“Yoga is a journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” ~Bhagavad Gita
The Yoga
Yoga will increase your mental clarity, improve your strength, flexibility, and stamina, and lower your heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels... It is not necessary to be young, strong, flexible or to have experience. With that said, Yoga is about more than the physical series of poses; it is about being open and honest with yourself, and accepting who and where you are in this moment of time without judgment.
Yoga is a continual journey, and for me, and many others who discover the benefits of the practice, a way of life. It has not only helped me to heal after a serious physical injury and helped bring a sense of calm into an often chaotic military lifestyle, but has become the principle by which I approach everything I do.
Yoga can inspire you in ways you never thought possible. Let the connection between your mind, body and spirit guide you toward inner peace and a renewed sense of being. I encourage you to take a class and explore the many benefits yoga can bring into your life...I am both pleased and honored to be able to share the possibilities and help assist you in the journey that is yoga.
Feel free to ask questions, make requests, or leave comments; or just visit the Guestbook and say hello! In Light, YogaStineॐ
The What and Why of Yoga
The definition of yoga: According to The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali it is labelled as Rāja yoga and defined as; citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ (the cessation of the perturbations of the mind). The Sanskrit root yuj, which means "to join" or "to yoke" or "unite" are all true by means of the literal transliteration, but... What is yoga really?
With the increasing popularity of Yoga skyrocketing throughout the world and across the internet, especially in the west, it is particularly important that we clarify this point: That which we practice in studios, in gyms and places we gather, is largely known as “Hatha Yoga.” Hatha is a form of Raja Yoga which is but ONE single limb of the Eight Limbs of Yoga... the Asana (or posture).
In the practice of yoga asana, the student gently increases breath control to improve the health and function of both body and mind. These two systems of exercise and breathing then prepare the body and mind for meditation, and the student finds an easy approach to a quiet mind that allows silence and healing from everyday stress. Our thoughts, attitudes, mental states and intention can alter our stem cells and DNA, The mind and body are more mysterious than we can ever imagine. Taking time to calm the mind, stretch and challenge the body and cultivate awareness and forgiveness is an extremely powerful medicine. Regular, daily practice of all three parts of this structure of Yoga produce a clear, bright mind and a strong, capable body.
Yoga itself, in its whole magnificent practice is more than asana, more than meditation, more than breath... Yoga is the knowledge of the self!