By Practicing Yoga Washington DC Residents Improve Their Quality Of Life

By Jeffrey Adams


When the Indian philosopher Swami Vivekanada traveled to the United States and Canada in the late eighteenth he hoped to spread the word about his philosophy which he called Asana. He could not possible envisage that it would become so extremely popular in such a short time. Today, countless people in all countries and from all cultures practice Asana. When starting with yoga Washington DC practitioners quickly start experiencing the benefits.

There are many misunderstandings about Asana, despite the fact that it is practiced everywhere and by so many people. There are still those that think it is an eastern form of religion that involves mysticism. Yet others think it is nothing but a series of stretching exercises and demanding poses. Asana is none of that. It is a holistic approach that aims to improve the spirit, the mind and the body.

Asana does entail certain stretching exercises and a number of poses that have to be learnt. However, the discipline is not about exercise alone. These exercises and poses are nothing but instruments that are used as vehicles to promote discipline, health, the ability to focus and a host of other benefits. There are many different forms of Asana. Some are more physically strenuous while others are more contemplative.

Most practitioners love the fact that Asana does not allow any form of competition. Every practitioner progresses at his own pace and master new techniques when they feel up to it. For this reason, classes routinely consist of individuals at various levels of competency. This is a big benefit because it means that families or groups of friends can all practice together without being forced to follow any program.

There have been a number of studies that focused on the health benefits of Asana. The findings have always been extremely positive. People suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions, heart disease, depression, high blood pressure and high stress levels all benefit greatly. Practitioners do not have to be physically strong in order to benefit. It is not surprising to learn that many people take up the discipline purely for their own health.

One of the great benefits of the discipline is that it can be practiced by anyone, even disabled people. No outfits or expensive paraphernalia is necessary. Classes typically consist of people all at various levels and beginners can use these classes to find out which form of Asana will best suit their particular needs. One can, however, practice the discipline at home without any guidance from an instructor.

Much has been written on this topic and there are scores of self help books and videos available. There are also a myriad of websites that offer free training sessions, interaction with other practitioners and discussion forums where people can ask for advice or share their experiences. Beginners should first determine the form of Asana that they will be following before buying any material to help them master more advanced techniques.

It is not surprising that yoga has become so popular all over the world. It offers many benefits and it is suitable for everyone. Practitioners are healthier, fitter and more flexible. They generally feel better mentally too and many practitioners say that Asana helps them to cope with the many demands of modern life.




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