Yoga Classes

What Is Yoga?

Yoga has its origins in eastern spirituality and philosophy, with ties to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.  In each spirituality, yoga describes a core meditative component.  The emergence of yoga as a health and meditative practice in the western world has its roots in one of the six branches of yoga in Hinduism - Hatha Yoga.  Hatha Yoga was introduced and compiled by Yogi Swatmarama in India in the 15th century.  It originated as a means of preparing the body for a higher level of meditation.  It combines a series of poses, breathing exercises, and meditations.  

Yoga in the West

Yoga has been popularized in the western world as a combination of fitness and meditative practices centered around the traditions of Hatha Yoga.  Other branches of yoga have been incorporated into western yoga practices to varying degrees, including Raja Yoga.  Yoga has spread throughout the United States in the latter part of the 20th century, and its adoption has skyrocketed in the early 21st century.  It is hard to find a town in the United States that does not have at least one yoga studio, and most cities have a number of yoga studios that cater to specific customer bases or offer certain types of yoga courses.  Those classes include bikram, or hot, yoga where the participants go through traditional yoga poses at extreme temperatures, further cleansing the body.  

Advantages of Yoga

Yoga has gained in popularity due to its broad appeal; it can be practiced by people of virtually all athletic abilities.  Yoga instructors have created alternative poses that help ease beginners into the practice.  Practicing yoga on a regular basis helps to strengthen one's core, build flexibility, maintain a clear mind, and relax.  In recent years, professional athletes have begun practicing yoga on a widespread basis, which has further helped to spread its popularity and legitimize its fitness benefits in the eyes of previously skeptical western consumers.