Asana, a philosophy developed by Swami Vivekananda and better known as yoga was first introduced to the United States and Canada during a tour by the Indian philosopher. His holistic views on life, as expressed by his philosophy, immediately appealed to people and quickly spread to every country in the world. Today there are millions of people practicing Asana and its popularity keeps on growing. By taking up yoga Ann Arbor MI residents hope to improve the quality of their lives.
Asana has no religious undertones, as many people still tend to think. It is not a sect either and it is not a mystic Eastern philosophy born from disciplines such as Buddhism. It is not merely a lot of exercises and poses either, as many others seem to think. Instead, it is a holistic philosophy that has as its aim to improve the minds, spirits and bodies of practitioners.
Asana does indeed involve a large number of body poses and stretching exercises but they are not the main aim of this philosophy. Instead they are nothing but tools that are designed to help practitioners to gain inner strength, to focus upon specific issues and to concentrate better. There is not just one version of Asana either. Different versions focus on different aspects, depending on the needs of each individual.
Asana never encourages competition in any form. In fact, classes consist of individuals at all levels of proficiency. There is no pressure to progress to new exercises or poses and this makes Asana a perfect activity for the entire family. They can all be in the same class, regardless of age and physical or mental ability. The whole idea is that each person progresses at his own pace.
There have been many formal and informal studies into the health benefits of Asana. The general conclusion of most of these studies is that Asana offers many benefits indeed. All practitioners increase their overall flexibility and muscle strength but those with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and anxiety issues benefit decidedly. Many doctors actually advise their patients to take up this discipline as part of their treatment.
Taking up Asana does not require a large initial outlay. Any comfortable clothing will do and no special equipment is necessary. Many people prefer to join a class but this is not necessary in order to benefit. Asana can be practiced anywhere, even alone while at home. Beginners are advised, however, to attend at least a few classes in order to master the basic poses and exercises.
There is a wealth of information available on this subject and many websites offer free instructional videos, advice and interaction forums. The problem for most beginners is to choose a specific version that will suit their needs and abilities. The solution may be to join a studio that offers classes in various versions and to try a few before making a final decision on the matter.
There can be absolutely no doubt that Asana is here to stay and that it benefits its millions of practitioners. They all enjoy a higher level of fitness, increased concentration abilities and a higher sense of inner peace. One could hardly ask for more and it is therefore no surprise that Asana is still increasing its popularity.
Asana has no religious undertones, as many people still tend to think. It is not a sect either and it is not a mystic Eastern philosophy born from disciplines such as Buddhism. It is not merely a lot of exercises and poses either, as many others seem to think. Instead, it is a holistic philosophy that has as its aim to improve the minds, spirits and bodies of practitioners.
Asana does indeed involve a large number of body poses and stretching exercises but they are not the main aim of this philosophy. Instead they are nothing but tools that are designed to help practitioners to gain inner strength, to focus upon specific issues and to concentrate better. There is not just one version of Asana either. Different versions focus on different aspects, depending on the needs of each individual.
Asana never encourages competition in any form. In fact, classes consist of individuals at all levels of proficiency. There is no pressure to progress to new exercises or poses and this makes Asana a perfect activity for the entire family. They can all be in the same class, regardless of age and physical or mental ability. The whole idea is that each person progresses at his own pace.
There have been many formal and informal studies into the health benefits of Asana. The general conclusion of most of these studies is that Asana offers many benefits indeed. All practitioners increase their overall flexibility and muscle strength but those with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and anxiety issues benefit decidedly. Many doctors actually advise their patients to take up this discipline as part of their treatment.
Taking up Asana does not require a large initial outlay. Any comfortable clothing will do and no special equipment is necessary. Many people prefer to join a class but this is not necessary in order to benefit. Asana can be practiced anywhere, even alone while at home. Beginners are advised, however, to attend at least a few classes in order to master the basic poses and exercises.
There is a wealth of information available on this subject and many websites offer free instructional videos, advice and interaction forums. The problem for most beginners is to choose a specific version that will suit their needs and abilities. The solution may be to join a studio that offers classes in various versions and to try a few before making a final decision on the matter.
There can be absolutely no doubt that Asana is here to stay and that it benefits its millions of practitioners. They all enjoy a higher level of fitness, increased concentration abilities and a higher sense of inner peace. One could hardly ask for more and it is therefore no surprise that Asana is still increasing its popularity.
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