Yoga as an ancient spiritual practice

Abstract- This paper examines yoga as an ancient spiritual practice in India, the health check uses for yoga and the practice of it in the United States. This study reveals how yoga dirty dog be employ to aid those suffering from asthma and other pulmonary diseases in addition, to botheviate deadening. in that location ar a variety of body stretches and breathing exercises performed in yoga further much, yoga has been apply as a tranquillity technique for umpteen. There is a misc onception in the practice of yoga in the United States. It is skilful as a method to relieve one self of the stresses attaind by e veryday life and meditation is used to temporarily block thoughts to encourage a deeper sense of flying slackening. Traditional yogis involve been insulted by the indication of yoga in the West.Critics argue that yoga as a pop fitness trend has carry offn yoga out of its spiritual background and consistent it in a modern health club consideration. ancient yo ga that is conducted in India differs greatly in its practices as compared to Western yoga as a fitness trend. The methods used to obtain interlingual rendition for this topic include instrumentalist observation, three interviews were conducted one with an American Yoga instructor, two were with American Yoga thespians, in addition, extensive library research was conducted on Yoga.IntroductionThe history of yoga in Ancient India dates back approximately five thousand years. It has been acknowledged in the United States since the early1960s. The legion(predicate) resources I have used to collect the data for this study gave inconsistent information pertaining to yogas date of origin therefore, I calculated an estimate. Its place of origin has been verified as India. Yoga is an ancient Sanskrit cry meaning union (Harvard Heath Letter 199824).When a mans union or existential contact with world becomes balanced and complete he is transformed into a dynamic person-to-personity. Yoga may be defined as the art of on-key and creative living. It stresses the need for the balanced growth of personalityit warns against extreme tendencies which mislead mess into lopsided development. (Chaudhuri 197437)It continues to identify such lopsided personalities as people who are unbalanced. For example, one who is overly neighborly may be suppressing their own emotions, those who overly exercise the muscles may be under developing the brain, and those who over-exercise the brain may be neglecting the body.Yoga is an everyday concept in Indian culture muchover, Sanskrit is the language of yoga. Yoga has been a source of religious and philosophic movements through and throughout history.The basic issue of human suffering include moral, religious, and psychological problems, has been traced to one ultimate causeself estrangement, alienation from existence, flair out of contact with being,emotional conflicts, social discord, political wars, all of these watercourse f rom mans loss of contact with the ground of existence. (Bose 199648)Alienation and depression lead to emotional conflict consequently, it may produce a feeling of restlessness moreover, stress. Ancient yoga has called out to exempt such problems and alleviate the anxiety caused by stress. It taught people how to take care of their straitss and bodies in addition, how to relate to other people. It also taught people what to eat and how to exist in nature. The majority of traditional yogis are vegetarian. Ancient yogas goal was to emphasize complete spirituality and to be all to your human potential. It emphasizes the need for balanced integration of the corporeal, emotional, intellectual, ethical, and religious aspects of personality (Chaudhuri 197438).In the United States yoga is mainly practiced as relaxation therapy. Relaxation therapy has been used as a broad term used to answer for a number of techniques that promote stress reduction, the elimination of tension through the b ody, and a calm and self-possessed state of mind (Martin 20021). Stress and tensions experienced through everyday life have been linked to legion(predicate) illnesses including scarcely non limited to midsection disease, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, irrit sufficient bowel syndrome, ulcers, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and significance abuse. Stress can also trigger a number of physical symptoms including nausea, headache, hair loss, fatigue, and muscle upset (Martin 20022).In addition to the benefits of yoga it can also be tailored to people of different ages and different fitness levels. An athletic person will likely opt to do more yoga postures and hold them for longer than psyche who is just beginning in addition many people use yoga as a complement to a play or aerobic activitystretches can also be done as a warm up prior to a work out (Harvard Health Letter 19983). In reference to bio health check effectiveness Yoga has been used to alleviate problems associa ted with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, migraine headaches, asthma, shallow breathing, backaches, constipation, diabetes, menopause, multiple sclerosis, varicose veins, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many chronic illnesses (Dupler 20022). In this study I chose to focus on asthma and constipation due to the detail, there was more medical evidence established to confirm the practice of yoga assisting those health issues.MethodsThe data for this study was obtained by researching the broad topic of yoga. The topic was then broken down into sub- roots including medical aspects of yoga, ancient history of yoga, American yoga, and yoga for relaxation. In addition, interviews were conducted. One interviewee was an American yoga instructor two others were American yoga musicians. Each interviewee attended the same class. Moreover, I practice yoga and added my opinions and participant observations through the use of it.Paula was the yoga instructor I interviewed. When I asked her the q uestion Why did you fixed to teach yoga? she replied I like helping people but I dont agree with the practice of biomedicine. In response to my question Why dont you agree with biomedicine? She replied It seems as well as rigid and rushed, moreover people dont seem to get the medical help they really need and most of the help they do receive is only a temporary fix. Paula was a savant at the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States for approximately three years. She has been teaching yoga as a certified teacher for approximately two years.To learn more closely the Iyengar School of Yoga I looked it up on the internet and learned that the assessment for credentials included demonstrated practice of Asanas, a written exam, and demonstrated teachings. In the demonstrated practice of Asanas (poses) portion the students are expected to show a working knowledge of all of the poses in the syllabus for the assessment level, the written exam asked questions regarding the r equired reading on the syllabus as well as theoretical questions regarding teaching such as sequencing concepts, medical modifications etc. Their teaching skills in demesnes such as understanding of the pose and the knowledge of basic instruction, clearness of instruction, pacing, interaction with and manner toward the students, demonstration skills, observation of class and appropriate corrections, are critically evaluated before certification is granted. After passing the assessment all teachers are required to renew their certification bi-annually (http//www.iynaus.org/).ResultsThrough participant observation I noned that the environment in which American yoga is practiced is usually quiet, dimly lit, wanton in temperature, and spacious. Floor mats are provided to comfort the participant during the session. Soft music is played in the basis and a candle or incense it burned (depending on the instructor). The instructor speaks softly and verbally guides the group through a va riety of asanas (poses). The instructor often moves about the room correcting participants postures when appropriate. Relaxation and meditation is promoted through verbal suggestions and chants of Om. Moreover, each session last for approximately one hour.Linda was one of the participants I interviewed. She is married, has two schoolhouse aged children, recently moved to the area, and is not employed. When I asked her who she chooses to participate in Yoga she replied I dont work and the children are in school all day so yoga and the other activities she engages in gives me something to look forward to. I have also met many nice women that I have become friends with. I am not from the area so it has given me more of a sense of community. Michelle was the final participant I interviewed. Michelle leads a very busy lifestyle. She is married with no children and works 50 hours per workweek moreover, commutes one hour each way to work. In response to the question of why she chooses to practice yoga she responded, it helps me clear my mind and forget everything that is going on in my life outside of this room, it also gives me an energy boost for the rest of the day or if I take an evening class it helps me sleep better.I also asked Michelle How do you know yoga really helps you? She revealed that I used to suffer from anxiety disorders and had difficulty falling to sleep at night because so much was on my mind, after taking yoga classes for a few months I started to relax more and sleep better. From my personal participant observations I agreed with much of what Michelle had concluded through her practices of yoga. I am a full clipping student and own and operate a small business. Moreover, there are additional things that life demands of me. I have been practicing yoga for approximately two years. I began practicing yoga because my fitness facility offered it. As I began to practice it hebdomadally I noticed more movement and flexibility in my body. Then, I b egan to notice my mind that was once overloaded with stress from deadlines that needed to be met, became more relaxed. Moreover, my sleeping pattern became more regular and my mind and body felt more at ease, all of which I attribute to overall stress reduction.Yoga in America has been advertised as a means for relaxation and to free the self of stress. It is practiced in health clubs and spas in groups headed by a yoga instructor. There is no formal training an instructor moldiness undergo to teach yoga in the U.S. There are seminars that can be completed from one week to six months respectively, to obtain certification nevertheless, one does not need certifications to teach a yoga class. In contrast, Ancient yogas idea is that of freedom in spiritual self expression, yoga does not believe in any standardised path for all to follow (Chaudhuri 197421). Yoga is practiced in private or with a teacher (a yogi, male person or yogin, female). A yogi yogin is one who does not merely talk philosophy but lives philosophy, he does not simply have faith in God but experiences God (Chaudhuri 197419).One becomes a yogi when his/her teacher gives permission to teach. The teacher (guru) guides the student through a spiritual path to self-realization. It is not until then, a student becomes a yogi. The gurus teachings can last for years before a student is ready to teach the yoga philosophy. dynamism is said to be passed from the guru to the student or yogi. This process is the natural conversion practiced in India. Yoga is not a matter of belief it is the inner growth of consciousness which results in direct insight into the heart of reality it is a progressive realization of the full freedom of the inner spirit (Chaudhuri 197422).The physical exercises and breathing exercises do not belong to the essence of yoga they are the bodily preparation entitling one to take up higher(prenominal) phases of yogic practices such as concentration, meditation, and the like (Chaudhuri 197421). In conclusion, it appears that yoga practiced in America is in fact a preparation effort moreover, the first stage in ancient yoga. In the American practices of yoga the physical exercises and breathing exercises are what is emphasized resulting, in a relaxed state of mind and body.In addition to American yoga being practiced for relaxation and stress reduction, there has been a discovery that it is also used to help treat chronic illnesses that biomedicine has had difficulty managing. In this study I chose to focus on asthma and constipation due to the fact, there was more medical evidence established to confirm the practice of yoga assisting those health issues. nearly ten-million Americans have asthma. It usually begins in childhood although, it may also begin to show its signs in pornographic life(Dupler 20021). In most cases asthma is caused by inhaling an allergen that sets off the chain of biomedical and tissue turns pencil lead to airway inflammation, broncho- co nstriction, and wheezing. Studies have shown that yoga significantly helps asthma sufferers, with exercises specifically designed to expand the lungs, promote deep breathing, and shrivel up stress (Dupler 20022). Breathing exercises will strengthen and relax the muscles of the lungs. Controlling the breathing helps the respiratory muscles and lungs to develop and give out more slowly reducing stress on the airways consequently, reducing the chance of an asthma attack. Being able to control and focus breathing patterns also aids in the awakeness in a change in regular breathing in short, the onset of asthma attacks.Yoga has also been useful in the substitute of abdominal gas moreover, constipation. Constipation is an acute or chronic condition in which bowel movements give less often than usualit is one of the most common medical complaints in the U.S (Haggerty 20021). It can reach to any one at any age, although, its more common among women. While conducting my interview with Paula, the yoga instructor, I asked her if she was aware of any medical uses for yoga. She informed me of several positions to relieve constipation discomfort. The first position is called a knee-chest position. It involves* stand straight with arms at the sides* Lifting the right knee toward the chest* Grasping the right ankle with the remaining hand* Pulling the legs as close to the chest as possible* Holding the position for about 10 seconds* And repeating those steps with the alternate legThe second position was called cobra. It involves the following steps* finesse on the stomach with the legs together* Placing the palms just below the shoulders, keeping the elbows close to the body* While inhaling revolutionize the head and chest off of the floor while keeping your face forward, also keep the oceanic in contact with the floor* The goal is to stretch and look as far upward as possible to elongate the abdomen* The cobra position must be held for about 8 seconds* Exhale as y ou lower the chest toward the floorIn the interview with the yoga instructor, Paula remarked that,Too often today when we have a headache we take a pill or something tostop the injure and discomfort. We try killing the pain instead of realizing and coming to an understanding that theres some thing causing the headache. Some people work too hard and try to juggle too much, maybe they ate something wrong for lunch, or are property in negative emotions. Instead of realizing that stress in life exists we try to numb everything.In my personal practices with yoga it has assisted me in the following allowing full concentration, sleeping more soundly, increasing my energy level, and allowing my creativity to flow better. Linda one of the participants revealed that she suffers from asthma and she has tried a variety of medicines and in conjunction with Theophylline, her medication, yoga helps her in controlling her breathing. Her pertain also remarked about how beneficial yoga has been to her condition.DiscussionIn terms of the American culture, yoga provides participants with a sense of relaxation that is necessary in such a busy society. Today, people are trying to balance many activities including but not limited to, work, family, education, and other personal activities. Moreover, yoga helps provide many people with a social system to incorporate within.There is a misconception in the practice of yoga in the United States. It is practiced as a method to relieve one self of the stresses caused by everyday life and meditation is used to temporarily block thoughts to encourage a deeper sense of temporary relaxation. Traditional yogis have been insulted by the interpretation of yoga in the West. Critics argue that yoga as a pop fitness trend has taken yoga out of its spiritual context and arranged it in a modern health club setting. Ancient yoga that is conducted in India differs greatly in its practices as compared to Western yoga as a fitness trend.Yoga may also be compared with Christian heal groups and metaphysical groups in the following ways each is practiced within a group setting and there is a call to a higher power. Each believes that health and healing come from tapping into a powerful life forcethis type of healing is based upon a wholly immanent power, full within the reach of each believer (McGuire 199879). They believe that the key to the desired wholeness is mental more than purely spirituala sanitary mind will help you have a healthy body (McGuire 199881).The ancient practices of yoga highlight spirituality. A yogi is one who does not merely talk philosophy but lives philosophy, he does not simply have faith in God but experiences God (Chaudhuri 197419). some Americans think of yoga as a religion and have reacted to it negatively. Some think that if they practice yoga then they would be undermining their personal religious beliefs. Instead of undermining their personal faith, Yoga can actually deepen itsome yoga instructors are more religious than others, but Yoga itself is a tool for exploring the depth of our human nature (Feurstein 19961).