If you’ve watched people doing yoga poses from a distance, you’d think they were latter-day contortionists. I could be wrong, they are wise people who have realized over time how easy and relatively inexpensive it is to keep their bodies healthy, literally fit as a violin.

Yoga poses are the best way to keep the body supple, supple and toned without putting any force on the body. There is a certain subtlety in this ancient Eastern system of body maintenance that keeps one in tune with nature.

The modern lifestyle takes its toll in terms of physical and mental health. Hypertension and diabetes are common ailments and the beneficiaries are the pharmaceutical companies. Resources that should be spent in other productive channels are wasted on propping up an exhausting body that becomes an open invitation to premature aging and endless diseases.

Yoga has many dimensions.
The word yoga means union. It meant a whole set of physical, mental and spiritual exercises developed by ancient Indian yogis as a means of realizing God and being united (‘yuj’ in Sanskrit, meaning ‘being yoked’) with Him. meditation routine in forests and mountains and, being scantily clad, they devised indoor exercises now known as “yoga postures” or “yogasanas” to keep their body healthy and light and make it a willing instrument of their meditation.

Over the years, yoga poses (postures) have become separated from other mental and spiritual practices and have become popular as fitness yoga. However, people who practice yoga postures gain benefits from yoga such as a focused mind, self-discipline, a serene temperament, and a healthy outlook on life.

the big break
There are a hundred yoga postures. They have interesting names like the redskins who call themselves Sitting Bull or Galloping Horse. The poses carry names like The Boat, Crow, Peacock, Lotus, etc. The last mentioned is the pose in which the Buddha is shown sitting. It is the pose developed by yogis for their meditation. Legs drawn back and feet resting on thighs, hands placed on thighs turned up with thumb and forefinger closed, spine and neck erect, eyes slightly closed, and normally extroverted mind gathered and centered inward : this is the last resting pose without and inside

But yet, before we can achieve that inner rest, we have to slowly master the body through various poses and by regulating the breath, which is called pranayama. Regulating the breath is said to energize the body and gradually slowing down the breath reduces the frequency of thoughts, which is the necessary prelude to meditation.

The yogi among bats
There is the familiar joke about bats in a cave. They were all hanging upside down as usual. But a bat was seen standing on his feet. When the other bats asked him why, he replied, “I’m doing yoga!” That bat is the counterpart of people who enjoy doing the headstand, a difficult but very effective pose to stimulate blood circulation throughout the body. Its modified and easier version, the “all limbs pose,” is also recommended for all ages.

In a way, yoga postures are for people who want to be and dare to be different and pursue what their inner being and body instinct prompt them to do. It is treating the body with respect and dignity, not pumping iron and straining the muscular and nervous system. In the latter case, we see these people in poor health when they stop doing these heavy-handed exercises.

tips for beginners
Starting the practice of yoga postures is easy. But a few words of caution would be necessary.

Please don’t learn from books. One should not be his own Guru (Teacher) in matters of Yoga asanas, pranayama or meditation and he might end up worse off than before. Look for qualified, committed and professional teachers.
If you suffer from any bodily ailment or disability, seek medical advice from your doctor and yoga instructor on which poses would fit your physical condition.
Age is not an impediment to the practice of yoga postures. You don’t have to be a brat to do it.
· Your yoga instructor will tell you what kind of yoga props and accessories you need. Your dress should be comfortable enough to allow you to stretch and bend freely.
Like all other physical exercises, yoga postures should be done on a very light stomach and never after a meal.
Set aside a particular time for your home practice to develop regularity and discipline.
Such discipline does not go with habits like smoking and drinking, which have a draining effect on the physical system.

the ultimate test
The ultimate test of any exercise regimen is: Do you feel fresh and energetic or tired and drained afterwards? Yoga postures pass this test with flying colors.

In general, the regular practice of yoga postures tempers and tunes the body, disciplines the mind and trains the will to apply self-improvement habits and lifestyle and elevates one’s prospects to a higher and nobler level of existence. .