Out of all the exercises that have sprouted and propagated throughout the years, none has reached the level of popularity and dependability of the Indian exercise and/or way of life known as Yoga. Unlike other exercises such as Tae Bo and Bicycle Spinning, which can only be considered as fads, Yoga has been here for thousands of years.

What used to be considered as an exercise targeted for affluent housewives in the western world, yoga is now practiced by people from all walks of life. Whether it be a rich housewife in Malibu or a young Muai Thai expert from Bangkok, more and more people are discovering the importance of yoga in their lives.

What Exactly is Yoga?

It is important for people to know that Yoga is not a religion or a movement. Having said all that, people should also be aware that yoga isn't just an exercise. Yoga is a spiritual, mental, and physical discipline which originated in Ancient India. This meditative practice is commonly associated to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

The history of yoga is not concrete due to the fact that nobody really knows when or how it originated. However, several archaeological discoveries in the Indus Valley suggest that Yoga has been practiced by the Indian people for more than 5,000 years.

My Experience With Yoga:

I always laughed at my wife who does yoga twice a week. She challenged me to try it out. I was so bad it the first time I did. I never knew my level of flexibility was so low. The next day I was so sore, I couldn't even get out of bed. It took three days for me to recover from my first yoga session. Since my first session I have added it into my routine at least once a week. My flexibility has improved tenfold. It helps me recover quicker and my knees don't hurt from running any more. Yeah, I'm drinking the yoga Kool-Aid; I guess.

The Importance of Yoga in Your Life

Like was mentioned earlier, Yoga is not a religion. However, it is a way of living that targets the person's mind, body, and spirit. Unlike most exercises the target only the person's physiological well-being such as aerobics and running, yoga tries to create a balance among the person's core attributes.

According to Bhagavad Yoga, "A person is said to have achieved yoga, the union with the Self, when the perfectly disciplined mind gets freedom from all desires, and becomes absorbed in the Self alone." Based on his quote, it can be concluded that the main goal of yoga is to help a person is to assist a person gain enlightenment or illumination.

In addition to achieving enlightenment, yoga is also important for people who want to improve their strength, posture, and flexibility.

Most doctors suggest that a person practice yoga from three to five AM in the morning as it is the most effective time period to meditate. Really wake up to meditate?

The Different Benefits of Yoga

Because yoga is a meditative practice that targets the mind, spirit, and body, it has a number of physiological and psychological. Some of its physiological benefits include the increase of cardiovascular efficiency, the normalization of the endocrine function, the decrease of blood pressure, improved sleeping habits, increased immunity, and improved hand and eye coordination. On the other hand, some of the psychological benefits of yoga include the decrease of anxiety and depression, the improvement of memory, mood, social skills, concentration and attention span, and that the process of self-acceptance and self-actualization is shortened.

Aside from the physiological and psychological benefits of yoga, another good thing about this way of life is that it is relatively affordable. Yoga classes don't cost as much as other exercises so joining a class will be easy on the pockets. However, if the person does not want to join a class, yoga can be practiced in the privacy of his or her own home. All the person needs is a yoga instruction book, a mat, and some peace and quiet and he or she is set.

Unlike other exercises, yoga does not really have a downside. Just so long as it is practiced with caution, it can result to a ton of benefits on a person's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

I find that doing yoga regularly helps me recover from really tough work outs and really gets the blood flowing. I make sure to do a 40 minute session at least once a week. You should try it. You will thank me.