In A Yoga Studio Capitol Hill Practitioners Improve Themselves Holistically

By Paul Phillips


Swami Vivekanda, an Indian and a devout follower of the Asana philosophy toured the United States and Canada some years ago to promote the many benefits offered by this unique philosophy. He could not have foreseen the tremendous reaction that he would get. People immediately flocked to learn more about Asana and very soon there were numerous practitioners. Today, millions of people in every country of the world practice Asana regularly. When attending a yoga studio Capitol Hill practitioners strive towards self improvement.

Despite its immense popularity, Asana still has critics. Most of the criticism directed at the practice is based upon mistake believe about the true nature of this philosophy. It is most certainly not a religion, as so many people think. Neither is it just some for of ritualistic exercising and stretching. The true purpose of Asana is to help people to improve themselves in a holistic way.

Stretching and other forms of physical exercise certainly do form part of Asana, but it is only one component of the overall philosophy. The aim of the exercises is to improve agility, muscle tone, flexibility and the general fitness of the practitioner. It also helps them to become more disciplined individuals. There are numerous different exercises which are suitable to people of all ages and physical abilities.

Many practitioners find the fact that Asana is not competitive in any way one of its main attractions. There is no pressure to proceed at a specified pace or to master new exercises or poses. Most classes consist of practitioners at various levels of skill and experience, all at a pace with which they feel comfortable. Even people with physical disabilities or serious diseases can benefit from Asana.

Many studies have been conducted on the benefits or dangers of Asana and the vast majority of them conclude that this philosophy hold absolutely no risk to any practitioner. In fact, Asana offers numerous health benefits. It does not involve any hard impact activities and there is ample evidence that those suffering from arthritis, heart disease, migraines, depression, osteoporosis and chronic back pain all benefit greatly.

Taking up Asana does not require the purchase of any equipment or clothing. It does not require any special facilities and can be practised anywhere, even in nature. Most beginners do invest in club membership, however, if only for a short while in order to learn the basics. Belonging to a club also holds the benefit of learning from experienced practitioners and sticking to a disciplined regime.

Anyone wanting to learn more about Asana will find that their is a host of resources. Many books, websites and articles are devoted to this subject. Beginners are advised to investigate the many approaches to this philosophy and to choose the one approach that will work for them as individuals. Instructors can help by providing more information on the many ways in which Asana can be approached.

There can be no doubt whatsoever that yoga benefits millions of people. It is the ideal family activity because it is not competitive and it does not require practitioners to maintain a certain pace. It does not come as a surprise to learn that the popularity of Asana is still on the rise.




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