Swami Vivekanda, an Indian and a devout follower of the Asana philosophy toured the United States and Canada some years ago to promote the many benefits offered by this unique philosophy. He could not have foreseen the tremendous reaction that he would get. People immediately flocked to learn more about Asana and very soon there were numerous practitioners. Today, millions of people in every country of the world practice Asana regularly. When attending a yoga studio Capitol Hill practitioners strive towards self improvement.

There are those that are sceptical or even downright hostile to this philosophy, mostly because they mistakenly believe that it is a sect or a religion. This is most definitely not the case. Others think that Asana is just another exercising technique where practitioners focus on stretching exercises. Instead, Asana aims to help people to improve the health of their bodies, their minds and their souls.

Stretching and other forms of physical exercise certainly do form part of Asana, but it is only one component of the overall philosophy. The aim of the exercises is to improve agility, muscle tone, flexibility and the general fitness of the practitioner. It also helps them to become more disciplined individuals. There are numerous different exercises which are suitable to people of all ages and physical abilities.

Most practitioners love the idea that Asana is not competitive at all. There are no systems for evaluation and every individual master new techniques and exercises at the pace that suits them best. Classes typically consist of groups of people that differ wildly in terms of fitness, experience, age and physical ability. Seriously ill people practice with extremely fit people, old people with young children and overweight people with thin ones.

Asana has been the subject of numerous formal and informal studies. Many of them specifically focused on the health benefits of Asana and all of these studies concluded that there are indeed many health benefits. People suffering from heart disease, arthritis, gout, muscle injuries and backache, to name just a few, all benefit greatly. Those suffering from anxiety or depression also find that Asana helps them to cope.

It is very easy to start practising Asana. There is no special equipment necessary. It is not even necessary to join a club, although beginners are advised to opt for formal and personal instruction for at least a while. Asana can be practiced anywhere and at any time. Belonging to a club hold the benefits of meeting other practitioners, getting encouragement and advice and developing a disciplined approach.

There are numerous sources of information about Asana. Websites, books, personal instructors and online forums all focus on Asana. Many studios even offer a free initial lesson. Before purchasing any material, it is important, however, to keep in mind that there are many different approaches to Asana and most practitioners and studios will adhere to one specific approach. Learning more about the different approaches may be well worth it.

Nobody can doubt the fact that yoga has taken the work by storm. Its popularity has never waned and more and more people take it up every year. Practitioners report remarkable results in many different lifestyle areas.