YOGA

United Martial Arts Center is proud to add Yoga to its fitness schedule. Yoga is a meditative program that includes exercises to help improve flexibility and breathing, increase strength, decrease stress, and maintain health. Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and is based on the principle of mind-body unity. Yoga improves health by improving mental clarity, thereby calming the spirit, and decreasing stress.

WHAT IS YOGA?

Yoga, which means “union” or “harmony”, signifies the unity of various elements of body, mind and spirit. It is both a philosophical system and a science whose goal is the attainment of self-awareness, but it is not a religion. Its’ origins date back to India around 6,000 years ago and there are many different styles (ashtanga, kundalini, Iyengar, Bikram, restorative and many more). However, Yoga is classically divided into eight “limbs” or aspects, and one of them is the “Asanas” – the yoga postures. This focus is what people in the fitness industry refer to as “Yoga”. Hatha Yoga is the art of healing the physical body through the use of a highly sophisticated array of postures, movements and breathing techniques. The exercises gently take each joint in the body through its full range of motion – stretching, strengthening and balancing each part. Although ancient, Yoga is not outdated – it has value for the modern world. A world with much sitting – desks, computers, cars and couches that is further complicated by a steady increase in daily levels of stress. The benefits of yoga are countless and cross all areas.

HOW DOES YOGA DIFFER FROM MOST OTHER EXERCISES?

It is an art that incorporates the whole person, including the physical, physiological and psychological states. The use of coordinated total body movements (rather than the strengthening of isolated muscle groups, as in weight training) improves posture and body mechanics needed in daily activities. The postures are very functional and unwinding. They primarily liberate the legs, arms and head from the torso and increase their freedom of movement while strengthening the core to promote balance and good posture. The asanas also stimulate health by: allowing improved circulation throughout; exercising full lung capacity; massaging internal organs; promoting age defying positions (inverted) and assisting with release of toxins stored in the cellular tissue.

Practicing yoga postures gives you a more acute sense of body awareness (flexibility and alignment) and knowledge of one’s strengths and weaknesses. It is a self- journey and challenge that may continue through old age. Subtle changes are the greatest transformations, and Yoga enables you to listen to and feel your body.

Yoga stretches and relaxation techniques can be powerful tools for coping with stress. The brain perceives deep breathing and muscle stretch as the opposite of muscle tension and anxiety. Whereas a muscle in spasm sends a signal of safety and wellbeing (consciously breaking the flight or fight response).
The breath is the most powerful tool to calm, heal and clear out bodies and our minds. Yoga turns the focus inward. It is designed to help each person become the best they can be in that moment, letting go of competition, letting go of judgment, and letting go of ego driven thoughts. Surrendering to the breath and pose is the ultimate goal.

Through Yoga, you will learn flexibility, inner strength and self-awareness. After only a few sessions you’ll begin to feel the positive changes in your body and your mind. As your body becomes more flexible, so will your thinking. As your muscles become stronger, so will your inner power.

Namaste,
Andrea Escos

“Yoga is like the steady drip of water that eventually transforms the shape of a stone”. - BKS Iyenger

TRY A YOGA CLASS FOR FREE!

Simply fill out our online information request form and you will receive a coupon that lets you try one of our yoga classes for FREE.