Yoga, exercising Mind and Body

At the beginning of this century, various theories about relaxation, which had been known in the East as early as 5,000 BC, became popular in the West. These included competitive sports, such as karate or aikido, ad systems of exercise and thinking, such as shadow boxing and yoga. The most important aim of all these disciplines is control over mind and body.

According to the old text books, yoga is divided into eight groups, called levels. The first 2 levels contain instructions for living a good life, similar to the Ten Commandments in the Bible. The third level teaches the asanas, or physical exercises. These range from relatively easy movements to positions that require great suppleness and strength, such as the locust, closed ring, or bow and arrow positions.

The fourth yoga level teaches breathing control. The next 3 levels contain exercises for the mind, that bring about a kind of self-hypnosis, or deep concentration. The eighth and final level is deeply religious and teaches about becoming closer to the divine spirit which is believed to live within and around us.

Modern medicine increasingly uses the calming effect of yoga to treat both mental and pysical illness in a gentle manner and without side-effects.