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Encyclopedia > Yoga as exercise

A western style hatha yoga class. Some 16,000,000 people in the U.S. alone practice this form of yoga.
A western style hatha yoga class. Some 16,000,000[1] people in the U.S. alone practice this form of yoga.
See Yoga for the family of spiritual practices that originated in India.

While Yoga evolved as a spiritual practice, in the West it has grown popular as a form of purely physical exercise. Some Western practice has little or nothing to do with Hinduism or spirituality, but is simply a way of keeping fit and healthy. This differs from the traditional Eastern view of yoga. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 121 KB) A yoga class. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 121 KB) A yoga class. ... Statue of Shiva performing Yogic meditation Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. ... Statue of Shiva performing Yogic meditation Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. ... A spiritual practice, spiritual discipline or spiritual exercise (sadhana) includes any activity that one associates with cultivating spirituality. ... The term Western world, the West or the Occident (Latin occidens -sunset, -west, as distinct from the Orient) [1] can have multiple meanings dependent on its context (e. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... History of Yoga. ...


Yoga was first introduced to American society in the late nineteenth century by Swami Vivekananda, the founder of the Vedanta Society. He believed that India has an abundance of spiritual wealth and that yoga is a method that could help those who were bound by the materialism of capitalist societies to achieve spiritual well-being. Swami Vivekananda (Bengali: Shami Bibekanondo) (January 12, 1863 - July 4, 1902), whose pre-monastic name was Narendranath Dutta ( Nôrendrônath Dôt-tô), was one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga and a major figure in the history of Hinduism... The Vedanta Society is a branch of the Ramakrishna Mission. ...


Yoga, dating back to over 5,000 years ago, is a form of a spiritual practice in India. In the West, it has evolved from its founding philosophy. Globalization over the past decade has been opening new doors for many industries, and within the yoga industry it has resulted in commodification. Today, yoga is now a lucrative and growing business. About 16.5 million Americans now spend nearly $3 billion annually on classes and products, a February 2005 poll by Harris Interactive and Yoga Journal magazine revealed.[2] A KFC franchise in Kuwait. ... Yoga Journal is an American based media company that publishes a magazine, a website, DVDs, and puts on conferences all devoted to yoga, food and nutrition, fitness, wellness, and fashion and beauty. ...



One argument against the globalization of yoga is that it is co-opting an ancient spiritual philosophy.[citation needed] Because yoga invokes ideals of harmony, health and balance, it “fits” well in the environment of modernity. On one hand, the acculturation of Yoga in America and Europe can be viewed as a welcome celebration of multiculturalism, promoting more open and tolerant cultural dispositions. On the other hand, the processes of commercialization may be considered to have debased the sacred practice. [Tomlinson, John. "Globalization and Culture". Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1999] A KFC franchise in Kuwait. ...


Yoga as exercise has evolved into numerous subdivisions and variations. Naked yoga, chair yoga, acro yoga and hip-hop yoga are some of the few variations emerging. There is much debate whether the term Hatha Yoga properly describes yoga as exercise, since the traditional Hatha Yoga system originated as, and still is, a spiritual path in its own right. [Strauss, Sarah. "Positioning Yoga: Balancing Acts Across Cultures". New York: Berg, 2005] Woman doing a session of naked yoga. ... Hatha Yoga posture performed at a Hindu temple. ... Hatha Yoga posture performed at a Hindu temple. ...

Contents

Yoga as exercise for treating diseases

The popularization in the West of the medical aspect of Yoga is largely attributed to Dr.Swami Sivananda Saraswati's Bihar School of Yoga. Most yoga classes consist of a combination of physical exercises, breathing exercises, and meditation. These characteristics make yoga a particularly beneficial kind of exercise for people with certain health conditions, including heart disease/hypertension, asthma, and back problems. A large statue in Bangalore depicting Shiva meditating Meditation describes a state of concentrated attention on some object of thought or awareness. ... Heart disease is an umbrella term for a number of different diseases which affect the heart and is the leading cause of death in the United States as of 2007. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...


For people with heart problems, studies have shown yoga to help people young and old. Specifically, yoga seems to promote heart health in several ways, including regulating high blood pressure and improving resistance to psychological stress.[3] Yoga also has the potential to buffer against the harmful effects of bodily self-objectification as well as to promote embodiment and well-being[4] Stress (roughly the opposite of relaxation) is a medical term for a wide range of strong external stimuli, both physiological and psychological, which can cause a physiological response called the general adaptation syndrome, first described in 1936 by Hans Selye in the journal Nature. ...


For people with back problems, studies have shown yoga helps physically with strength, flexibility and endurance. Yoga also helps create relaxation through the breathing and meditation techniques employed, which has been shown to help people better proactively manage a chronic pain problem like back pain.[5] Chronic pain was originally defined as pain that has lasted 6 months or longer. ...


See also

Statue of Shiva performing Yogic meditation Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. ... For the system of yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, see Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. ... Yoga is not a religion, yoga is the science of religions B.K.S. Iyengar (Light on Yoga) Iyengar Yoga, created by B.K.S. Iyengar, is a form of yoga known for its use of props, such as belts and blocks, as aids in performing asanas (postures). ... Hatha Yoga posture performed at a Hindu temple. ... Raja Yoga (lit. ... Woman doing a session of naked yoga. ... Yoga whythbytvfbyjfgnuj6yfgy6gbytbythbthnbtyyhn uyuytnhunnytnjytjyhnygfhjnynjhfygnhen used as a form of alternative medicine is a combination of breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation, practiced for over 5,000 years. ... The Eye of Revelation by Peter Kelder The Five Tibetan Rites is a system of exercises first publicized by Peter Kelder, an orphan from the Midwestern United States[1]. In his booklet The Eye of Revelation, published 1939, Kelder claims to relay the travel stories of a retired British army... Chair yoga is the term generally used to describe a gentle form of yoga that is practiced sitting in a chair, or standing using a chair for support. ... Cardiac yoga sample exercise Cardiac yoga sample exercise Cardiac yoga is a system of stress management and health promotion designed specifically to focus on the needs of a heart patient. ...

References

  1. ^ http://www.yogajournal.com/about_press020705.cfm
  2. ^ http://www.yogajournal.com/about_press020705.cfm
  3. ^ December 2002. Yoga: What is yoga good for? Univ. of Maryland Medical website. Retrieved 11/30/06.
  4. ^ Minding the Body: Yoga, Embodiment, and Well-Being Sexuality Research and Social Policy: Journal of NSRC. Retrieved 03/07/07.
  5. ^ December 2003. Yoga for back problems Spine Health Medical website. Retrieved 11/30/06.

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Sivananda Yoga - Proper Exercise (251 words)
Proper Exercise is one of the 5 fundamental points of Yoga as taught by Swami Vishnu-devananda founder/Guru of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers.
As Yoga regards the body as a vehicle for the soul on its journey towards perfection, Yogic physical exercises are designed to develop not only the body.
Yoga exercises focus on the health of the spine, its strength and flexibility.
Yoga and Exercise (323 words)
Yoga poses on the other hand, involve movements, which bring stability and energy to the body, the senses, the mind, and the consciousness.
In yoga practice, the brain is quieted; the senses are stilled, generating a calm feeling of well-being.
With practice, the student of yoga learns to treat the brain as an object and the body as a subject.
  More results at FactBites »

 

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