Who does Yoga?

yoga is awesome, im a beginner, can someone wiser show me the way of the yoga.

Hi hector. I don't follow this system. I have my own belief in God. )

Perhaps you'll find someone in the Spirituality Forum? TC!

oh no I belive in god as well, dont get me wrong. yoga is a relaxation technique that helps release tension stored in the muscle, it might be spirtual, but i just do it to relax.

That's kewl with me. Whatever belief system you choose is fine with me.

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can someone wiser show me the way of the yoga.

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ay caramba! , wiser means someone who has been doing it for a while.

me... it's great but i practice my own way... yoga-esque? what little i know about yoga anyway...

Yoga isn't a belief system - it's a relaxation and fitness method. Spiritual people often turn to it, but yoga itself doesn't have anything to do with spirituality.

Yes, I practice it. Not regularly, but I've been doing it for about 10 years.

NP psyche_hector! Here are some references (and good links) regarding yoga! Best know about what you enjoy, don't you think? Good wishes.

Yoga
The ancient Yogis recognised long ago that in order to accomplish the highest stage of yoga, which is the realisation of the self, or God consciousness, a healthy physical body is essential. For when we are sick, our attention is seldom free enough to contemplate the larger reality, or to muster the energy for practice.
The masters of yoga also teach us that personal growth is possible only when we fully accept our embodiment and when we truly understand that the body is not merely skin and bones but a finely balanced system of energies.
http://www.experiencefestival.com/yoga

Yoga (Sanskrit: योग Yoga, IPA: [joːgə]) is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. As a general term in Hinduism[1] it has been defined as referring to "technologies or disciplines of asceticism and meditation which are thought to lead to spiritual experience and profound understanding or insight into the nature of existence."[2] Yoga is also intimately connected to the religious beliefs and practices of the other Indian religions.
Outside India, Yoga is mostly associated with the practice of asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga or as a form of exercise, although it has influenced the entire Indian religions family and other spiritual practices throughout the world.[3]
Hindu texts discussing different aspects of yoga include the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Shiva Samhita, and many others.[3][4]
Major branches of Yoga include: Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Raja Yoga. [5] [6] [7] Raja Yoga, known simply as Yoga in the context of Hindu philosophy, is one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of thought, established by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga

For a better discussion of the history of Yoga, we could divide it into four periods: the Vedic Period, Pre-Classical Period, Classical Period, and Post-Classical Period.

Vedic Period

The existence of the Vedas marks this period. The Vedas is the sacred scripture of Brahmanism that is the basis of modern-day Hinduism. It is a collection of hymns which praise a divine power. The Vedas contains the oldest known Yogic teachings and as such, teachings found in the Vedas are called Vedic Yoga. This is characterized by rituals and ceremonies that strive to surpass the limitations of the mind.

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/beginners...ogahistory.asp (This is a good site for information for you.)

Holy cow! We've been walking for thousands of years. I wonder which belief system claims walking? Hmmm, I also wonder if I unconsciously know the answer and thus my "holy cow!"...

Hi Psyche_Hector,
I've been doing yoga for a couple of years now, almost entirely at home alone. If you're also practicing at home, I recommend getting to a class periodically. I've learned a great deal from the instructors and even had the opportunity for some one on one coaching.

Also, take some time to breathe, focus, and prepare your mind and body for your yoga session. I find it's much harder to focus, balance, and align my body into the poses if I start out already distracted or feeling rushed. And don't neglect the end relaxation in "corpse pose". That's an important part of integrating what your body experienced and recharging before resuming (or beginning) your day.

Finally, remember that yoga is not an outcome and not a competition. It is your own process. Don't over-do it with the poses. Some days will be better than others, and it's okay if you "go backwards" a bit at times, which could be due to illness, injury, stress, distraction, whatever. It's all part of the process. If you are practicing regularly, you'll have more good sessions than bad.

Hope this helps.

Namaste

gg

i am actually trying to do yoga too....i know there are different types of Yoga

im trying to get started its just alittle difficult

Here's a good online starter site:

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/

thanks alot, yoga is a very good thing if you stick to it!

I used to do a lot of yoga - really helped my back issues and my dad got into it for a bit with his rheumatoid arthritis. We got out of practice but we should get into it again.

Yoga isn't a religion although it started by the Hindu as a way of expressing spirituality. Most of us do it for excersize, relaxation, and pain relief. I'm Jewish - yoga has nothing to do with religion for me - there is no praying involved or anything - it is just putting your body into different positions and using different movements to stimulate blood flow, flexibility, and relaxation. It is recommended by doctors for pain management. You don't have to believe in those things sky posted to practice what is now a common form of excersize!

I love yoga. There are lots of books about it, and some websites, and even magazines. I've learned a lot from working with video. I would really like to go to a yoga class sometime, but haven't yet. I think that the live class experience would be really neat. I guess I don't know enough about yoga to give you much by way of answers, but I would suggest finding a teacher, or at least some good videos.

Yes, there is spirituality involved in yoga, but it is a choice how you want to focus. A lot of people really do it for exercise. Maybe that opens a door to spirituality, but yoga isn't about replacing anyone's belief system. Yoga is an 8-limbic tree. The limbs include physical aspects such as postures and breathing, as well as meditation and philosophy:
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Yama - Moral observances for interactions with others
Niyama - Moral observances for interactions with yourself
Asana - Postures
Pranayama - Breathing
Pratyahara - Sensory inhibition
Dharana - Focus
Dhyana - Meditation
Samadhi - Blissful absorption of one's individual consciousness in the essence of God.
http://yoga.iloveindia.com/limbs-of-yoga/index.html

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There are also various kinds of yoga. Some focus more on certain limbs than others.

I have been practicing for a few years taking both classes and studying privately. The best thing it has done for me is taught me how to breathe.You don't realize how bad you can be at it until you learn to do it right.
Yoga is not a religion, but a way to bring mind, body and spirit together for a more balanced life. I consider it an important part of my recovery.
My practice gives me the time to not think about all that is going on. It has drawn me to a community of people that care.
If you are interested, I too suggest that you take some classes, preferably intro. You will learn the basic poses, how to breathe, etc. Hatha is the practice that most others stem from.
And remember its not about how far you fan bend or getting your ankle behind your head, its about finding peace within yourself.
Good luck