Although difficult to definitively measure the number of people doing yoga these days, it is estimated by the North American Studio Alliance that one out of every seven people in North America practiced yoga in 2010. The question remains, however, of how many people have a devotional, steady, regular practice, abhyasa, that is, a daily practice of yoga, which may or may not include pranayama and meditation. When one makes this commitment to the body and mind, it can be said a person has integrated Eastern teachings into their lives and will transform their lives by creating a sense of equanimity in their emotions and reactions to the sufferings and sweetness of life.

The benefits of yoga are many. On the general side of benefits come stress and pain relief, as well as increased flexibility. These benefits are likely the main reasons why many North Americans begin practicing. Relief from pain or tension is felt through fine-tuning the body; proper alignment and execution of the postures is meant to elongate and expand muscles, tendons and fascia.

Daily yoga practice will increase strength to a person doing a Vinyasa-type practice, or any type of practice that involves Surya Namaskar (sun salutations), postures with depth and longer holds, as well as weight-bearing postures, like standing poses, balances and inversions. This more vigorous type of practice brings the added benefit of improved circulation, experienced directly through the contracting and releasing technique of many postures, as well as lowered blood pressure and decreased heart rate.

The benefits of yoga are revealed to a person over time, as one relaxes into the repetitional sequence of postures. Slowly the practitioner becomes comfortable and familiar with the asanas and the body learns how to deepen, strengthen and relax while holding stillness, creating muscle memory. The yogi with a daily practice learns to gain strength without strain. When ease is added to movement in coordination with the breath, both the external body and the internal organs begin to function more efficiently. Eventually, less food, less rest and less repair is needed for a person who maintains a regular practice.

The experience of Savasana, or final relaxation at the end of each practice or class, may be the only “time out” in many people’s day-to-day lives, as it carves out a segment of conscious relaxing upon completion of a physical practice, as well as space for either a needed nap (commonly occurring for beginners in Savasana), time for integration of the yoga experience, or time to experience the “no-mindedness” of yoga. Savasana practiced over time can be a rewarding experience, wherein the practitioner reaches a place wherein the mind stops moving into past and future thoughts. It can also be one of the hardest postures for people to preform. Laying on ones back in total stillness, without fidgeting or looking around can be quite challenging to the beginner. Just as a person learns to read music, then play chords and put them together to create something melodic, the yogi must persevere and be patient with themselves as they develop yogic skills. Yoga is an art form to be mastered like any other. It is counter-intuitive to the fast paced lifestyle we live in where we are expected to multitask, compete, stay busy to get more done in our day. Yoga is meant to be practiced daily for a reason. We take our time, move step by step, krama by krama, we create a single pointed focus and move the body with reverence to connect the mind with the heart, the heart with our soul and our soul to God.

Breath work, or the practice of pranayama has far-reaching benefits and is an important element in yoga. The ability to coordinate breath with movement develops over time in order to make the practice more like a moving meditation. Pranayama also means vital life force extension. It has been said by many great sages that pranayama is meant to actually extend the length of time we live. These seers says that when a person is born, they are allotted a certain number of breaths. When that number is up, one dies and leaves the body like one casts away worn out garments. When people are living a stressed life full of tension, their breathing is quick and short, the mind and body feel contracted. Yogis, however, are more relaxed as they learn to deal with life’s stresses by practicing deep even breathing, known as ujayii. Ujayii breath is balanced breath where the inhalation lasts the same amount of time as the exhalation. There is a resonant sound of the breath in the back of the throat which is audible. This sounds like oceanic, like waves moving to and from the shoreline which creates a deeply relaxing state of being. Yoga, or the practice of asana and pranayama actually opens the body, creating the flexibility where one can sit comfortably for long periods of time meant so one can experience deep states of still meditation.

Breath of fire, bellows breath or kapalabhati breathing quickly flushes toxins out of the blood stream, massages internal organs and strengthens the nervous system while at the same time expanding lung capacity. Anuloma Viloma or Alternate nostril breathing can restore imbalances in the brain, improve sleep, boost thinking power and soothe the nervous system. It creates a balance between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, bridging the gap between creative and logical thinking, respectively. It seems to be a natural progression, that with more experience in yoga, mastery of the breath and breath retention, kumbhaka, pranayama is as important of an element in a yoga practice as the execution of the postures.

It is widely known and experienced by yoga practitioners, that states of deep inner peace are developed through yoga. Whether it be that anxiety and depression decreases or simply that one notices that memory and the ability to concentrate increases, a person with a regular practice becomes more aware of the subtleties in their state of being and notices the difference between their mental state in a day when they practiced yoga, compared to a day which they missed a practice. Yoga is known to increase one’s self-acceptance and when this phenomenon is discovered, the person moves into the realm of self-actualization. On one hand, we can feel the physiological benefits of yoga, and on the other hand, yoga has an even deeper impact on our lives, in which we become more open, ethical, truth-seeking and refined members of a community wherein we begin to feel how we are all connected to each other and we understand that we are truly the essence of God.

The Gathering will host daily yoga classes for people to participate. Like many elements of being a human, a committed yoga practice takes time and determination to fulfill. Patience and dedication to one’s physical and mental well-being gently reveals the secrets of life longevity. With yoga, one’s quality of life improves, as practice flows into all realms; our physical wellness, mental state and emotional mastery, our food choices, quality of work we do and alignment with universal energy and flow.

For further understanding of the full spectrum yoga offers, please read the article about the 8 Limbs of Yoga.

Author's Bio: 

Karuna DiLibero works for Zoxon International Spiritual Federation to promote the historic weeklong event called, The Gathering, A Spiritual Woodstock, which is designed to bring people to the point of Self Awareness! We are dedicated to the spiritual evolution of all humans so that we can make our world a healthier, more loving place in which to live! Visit www.zoxon.com to find out more!
Karuna has been an instructor of yoga since 1998 and is still loving every minute of it! She is a lover of magic, nature, photography, outdoor sports and is a life enthusiast!