Yoga

It is not surprising to those of us who are long time yoga practitioners that the popularity of this profound spiritual science is now exploding on a world wide scale. Unfortunately though some of the authenticity and truths about yoga are being lost and some myths are creeping in with regard to what yoga is and how it is to be practiced. In this article I will look to clear up what I find to be the top 5 myths about yoga.

Top 5 Myths About Yoga:

1. Yoga is a Form of Physical Exercise:

This is perhaps the most common view of yoga. That it is a form of physical exercise. This certainly needs to be clarified and I am going to provide some details about true yoga practice in order to do this.

Yoga is actually has 8 parts to it, with the physical aspect being just 1. These 8 parts, include yoga dos, yoga don’ts, physical exercises (asana), breathing exercises, sense control, concentration, meditation and divine union.

So you can see from above that although the physical aspect of yoga, which is called asana, is an important part of yoga, yoga as a whole is certainly more that just a series of postures and movements. Yoga is essentially a spiritual science whose objective is to still the mind of thoughts, so that the truth of Oneness hidden behind the waves of the mind can be clearly seen and embraced.

2. Yoga is a Religion:

The other extreme and incorrect view on yoga is that is it a religion. Commonly yoga is considered part of Hindu religion, but yoga is not a religion. It is a time tested spiritual science with the goal of revealing the true nature of reality. As indicated above, yoga practice is a step by step process with the end goal of calming down the thought waves in our mind and thus prevent them from distorting the truth.

3. To Practice Yoga You Must be Vegetarian:

There is a notion floating around that in order to practice yoga you must not eat meat and be a vegetarian. This is not true. Although there are tremendous benefits to being vegetarian and this is being more and more validated by the mainstream medical community, there is no requirement of vegetarianism in order to practice yoga.

One point I would like to add here is that, vegetarianism is consistent with the non-violence which yoga advocates and it certainly would be to your benefit to reduce meat intake, nevertheless, you don’t have to be vegetarian in order to be a great yogi.

4. You Need to be Initiated by a Guru:

I have also come across this notion that many believe you need to be initiated and have a guru in order to learn and practice yoga. This is not true. According to yoga, the true guru is within and although it would be to your benefit to learn yoga from an accomplished teacher, this is not a requirement.

5. You Have to be Flexible to do Yoga:

Not so. No doubt yoga will improve your flexibility, along with your strength, balance and overall health, but in order to practice yoga you do not have to be flexible. Yoga is designed to be practiced by all.

Different bodies have different degrees of flexibility and in this case one size does not fit all. For most of the complex yoga posture which require great flexibility to do, there are plenty of modifications which allow you to get the same benefits for those who are less flexible. In fact one of the original reasons I took up yoga because I was not flexible and wanted to improve this aspect of my physical dimension.

Summary:

So there you have the top 5 myths about yoga. Essentially, what these myths do is prevent people from taking up this wonderful science. So if you feel you will have to change faiths, find gurus, stop eating meat or are too inflexible to take up yoga practice, you are wrong. Don’t pass up the wonderful opportunity to learn and practice this amazing science, which helps you discover your true divine and eternal nature.

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Anmol Mehta is modern Yoga & Meditation master. His massive Guided Zen Meditation blog offers the ultimate Meditation Techniques Guide and free Yoga to Detox & Cleanse Your Body.

Article Source: Populate.net

Tags: yoga

I really love the variety and styles of yoga pants that are available today. If you are searching around online for different clothing items to wear during your Yoga work outs, you are in luck! There are several different sizes, colors, types, and fabrics that are used in producing these items. I really love the look and feel of the roll-down or fold-down styles (as they are sometimes referred to). The great thing about Roll-Down yoga pants is they are not only for Yoga workouts!

These pants are so incredibly comfortable, durable and stylish that you can wear them practically anywhere at any time! If I am running errands I sometimes throw on any of my yoga pants and a top and I am all set. They are stylish and make me feel like I am getting a work out while running around stores and getting in and out of my car. Also, here’s an extra added plus; I have found that a lot of pregnant women really love these roll down pants because they can still wear them for comfort when they are pregnant.

I think comfort all in all is one of the most important part of buying any sort of clothing and the roll down pants certainly fit the bill. These roll-down pants come in a variety of sizes for different women’s shapes, as well as colors and types of fabrics. I have several sets of Yoga pants but it seems the roll down are the ones I pick as my favorite. If I ate too much and feel a bit bloated, then I can roll them up a little further that usual.

Sometimes I just like to look fabulously cool and show off my “yoga curves” so then I roll them down and throw on a Yoga Sports bra. Either way the roll down Yoga pants let you wear the same pants with a different look. Yoga pants surely have come a long way and now is a good time as any to take advantage of that! Listed below are a few examples of sizes, types, as well as colors that these Yoga roll-down pants offer: You can find them in black, white, pink, gray and different shades of blue, just to name a few.

You can also get them in Capri style, great for warmer weather. I also must mention that you can find them for children in a variety of colors and sizes. You can go on several websites to find a range of prices, some which are very reasonable. I love that idea as I would rather have a large variety in my closet that I pay less for then to have a few expensive pair. But whatever your preference, you will find the stock of Yoga clothing online is amazing.

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This author is a HUGE fan of The Coolest Yoga Store Ever!

Article Source: Populate.net

Tags: yoga