© 2009 Joyce RothschildLITTLE SECRET THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING - ASHTANGA YOGA
Namaste:) First of all, I would like to share that liberation and limitless happiness are the major benefits of Ashtanga Yoga. There are other wonderful physical, emotional, mental and intellectual benefits of Ashtanga Yoga waiting to be experienced by everyone. All one has to do is to practice. That is it.
Ashtanga benefits are physical, emotional, mental and intellectual. The physical benefit is freedom of disease; Ashtanga makes the body light and strong. Body absorbs and retains prana, which extends the life span. Emotional benefit is to be able to remain the witness, be able to not to identify oneself with any situation or condition; nothing. As emotions are not real, they are past; whenever we are feeling, we are in the present. Ashtanga removes old conditioning; makes us feel intensely. On the other hand; mind analyses sensory data and projects past onto the future. As long as one is in the sway of the mind, one is not living. Intellect is something that grows and evolves as opposed to consciousness which exists in an eternal state of perfection. The intellect, which is purified through practice, visualization, meditation and samadhi is capable of seeing the world as it really is. This is nirvana; the ultimate and continuous happiness.Various postures are used to become aware of all areas of the body. Where awareness goes there goes life force (breath). Chronic diseases are believed to develop where awareness is permanently lacking. Practisioner learns to breathe into all parts of the body, an act that is equivalent to evenly spreading the breath throughout the body.
Ashtanga uses actively both the abdomen and the thorax to breathe (thoraco-diaphragmatic breathing). Air is literally pumped out of the lungs. The aim is to breathe more deeply so as to increase vitality. The way to achieve this is not by inhaling as much as possible but by first exhaling completely in order to create space for the new inhalation.
By increasing the inhalation, the amount of oxygen supplied is increased. By increasing our exhalation toxins are exhaled; including mental, emotional, physical toxins, and environmental toxins. These toxins are held and stored in the body in unpalatable areas where there is only a small amount of oxygen, often around the joints or in adipose tissue. The build-up of these toxins- energetic dying of certain body areas- eventually leads to chronic disease. By breathing deeply, exhaling accumulated toxins and inhaling oxygen, the ashtanga practioner attempts to return the body to its original state of health.
I deeply, genuinely hope that this article helps you in every way you wish. I hope you have a fantastic, wonderful, beautiful, healthy and long life full of joy and happiness :)
