Is Yoga More Beneficial To Your Mind or Body?

Is Yoga secular or spiritual? Is it an exercise routine or a spiritual path? The answers are indisputable, depending on who you ask. The student who has practiced Yoga for exercise will take issue with the answer given by the spiritual seeker who practices Yoga to be free from suffering.
We must look to the origins of this tradition for insights into the purpose of Yoga. The ancient Yoga authority, Patanjali, outlines a clear path for Yoga, a path that leads to liberation. In his Yoga Sutras of 196 succinct verses, he proposes 8 limbs sometimes called steps on the path (2.29). The physical exercises called Asanas is Limb number 3. Other Limbs include behaviour, character, breath, and mind. One could argue looking at the 8 limbs that only one limb relates to the physical body.
Today in our world where what is visible is King it is easy to believe Yoga is nothing more than an exercise routine practised by women and men to become healthy or keep fit. In days gone by Yoga was known for its power to transform. In fact the very first verse of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras defines Yoga as the restriction of the fluctuations of consciousness, sometimes translated mind.
Many of us practise Yoga unaware of its origins and aims. We practice because our bodies relish the stretches and challenges. Our muscles are toned; we breathe better; our digestion and elimination improve; we manage pain better; we feel stronger. Our physical health improves. It is also true that we feel less stressed when we practise. Anxiety decreases, we don't get as angry, and mental clarity improves. Yoga fosters mind-body wellness.
Yoga students who practice Yoga as an exercise may proclaim only its physical benefits only. In time they will come to realize the positive impact on the mind; and to notice a shift in behaviour and improved relationships. At some point they realize the connection between the mind and body. They come to know that thoughts and feelings affect the body and to they gain some insight into mind-body wellness.
There was a time when I would have argued forcefully that Yoga was more beneficial to the mind. For then I practiced Raja Yoga meditation only. Some years later I would have insisted that one must definitely practice Hatha Yoga to heal and nurture the body. Fortunately I discovered it is really not an either or situation.
Yoga students can practice both yoga poses and meditation for mind-body wellness. And are we not more than mind and body? Yoga explains that we are and states that the light of knowledge is necessary to free us from suffering.

Heather Greaves is a keen student of Yoga and the owner of Body Therapies Yoga Training. She organizes yoga and meditation retreats and workshops in Ontario and Barbados, and has been helping yoga enthusiasts learn to teach yoga in a certified program. For more yoga tips or to sign up for our monthly newsletter visit http://www.yogatogo.com

Yoga For Weight Loss: Doing The Boat Pose

In yoga, the boat pose is one of the more popular poses for building core strength. This yoga pose will tone your abdominal muscles and strengthen the muscles of your lower back. There are two types of boat poses: one is the half boat pose and the other is the full boat pose.
Another benefit of the boat pose is that it strengthens your hips, abdomen, and spine. It also stimulates your kidneys and your intestines, which helps to improve digestion. The boat pose also regulates the thyroid glands and the prostate glands, which help to regulate your metabolism and help to relieve your stress. Improved digestion and an increased metabolic rate are key factors in weight loss.
This pose can be strenuous for beginning yoga practitioners, because it requires complete concentration and quite a bit of physical stamina. Practicing this pose on a regular basis may help you to stay focused and calm. It is not recommended that you do this pose if you currently have headaches, diarrhea, or low blood pressure. Also, if you are suffering from heart conditions or asthma, you should do the half boat pose instead of the full pose. If you are pregnant or menstruating, it is recommended that you do not do this pose.
To begin this pose, sit on the floor, bend your knees, and put your feet flat on the floor. It is important to inhale and exhale smoothly and evenly. With your spine straight, tilt backward a bit and raise your feet from the ground so that your shins run parallel to the floor. Bring in the lower part of your back, raise your chest, and stretch the front part of your body. Reach your arms forward, and be sure that they line up with your shoulders and that your hands are facing each other.
Your legs should be straight up at an angle of 45° from the ground. At this point, your body should be in a V shape. While looking at your feet, move your shoulders forward and stretch out your hands in front of you. Stay in this pose for about five seconds, and gradually increase that time to one minute.
Some things to keep in mind when doing this exercise are to keep your back straight and to balance yourself in the V position without any assistance from your hands. Perfecting this pose requires practice and dedication.

When practicing yoga for weight loss, you'll find that the boat pose is a good choice for burning calories. Remember that courses on yoga for beginners will build up to introducing this pose.