There is much to be gained from a consistent yoga practice.

Some of the benefits include:

• Increased flexibility – many yoga positions act on joints and muscles that are not readily accessible in our day to day movements.

• Increased lubrication of the joints – the varied yoga postures also act upon different tendons and ligaments that are also not frequently activated through other exercise or our daily activities.

• Massaging of ALL organs of the body – Yoga may be the only form of activity which massages all of the internal organs and glands of the body in a thorough manner, including those that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime.  Yoga acts in a wholes manner on the various body parts.  This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder.

One of the far-reaching benefits of yoga is the uncanny sense of awareness that it develops in the practitioner of an impending health disorder or infection.  This in turn enables the person to take preemptive corrective action.

• Complete Detoxification – By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga insures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body.  This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as well as providing nourishment up to the last point.  This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable zest for life.

• Excellent toning of the muscles – Muscles that have become flaccid, weak or slothy are stimulated repeatedly to shed excess flab and flaccidity.

These enormous physical benefits are just a “side effect” of this powerful practice.  What yoga does is harmonize the mind with the body.  This results in real quantum benefits.  It is now an open secret that the will of the mind has enabled people to achieve extraordinary physical feats, which proves beyond doubt the mind and body connection.

Yoga, through meditation, works remarkably to achieve this harmony and helps the mind to work in sync with the body.  How often do we find that we are unable to perform or activities properly and in a satisfying manner because of the confusions and conflicts in our mind weighing down heavily upon us?  Moreover, stress which in reality is the #1 killer affecting all parts of our physical, endocrinal and emotional systems can be corrected through the wonderful yoga practice of meditation.

In fact asana, the physical posture practice of yoga, was initially developed to prepare the body for meditation.  In this way, yoga and meditation work together in achieving the common goal of unity of mind, body and spirit – a state of eternal bliss.

The meditative practices through yoga help in achieving an emotional balance through detachment.  What this means is that meditation creates conditions where you ar not affected by the happenings around you.  This in turn creates remarkable calmness and a positive outlook, which also has the tremendous benefits on the physical health in the body.

Our Hatha classes here a Bellas incorporate the breathing practices which prepare the mind for meditation.  Our Monday night Gentle and Strengthening Class allows for time at the end of your practice for sitting in meditation.  If you have interest in expanding your meditation practice, please talk with your instructor.