Swami Vivekanada, a philosopher from India, hit the US and Canada like a storm in the last part of the eighteenth century, never expecting the spectacular results to the new philosophy he was advocating. He talked about Asana, a philosophy that was designed to improve the minds, bodies and souls of people, all in one go. It took off immediately and is today one of the most popular activities in the world. At any yoga studio Orange CA citizens and millions of others elsewhere practise Asana to this day.

Despite its immense popularity, there are still many misconceptions about Asana. Many people think it is nothing but an eastern discipline that involves complicated stretching exercises. Others think that it is a religion and that believers are determined to convert people to this religion. This is, of course, not what Asana is all about. It is truly a discipline that focus upon the holistic growth of its practitioners.

Stretching exercises and the maintaining of well designed poses is by no means the main focus of Asana, but they nevertheless play an important role. Students master new exercises and poses in order to increase their flexibility, to improve their physical fitness and to enhance muscle tone. In addition, these exercises are designed to help practitioners to improve the concentration, to learn how to focus on a specific objective and to look inwards.

One of the main attractions of Asana is the fact that it is not competitive. Each practitioner proceeds to learn new poses and stretching routines at his own pace. Classes typically consist of members at many different levels of competency but this is not seen as a disadvantage at all. Then there is the fact that Asana can be practised by almost anybody, young and old, sick and healthy and even those with disabilities can benefit.

Asana has been studied empirically, formally and even informally. Many of these studies have focused on health. The good news is that all these studies have found that the discipline offers many definite health benefits. Arthritis sufferers, people with heart disease, those with muscle injuries, hypertension patients, people with mental ailments such as depression and anxiety all benefit greatly soon after taking up Asana. It is common for doctors to recommend Asana to their patients.

Another big factor in favour of Asana is the fact that it is easy to take it up. There are yoga clubs almost everywhere. No special clothing or equipment is required so it is not an expensive activity. In fact, it is not even necessary to belong to a club, although experts strongly advise beginners to attend at least a few introductory lessons. This can also help in identifying the specific form of Asana that will suit the individual best.

There are lots and lots of sources of information. There are books, websites, discussion forums, video classes and free introductory classes from registered studios. Because there are many different approaches to this discipline, it may be worth it to take the time to experiment with a few approaches before deciding. Choosing a specific approach will depend upon the personal circumstances and need of the new devotee.

There are millions of devoted practitioners and their numbers grow all the time. These people say that they are fitter, healthier, more spiritual and happier since they took up Asana. They say that Asana has helped them to grow as individuals and to find a way of life that is fulfilling and satisfying.