Exercise Your Soul! (Part 2)

The reason I love yoga class is that it improves your body as well as your mind and soul. You leave wanting to be more calm, treat people better, and be a nicer person… almost like church!

Part of this comes from something called "PATANJALI'S EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA."

The American Fitness Association of America, or AFAA (www.affa.com ), certifies personal trainers and provides continuing education about many areas of fitness, including yoga. AFFA teaches that Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras, and he became one of the best known yogis while popularizing these guideline for yoga practices.

I already blogged about the LIMB ONE: THE YAMAS (things to Restrict).

Here I am including part 2 from AFAA's teaching exercises- the NIYAMAS (things to include) so you can continue to exercise your soul along with your body!

LIMB TWO: THE NIYAMAS (Things to Observe) These five observations, or things yogis should do are companions to the yamas discussed above.

Shauca: Be pure and clean. This Niyama is a reminder that we should keep our bodies, clothing and surroundings clean and pure. If we maintain cleanliness, we are observing purity. Eating healthy and natural foods is an important part of Shauca. Many yogis are vegetarian because they feel it is important to eat food which has not resulted from violence, which connects this niyama to the yama of ahimsa (non-violence).

Santosha: Be content. This niyama is a reminder that we are exactly who and where we should be at this moment. It does not mean that we cannot improve ourselves and learn new things; it means that those improvements and skills cannot in themselves bring happiness. The practice of contentment helps us take responsibility for our current situation and see challenges as opportunities for growth.

Tapas: Be disciplined. Discipline comes in many forms and in many parts of everyday life. This includes disciplined speech (thinking before speaking, then speaking without harshness), disciplined habits (personal hygiene, healthy food choices, exercise, even when it is tempting skip it) and disciplined thinking (no negative self-talk, thinking happy thoughts for someone else's good fortune instead of jealousy).

Svadhyaya: Be studious. Svadhyaya is a reminder to turn inward and study oneself. By examining behaviors, thoughts, actions and past experiences, we can determine which ones fulfill us and make us happy and learn to avoid those things that do not. This niyama also encourages us to monitor if our words match our actionsand reminds us to practice what we preach. The svadhyaya also means the study of one's physical self, such as posture, alignment, body language and feelings of wellness and illness.

Ishvara-Pranidhana: Be devoted. Yoga recognizes and honors all religions and harmony between religions. This niyama encourages us to focus on the higher power of your choice. Yours may be God, Allah, Buddha or any other spiritual entity. Ishvara-Pranidhana reminds us to put that entity in charge of your life and take ego out of the equation.

Related Articles:
Exercise Your Soul (Part 1)

Nikki
Crunch Manhattan Group Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer

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Nikki Fitness is a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, writer and publicist living in New York City. She started as a cheerleader at Syracuse University, but became certified in fitness before her beach wedding so that she could get back in shape. Laura, a graduate student, working mom, and military wife, inspired Nikki's Military Wife Workout (MWW) for all military wives. Find more articles by Nikki at her article archive. Learn more at www.nikkifitness.com. For more Nikki Fitness blogs, visit her blog archive.

Comments

[#1 Posted by: Jessica Heroux]

I am a new military wife, and right now my husband is at ait training. I recently saw him at his boot camp graduation, and his body has changed dramatically and has toned up a lot. I feel like after having a baby five months ago, and seeing him, I need to step myself up and tone up for him too. The only problem is that I have trouble getting motivated. Any suggestions for me?

[#2 Posted by: David]

You hit all the right buttons that no most fitness trainers gloss over. No pain, no gain.

[#3 Posted by: dining table]

Exercising has been a big help for me not only for my body to become fit but it has also made me confident!