| Practising yoga asanas, or the physical practice of | | | | around inside the body. In addition, engaging energy |
| yoga brings many benefits to mind, body and spirit. | | | | locks known as bandhas during a yoga practice work |
| Yoga means union and through the breath connects | | | | to eliminate the toxins from the body and keep the |
| the mind, body and spirit. With regular practice, yoga | | | | pranic energy inside the body. |
| becomes a moving meditation with the focus | | | | Over time as yoga practice evolves and as an |
| remaining throughout on the breath. It is the breath | | | | awareness of self grows it becomes easier to tune in |
| which makes yoga unique and more than just a | | | | to our own energy, restoring balance and wellness |
| physical exercise. | | | | from within. When we feel well from the inside our |
| Breath is what enables prana, the life force which | | | | outer world inevitably follows and our life becomes |
| pervades all living things to enter our body. Practising | | | | healthier and much happier, more fulfilled. |
| yoga therefore increases our pranic energy. Each | | | | Physical |
| movement is initiated by either an inhalation or | | | | On a physical level our bodies require oxygen to |
| exhalation and the movement flows with the breath. | | | | function properly. Full deep breathing increases the |
| Breath and movement work together effortlessly to | | | | supply of oxygen to our bodies, providing nourishment |
| create a yoga practice. | | | | and nutrients to our blood, nerves, glands and vital |
| For most, breathing is an automatic function which we | | | | organs. In addition, oxygen is responsible for burning up |
| give little thought to unless our breathing alters in some | | | | waste matter and eliminating toxins from the body. By |
| way; when we experience shortness of breath | | | | practising yoga and the breathing techniques used in |
| perhaps. Without breath there is no life and yoga | | | | yoga, we are increasing the supply of oxygen |
| teaches us to focus on our breath and to harness the | | | | throughout the body, cleansing, energising, nourishing, |
| power of our breath enabling us to reap the benefits. In | | | | detoxing and purifying the body. All bodily systems are |
| practising yoga we are able to experience a greater | | | | strengthened and thus creating an enhanced immunity |
| sense of self as well as rewarding our body and mind | | | | and overall greater wellbeing. Yoga works to energise, |
| by restoring balance and wellbeing. | | | | restore, refresh, revitalise, relax and rejuvenate the |
| Yoga works on many levels. | | | | body. |
| Subtle/Spiritual | | | | Yoga increases flexibility throughout the body and is |
| Our planet is made up of energy and at the level of | | | | gentle on the joints compared to some high impact |
| quantum physics we are nothing more than a ball of | | | | sports. Yoga actually increases lubrication of the joints. |
| energy. Throughout our body there are subtle energy | | | | Muscular endurance is enhanced throughout the body |
| channels known as nadis. The three main energy | | | | and muscles become more toned, and excess weight |
| channels in the body are known as sushumna, the | | | | lost. |
| central channel, ida, the left channel and pingala, the | | | | Many yoga asanas massage the vital organs of the |
| right channel. Sushumna runs the length of the spine | | | | body. This works in many ways; providing increased |
| from the sacrum right up to the crown of the head. | | | | energy and actually contributes to delaying the ageing |
| The ida and pingala nadis cross over the sushumna | | | | process, keeping us youthful with increased vitality. |
| and the points of their convergence create energy | | | | Emotional |
| centres known as chakras. | | | | Yoga brings about many changes emotionally. Just the |
| On a subtle level, prana flows through these nadis. The | | | | act of feeling a greater sense of wellbeing physically |
| energy channels and centres are affected by the | | | | works towards improving our self esteem and |
| physical body and mind and vice versa. When we | | | | confidence. Increased energy levels enable us to do |
| experience a physical or emotional disorder the | | | | more in our personal and professional lives and we find |
| channels and centres become blocked. The practise | | | | that happiness comes naturally to the practising yogi. |
| of yoga works to cleanse and detox the physical | | | | As all our bodily systems are strengthened these too |
| body mind and by increasing the flow of prana | | | | impact on our mind and emotional wellbeing. Stresses, |
| throughout the body, clear the blockages and restore | | | | strains and anxiety are greatly reduced. Yoga lifts |
| the flow of pranic energy. This in turn restores | | | | depression and can help other emotional disorders. A |
| homeostasis or optimum functioning to the physical | | | | heightened awareness of self enables one to feel in |
| body and mind. Yoga therefore restores our natural | | | | control. Ultimately, the mind influences the body and |
| emotional and physical balance. | | | | when our mind is balanced we will find so too is our |
| A person who is often unwell physically and/or | | | | body. |
| emotionally is said to have more prana outside the | | | | These are just a few of the many benefits yoga |
| body and in contrast, a person who experiences | | | | brings. Practising asanas, the physical aspect of yoga |
| physical and emotional wellbeing and is healthy both | | | | inevitably leads one to other branches of yoga and |
| inside and out, is said to have more prana inside the | | | | becomes a life long journey of self awareness; finding |
| body. Yoga practice and breathing techniques known | | | | one's true self, one's dharma or purpose in life and |
| as pranayama work to not only increase the flow of | | | | along the way becoming happier, healthier and more |
| prana into the body but also to keep that prana flowing | | | | fulfilled. |