Yoga Poses
Elizabeth Henshall asked:
What is the Point of Yoga Poses?
There are different theories about the point behind Yoga poses and these theories depend a lot on the Yoga approach and reason for doing Yoga that the student brings. Today Yoga is used mainly for fitness and it works very well at that level. However the original purpose of Yoga was as part of a series of things the yogis and monks did to help them achieve self realisation. Quite different to the intention behind it now!
However the point of the yoga poses also varies according to what the teacher or student want from the practice. It is true that fitness is a strong driver these days as we learn more and more about what the body needs to keep well and strong into old age. However for many students it is more the capacity of yoga practice to deliver a calm mind and reduced anxiety that is the attraction. The poses and the breathing patterns that go with each pose can help to bring about a profound change in a person’s emotional wellbeing and that is a very valuable benefit. The toning of the body that will also accompany this is a welcome bonus, but not the point for these students. They attend classes as part of their stress management routine and get a great deal of help.
Other students are attracted to the ancient use of yoga and like the idea of it being a pathway to self realization and use it as part of their spiritual practice – with the other benefits being attractive but not the point of the practice for them. They will tend to emphasise the meditation aspect of Yoga and use the postures as a way to help them focus and master their minds as they concentrate only on the asana as they do it. Often these students will also be interested in holistic treatments and energy work on the body and see it as all part of a way to link with something ‘higher’ or ‘greater’ as they go about their daily lives. These students tend to be seekers and very much enjoy the journey a well constructed yoga session can take them on physically, emotionally and spiritually. The calm that descended as they are involved in the practice gives them a chance to become aware of things that were lying just out of reach of their consciousness.
So if you are thinking of taking up yoga, or are already involved in it, have a think about why you do yoga and ask yourself if it is working for you, or whether you want to expand the practice to include other elements I have listed above. Your yoga teacher is always a good person to talk to about these things and they may adjust the class a little to accommodate your intentions too. Enjoy!
Caffeinated Content
What is the Point of Yoga Poses?
There are different theories about the point behind Yoga poses and these theories depend a lot on the Yoga approach and reason for doing Yoga that the student brings. Today Yoga is used mainly for fitness and it works very well at that level. However the original purpose of Yoga was as part of a series of things the yogis and monks did to help them achieve self realisation. Quite different to the intention behind it now!
However the point of the yoga poses also varies according to what the teacher or student want from the practice. It is true that fitness is a strong driver these days as we learn more and more about what the body needs to keep well and strong into old age. However for many students it is more the capacity of yoga practice to deliver a calm mind and reduced anxiety that is the attraction. The poses and the breathing patterns that go with each pose can help to bring about a profound change in a person’s emotional wellbeing and that is a very valuable benefit. The toning of the body that will also accompany this is a welcome bonus, but not the point for these students. They attend classes as part of their stress management routine and get a great deal of help.
Other students are attracted to the ancient use of yoga and like the idea of it being a pathway to self realization and use it as part of their spiritual practice – with the other benefits being attractive but not the point of the practice for them. They will tend to emphasise the meditation aspect of Yoga and use the postures as a way to help them focus and master their minds as they concentrate only on the asana as they do it. Often these students will also be interested in holistic treatments and energy work on the body and see it as all part of a way to link with something ‘higher’ or ‘greater’ as they go about their daily lives. These students tend to be seekers and very much enjoy the journey a well constructed yoga session can take them on physically, emotionally and spiritually. The calm that descended as they are involved in the practice gives them a chance to become aware of things that were lying just out of reach of their consciousness.
So if you are thinking of taking up yoga, or are already involved in it, have a think about why you do yoga and ask yourself if it is working for you, or whether you want to expand the practice to include other elements I have listed above. Your yoga teacher is always a good person to talk to about these things and they may adjust the class a little to accommodate your intentions too. Enjoy!
Caffeinated Content
August 15th, 2010 in
Yoga | tags: Energy Work, Holistic Treatments, Monks, Pathway, Purpose Of Yoga, Seekers, Welcome Bonus, Yoga Poses