How can yoga bring us closer to our spirituality and relieve pain and stress?.
In our busy lives we are filled with pressure, agitation, and tasks from work, school, family or anything that causes us stress. Our time is mostly spent on working, studying, or taking care of personal tasks which leaves us with little space to connect with our spirituality. A way to do this is by practicing yoga, which is "a way of living and being that makes real happiness possible " (Farhi 5). Once we are relaxed and happy our spirituality can take its shape in our lives. Often times we disregard ourselves from our own body, we are disconnected, and place other things as having a higher importance in our lives. In order to live a peaceful and happy life and find our spiritual connection within ourselves, we must find time to connect with our source. This can be achieved through the practice of yoga and its eight limbs consisting of five yamas and niyamas which help us grow in our spirituality and at the same time allow us to live in peace. .
In order to live in peace and reconnect with our spirituality it is important to start by decreasing our stress levels. In the International Journal of Health, wellness, and Society, the author David Crochea et al. states that stress is a "leading factor affecting the health of adults in the United States and is estimated to be related to 70% of illnesses " (Crochea et al. 1: 1). Upon first reading this I was alarmed and am still shocked at how much stress can affect our health and wellbeing. If we take a moment to meditate, breathe deeply, and practice yoga our stress levels can decrease and we will see an increase in our health. Yoga's regular practice has shown to decrease "three symptoms of high stress levels, including resting heart rate, diastolic systolic blood pressure, and salivary cortisol " among others (Crochea et al. 1:1). Knowing that stress can lead to diseases and these diseases can cause pain to our body, the ideal solution to prevent these harms to ourselves would be the practice of yoga.
Even though the two are somewhat similar in basic beliefs, they differ greatly in the core thoughts of spirituality. ... Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Raja Yoga. Jnana Yoga is the reflective form of yoga. ... The third kind of yoga is that of Karma Yoga. ... There is the body, the conscious mind, the unconscious mind and the infinite or eternal being. ...
Of those, 20.4 million Americans practice yoga (Yoga Journal 2012). ... Yoga and meditation provide anyone of any skill level with a non-competitive activity that can improve all aspects of life: mind, body & spirit. ... Jan sounds the chime and we are asked to return to our bodies, take a deep breath and roll to our right sides momentarily. ... Indoor studios, yoga in Forest Park, hot yoga, prenatal yoga, yoga at the local YMCA; ask around and someone you know has or is taking a yoga class somewhere nearby. ... Classes, equipment, clothing, books, music, DVD's, television shows, diet ...
Basically, aging is the byproduct of our bodies decreasing ability to quickly and efficiently repair and maintain itself. ... Spirituality and relationships have major roles in people's views of aging. ... Consider yoga, tai chi or other practices. Relaxation treatments work on the body, the mind and state of well being. ... Men and women both subject themselves to these atrocious procedures just to have a couple of years taken off their bodies. ...
. Audibly praying over every orifice of one's body to prevent the entry of demons through them. The use of ecstatic 'tongues-speaking' as a means of spiritual warfare, based on a misinterpretation of Eph.6:17b-18a. Continuous playing of contemporary 'Christian' music on cassette or CD players to deter the presence of demons. The visualised adorning of oneself in a suit of armour each morning on rising, and the visualised removal of it last thing at night. The conducting of so-called 'Jericho Walks' round ...
