Yoga For Wellness: Body, Mind & Spirit
Article By Cynthia Logan
Photos By Larry Cook
What's hip, hot and done in almost
every gym and spa in America? Yep, yoga. What do Sting, Madonna,
Kate Winslet, Raquel Welch, Ali MacGraw and the L.A. Dodgers have
in common? Yep again-yoga. They're all hooked, along with a growing
number of Americans, whether they're baby boomers with jolted
joints or "x"ers who-hey, just know what's happening.
Any way you look at it, the practice that began here around the
time George Harrison got together with Ravi Shankar is now officially
mainstream. It's so popular, in fact, that "Power Yoga"
instructor Bryan Kest has up to 150 students in a single class!
In Santa Monica, California (of course) there are four major yoga
studios within a six-mile radius; all are thriving. Target, Big
K , Wal-Mart, local libraries and video rental stores all carry
the latest yoga videos.
What's the blockbusting draw? For one thing, it works. And keeps
on working, on every system in your body, including the endocrine
glands and fascial (connective) tissue-systems that aren't even
touched by other forms of exercise. Though it's possible to sustain
an injury, more often than not, yoga relieves many symptoms and
conditions without the jarring impact other activities incur.
Enthusiasts claim that many of the ills of our time, including
hypertension, arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes can be prevented,
alleviated or cured by regular practice of postures and breathing
techniques.
And that's just the physical stuff. While the effort and rewards
are powerful (a recent acquaintance confided that he thought he
was in excellent shape until he took a yoga class!), the discipline
also affords mental and emotional fitness; many people experience
a deep sense of well-being from the very first class, walking
out with a new found sense of relaxation and clarity of mind.
Others experience emotional "cleansing" as repressed
feelings are released to the surface. Such spontaneous experiences
are respected and protected in the non-competitive, nourishing
environment that most yoga classes provide.
On a psychological level, yoga
can be a profound tool, gently uncovering negative patterns and
offering more comfortable, spacious ways of being with yourself
and others. It's like cleaning the windshield of your car, so
that what you see is in fact what is there, not what you thought
was there with mud and bug juice splashed in front of your eyes!
For those on a spiritual path, the discipline of a regular yoga
practice provides a foundation which supports the trek. The word
yoga, loosely translated from Sanskrit, means "union."
For some, that means union with the Divine or with God; for others,
it may be uniting hands to feet in a forward bend. But, beyond
stretching, beyond strengthening, yoga clears pathways within
the body that allows your natural energy to shoot straight through
you, like a laser beam of light, illuminating the way. For those
who have taken the difficult road, landing in prison, yoga can
unlock metaphorical doors. Experimental programs with inmates
have produced excellent results and, in some cases, been instrumental
in complete rehabilitation. Other social applications have brought
comfort to the mentally ill and relieved chronic pain and tension
in thousands of individual cases.
Yoga is also very educational-you can't spend time on the mat
without learning something about your body, whether it's a place
you didn't know was so flexible (or so tight!), a habit you didn't
realize you had, or how you organize yourself for movement. In
India, yoga is considered "physical culture," and is
offered in many public schools. Discovering details about the
amazingly complex and beautiful organism we call home should be
a rich experience everyone may enjoy-not just doctors, dancers
and athletes. Learning to move properly is an investment in life-long
health and adds grace and ease to daily life.
You may not look particularly graceful
in your first yoga class, but putting yourself in what feels like
an awkward position will yield great benefits-and you don't have
to make yourself into a pretzel to realize them. Just learning
to stand on your own two feet with awareness will go a long way
towards standing on them more securely in the world, both physically
and metaphorically. Even a gentle twisting posture will wake up
your liver and spleen, assisting the release of toxins and strengthening
your immune system. Any of the standing poses will firm and tone
both arms and legs, and balancing postures will help you: a) feel
like a dancer, b) ignite fierce determination, 3) awaken your
sense of humor, or 4) all of the above!
Though the famous headstand should not be attempted by beginners,
a shoulder-stand (it can be done with the support of a wall) benefits
overall metabolism, can help prevent insomnia and allergies and
reverse the effects of gravity. Known as the "Queen of the
Asanas" (asana is the Sanskrit word for pose, or posture),
the shoulder-stand is often maligned by well-meaning medical types,
since it is sometimes poorly performed and can indeed compress
the neck. Done correctly, however, it can actually correct neck
problems and is wonderful for those suffering from both overactive
and underactive thyroid glands. There are many gentle backbends
appropriate for beginners; a version of the "cobra"
pose is actually part of a back strengthening protocol prescribed
by physical therapists. More advanced practitioners know the exhilaration
that comes from defying gravity in the deeper backbends. In general,
practicing yoga poses with deep breathing maintains a youthful
spine, improves digestion and assists all body functions.
The multi-dimensional benefits
of yoga have been recognized in Germany, Australia and England
for use in medical treatment protocols. Here in the United States,
Dr. Dean Ornish has established a rehabilitative program for cardiac
patients which includes yoga and meditation as pivotal factors
in reversing heart disease.
Bozeman boasts many different yoga styles, including Ashtanga
(you'll need a sweat towel) Power, Flow, Kripalu, Kundalini, Bikram,
Iyengar, YogaMotion, and therapeutic applications for your sensitive
back-and everything in between. As a point of interest, all of
the above are types of "Hatha" yoga, meaning that they
focus on or include physical poses. Check out Yoga instructors
in this publication, local gyms, the Emerson Cultural Center,
the Kagy Professional building, YogaMotion, and the Food Co-op
bulletin board to find classes, teachers and schedules. Why not
try them all? Taking yoga classes could be numbers 1-10 on your
New Year's resolution list Consider it a personal upgrade-you'll
be investing in a vehicle you're going to own for the rest of
your life, and there is no cheaper health insurance! Not to mention
the fact that you'll be in excellent company.