article on yoga the secret of healthy existence
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In the scriptures of devotion, an appreciation of the nature of God precedes devotion to God. Great theologians like Acharya Ramanuja, Madhva, and others have held that devotion is the climax, and devotion to God cannot arise unless we already know what it is that we are loving, or what it is to which we are devoting ourselves.
The more we understand and appreciate a thing, the more we like it, so there is some point in their argument justifying that knowledge precedes devotion. Devotion is the flower and the fruit which matures out of the growth of knowledge. The greatness of God has to be appreciated, first of all. The majesty and the beauty and the value and the importance of God’s existence is to be adequately comprehended, appreciated and admired before a genuine love can be evinced for that Being.
Anyone who is of a doubtful nature cannot attract attention, much less love and affection. We cannot have a doubtful and in the existence of God, and then expect true concentration of mind with the requisite affection for it. If God may be or may not be, then devotion also may or may not be. We cannot have the one without the other, and the question of meditation, concentration, cannot arise in the case of that which has not been properly appreciated because its value has not been recognised.
Many a time we feel that we are also sufficiently important persons and we cannot sell out all our value and foist it on another thing which is considered as all value, all importance and all glory, because this would imply we have no glory, no importance, no value, and that evidently we are nothing.
Yoga is an integral part of our lifestyle. It removes the impurities from the level of mind and unites everything with the spirit. For instance, insomnia could be connected to stress, anxiety or depression. You have to address that issue instead of merely taking medication. This way, you have a wider perception of your own mind, body, thoughts and emotions and there’s more clarity and you are able to guide your prana (life force) in a positive way to progress in life.
Yoga is growing in popularity. Research has shown it can help people afflicted with conditions such as back pain, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, cancer, heart disease and tuberculosis. Among its many beneficial effects, yoga has been shown to increase strength, flexibility and balance, enhance immune functions, lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and improve overall psychological well-being. It also helps reduce stress.
Yoga is a type of therapy that connects the body, breath and mind to energize the individual holistically. It uses physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation to improve overall well-being.
It is comprised of asanas (physical postures) and a philosophy that believers say offers tools for seeing the truth and achieving everlasting happiness. Yoga's philosophy remains fairly consistent among different disciplines. The yoga asanas, though come in different forms from which different benefits can be derived.
People who practice yoga tend to eat better, cut back on caffeine or alcohol consumption, and spend more time outdoors. Once people become more sensitive to the effects of different yoga positions on the body and mind, they become increasingly enthusiastic about it. This is my own personal experience. I have practiced yoga for more than 45 years...
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