Life Can Be Unbearably Stressful
Life can be full of fun and excitement! For many, though, life is also full of challenges and demands, and this can lead to worry. These conflicting conditions create stress, and since there is a limit to what we can handle, the tension can be unbearable.
As it is, there is no quick fix or pill that you can take that will remove the stress. Wise men of old have therefore concluded that we must look within ourselves for the remedy. Some of the methods of stress relief can be found within the traditions of yoga and meditation.
Where does yoga come from?
Cultures such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism have included forms of yoga within their traditions. Yoga as it is practiced today can be traced to the influences of all these cultures. At its core, it involves cultivating discipline of body and mind, and leads to better health or even spiritual enlightenment if taken that far. The sense behind the word “yoga” is that of “joining” or “union,” and refers to the re-joining of our innermost selves.
There are actually several features of yoga – breath control, meditation, conduct, diet, and physical poses more commonly known as hatha yoga.
Benefits of Hatha Yoga
A regular hatha yoga practice helps you develop flexibility, strength, and also cardiovascular health. It facilitates healing from injuries. Studies demonstrate the many benefits of yoga, leading many to include yoga as part of their health and fitness program. Some of the types of people who have a yoga practice include businessmen and women, actors and actresses, and professional athletes.
Do you know of any exercise that also massages the internal organs? Hatha yoga does! You might even experience better immunity from disease and improved awareness of the health of your own body.
Benefits of Meditation
Meditation is part of the yoga philosophy, and as such is beneficial for relaxation. Through meditation you can reach a serene state of body and mind. Most forms of meditation are about directing your attention to one specific point. For example, it can be a point, a thought, a word or series of words, or even just your own breathing. When you concentrate on one thing, you gently draw your mind away from the things that worry you, and the result is a more peaceful state of mind. This is an excellent way to achieve results without resorting to drugs or other external substances. Meditation can help you learn to manage your own stress.
The benefits felt while meditating can be carried throughout your life. And, if you so wish, you can use meditation to progress your own spirituality. Some may even liken it to salvation. The best part about it is that these yoga and mediation techniques are open to anyone, are easy to learn, do not require special equipment, and can be practiced anywhere.
