In other parts of the world many rush home after a stressful day at work or day at school to effectively tune into the authoritatively gentle voice of their yoga instructor who urges them to form a union (meaning yoga in Saskrit version) between body and mind. Those practicing yoga are those who seek to distress their bodies and lose any sadness or grief by using a asana pose. Many Americans choose some type of yoga to add to their daily fitness regimen and often some practice it a few times a week. Most offices, athletic clubs, health clubs and fitness centers offer some type of yoga class. While some do it just to get their body into shape physically others seek more in depth results such as being able to free their bodies from troubled souls. They use yoga as a form of relief from pain and stress. It makes them feel better not only the outside but in as well. If you speak to an active yoga participant you will often receive the same response when asked why they do it. That yoga allows you to cleanse your body and mind of doubts, aches, and just generally feel better after a yoga session. Stress in general is bad for your health and if you are able to let this go you are headed in the right direction.

You would often be surprised by how many Hollywood stars are participating in yoga and urging others to do the same. The well known Oprah Winfrey even dedicated a whole segment of her show to yoga and the benefits it offers for all. Better known for her literary betterment for thousands of American women and the effort she puts towards bettering and strengthening women she always backs anything to help us to feel better about ourselves. Guest stars on her show was the guru Rodney Yee and Turlington. During her show she aired several testimonies from around the world from real life people who shared their positive experiences from using yoga. While some say it improved their health others went as far to say it saved their marriage. It helped some with fears while others overcame the stress of schooling to help improve attendance and grades. It helped boost those with low self-esteem and gave others the courage to quit smoking or fly on a plane. One special testimonial was by the El Monte firefights who said yoga helped the closeness and proficiency of their team.

Scientists and doctors argue what yoga really can be defined as. It is just the power of breathing and relaxation or is there more to it? Can it cure a disease such as cancer or give the power to change peoples perception and outlook on life? Does it really help to rejuvenate women who are menopausal or fend of heart attacks? Doctors, specialists, and many others view yoga as something different. Whether or not the benefits can be measured by conventional standards depends on who you ask.

The definition behind yoga can be determined only by what you choose to believe. There is a clash of two very different cultures which are the Indian traditions compared to the Western traditions. The Indian Tradition creates metaphors to describe the body as it experiences life changes from inner body to out. While the Western Traditions examines the outer body first and then in going through the layers which believes only what it can see physically. It proves in randomized double blind tests. While the East treats the person as a whole, the West only treats the sickness or disease. Dr. Carrie Demers, the person who is in charge of running the Center for Health and Healing located within the Himalayan International Institution of Yoga Science & Philosophy believes our system of medicines is fragmented. The center is located in Honesdale,Pennsylvania. Yoga is considered more holistic, meaning the interests are not only in the integration of the body but also the mind and breath.

There has been limited studies that do offer an array of hope which includes a study performed in the 1990s. It consisted of patients was diagnosed with coronary heart disease and was told by participating in yoga classes that it would help to reduce stress and work to reverse the arterial blockage. This along with a vegetarian diet and other aerobic exercises it proved to stabilize the arterial blockage in some patients. Dr. Dean Ornish, the author is currently in the middle of a study which involves random men who suffer from prostate cancer. Whether or not a healthy diet, meditation, and yoga can affect the progression of these disease is unknown but Ornish says the data is encouraging.

While some evidence may be anecdotal to the skeptic other anecdotes may be more encouraged and inspiring. Take 54 year old Sue Cohen, who is an accountant and better known as a breast cancer survivor who participated in yoga at the Unity Woods Studio for over 5 years. The studio is located near Bethesda, Md. After surviving the cancer and surgery she feared that she wouldn’t be able to use her arm correctly again but to her amazement yoga proved otherwise. She was soon able to not only use her arm but stand on her head, posing in several different positions. Yoga helped to strengthen her muscles, and make her feel better about herself. The chemotherapy and surgery caused not only physical pain but mental anguish as well. The yoga helped her to relax.

For those who have embraced yoga would swear by it as the best form of medicine for any type of ailment and cure for many diseases. Many exercises even as old as the Sphinx could definitely define yoga as the medical miracle of the future or maybe its just wishful thinking from those who practice yoga regularly.

Known only as an enthusiasm of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and many others from the Beat Generation (in 1968 when Mia Farrow & The Beatles traveled to India to kneel at the feet of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.) Since this event took place yoga has had an endless growth and popularity in the US! Up til then their was little known about yoga or desire for it in the United States. It was first casted as a clean way to get high or a way to spiritually cleanse yourself. The president, Richard Faulds of the Kripalu Center of Yoga & Health, says that the next phase of yoga was the fitness stage. Where yoga’s importance was about how it could mold your body into flexibility and strengthening it. This particular center is located in Lenox,Mass.

Those who played the largest role in bringing yoga to life is those of high worth such as movie stars, rock star idols, and other well known artists of different natures. If these persuasive advocates could impact the way the general public acted and dressed why not use their abilities to urge many to participate in yoga, to become healthier and spiritually enlighten themselves. Many of today’s stars such as Madonna, Meg Ryan, Michelle Peifer, Julia Stiles, and many others have committed themselves to yoga as a way of life. Its a daily or weekly ritual that they embrace and look forward to.

For a few other examples of those Hollywood yoga lovers there is Melissa Joan Hart who actually not only practices but throws yoga parties. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss enjoys Ashtanga, David Duchovny participates in Kundalini yoga, and Jane Fond poses for yoga cut outs. Who isn’t a fan of the lovely Angelina Jolie, who played a starring role in Tomb Raider. She used yoga to actually buff up before her debut in this particular movie. Yoga helped Charlie Sheen to become leaner by shedding nearly 30lbs. There are sports figures, pro wrestlers, models, and even cartoon vocalists that use yoga as a daily part of life. These are just a few of the many who for whatever reason choose to include yoga in their little black book. Many of those who aren’t using it to become healthier physically are looking to it as a stress relief and relaxation method.

While yoga is fairly simple and easy to dress for designers and companies are making a fortune off of new clothing lines geared towards yoga classes. You can by with wearing an old t-shirt and pair of sweats to a class and no shoes are worn but thanks to J. Crew and Nike you have the option to be stylish.They have created very stylish loose clothing and hot selling apparel just for yoga participants. Turlington has also created a line for yoga.

Other than just relaxing you and helping the cerebrum yoga also massages your lymph system, according to cardiac surgeon, Dr. Mehmet Oz. He practices in Manhattan at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Yoga helps to drain the lymph in your body which runs parallel to the blood supply carrying a fluid which fights infection with the white blood cells. Certain yoga poses allows the lymph system to be stimulated. This information has been composed through animal testing.

Yoga which is mainly known for relaxing the body helps you to also heal. If you are able to relax and remain calm even under the worst of situations your body can do what its meant to do. Yoga’s relaxation methods help with depression, hypertension, mood swings, anxiety, blood-pressure and many other treatable diseases. If you are able to keep things such as these under control you are able to prevent less strokes and heart attacks.

While some make take on yoga without flaw others may struggle with it at first. Especially in their first sessions of learning how to master it. Some poses may be difficult and the true meaning behind yoga may be a task for some to grasp. Those who have a competitive turn by nature may want to appear as those they are a natural at yoga and better than others. Yoga isn’t about being better than others its about self discipline and meditation. Its to help you relax while healing yourself inside and out. Its a method of bettering yourself mentally and physically.

Daily life can be a struggle for most including our work, our school, marriages, and just daily living. Everyone suffer at one point in their life from one type of stress or another. This in turn causes ailments or high blood pressure that could be maintained with eating right and the power of yoga. While many do not understand how yoga can help our bodies and it make take months for them to really get it but when they do its like an epiphany. Which is like suddenly knowing what this will do for your body and how it will help you to become an achiever.

Yoga can help to improve the sex drive in both men and women, it can stimulate the hormone growth, help those who are seeking to become pregnant to possibly allow this to happen sooner. Yoga has also been known to treat migraines and impotence also know as ED (erectile dysfunction).

There are many benefits from practicing yoga whether it be to improve your mind, allowing you to wash away stress and relieving yourself feeling anew to putting your body into better shape. Thousands around the world practice while thousands more in many different professions swear by it.