With thousands of Yoga Studios and Millions of Yoga and Pilates Students participating in the Yoga Month 09.2008 national awareness campaign and the 10 City Yoga Health Festivals you might ask yourself, what exactly are the health benefits of yoga?
Find out why the benefits of the gentle martial art of Tai Chi are many, for young and old alike. It's hard to think of Tai Chi is a martial art when the phrase 'martial arts' brings to mind fast kicks and punches, and a lot of athleticism by its participants; while a common perception of Tai Chi is a slowly enacted pattern of movements performed outdoors.
Lately, Yoga and Tai Chi classes have been gaining popularity especially among women and above-40 fitness buffs. These Indian and Chinese methods of meditation and exercise are popular due to the health benefits experienced by those practice them. Many health buffs claim that they now enjoy a stress and anxiety-free lifestyle because of their Tai Chi and Yoga lessons.
Meditation is a state of being focused on a certain thought and involves the “quieting of the mind” as you concentrate inwardly, resulting to a more relaxed and calm feeling. This relaxation technique can help a person develop his personality through mental discipline as well as encourage his spiritual well-being by communing with God.
We often lead busy and chaotic lives, cutting corners and ignoring guidelines in an attempt to do something faster, better or more efficiently. In our attempt to fit everything into a busy day we often compromise or gloss over the necessary preparation for yoga that otherwise would enhance the benefits of our yoga practice.
There is a classical Indian story about three blind men and an elephant. Each of the three blind men are trying to understand exactly what the elephant is like, but experiencing different parts of the large creature. The first blind man is feeling all over the leg of the elephant and says, "It is like a strong tree." But, the second is holding the trunk, explaining, "It is like an ever changing vine." The third blind man is running his hands across the large body of the elephant, exclaiming, "No, it is endless, like a wide mountain."
While Yoga exercises are quite old, the Pilates method of exercising was invented by Joseph Pilates in the 20th century. Yoga Pilates is a combination of the two exercise routines and can be very helpful especially when the principles of Pilates are applied properly to a Yoga workout.
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