The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to bind or yoke. It also means union, and is literally the union of our will with the will of God. Thus it is the yoking of all powers of the body, mind and soul to God. It means the disciplining of the intellect, the mind, the emotions, the will and the soul which enables one to look at life in all its aspects evenly.

Yoga has lasted over 3000 years because it truly works. Of all the approaches to yoga, Hatha Yoga is the most well known. It involves moving the body into different postures (asana's) and positions.

The practice of yoga is a journey into the self and will deepen and enrich your life on all levels. Yoga is one of the best means of preventative medicine. It can relieve or prevent backache, headaches, tiredness, insomnia, high blood pressure, heart disease, nervousness, digestive orders, ulcers, kidney problems, constipation, obesity, depression, menstrual disorders, sterility, impotency, anemia, arthritis, asthma, emotional imbalances, hormonal imbalances and spinal disc problems to name a few.

What you can gain from Yoga :

By practicing yoga on a regular basis, here are some common benefits that you can look forward to :

Stabilises the nervous system.
Decreases the pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure.
Cardiovascular and respiratory efficiency increases.
Balances the endocrine (hormonal) and digestive systems.
Normalises your weight.
Increases muscular flexibility and joint movement.
Improves postural alignment and results in better sleep patterns.
Increases energy, strength, endurance and immunity.
Decreases anxiety, depression and hostility.
Improves mood and general sense of well-being.
Improves attention span, concentration and memory.

Yoga's anti aging benefits:

According to yoga philosophy, it's the flexibility of the spine, not the number of years, that determines a person's age. Yoga retards the aging process by giving elasticity to the spine, firming up the skin, removing tension from the body, strengthening the abdominal muscles, improving muscle tone and poor posture - all characteristics of youth.

It has been proven scientifically that yoga has a rejuvenating effect on the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, sex glands and the nervous system. When the functioning of these glands improve, your whole body realises a sense of well-being, and you attain a more positive mental and emotional state. This helps you feel more confident, relaxed, and optimistic in your everyday life. The proper practice of yoga can uplift your spirit - small wonder that the Madonnas and Mariahs of this world are devotees!

Yogic breathing (Pranayama):

Pranayama is a sanskrit (india's holy language) word that means the control of the breathe. The Yoga Sutras say that the disturbance of the mind causes irregular breathing , whilst regular breathing leads to tranquility, thus preparing the mind for meditation. The lungs remove waste products like carbon dioxide from the body.

Breathing deeply not only calms the mind, it helps prevent disease on a physical level, thus breathing is a form of self-healing for the mind and body. During pranayama the movement of your breath massages the whole body. Many of us don't breathe properly because our breathing is blocked by inhibitions or tension.

When you are tense or stressed the capillaries in the body become blocked and blood flow is constricted due to the hard, tight, rigid muscles that result from tension. When breathing is ralaxed, it enhances the flow of blood and oxygen to every cell of the body, thus giving you more energy and leading to increased life force (prana).

Meditation:

Meditation is the path to spiritual enlightenment. Meditation creates a state of calmness in the mind. Through the practice of mindful focus, the restless mind is calmed. During our everyday life, our senses are bombarded with stimuli and our thoughts are constantly active. We are conditioned by our thoughts, remaining mostly unaware how they imprison us.

The regular practice of meditation helps us to still the mind, letting us experience it's calm state.
This allows us to become aware of how thoughts and impulses are generated through our minds. Thus as we meditate, our thoughts become more clear and calm and our ability to focus improves markedly.

During periods of stress, unhappiness or confusion, this meditative state helps bring about a sense of calm, inner peace and awareness. Anxiety is alleviated and depression may be eased.

To summarize :

• Increased flexibility
• Increased muscle tone and strength
• Increased energy and stamina
• Reduced stress and promotion of well being
• A calm, relaxed mind and body
• Improved general health

Incredible as its physical benefits may be, yoga is infinitely more than a complete exercise program - it is a way of life that frees the mind and the spirit.

Hatha yoga, therefore, not only strengthens the body but also activates and awakens the higher centres responsible for the evolution of human consciousness !