YOGA

YOGASarah Eversole

What is Yoga??

Yoga is a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation.

Picture of me trying to do a yoga pose on a family camping trip

Origins of Yoga

Yogas history has many places of obscurity and uncertainty due to its oral transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature of its teachings. The early writings on yoga were transcribed on fragile palm leaves that were easily damaged, destroyed or lost. The development of yoga can be traced back to over 5,000 years ago, but some researchers think that yoga may be up to 10,000 years old. Yogas long rich history can be divided into four main periods of innovation, practice and development. The four main periods of time are Pre-Classical Yoga, Classical Yoga, Post-Classical Yoga, and Modern Period. To read more about the four main period you can visit http://www.yogabasics.com/learn/history-of-yoga/.

The Yoga Lifestyle

Treat others as you would like to be treated; avoid violence in word and actionWork on yourself-discipline to exchange bad habits for good onesMaintain a practice of YogaAvoid overstimulation of the sensesDevelop focus and concentrationInclude mediation in your lifeWork toward a goal of joy and ecstasy

8 Branches of Yoga

Bhakti Yoga: the Yoga of devotionGuru Yoga: the Yoga of dedication to a Yoga masterHatha Yoga: the Yoga of physical disciplineJnana Yoga: the Yoga of wisdomKarma Yoga: the Yoga of self-transcending actionMantra Yoga: the Yoga of potent soundRaja Yoga: the Royal YogaTantra Yoga (including Kundalini Yoga): the Yoga of continuity

Yoga is notYoga is not just gymnasticsYoga is not just fitness trainingYoga is not just a way to control weightYoga is not just a technique for stress reductionYoga is not just meditationYoga is not just the huffing and puffing of proper breathing controlYoga is not just a way to improve and maintain your healthYoga is not just a spiritual tradition from IndiaYoga is not scary

Two of my kids letting you know that yoga is not scary

Yoga isHave positive intentionExercise faith and prayerIndulge humor and laughterTake time to do what you enjoyEat a healthful dietDrink plenty of waterPractice breathing exercisesGet enough restLearn to meditation

Yoga Benefits:

Stress reducer Improves circulation Increases flexibilityEnhances concentration Overall sense of well-being

My eldest daughter mediating My son instructing his sisters how to do yoga

Examples of Yoga Poses

Sarahs Thoughts on Yoga

Scroll moose over the picture to play video

Resource for this PresentationGoogle Search for the graphic and the definition of YogaYoga Rx, by Larry Payne, PH.D. & Richard Usatine. M.D.Yoga for Dummies, by Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D & Larry Payne, PH.D.http://www.yogabasics.com/learn/history-of-yoga/