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Yoga: An Introduction You've no doubt heard of yoga, not only as a form of exercise, but also as a spiritual path taken by some individuals. Most people in the West practice Hatha yoga, a form of yoga which emphasizes the physical aspect. Interestingly, Hatha is the composite of two ancient Sanskrit words. Ha is the word for sun and tha is the word for moon. Hatha yoga therefore is the union between the sun and moon – the combining of opposites. It is also, not coincidentally, the combining of the mind and the body. Hatha yoga, more than any other exercise, is a perfect example of holistic health in action. When you perform yoga, you'll find that not only does it lead to greater strength and vitality for your body, but it also provides an unparalleled peace of mind. Yoga exercises are expressly used to not only ease tired, tense muscles, and to improve flexibility, but to tone the body's internal organs as well. Yoga is purposely performed slowly with care being given to your breathing. The beauty of yoga is that it can be practiced by anyone. It doesn't matter how old you are. If you desire a more limber body, yoga is one of the quickest ways to attain it. Yoga also increases an individual's physical coordination and promotes better posture. And it does all this without potentially hazard negative effects that are often incurred in high-impact forms of exercise. Yoga is also one of the best exercises to do if you are not in the physical shape you used to be in. It's a great way to introduce your body to subtle gentle movement – performed at your own pace. If you are considering an overall exercise program but feel that you don't have the energy at the moment, dive into yoga first. You'll find that, ironically, the gentle movements and relaxed tone of this ancient practice reinvigorates the body to provide more energy. At the same time, your body is refreshed and renewed, giving you a clear-headed feeling. Curiously, Hatha yoga reaches much of the same effects of aerobic exercise. It improves your overall health by reducing stress, but unlike aerobics, it doesn't increase you heart rate. And many of the postures go a long way towards strengthening your bones, but without the need of lifting weights or doing other weight-bearing exercises. When performed properly – in conjunction with proper related breathing techniques – yoga also helps stimulate the circulatory system, the digestive process as well as the nervous and endocrine system.
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