Yoga is as old as civilisation and has been practised for thousand of years
as a gentle, but powerful means of achieving strength, focus and balance in body and mind.
Most people start yoga for flexibility and relaxation and to get some
exercise. Others use yoga to complement a fitness programme, or to heal a sports related injury. More and more people nowadays
are turning to yoga as a way of dealing with the stresses and strains of everyday living.
Yoga is non-competitive and can be practised by anyone of any age. It is
calming and centering and we develop a better perspective of ourselves and our lives, finding that we treat ourselves and
others too, with greater honour and respect.
Some basic principles to follow when practising yoga are:
> Breath Awareness
> Gravity
>
Elongation
Bringing the awareness inside our body gets easier once we focus on the
breath. With each deep exhalation, tension is being released. We learn to release ways of holding ourselves in, holding ourselves
back and thus learn to breathe and move more freely.
Once we become familiar with the feeling of releasing with gravity, (an
active, natural force anchoring and pulling us towards the centre of the earth) we connect and feel supported. Becoming more
sensitive to our bodies, we can learn to let gravity do its work, unimpeded by our interference.
And that's when it happens ... we connect, we stop, do nothing, relax,
let go and unwind ....
