Cultural Immersion Project - Yoga

For the past month I have been attending Yoga classes three times a week. I have participated in Yoga before, but it was a University offered course, and not nearly as spiritual as the ones I am going to now. Yoga, to me, has always been a form of exercise and nothing more. Of course I believe exercise is good for your mind, body, and soul, however; I have always been confused about how people connect with their God through Yoga, and the whole spiritual aspect of this practice. For this project, I am trying to get more involved in the practice as a whole, not the exercise part of it. I am trying to take in the spiritual end of things, and the background music; the breathing techniques, and the idea of clearing your mind and soul so that you become one with your practice.

I have attended a Catholic church almost my whole life. Since I have been in college, however; I have been trying to experience other organized religions, different from Catholicism. Lately though, I have realized that I don't really identify with any specific organized religion. I believe in spirituality and God, but I don't believe in the rules and regulation that go along with organized religion. This is an enormous part of this project for me. I have heard of people practicing their prayer and staying in touch with their spirituality through Yoga. I really like the idea of this because I find it hard to sit down and pray and be spiritual unless I have a specific place to go. Yoga is peaceful and perfect for just that.

Yoga has a few different breathing techniques that I have been introduced to so far. It's suppose to help you focus your attention on your practice, rather than what you have to do that day or other various problems currently in your life. The breathing out and in as your move in and out of poses helps you concentrate on your balance and posture. I know when I run, or go to the gym to work out; I always have music or a magazine to make the time go by faster. These breathing techniques can help your mind as well as your body.

Whenever I work out on my own, I am always thinking about all my errands I have to run, bills I have to pay, appointments I have to make, school work I have to get done, etc. Its exhausting to be working out and having my mind run wild. Before, when I participated in Yoga, I kind of laughed at all of the techniques they use to get you to become one with your practice. That means no thinking about your daily chores. Now though, I'm trying to understand it better, and actually practice it as well. I am starting to believe too that they really do know what they are talking about.

Yoga has the power to help you become a more well rounded individual. It can minimize stress, and increase muscle tone. It can supply a complete workout in less than an hour, and can help you focus on your mind, body, and soul all at the same time. I anxiously await class each week, it really helps me start or end my days well, and helps me stop stressing, which is something I struggle with.