|
          
Proper Exercise | Proper Breathing | Proper Relaxation | Proper Diet | Positive Thinking & Meditation
Our teacher, Swami Vishnu Devananda
brought yoga to the west in the late fifties. Swamiji summed up the basic
essence of the science of yoga into the following five basic points. Swamiji
knew that westerns could use these universal principles for physical and
mental health as well as spiritual growth.
The modern lifestyle does not provide natural motion of muscles and joints.
Because of insufficient muscle length (flexibility) and muscle strength our
bodies develop disease and discomfort over time. Our physical body is
meant to move and exercise. Proper exercise should be pleasant to the
practitioner while beneficial to the body, mind and spiritual life.
Most people do not utilize the optimum capacity of their lungs. Yoga teaches us
how to use the lungs to their maximum capacity and how to control the breath.
Proper breathing should be deep, slow and rhythmical. This increases vitality
and mental clarity, while eliminating stress and tension.
Because of the fast-paced life styles most of us live combined with external stimuli, we are continually switching our bodies into the classic
"fight or flight" syndrome. Stressful situations arise, we tense up, the
situation passes and we continue to carry the stress and tension. Over
time, this has a tremendous cumulative effect. Yogis of yore devised very
powerful techniques of deep relaxation. By relaxing deeply all the muscles
the Yogi can thoroughly rejuvenate his nervous system and attain a deep sense of
inner peace.
Besides being responsible for building our physical body, the foods we eat
profoundly affect our mind. For maximum body-mind efficiency and complete
spiritual awareness, Yoga advocates a vegetarian diet. This is an integral part
of the Yogic lifestyle.
This last point is the most important point of all. We become what we
think. Yoga teaches us to entertain positive and creative thoughts which
contribute to vibrant health and a peaceful, joyful mind. The mind will be
brought under perfect control by regular practice of meditation.
Proper Exercise | Proper Breathing | Proper Relaxation | Proper Diet | Positive Thinking & Meditation
| 