Swami Vivekananda was an Indian philosopher that lived in the latter years of the eighteenth century. He developed a unique philosophy which he called Asana, a holistic philosophy which he aimed to introduce to people all over the world. To this end he travelled to the Unites States and Canada. Asana, better known to most people as yoga, very quickly became immensely popular. Today many millions of people practice Asana in every country in the world. With yoga Ann Arbor MI residents hope to improve their bodies and their minds.
Despite the popularity of Asana, many people still have a misconception about what it is actually all about. There are those that think that it is nothing but a collection of bodily poses and stretching exercises. Then there are those that think that it is some form of religion originating from the East. None of this is true. Asana is not a religion but a philosophy that aims to improve the body, the mind and the spirit.
It is true that Asana involves stretching exercises and poses but this is not really what it is all about. There are various forms of Asana. Some of them demand physical strength and fitness while others are more focused on the inner self. Regardless of the variation of the philosophy that one practices, poses and stretching always form part of it in order to improve concentration and to focus on the inner self.
Asana does not involve competition in any form. No one is pressurized to master new exercises and poses at a given pace. Everyone practices Asana and learn new stretches and poses when they feel ready to do so. At most studios, classes are a mixture of practitioners at different levels of proficiency, age and experience. This makes it an ideal activity for the entire family.
There have been many studies focusing on Asana, especially its potential health benefits. It has been found that people suffering from high anxiety levels, depression and other mental conditions benefited greatly after taking up Asana. Those with hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and other diseases afflicting the joints and tendons also benefit. Improved flexibility and stronger muscles are also major benefits enjoyed by practitioners. It even improves the ability to concentrate.
Practicing Asana does not involve an investment in special clothing or equipment. There are studios offering classes almost everywhere and it may be a good idea to join a class for at least a while when just starting out with Asana in order to learn from more experienced practitioners. Once the basic poses and exercises are mastered, one can practice Asana anywhere and literally anyone can do so.
Because there are many different versions of Asana, beginners often find it difficult to choose an approach that will work best for them. It will certainly help to join a studio that practices different versions and to try a few of them before deciding. There are also numerous books, magazines and websites that are useful in learning new poses and exercises.
The immense popularity of Asana all over the world is not surprising at all. It is not risky in any way and it offers numerous mental and physical benefits. Practitioners improve their concentration levels and they are better able to focus on the inner self.
Despite the popularity of Asana, many people still have a misconception about what it is actually all about. There are those that think that it is nothing but a collection of bodily poses and stretching exercises. Then there are those that think that it is some form of religion originating from the East. None of this is true. Asana is not a religion but a philosophy that aims to improve the body, the mind and the spirit.
It is true that Asana involves stretching exercises and poses but this is not really what it is all about. There are various forms of Asana. Some of them demand physical strength and fitness while others are more focused on the inner self. Regardless of the variation of the philosophy that one practices, poses and stretching always form part of it in order to improve concentration and to focus on the inner self.
Asana does not involve competition in any form. No one is pressurized to master new exercises and poses at a given pace. Everyone practices Asana and learn new stretches and poses when they feel ready to do so. At most studios, classes are a mixture of practitioners at different levels of proficiency, age and experience. This makes it an ideal activity for the entire family.
There have been many studies focusing on Asana, especially its potential health benefits. It has been found that people suffering from high anxiety levels, depression and other mental conditions benefited greatly after taking up Asana. Those with hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and other diseases afflicting the joints and tendons also benefit. Improved flexibility and stronger muscles are also major benefits enjoyed by practitioners. It even improves the ability to concentrate.
Practicing Asana does not involve an investment in special clothing or equipment. There are studios offering classes almost everywhere and it may be a good idea to join a class for at least a while when just starting out with Asana in order to learn from more experienced practitioners. Once the basic poses and exercises are mastered, one can practice Asana anywhere and literally anyone can do so.
Because there are many different versions of Asana, beginners often find it difficult to choose an approach that will work best for them. It will certainly help to join a studio that practices different versions and to try a few of them before deciding. There are also numerous books, magazines and websites that are useful in learning new poses and exercises.
The immense popularity of Asana all over the world is not surprising at all. It is not risky in any way and it offers numerous mental and physical benefits. Practitioners improve their concentration levels and they are better able to focus on the inner self.
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