Chapter 16
Chapter 16: All about Yoga: Mind and Body ..............................................................
In This Chapter
Understanding asanas
Exploring the different forms of yoga
Finding yoga classes
Looking at a yoga workout
H
ere in the West, we tend to view exercise as way to improve your
body — to strengthen your heart, tone your muscles, and make your
joints more flexible. Only in the last ten years or so has the mainstream fit-
ness community come to accept what many other cultures have known for
thousands of years: Exercise can also be good for your mind.This realization has spawned a new fitness catchphrase — mind-body
exercise — and yoga is at the forefront. We think everyone can benefit from
adding a mind-body activity to their exercise repertoires. You can substitute
these workouts for your regular program once or twice a week. For example,
instead of lifting weights or doing your regular stretching routine, do a ses-
sion of yoga. Some mind-body classes are intensely demanding, so make sure
that you don’t overload your workout schedule.Take yoga for a while and you’ll become much more aware of your body —
how you stand, sit, and walk. Most people begin to see and feel improve-
ments in their flexibility, strength, and stress levels after only a few classes.
Over the long term, yoga can keep your body looking and feeling remarkably
young. Suzanne took a class from an older man who pranced around the
room with incredible grace and agility. After class, Suzanne was shocked to
learn that the instructor was 80 years old!Knowing Your Asana from Your Elbows ...................................................
Developed in India more than 5,000 years ago, yoga consists of a series of
poses (known as asanas) that you hold from a few seconds to several
minutes. The moves — a blend of strength, flexibility, and body-awareness