
Meditation Techniques
Meditation allows us to become aware of how our mind works. Our concentration improves, we become more single-minded, and we are able to relinquish habitual thought patterns, allowing us to become more self-confident, open and honest with ourselves and others.
Yoga originated around 4000 years ago in the Far East as a spiritual practice designed to realise the Divine nature of the self. Today in the West, yoga usually includes three elements of the traditional yoga techniques: postures (or asanas in Sanskrit), breath control (or pranayama) and meditation.
Yoga Asanas
Yoga asanas are the physical stretches or postures familiar to many of us when we think of yoga. Asanas come in standing, sitting, lying and inverted forms and are designed to improve suppleness, flexibility and posture. They also stretch muscles, move the spine and help to build stamina and strength in the body, as well as calm the mind.
Pranayama
Conscious breathing exercises are designed to master the movement of prana (or life-force) within us. The practice of pranayama enhances lung capacity, oxygenating and energizing the body and improves circulation. Like asanas, pranayama also calms the mind, allowing a feeling of tranquility and emotional well-being to develop.
Meditation Techniques
Meditation allows us to become aware of how our mind works. Our concentration improves, we become more single-minded, and we are able to relinquish habitual thought patterns, allowing us to become more self-confident, open and honest with ourselves and others.
