Cindy Nguyen

Professor Paige

UWRT 1103-021

31 January 2017

The importance and value of yoga in our life

A healthy body is essential to enjoying life to the fullest and regular practice of

yoga can provide a great deal of health benefits. With that being said, human beings are

made up of three components: body, mind and soul. In correspondence to these

components are three needs: health, knowledge and inner peace. Health refers to our

physical need, knowledge is our psychological need and inner peace is spiritual need;

when all three components are present, a sense of enlightenment is created. Through

yoga, one is able to find his or her path to peaceful bliss within him or her self.

The traditional purpose of yoga has always been to bring about a profound

transformation in the person through the transcendence of the ego. Yoga is said to be

more than just mastering postures and increasing your flexibility and strength. Yoga gives

us relief from countless ailments at the physical level such as stress and body tension.

The practice of the postures enhances muscle strength, coordination, and flexibility,

normalizes blood pressure and also improves cardiovascular performance. On a

psychological standpoint, yoga sharpens the intellect and aid in concentration, steadying

the emotions and developing a more positive mindset.

Any gender at any age or health level has the capability to do yoga because it has

various styles, poses, and tempos at which they are performed. Some people find yoga to

be positively addictive and a powerfully effective substitute for negative habits. Whether
born of inspiration or by trial and error, yoga techniques substitute for the kinds of

activities our early human ancestors must have done in the course of just living out in

their arboreal lives considering that this form of art originated roughly five thousand

years ago. In general, any one irrespective of age, health circumstances of life and

religion can practice yoga for it helps to discipline our sense of power with the power of

our own.

The essence of yoga is to make the process of life as efficient and enjoyable as

possible. In the beginning, it is essential to learn not only what stretches are, but how to

relax and breathe as well. To further pursue in the process of yoga, one must understand

that yoga does not bring away the qualities of genuineness, wholesomeness, compassion,

but rather instills them within us. It teaches us that love heals the giver at least as much as

it does the recipient. In addition, therein dwells the sacred power of community, union,

and harmony.

Through the art of yoga, everyone can experience the divine and enjoy the ecstasy

of freedom from pain and ignorance apart from other gracious rewards like longevity and

happiness. It has taken time for us to wind ourselves up in a knot and naturally it takes

time to unravel. As long as we are still breathing, it is never too soon or late to begin the

practice of yoga.

The SLOs used in this assignment are critical reading/reflection. Summarizing and

providing background information is crucial for our project because it is allowing us to

analyze and distinguish important from unimportant information for the chosen topic. By

using my reading skills for inquiry, learning, and discovery, I can successfully put into

perspective what I know and have learned to teach others the same.

Interview 1: Megan Hurley (instructor at Melting Point yoga)

1. What was your first experience with yoga?

Ive done yoga for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was a gymnast so

finding balance was a lifestyle Ive always been accustomed to. I loved it so much

that I eventually found myself attending yoga education training in order to

pursue a job of teaching others.

2. What has most surprised you about yoga?

How it has positively affected my life for the better in all the best ways. For

example: my health, mindset, and overall well-being.

3. How does yoga make you feel?

It makes me feel on top of the world! Everything from the atmosphere to the

structure of practice really calms me and keeps me grounded.

4. What is the most difficult aspect of your work?
I would say the most difficult aspect of my work is teaching my students that

yoga isnt a competition and that everyone progresses at different levels. Your

practice is entirely your own and shouldnt be compared to others.

5. What do you think is the most significant popular misconception about yoga?
Yoga is just for ____ people. ANYONE can benefit from a practice of yoga as

long as he or she is patient and approaches the practice with an open mind.
6. What are the significant current trends in yoga?
 There are no current trends in yoga. Everyone practices at their own pace

whether theyre looking for a spiritual awakening or just extra stretching

practice.
7. What is the most important thing youve learned from doing yoga?
Yoga is not solely about self-improvement but more so about self acceptance.
8. What are the most important thing people should know or understand about

yoga?
Anyone can do it as long as they put their mind to it. Yoga doesnt change the

way we see things but transforms the person who sees.

Interview 2: Laura Chilcoat (instructor at Melting Point yoga)

1. What was your first experience with yoga?

Ive been practicing yoga for the past five years and first started dipping my toes

into the water when I was in college. I would attend classes with my best friends

and found myself loving it more and more as I went.

2. What has most surprised you about yoga?
The amount of health benefits that it has and how strenuous it can actually get.
3. How does yoga make you feel?
I always feel super revitalized and relaxed after coming out of a session. Its such

a powerful way to de-stress from a busy life and makes you realize how small

your problems really are.

4. What is the most difficult aspect of your work?
I personally feel that coming right out of teacher training, establishing your own

style while staying true to the practice is quite challenging. Everyone has their

own preference of what they enjoy in a teacher so it can be nerve-wracking at

times to establish a comfortable connection with my students.

5. What do you think is the most significant popular misconception about yoga?
Yoga is easy, gentle stretching. Although theres a great deal of value in gentle

yoga, there are many styles of yoga that are incredibly physically challenging.
6. What are the significant current trends in yoga?
 Yoga as a whole is todays hottest mind/body trend because people are now

coming to a realization that its such an amazing practice fit for everyone of all

size and age!

7. What is the most important thing youve learned from doing yoga?
Patience is key. Not everything comes instantly and its important to always

remain a work in progress.

8. What are the most important thing people should know or understand about

yoga?

It doesnt matter how deep into a posture you go but its realizing who you are when

you get there. Being able to trust yourself and believing in your capability will get

you further in all aspects of your life, not just yoga.

The SLOs used in this assignment are composing processes and critical reflection. By

conducting primary research through interviews, Ive established a tool for building

knowledge in order to efficiently learn more about my topic. Using the information

Ive gathered from social interactions with those in the industry of yoga, I have a

better sense of understanding that I can share with others knowing the information is

coming from reliable sources.