In recent years, the awareness of yoga has skyrocketed. Yoga in retrospect means “union”, or coming together as one. People come from all different backgrounds and environments, but one of the beauti-ful things about it is that it’s not limited to any genre of people.

My mom, a breast cancer survivor, was diagnosed with Stage 2 cancer in the fall of 2009. Before and even during chemo, she had attend her regular weekly yoga class. Through yoga, she learned how to meditate and properly heal herself, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. She was announced cancer free June 2011.

Yoga is more than a hobby, it’s a way of life.

Y ogaLearning about oneself from w ithin

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In the United States, anxiety is the most common mental illness. Trying to think and plan out what to do later, what to get at the store, etc. Anxiety causes fatigue, trouble concentraiting and anticipating the worst. It’s also known to lead to depression, panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Now imagine a world where you can think positive thoughts and just take a minute for yourself; one where it not only affects you physi-cally, but emotionally and mentally too.

Often times it’s associated with the poses and stances but it becomes very clear that there’s many more aspects to yoga than physically, but mentally and emotionally too. Yoga is the one exercise or lifestyle that continues to evolve everyday.

The actual term yoga means “spiritual discipline” in Hindu, Buddhism, and Jainism. It’s often times associated with the poses and stances but there are many more aspects to yoga.

Even if you don’t have time to attend an actual class, meditation is another option. Studies show that after you meditate, you have better focus and memory, less anxiety and stress, along with being more creative and compassionate.

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When meditating in yoga, you more than likely will chant the word “Om” with the entire class either at the beginning or end of the class. Om isn’t actually a word, but a sound or mantra. “Om is the holiest sound in the Universe. It is associated with Enlight-enment and therefor associated with everything. However it is not really associated with anthing in particular. So it is the sound of Everything and Nothing. That is why is is such a power mantra.”

When saying Om, you must be completely aware of the formation and pronunciation of the sound. This small sound is capable of clearing your awareness and even clearing yourself of uncomfortable mental or emotional situations.

Another sacred term in yoga is “Namaste”. Namaste, otherwise known as a greeting or a goodbye, is taken as an expression of good will, gratitude, and respect. The gusture made when saying Namaste is often times said at the end of a class, with the students facing the teacher with your hands in prayer position in front of your heart.

“By combining the two, the person making the gesture is attempting to rise above their differences with others, and connect them-selves to the person they bow to. The bow is a symbolic bow of love and respect.”

The term recognizes the equality of all, hon-oring the sacredness, truthfulness, and inter-connection of all; for we all are one when we are truely living from our heart center and free from ego. It doesn’t matter if you’re standing, sitting, or laying down; it all has the same good intention. 3

What does "Chakra" mean?Chakra is offically defined as “(in Indian thought) each of the centers of spiritual power in the human body.” Chakras play a huge part of yoga because it’s al about mental and emotional health. Coming from an ancient Indian language known as San-skrit, otherwise meaning vortex. It is believed that these centres of spiritual power in the human body that store and distribute the energies of life throughout our physical body. When our chakras are out of sync, it can have a profound impact on physical, emo-tional, mental, and spiritual health. But when your chakra system is balanced, the energy runs freely through your body, which keeps you healthy and happy.

Violet (Crown Chakra) : spirituallity, relationship to God, and the Universal Source

Indigo (Third Eye Chakra) : intu-ition, wisdom, creativity and intelligence

Blue (Throat Chakra): communication

Green (Heart Chakra): giving, receiv-ing and love

Yellow (Solo Plexis Chakra): per-sonal power and self will

Orange (Sacral Plexis Chakra): emotional, balance, sexuality, and procre-ation

Red (Base/Root Chakra): survival, physical needs, tribal association

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Next time you’re stressed out, check and see if there’s any available yoga classes around you, and even if there aren’t there’s lots of videos up on YouTube for free. If you don’t have time to go to a yoga class then just trying meditating. Take five minutes, close your eyes, and just breathe. There’s so many beautiful things about living the yoga lifestyle. Yoga has the power to give you a physical, emotional and mental workout. It has the capability to transform lives.

I’ve had so much fun writing this blog. I’ve seen a much more positive response than I could have ever asked for. I met so many amazing people along this journey, and I plan on keeping in touch with everyone I met.

“My soul honors your soul. I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the light, love, truth, beauty & please within you, because it is also within me. In sharing these things we are united, we are the same, we are one. Namaste.”

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Namaste