YOGA

What is Yoga? If you think yoga is just twisting and moving your body in a weird way, it's time to rethink. Yoga is much more than postures. Derived from the Sanskrit word "yuj", which means "to unite or integrate", yoga is a body of knowledge over 5,000 years old. Yoga is harmonizing the body with the mind and breath, through breathing techniques (pranayamas), yoga postures (asanas) and meditation. See the video on the side to learn more about what yoga is. Yoga for Everyone Yoga is a way of life and if we stop to think about it, we have been practicing it since we were babies! For example, doing the cat stretch to stretch the spine. You always see kids doing some kind of yoga during the day. Yoga works for everyone: people who work in an office, people who practice sports, people looking to lose weight, with an intense or quiet routine in their daily lives who can have a better quality of life with the practice. Breathing Techniques (Pranayama) and Meditation Pranayama is the art of effectively controlling the breath. Practicing proper breathing techniques can help bring more oxygen to the blood and brain, thus helping to control prana, or vital energy. Pranayama also follows along with various yoga asanas. The union between these two yoga principles is considered the highest form of purification and self-discipline, covering both mind and body. Prayanamas techniques also prepare us for a deeper meditation experience.