What is Yoga?

Yoga is an age old tradition that seeks to establish a sense of well- being in the practitioner, a well- being established in the body, breath and mind. The current world of yoga seems to be made up of many small parts, each one competing with and often confusing the other. This is not consistent with the spirit of yoga, whose very meaning is ‘to unite’.”

The practice of yoga helps to co-ordinate the breath, mind and body to encourage balance, both internally and externally and promote feelings of relaxation and ease. It offers us a holistic approach to body, mind and spirit, which can provide us with the useful tools to cope with the challenges of daily life. Yoga can also complement medical science and therapy for specific conditions.

In the West, the most widely taught form of yoga is Hatha Yoga, and here at Ruislip Yoga, we will explore some simple asana (postures) linked with the breath to:

• Increase muscle strength and flexibility
• Improve  the efficiency of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems
• Improve balance and co-ordination
• Relieve stress and tension
• improve concentration
• Promote a relaxed and calm state of mind
• Promote a better quality sleep
• Generally encourage a more mindful, positive way of living.

The journey is personal; each student will work at their own level, regardless of age and ability,  but all will enjoy at least some of these life-enhancing benefits.