During the eighteen nineties a well known Indian philosopher, Swami Vivekananda, toured the western world. He was extremely well received in the best circles of society and soon his philosophies, especially the practice of Asana became all the rage. This philosophy was aimed at improving and healing the body, mind and spirit through learning very specific techniques. Today Asana is practised by millions of people in every country. When looking for a new venue to practice as a yoga instructor Temple TX will even yield a large number of potential students.

There are many misconceptions about this philosophy and they sometimes lead to unfair criticism such as allegations that it is nothing but a cult trying to convert people to Hinduism. Others think that it is nothing more than a series of exercises and some even think that it is one of many methods for learning meditation. Asana is not a religion. Instead, it is a philosophy aiming at helping people to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.

The practice of Asana consist of mastering and repeating a variety of poses and stretching exercises. While these poses and exercises have a definite physical benefit, they are also used to teach very specific spiritual principles. There are many different disciplines within Asana, but they all strive to improve physical, spiritual and mental health. With millions of practitioners in the United States alone there seems to be no doubt that this philosophy can be of great benefit.

One of the main attractions of Asana is that students are never pressurised to master new poses and exercises before they are ready to do so. Then there is the fact that classes never include any form of competition whatsoever. Another attraction is the fact that it can be practised by anyone, regardless of age or physical condition. This makes it an ideal family activity.

A large number of people take up yoga because they are looking for alternative solutions to serious or chronic medical conditions. In fact, many formal studies have been done on this very subject. The jury is still out, but there is no doubt that Asana is beneficial for people suffering from depression, heart disease, asthma, high blood pressure and blood circulation problems.

The physical aspect of Asana is low impact. Injuries are rare and practitioners are able to control their own efforts. It is still recommended to join a class at first, not to avoid injuries but to learn the basic principles and to settle into a regime. Classes are offered everywhere, even in the smallest communities. It is not expensive and it is not necessary to buy any equipment.

Both beginners and experienced practitioners can also benefit from a wealth of resources on the internet. There are many excellent sites that contain advice and instructional videos. Some focus on the spiritual aspects while others aim to teach users new poses and stretching exercises. Care should be taken, however, to use only those sites that are managed by recognized experts in this field.

Most experts agree that there are numerous benefits to be had when practising Asana. It improves the general health, helps people to focus and concentrate and in many cases, relieves the symptoms of chronic conditions. It is easy to start and it can be afforded by anybody.