Benefits of Yoga

Satan Smith · Guest

I've found yoga to really help my stiff achy back and joints. I used to do only weights and a few abdominal crunches but was still very stiff and achy all the time--even after 1 or 2 hours of exercise. I've since discovered that yoga is even better than weights because it's easier on the joints and uses your own body weight as resistance. (I still use weights but only light ones and not as many reps as before.)

The best part of all is that you don't need to spend a fortune in exercise equipment either. All you need is a floor mat, straight back chair, weighted balls and ankle weights (the latter two being optional). You can also do it at home (you don't need to join a class).

When your back is stiff and achy, you tend to slouch, especially as you get older but when it's loose and limber (as a result of stretching out the spine in yoga), you can stand up straight (without pain), so it (yoga) definitely improves posture.

My back used to ache for years but in only one week of doing yoga, the achiness has disappeared completely! My ham string muscles are still a bit tight but over time, they should loosen up also.

I would highly recommend yoga to people with arthritis and back pain (but check with your doc first). It helps to soak in a hot bath first, to loosen your joints a bit.

Church Lady · Guest

Yoga is great but I would leave out chakras, chanting and meditation (or anything else that reeks of religion) because they're based on Hinduism and Eastern philosophy and have spiritual overtones.

In my opinion, religion and exercise should never mix. They are (forgive the pun), separate entities and should stay that way. Stretching is one thing but blanking out ones mind and chanting, to receive 'spiritual enlightenment,' is quite another.

There are many different types of yoga and some may focus more specifically on spiritual things, while others on exercise.

However, since it originated in India, ALL forms undoubtedly incoorporate at least SOME aspects of Eastern philosophy into their various programs (saluting the sun god and other such things). This part I would ignore.

zig · Guest

To the "church lady" who tells you to be ware of yoga due to it's hindu influences!!! oh no!! chanting!!! how terrible!!
very sad that people are so narrow minded and fearful of anything different. How can someone be of any faith without respecting others...such a hypocritical world we live in.
Very sad indeed, I feel sorry for you "church lady"

Church Lady · Guest

So you're miffed with my comments...."well isn't that speeeeeecial"

Clearly you have never read the Bible or at least the part about how we are not to chant vain repetitions as the heathen do. I wasn't displaying any ignorance whatsoever. On the contrary, I was displaying my knowledge of Scripture and if you believe the Bible and take it seriously, then you are supposed to OBEY it.

Regarding meditation, we are never to blank out our minds for any reason. We can meditate on the things of God, YES but to intentionally blank out and chant ommmm ommmm ommmm is very dangerous, from a biblical standpoint because the Bible tells us to be sober minded and vigilant at all times, lest the enemy gain a foothold in our hearts and minds.

If you are of another faith than Christianity, then you can do as you please and chant anything you want, for as long as you want and I can respect your freedom to do so.

However I was coming from an evangelical perspective (where the spiritual aspects of yoga are concerned) and since there is a lot of deception out there, even amongst well meaning Christians, I thought I might enlighten those who didn't realize these spiritual dangers which seem so innocuous at the time.

I'm not going to get into a heated theological debate on the matter, with you or anyone else. I just wanted to make it known that I DO respect other people's right to believe as they wish, so if you're fine with chanting and blanking out your mind, then do so but from my perspective, it's a total waste of time and just as you are entitled to your viewpoint on this message board, so am I.

There is no need for name calling on this forum either (such as calling me a bigot, among other things). We can respectfully disagree without personal attacks on our character.

Red Carrot · Guest

How is chanting OM spiritually dangerous?

If anything, it may beable to clear narrowmindedness and bring in mindfulness.

Sometimes, sensitive opinon such as yours are better kept quiet. The questions is what purpose does your opinon do than create anger, stir up issues that should be non-issues. If it is an issue to you, keep it as an issue to only yourself.

People should be more careful what they say or post because words can also harm people. If we put this in any religious perspective regardless of the type of religion or belief, speaking harmful words is totally against any religion/beliefs.
Mindfulness of your words is important, regardless of your religion.

Hence, I wrote this post, to ask people to be more mindful of what they say.

d boss · Guest

Thanks church lady, regardless of what they say, that was good help in guiding me in the right direction as i dont want to mess with something i dont really know about. I need to do a little more research.

Lochan · Guest

As for as I know, Chanting OM creates vibrations to head and soothens and calms the mind, there by increasing the concentration and positive thinking and mental health.

betsy · Guest

i belive in Jesus Christ and alot of the scriptures are all about thinking good thoughts and about not doubting, and loving your enemy and not beliveing what the devil says, so I think meditation is a very good exersize of the mind to get rid of stress and tension and have abundant life, like Jesus wants for us

yoga · Guest

physical benefits: Creates a toned, flexible, and strong body. Improves respiration, energy, and vitality. Helps to maintain a balanced metabolism. Promotes cardio and circulatory health. Relieves pain. Helps you look and feel younger than your age. Improves your athletic performance.

mental benefits: Helps you relax and handle stressful situations more easily. Teaches you how to quiet the mind so you can focus your energy where you want it to go - into a difficult yoga pose, on the tennis court or golf course, or in the office. Encourages positive thoughts and self-acceptance.

spiritual benefits: Builds awareness of your body, your feelings, the world around you, the needs of others. Promotes an interdependence between mind, body, and spirit. Helps you live the concept of "oneness."

[url=http://theholisticcare.com/yoga.htm] Yoga Benefits [/url]
[url=http://yoga.theholisticcare.com] Yoga [/url]

Humanity · Guest

First of all Yoga shouldn't be performed by anyone who thinks that it is for promoting Hinduism. Secondly, every human, plant, animal, every particle on the face of earth and entire universe has been created by one God. If you think you are special just because you belong to a "certain" group or as we put it "Religion" then my opinion about you would be that you are one of those ignorants who think that by following a certain writing or scripture that was written by someone who was among us well take them to heaven or a better place. Come on people we are in 2010 and have been consuming the same oxygen, we have the same blood types, we shouldn't bother about these man made dividers like ' countries, continents, religions, color, cast, status. God loves all his creation equally(for a gardener all flowers of different color and shape is as precious, for a mother all her children are the same even if they are just different) so please how can you think God is any less than us. Please lets make this world a better place for all and stop being selfish and run after "paradise".

zaj17 · Guest

Please folks! Don't respond directly to Church lady. It just feeds "its" ego and allows "it" to vent.