Written By Mona Sethi

Yoga is an ancient form of exercise, as known by most of the people. Yoga is Indian and very Hindu. It has been popular in many forms in India for centuries. It is a way of life and not just a form of exercise as believed by most of people in the west. It is embedded in the Hindu way of life and people practice yoga everyday, without even thinking or knowing they are performing a yoga act.

For some, Yoga is the ultimate goal and for some yoga is a path to the ultimate goal. Most yogis believe that the union of one’s soul, which is atman and the whole universe and beyond, called Brahman, is the ultimate goal of yoga. Yoga is also considered a science by many modern followers. It has shown desired results in overall improvement of health in all the parts of the body.

Yoga is about 5000 years old and there have been many forms of yoga since centuries but in today’s world we can safely classify Indian yoga in nine forms. Jnana Yoga or yoga of knowledge achieved through study and meditation making one wise. Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of love and devotion is practiced via bhajans, shalokas. Karma yoga is a way of life and it can be practiced everyday with no effort. Karma means doing your duty selflessly without thinking of the outcome or the end.

Mantra Yoga is rhythmic repetition or chanting of a word, like OM or other phrases and shalokas that brings relaxation and calm to mind and body. Yantra Yoga is practiced through the sights in the surroundings, in nature, temples and pictures, or by visualizations and forms that we achieve tranquility. Laya and Kundalini Yoga is a yoga that involves breathing and meditation to arouse the power centers or chakras in the body through the nerve forces to the attain samadhi should be practiced under the supervision of a teacher.

Tantric Yoga is sexual yoga which unites by harnessing sexual energy. It is a kind of yoga that is kept closed and guarded and for obvious reasons is often not accepted by the masses. Raja Yoga makes you the ruler of your whole being is practiced through asana and pranayam and works on the purification of the mind and then the body. Finally, Hatha Yoga which is widely practiced in the west via asanas or postures, meditation or pranayam (breathing exercises) and ultimately leads to the purification of the body and mind or the total being.

All the above yogas provide relaxation and tranquility through different mediums, thus making yoga just not physical form of exercise but much more than that. One could practice any or all of these forms of yoga along with other guidelines described later to achieve the ultimate goal and benefits.

Yoga in total is a combination of asana or postures, breathing the right way, relaxation, diet, meditation and becoming a better person. One cannot practice yoga like an exercise just for body toning and health if all the other aspects are not followed. Yoga makes the whole being healthy. Yoga is very different from other physical exercises.

Yoga exercises are slow rhythmic movements focusing on mind and body, while other physical exercises involve vigorous, violent movement that may build muscles and help in achieving great body but the stresses it puts on the muscles and body are harmful for the body in the long run.

Also, these exercises do not relax our mind or body and mind and body tranquility is the main aim of yoga. It advises one to go slow and according to ones abilities and capabilities. Yoga is also considered safe for kids, old people and people with ailments unlike most of the other form of exercises. There are certain low key exercises which are for beginners or people with disabilities and once they develop the strength and ability, they can gradually move on to more challenging poses.

Meditation and relaxation along with proper breathing are eminent parts of yoga. The most desirable part of a yoga exercise is that it relaxes the body and mind. One experiences relaxed mind and body in the first few sessions. Meditation is a technique and should be practiced daily and mastered to bring serenity and inner freedom. It is becoming increasingly popular and has shown to bring physiological and psychological changes due to deep subconscious relaxing quality.

It also reduces stress, breathing rate and oxygen consumption, lowers blood pressure thus improving the health of the physical body. Due to deep rest and relaxation qualities, mediation also reduces depression and stressful intake of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and other harmful substances. Meditation, relaxation and right breathing make life more open, spontaneous, anxiety free, healthful, creative and rewarding.

Diet is another very important part of yoga. One cannot practice yoga completely, if one does not take care of the foods we eat. If the foods one eats make him unhealthy and sick, he will not benefit from yoga at all. There are certain foods that are needed by the body and some that are harmful for the body. We all know that alcohol, smoking and other substances that are addictive should be avoided. Food can be divided in three categories, based on their qualities. Sattvic or pure, natural foods are very beneficial to us. Foods that are good for the body are fruits and vegetables, milk, ghee, honey, grains and legumes.

Rajasic food or stimulating foods like meats and strong tasting foods that stimulate the nervous system should be consumed in small quantities. Meat in some quantities is okay since it provides protein. Finally, Tamasic or impure food that should not be consumed are very spicy, salty, oily foods or foods that cause acidity or the foods that are reheated or rotten with fungus or bacteria should be avoided.

The general guideline for good health is to cut down on meats and meat products, avoid processed foods as much as possible, eat moderately, keep foods simple as to not overcook and include few good foods in a meal than lots at a time and at the same time chew your food well to aid in good digestion and cleansing.

Along with the right kind of food and exercises, good habits should be practiced. Kind words, good acts, modesty, devotion to god and service to people are suggested in yogic way of life. Karma should be the essential core of our being. It is how we live our life defines us and our atman. Karma has always been an essential element of Hindu life and thus a yogic way of life. “What goes around comes around” is the essence of Karma.

Certain yoga exercises along with medical attention and under the guidance of a teacher are very beneficial in treating certain ailments like heart problems, blood pressure which is sometimes stress related, headaches, migraines, insomnia, and other modern diseases.

Yoga is also extremely beneficial for the health and well being of both adults as well as kids. Kid’s yoga exercises are very popular now days especially at younger age. Our children live in a hurry-up world of busy parents, school pressures, incessant lessons, video games, malls, and competitive sports. We usually don’t think of these influences as stressful for our kids, but often they are.

Due to the time constraints and the social pressure of participating in extra curricular activities, children tend to adapt similar stressful lifestyle as adults. The bustling pace of our children’s lives can have a profound effect on their innate joy and usually not for their good.

It is very important that parents provide children with a healthy lifestyle that would impact their physical, mental and spiritual well-being. As mentioned before, Yoga is a way of life and emphasizing on certain practices that promote healthy body as well as healthy mind and inculcate habits that are long lasting and not practiced just for immediate result.

Good eating habits and knowledge of healthy versus unhealthy foods should be emphasized all the time to help them make right choice in their lives. Exercise not just in form of sports and physical education (PE) but teaching them how to breathe effectively and relax their body in stressful situations or to calm down or just to relax their body for sleep. We see lots of kids with attention and behavior issues and are treated with drugs. Yoga exercise and right kind of foods along with medicine and counseling has proven effective.

It is very unfortunate that due to pressures of doing well in school, sports and otherwise, children are under tremendous pressure from everywhere and everyone. Relaxation becomes such an important part of a child’s daily routine but is not emphasized at all.

Teaching the child how to unwind their bodies at the end of the day or recharge them in the mornings through meditation, breathing and exercises will be very beneficial to them and help them throughout their life. When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they can navigate life’s challenges with a little more ease. Fostering cooperation and compassion—instead of opposition—is a great gift to give our children.

Children derive enormous benefits from yoga. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Yoga helps them develop better body awareness, self-control, flexibility and coordination through a physical activity that is non-competitive.

They can carry these skills beyond class and into their daily routines. Yoga has also been shown to help the hyperactive and attention-deficit child. These children crave movement and sensory/motor stimulus. Yoga helps channel these impulses in a positive way. Certain poses like warrior pose and tree pose help instill calm, confidence and balance in kids. They feel strong and confident like a warrior and in control or the situation.

Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. Yoga brings that marvelous inner light that all children have to the surface. Partner poses develop trust and fosters bonding. Working with each other on poses, the children develop team skills.

The benefits of yoga are very similar for both children and adults. The advantage is when we start practicing yoga at an early age and stage of life; the results are long lasting and will keep us healthy for a long time. Parents play a vital role in day to day living of children and have a lasting impact on their personalities and lifestyle. It is the responsibility of adults to make it better for children.

Children’s personalities are a result of how they are brought up by their parents and society and their environment and early yoga can have added benefits on kids’ lives for years to come.

To sum it all, Yoga which includes exercise, meditation, breathing, proper diet and a good lifestyle, can help one get rid of ailments and disabilities, physical or mental stresses and help us achieve a healthy body physically, mentally and spiritually at all stages of life and for life.

References-
Complete yoga book- Hewitt
Complete illustrated book of yoga- Swami Vishnu-Devananda
Lisa Orkin, www.yogasite.com
Marsha Wenig, Yoga Journal

By Mona Sethi, California
I started practicing prenatal Yoga in 1999. Since then I have been practicing yoga and I am a big advocate of yoga for kids. My kids have been doing yoga with me for a long time. It has helped them in various ways as it has help me improve my health.

Currently, I am teaching Kids Yoga in Pleasanton CA. For more information contact me at monasethi@hotmail.com