If you have observed people doing yoga poses from a distance, you would think they are contortionists from the last few days. You could be wrong, they are wise people who have realized in time how easy and relatively inexpensive it is to keep their bodies healthy, literally fit like a violin.

Yoga poses are the best way to keep the body flexible, smooth and toned without exerting any force on the body. There is a certain subtlety in this ancient oriental body maintenance system 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 pharmaceutical companies. Resources that should be spent in other productive channels are wasted in propping up a tired body that becomes an open invitation to premature aging and a multitude of diseases.

Yoga has many dimensions

The word yoga means union. It signified a complete 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 ‘to be yoked’) with Him. The yogis performed a rigorous meditation routine in forests and mountains and, scantily clad, they devised indoor exercises now known as ‘yoga poses’ or ‘yogasanas’ to keep their body healthy and light and turn it into a voluntary instrument of meditation.

Over the years, yoga poses have diverged from the rest of the mental and spiritual practices and have become popular as yoga fitness. However, people who practice yoga poses gain benefits from yoga such as a focused mind, self-discipline, a calm temperament, and a healthy outlook on life.

The big break

There are a hundred yoga poses. They have interesting names like the Red Indians who called themselves Sitting Bull or Galloping Horse. The poses are named after The Boat, Crow, Peacock, Lotus, etc. The last one mentioned is the pose in which the seated Buddha is shown. It is the pose developed by yogis for their meditation. Legs withdrawn and feet resting on the thighs, hands placed on the thighs turned upward with the thumb and forefinger closed, the spine and neck erect, the eyes slightly closed, and the normally outgoing mind gathered and centered within: this is the ultimate resting posture without and within.

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

The yogi among bats

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

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

Tips for beginners

Getting started practicing yoga poses 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 it could end up worse than before. Look for qualified, committed professional teachers.

If you suffer from any physical ailments or disabilities, get medical advice from your doctor and yoga instructor on what poses would suit your physical condition.

Age is not an obstacle to practicing yoga postures. You don’t have to be a youngster to do it.

Your yoga instructor will tell you what kind of yoga accessories and accessories you need. Your dress should be comfortable enough so that it can stretch and fold freely.

Like all other physical exercises, yoga poses should be done on a very light stomach and never after a meal.

Set a particular schedule for your home practice to develop regularity and discipline.

Such discipline does not go with habits like smoking and drinking that have a depleting effect on the physical system.

The final test

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

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