sexta-feira, julho 28, 2006

YOGA, MEDITAÇÃO E CIÊNCIA


Yoga NÃO é religião, NÃO é dieta, NÃO é contorcionismo.


YOGA é um sistema ético e complexo de movimentos físicos e técnicas respiratórias, já estudados e investigados amplamente pelas principais universidades do mundo.

A MEDITAÇÃO também constitui parte FUNDAMENTAL da prática do Yoga, e vem sido profissionalmente aplicada como coadjuvante no tratamento médico para diversos distúrbios, com resultados surpreeendentemente positivos.


What is Yoga?
Yoga is a science of the mind. It is an ancient system that includes thousands of physical and mental exercises designed to strengthen and balance the body, rejuvenate the nervous system, and concentrate the mind. Yoga integrates body and mind so that you can experience your essence: inner peace.

Yoga is a superb stress management technology. Today, yoga is widely used for many purposes. International competitive swimming teams use yogic breathing techniques to efficiently fill their lungs with oxygen before they swim. Popular singers and actors use yogic techniques to enhance their physical performance and to combat the fatigue of exhaustive work schedules.

Self-Knowledge
Yoga was originally developed as a way to enhance self-knowledge. The practice of yoga integrates body and mind in order to achieve and maintain a higher consciousness. To achieve this linking together, yoga employs a number of very powerful tools: physical practice, various body postures, breathing techniques, mental concentration and meditation. One of the central aspects of yoga is that you yourself should be able to control your life.

Control is one of the key words in yoga: control over body, mind, and soul.

Is Yoga a Religion?
No, yoga is not a religion; it is a technology, and a discipline. Yoga is both an art and a science. It is a science because the results are known. Yoga exercises have been practiced for over thousands of years by millions of people, so the results of particular exercises and meditation techniques have become predictable. It is an art in the way each individual perfects his/her own yoga practice.

Is Yoga Difficult?
Yoga is a holistic technique for physical, mental, and spiritual growth. In yoga, each person progresses at their own pace, and gradually develops the physical flexibility to perform the exercises more perfectly. Every yoga exercise is conducted in a controlled and conscious way. It should not physically hurt to do yoga.

Where Does Yoga Come From?
The practice of yoga goes back a very long time. According to some yogic masters, the technology is twenty-five thousand years old. What modern archeology knows about the origin of yoga dates back more than 4,000 years ago, to the fertile Indus Valley. During the archaeological excavations in Mohenjo-Daro artifacts radiocarbon dated back more than 4,000 years were discovered that show men sitting in classic yoga postures. Yoga is also part of Ayurveda, considered to be the world’s oldest traditional medical system, and Ayurveda has at least 5,000 years of dated history.Today, yoga in various forms is practiced regularly by millions of people all over the world. It has become very popular in the West. The news media has helped raise awareness about yoga, and as a result many companies now use yoga as part of their human resources support strategy.

Is There Any Scientific Research in this Area?
Much international scientific research has been conducted on the measurable effects of yoga. Although yoga practitioners will tell you yoga makes them feel good, scientists are much more interested in the objective and measurable effects. What does medical science say about yoga? Medical research in this area is extensive. Thousands of scientific research papers have been published on yoga and meditation and their measurable effects on body and mind.
(to learn more about yoga please write to Prof. LFerrari embaixadadapaz@gmail.com)