INFO ABOUT YOGA
What is Yoga?
The classical techniques of Yoga date back more than 5,000 years. In ancient times, the desire for greater personal freedom, health and long life, and heightened self-understanding gave birth to this system of physical and mental exercise which has since spread throughout the world. The word Yoga means "to join or yoke together," and it brings the body and mind together into one harmonious experience.
The whole system of yoga is built on three main structures: exercise, breathing and meditation. The exercises of Yoga are designed to put pressure on the glandular systems of the body, thereby increasing its efficiency and total health. The body is looked upon as the primary instrument that enables us to work and evolve in the world, and so a Yoga student treats it with great care and respect. Breathing techniques are based on the concept that breath is the source of life in the body. The Yoga student gently increases breath control to improve the health and function of both body and mind. These two systems of exercise and breathing then prepare the body and mind for meditation, and the student finds an easy approach to a quiet mind that allows silence and healing from everyday stress. Regular daily practice of all three parts of this structureof Yoga produce a clear, bright mind and a strong, capable body.
Types of Yoga
There are over a hundred different schools of Yoga. Some of the most well known include: Hatha, Raja, Jnana, Bhakti, Karma, Tantra, and Kashmir Shaivism.
History of Yoga
No one knows exactly when Yoga began, but it certainly predates written history. Stone carvings depicting figures in Yoga positions have been found in archeological sites in the Indus Valley dating back 5,000 years or more. There is a common misconception that Yoga is rooted in Hinduism; on the contrary, Hinduism's religious structures evolved much later and incorporated some of the practices of Yoga.
The tradition of Yoga has always been passed on individually from teacher to student through oral teaching and practical demonstration. The formal techniques that are now known as Yoga are, therefore, based on the collective experiences of many individuals over many thousands of years. The particular manner in which the techniques are taught and practiced today depends on the approach passed down in the line of teachers supporting the individual practitioner.
Yoga probably arrived in the United States in the late 1800s but it did not become widely known until the 1960s, as part of the youth culture's growing interest in anything Eastern. As more became known about the beneficial effects of Yoga, it gained acceptance and respect as a valuable method for helping in the management of stress and improving health and well-being. Many physicians now recommend Yoga practice to patients at risk for heart disease, as well as those with back pain, arthritis, depression, and other chronic conditions.
Yoga and Religion
Yoga is not a religion. It has no creed or fixed set of beliefs, nor is there a prescribed godlike figure to be worshipped in a particular manner. Religions for the most part seem to be based upon the belief in and worship of things (God or godlike figures) that exist outside oneself. The core of Yoga's philosophy is that everything is supplied from within the individual. Thus, there is no dependence on an external figure, either in the essense of a person or god figure, or a religious organization.
The common belief that Yoga derives from Hinduism is a misconception. Yoga actually predates Hinduism by many centuries. Ancient seals unearthed in the Indus Valley provide clear evidence of widespread Yoga practice earlier than 3,000 BCE. The techniques of Yoga have been adopted by Hinduism as well as other world religions. Yoga is a system of techniques that can be used for a number of goals from simply managing stress better, learning to relax, and increasing limberness all the way to becoming more self-aware and acquiring the deepest knowledge of one's own self.
The practice of Yoga does not interfere with any religion. Many American Yoga Association students who have practiced Yoga intensively for many years continue to follow the religious traditions they have grown up with or adopted without conflict.
Who can practice Yoga?
Yoga is suitable for anyone, of any age, or physical condition. Because of the nonstrenuous nature of our approach to exercise, even those with physical limitations can find a beneficial routine of Yoga. Our "Easy Does it Yoga" program offers special techniques for those with physical limitations due to age, illness, injury, substance abuse recovery, obesity, or inactivity.
We do not recommend strenuous Yoga exercises for women during menstration, for pregnant women in their first trimester, or for nursing mothers. Regular practice of breathing and meditation, however is encouraged.
There is no doubt that Yoga postures (asanas) and breathing techniques affect the physical body. People these days commonly accept the fact that such therapies as acupressure, neuromuscular massage, and reflexology can have systematic effects due to pressure applied to certain areas of the body. The physical basis for the effects of Yoga asanas may be related. The asanas and breathing techniques provide a deep massage and strong compression of the parts of the body where endocrine glands are located. Many Yoga stretches seem to target the nerves in the legs, arms, neck, and spine.
Testimonials:
Testimonials:
"I have suffered with migraines for the past twenty years for which I was taking Immitrex (8 - 10 pills per month) for relief. Three months ago I began doing yoga regularly. Since that time I have only had to take 5 pills."
- Khrystine
- Khrystine
"Experiencing yoga at the Yoga Center for Healthy Living is one of the best things I have done for myself physically, mentally and emotionally. I walked into class not being totally familiar with yoga outside of an exercise gym where yoga was just an exercise class, only to feel strained in both neck and back or stiff from stretching in a cool environment.
Walking into the studio, I immediately felt welcomed not only with that yoga feeling from the environment itself, but with the caring attitude of Lee Ann and staff. The teachers I have had in both Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga will gently guide hands in correcting one's alignment. I appreciate not only the tips offered by the staff, but also the knowledge passed along about yoga both in vocabulary and mental, physical and spiritual purpose of the flowing poses. After each class, I have felt rejuvinated and at peace, which now carries on into the following weeks as I experience the results of what yoga has to give to each person ... an experience I can no longer be without. Thank you, Lee Ann, and every staff member at this studio.-Darcy, Business OwnerWhen I started taking yoga classes I felt very out of shape. I had taken yoga at other studios but would stop after a few classes. The teachers at Yoga Center for Healthy Living were wonderful about making me feel comfortable, they encouraged me to work at my own pace. I never felt self- conscious; the studio is a perfect place for students of all levels of experience.
- yogini & social worker"Yoga is the cheapest therapy there is...I love doing yoga at this Yoga Center!
- Barb (School Teacher)
"Your variety of classes, and certified instructors is so much fun! Every single class - each teacher, provides me with something different, something new - love it all."
- Alex H. (lawyer)
"I love how the teachers at this Yoga Center SHARE...they support their fellow teachers and students and don't compete, very refreshing"
- Diane C. (hygenist)
"My fibromyalgia has been so painful for so many years. The yoga taught by your Center has helped me heal on many levels"
- Sharon P. (social worker)
Yoga Center for Healthy Living
What is Yoga?
4437 Old US-23 Brighton, MI 48114(810)225-1288
Brighton, MI 48114(810)225-1288
