Over 20 million people practice yoga in United States today. That number I imagine is climbing as I feel more are taking it up and embracing this practice. This positive trend reflects how much the yoga pioneers and instructors past and present educated the West over the past couple of decades. We especially owe these senior first generation of West’s yoga teachers the recognition and appreciation – that with their passion, commitment and love, they spread yoga to evolve into what it is today – a mainstream program with a commonly held belief where few would deny its benefits. Thanks to them, many are already convinced how beneficial this practice is and we know through our own embodies experience, yoga actually works. If practiced faithfully, it brings about a more integrated body and mind, which promotes that organic healthy sense of wholeness and wellness. Here’s some medical evidence based studies result … to make a convert out of a skeptic.
Lately I have come across strange comments and reasons behind not making it on the mat… oddly, some seem to feel that they cannot do yoga because they love tennis or they love golf too much – well, that’s great! Keep it up! If you already enjoy tennis, golf, dancing, swimming, cycling, running… whatever and all – okay, be a Triathalon – by all means, continue – yoga is not a replacement for any of the activities you already enjoy. It is an enhancement and a tool to make you even stronger player in any of the chosen field of sports- it works on a mindful, spiritual level. While I do tend to think yoga is all in one for the busy individual who cannot fit in a game of golf or tennis, etc – it would be nice to mix-and-match to give you a balanced active life. And for some of us, either injured or not feeling your best and recovering, or in midst of any kind of treatment, yoga puts you back on the road of wellness as it can be therapeutic and healing – yoga cures – it gives you the space to “honor” yourself which to some is the most challenging of all exercises:
I’ve heard this sentence, as you can imagine, many hundreds of times: “I don’t have time for this.” But I think that that’s an excuse. I really don’t think that’s the issue. I think we’re looking in the wrong places for why we don’t practice. We need to look at our thoughts and our beliefs about ourselves.
It has to do with self-nurturing. It has to do with valuing yourself. I believe it’s related to refusing on some level and used in the broadest sense of the word to see our own divinity.
One of the mantras that I like a lot is — specially when things start getting busy or conflicted — what is the most important thing right now? It’s usually to remember myself and what I’m feeling. And that centers me.
– Judith Hanson Lasater
