In A Yoga Studio Capitol Hill Practitioners Improve Themselves Holistically

By Paul Phillips


Swami Vivekanda, an Indian and a devout follower of the Asana philosophy toured the United States and Canada some years ago to promote the many benefits offered by this unique philosophy. He could not have foreseen the tremendous reaction that he would get. People immediately flocked to learn more about Asana and very soon there were numerous practitioners. Today, millions of people in every country of the world practice Asana regularly. When attending a yoga studio Capitol Hill practitioners strive towards self improvement.

There are those that are sceptical or even downright hostile to this philosophy, mostly because they mistakenly believe that it is a sect or a religion. This is most definitely not the case. Others think that Asana is just another exercising technique where practitioners focus on stretching exercises. Instead, Asana aims to help people to improve the health of their bodies, their minds and their souls.

Stretching and other forms of physical exercise certainly do form part of Asana, but it is only one component of the overall philosophy. The aim of the exercises is to improve agility, muscle tone, flexibility and the general fitness of the practitioner. It also helps them to become more disciplined individuals. There are numerous different exercises which are suitable to people of all ages and physical abilities.

Many practitioners find the fact that Asana is not competitive in any way one of its main attractions. There is no pressure to proceed at a specified pace or to master new exercises or poses. Most classes consist of practitioners at various levels of skill and experience, all at a pace with which they feel comfortable. Even people with physical disabilities or serious diseases can benefit from Asana.

Asana has been the subject of numerous formal and informal studies. Many of them specifically focused on the health benefits of Asana and all of these studies concluded that there are indeed many health benefits. People suffering from heart disease, arthritis, gout, muscle injuries and backache, to name just a few, all benefit greatly. Those suffering from anxiety or depression also find that Asana helps them to cope.

Taking up Asana does not require the purchase of any equipment or clothing. It does not require any special facilities and can be practised anywhere, even in nature. Most beginners do invest in club membership, however, if only for a short while in order to learn the basics. Belonging to a club also holds the benefit of learning from experienced practitioners and sticking to a disciplined regime.

There are numerous sources of information about Asana. Websites, books, personal instructors and online forums all focus on Asana. Many studios even offer a free initial lesson. Before purchasing any material, it is important, however, to keep in mind that there are many different approaches to Asana and most practitioners and studios will adhere to one specific approach. Learning more about the different approaches may be well worth it.

There can be no doubt whatsoever that yoga benefits millions of people. It is the ideal family activity because it is not competitive and it does not require practitioners to maintain a certain pace. It does not come as a surprise to learn that the popularity of Asana is still on the rise.




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