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Note: I wrote this introduction long ago, so please excuse the hype born of youthful ignorance. And I did tone it down a little just now. Nevertheless, you may find this helpful. After all, there is an element of truth in all hype and myth. Yoga is actually a lot more mysterious to me now than back when I wrote this. What I wrote reflect more of my belief at the time, along with wishful thinking. Now, Yoga is more profound than I knew back then, and less of a panacea than I hoped back then. That's a good trade off.
Most important: Now at 60+ and with arthritis, I deeply appreciate the fact that Yoga allows me to vigorously work my body without stressing its declining frame. This is also true of Tai Chi.
Living things have one fundamental objective - homeostasis: a state of physiological and psychological equilibrium produced by a balancing of the life process. This, including having little thought of self and as few desires as possible, form a foundation for contentment.
Psychological equilibrium hinges on awareness. How you perceive life determines how you feel about it. Garbage in, garbage out... as they say. From the start, Hatha Yoga give you an occasion to deliberately practice moment to moment awareness. Beyond that, however, Hatha Yoga strengthen the physical foundation upon which awareness rests.
Awareness is manifested through the nervous system, which is influenced by the vitality of the other body systems. Modern living causes some atrophy of the original vitality you were born with. The natural animal vitality readily seen in the wilderness begins disappearing in the civilized human even by the time he/she starts to talk.
Returning to your original vitality depends on the optimum performance of each body system. Improvements in performance, in turn, depend upon a fundamental law of evolution - development follows the steady utilization of potential. For example, the frequent use of a weak heart through exercise develops microcirculation in this muscle, which helps keep it free from disease. In Hatha Yoga, complete physical health is achieved by discovering and challenging all weaknesses. This steadily increases the efficiency and vigor of all major and minor parts of the body.
The body systems are intimately interconnected, so that even subtle changes in one area eventually affect the whole body. With this in mind, observe below what happens physiologically through Hatha Yoga.
The body systems become highly developed through several events occurring simultaneously in each posture: the total relaxation and stretching of some muscle groups and organs, intensive contraction of others, and controlled diaphragmic and costal breathing. Among other things this results in:
- Increased capillarity and blood cell count which can greatly
improve the blood circulation in the critical glands, nerve networks and
other organs and tissues of the body, thus increasing metabolic efficiency.
- A toned and massaged endocrine and nervous system which produces
a more responsive control and feedback loop for the various body functions.
The body's physical and mental harmony relies totally on the efficient
functioning of this loop and its associated system, circulation.
- A massaged lymphatic system which drains the body of dead cells
and toxins, and improves the inter cellular circulation and absorption of
body nutrients.
- A massaged digestive system which speeds up and improves nutritional
absorption and waste elimination in the intestines, thus helping to prevent
many illnesses of the digestive tract.
- A toned, strong, and limber muscular system which
gives you a comfortable, well functioning and beautiful body for the rest of
your life.
In addition, each Hatha Yoga posture is a physical mantra
so that through the watchful practice of one, the mind is led into a meditative
state, This, it seems, gradually aligns billions of cortical synapses into
new and/or better integrated neural matrixes which facilitates memory,
concentration, relaxation, and finally expanded awareness.
The unique thing about Hatha Yoga is the
condition under which meditation takes place, To sit calmly and meditate is one
thing, but
to learn how to remain calm and meditate even under difficult
active conditions is full meditation of the deepest kind,
Awareness of the subtle qualities of mind and emotion
depends on the same evolutionary law governing the improvement of physical
health. In Hatha Yoga, the mind and body are developed simultaneously,
and actually assist each other in the process. To see how this is so, let
us begin by looking into the meaning of Hatha Yoga.
Hatha is actually two words, Ha = sun (Yang), and Tha
= moon
(Yin).
Ha is work, the
burning fire of the body radiating energy, and Tha is the
reflective quality of mind; the deepest root of awareness or being that watches
and enjoys. Yoga means a merging or joining. So this is the Yoga of Ha
and
Tha; the union of the reflective still mind and the creative active
body
The mind is always agitated to some degree, especially when
confronting difficult circumstances. In Hatha Yoga you go to your physical
limits.
This demand for perfection in action brings you to your mental and emotional
limits. Thus you are brought head on into the usual compulsive emotional
reactions which cloud the reflective mind in daily life, i.e. laziness,
compulsive expectations, frustration, insecurity, and scattered - mindedness.
These are the involuntary mental and emotional states which
upset homeostasis, and hinder happiness.
Do thy work in the peace of Yoga and, free from compulsive desires,
be not moved in success or in failure. Yoga is evenness of mind - a peace
that is ever the same.
Bhagavad Gita
2-48
In Hatha Yoga, you gradually face up to and
gradually
let go of these reactions. Your objective is
to work with perfection while maintaining the calmest reflective awareness
possible:
to watch but not get emotionally dragged into the battle
of life. This challenging siuation uses all the powers of mind
and body that you
can muster. Use it or lose it.
Thus, Hatha Yoga deliberately sets up a training situation in which you
can discover, use, and thus strengthen various qualities necessary
for self-harmony: reason,
vitality, patience, carefulness, attention, love and finally the peaceful
attitude of self surrender'.
These qualities, applied to daily living, help you keep perspective. This
helps you avoid getting lost in restless desires and destructive reactions
which, along with health, bring the happiness more within reach.
Discuss this topic in the forums.
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