pelf-ism is contagious

I have a friend who is now a lecturer in the university who is extremely good in yoga. I’m not sure how long he’s been practicing yoga but man, his body is really horribly flexible! He is able to twist and turn his head and limbs in positions I never thought a normal human being can achieve, and sometimes it freaks me out to see such positions *grins* He taught us yoga on a few occasions last year, and I was slowly gaining some understanding about what yoga is, because, truth is, despite yoga being one of the most popular exercise, there are many misconceptions in people’s mind about yoga.

Following are a few myths associated with yoga, taken from Yogawiz.com:

• One has to be flexible and in shape to start yoga — Thinking your self to be inflexible to start yoga is wrong. You can start practicing yoga from where you are and how you are. Everybody is different with innate strengths and weakness. Yoga makes you flexible in mind, body and soul.
• Yoga is easy — Yoga is very much more than sitting in a lotus position and chanting in unison. It is challenging on many levels - physically, emotionally and mentally. It helps us get in touch with ourselves in many different facets. Some types of yoga are gentle and some are more strenuous but all are challenging. Yoga is a process-oriented activity in which what you experience is much more important than what you achieve. So it is not a goal accomplishing mission.
• Yoga is not boring — There is nothing more interesting than watching the workings of your own mind. By awakening the beginner’s mind through the practice of yoga and meditation, we learn about ourselves and our perceptions that create the world. Over time, we will gain more control of your emotions as we learn to breathe through difficult situations. Thus yoga, for many, is a way of life.
• Yoga is only for stress relief — Said to be a powerful stress-buster, a single session of yoga can make you feel calmer. Stress is the most common factor in a host of medical conditions. By practicing yoga, you can strengthen muscles, deepen breathing, improve balance and enhance flexibility.
• Yoga is mistaken to be a religion as its origins came out of ancient India — Not bound by any religion, yoga is happily practiced by Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, and many more people alike. In short, there is place for everyone with yoga. In the traditional sense, yoga means union. It is the practice of joining mind, body and soul that culminates into positive and perennial happiness and peace. Said to be indispensable of the ultimate accomplishment in life that affects not only the conscious self but the subconscious as well. An exercise that is accessible to everyone young and old.

Now that we’ve busted some myths about it, learn about yoga poses and yoga health benefits and see if it works for you