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I remember when I first started doing yoga, my father-in-law became extremely agitated, fearing that I was drifting off into some spiritual practice that would have me and my family sitting in a lotus position and chanting mantras all day.
"Why don’t you just call it ’stretching,’" he suggested.
"Whatever," I thought to myself as I continued to practice my poses and breathing exercises.
Over the years, however, I’ve discovered that Yoga is much more than merely "stretching." The benefits of this practice go far beyond the physical dexterity that comes with the increased flexibility of relaxed and elongated muscle tissue.
I’ve found that I’ve become more "centered" throughout my day and more focused on things I turn my attention toward. I’ve become more peaceful and more aware of the energy and activity around me.
Yoga is more than physical exercise. It’s a wholistic approach that involves the physical, the mental and the spiritual aspects of my being. Unlike the competitive base that most "exercise" programs are built on, yoga is based on YOUR body and YOUR state of being. It is "cooperative" and emphasizes your individual state at the present moment. You find yourself "growing" as you gently relax into each exercise over time.
Yoga can be an extremely rewarding way to get started on an "exercise" program. It will help you in ways that go way beyond mere "stretching." Start slow and allow your body to tell you how much it wants to do each day. Doing just a little bit will reap tremendous rewards.
Tags: exercise, fitness, health, stretching, weight loss, yoga
