To those who have never tried it, the term “yoga” may conjure up visions of crossed legs and chanting interspersed with brightly colored spandex and a few leisurely stretches. Yes, today’s modern yoga class may contain all of this, but the true essence of yoga is much more. Yoga comes from India where it has been practiced for thousands of years. It was first brought to America by Swami Vivekananda in 1893. The word itself means “union” in Sanskrit.

Yoga is made up of eight limbs, one of which is called asana—the physical poses so many are keen here in the West. While there are many health benefits to practicing these poses on a regular basis, there are still seven other meaningful limbs to be explored. So what is yoga really all about and how can it benefit you? Let’s take a closer look.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

The eight limbs of yoga come from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. They are an ethical code meant to help you live a more meaningful life and guide you on your path to enlightenment. They are:

1.    Yama- Yamas are similar to morals. They are rules to live by. The five yamas are:
•    Ahimsa- nonviolence
•    Satya- truthfulness
•    Asteya- non-stealing
•    Brachmacharya- continence (self restraint in sexuality)
•    Aparigraha- non-covetousness (lack of greed and possession)

2.    Niyama- Niyamas are focused upon the internal. They guide you finding discipline in your life. The five niyamas are:
•    Saucha- cleanliness
•    Samtosa- contentment
•    Tapas- heat or inner fire that helps build will power
•    Svadhaya- study of the self and of the sacred scriptures
•    Isvara Pranidhana- surrender to God

3.    Asana- Asanas are the postures practiced in yoga. This is what most people envision as yoga. Practicing these postures will help you to discipline your body and improve your concentration so that you are able to sit in meditation for long periods of time.

These poses challenge your mental and physical states to endure a healthy amount of stress upon the body. It is meant to help find inner peace in the chaos around you. It allows us to breathe to our bodies to have a greater awareness of our mental and physical states.

4.    Pranayama- Pranayama is the control of the breath. In yoga the breath is believed to be connected to the mind and the body. Specific breathing techniques are used to cleanse and improve both.

In nice, deep calming breathing, we create a greater connection to the Source. We are able to free our minds from human matters and shift to higher consciousness. Breathing allows us to heal our bodies and calm our minds.

5.    Pratyahara- Pratyahara is an internal act. It is the practice of drawing your awareness away from the external world and focusing on what is happening inside you. This is a core concept in meditation.

6.    Dharana- Dharana is the act of concentration. The objective is to slow down your thinking process and bring your attention to a single point of focus. This will prepare you for meditation. It takes skill to be able to hold a single thought or a clear mind.

7.    Dhyana- Dhyana is the act of meditation. During meditation the mind should be quiet without having to focus on anything. In this clear mindedness, you will be able to find the answers that have escaped you. You will understand inner peace, happiness, and purpose, as well as know how to attain them.

8.    Samadhi- Samadhi is the blissful feeling of enlightenment which can only be reached by transcending the self all together. This cannot be forced, but earned. The secrets of the Universe can be uncovered in this enlightenment. Many men live their lives in pursuit of such an experience. It does not come to all.

Health Benefits of Yoga

Besides toning your body and calming your mind, yoga can do wonders for your health. According to Timothy McCall, M.D.—board-certified internist, health editor for Yoga Journal, and author of Yoga as Medicine; yoga has been shown to do the following:

-    Increase strength, flexibility, and balance
-    Lower blood pressure and heart rate while improving circulation, reaction time, and oxygenation of tissue
-    Strengthen the immune system, bones, tissues, and muscles
-    Improve psychological wellbeing
-    Decrease the dependency on drugs for diseases such as depression, asthma, and diabetes
-    Provide spiritual growth that is active rather than passive
-    Increase social connections and relationships for mental health
-    Belong to a community of like minded individuals

Yoga does all this and it’s one of the most effective tools for reducing stress. Stress doesn’t just upset your day and wear you out; it also contributes to health conditions such as: migraines, ulcers, diabetes, osteoporosis, irritable bowel syndrome, and heart attacks.

Yoga also has the power to increase activity in the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of the nervous system responsible for relaxation. After a stressful event it works to slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure so that you can continue about your day.

Yoga gives us a way to truly relax.

Give Yoga a Try

Whether you’re looking for spiritual fulfillment or nice glutes, yoga has something for everyone. From headstands and enlightenment to bending over and touching toes, yoga can help. Yoga classes range from gentle and restorative to intense workouts.

New yoga forums are being created daily. Hip Hop Yoga, Dancing Yoga, Free Form, Music and culture based Yogas provide alternatives to keep the body, mind and spirit fresh. Decide what you’re in the mood for and drop by your local yoga studio for a class. Many studios offer free or discounted classes to new students.

A word of warning—once you start you may not want to stop. It can free your soul.