by Arielle Thomas Newman, MA, RYT

Peace, Well Being, and 4,000 Years of Practice

Looking for peace and well being? People are increasingly turning to the 4,000-year-old discipline of yoga for just that.

Even if you’re physically fit from working out, scuba diving, or wind surfing, yoga, when added to a fitness routine, improves performance in ways unmatched by other training methods...

Not only does yoga strengthen and stretch muscles, but the calming aspects inherent in this ancient system offer a pathway to reduce tension, increase breathing capacity, boost the immune system, lessen performance anxiety, and deepen self-awareness.

The word yoga comes from the Indian root “yoke” or “union,” referring to the joining of body and mind. While the most popular form of yoga taught in America is Hatha yoga (correctly pronounced HAT-ha), there are as many different styles of Hatha yoga, as there are different brands of chardonnay wine.

Hatha yoga emphasizes poses, known as asanas, while other forms of yoga feature other aspects of study. Bhakti yoga is devotional in nature and incorporates chanting; Jnana yoga is the yoga of self-inquiry to uncover inner knowledge; Karma yoga, with its selfless giving to others is known as the yoga of action; Kundalini yoga releases energy seated at the base of the spine; and Raja yoga is the yoga of the intellect and mental control.

Yoga does not constitute a religion, but all forms of yoga taught in the classic tradition, encourage examination of one’s relationship to the universe and foster spiritual awareness.

Many contemporary teachers of yoga abide by a strict adherence to a traditional yoga curriculum that includes meditation, pranayama (breathing exercises), special diets, chanting, purifying techniques, and the study of ancient texts. However, yoga is also morphing into a non-secular form of fitness bearing little resemblance to the guide for living a balanced life that dates back approximately 4,000-5,000 years.

Much of what we know about yoga today is via the writings of the great Indian author, Patanjali. His Yoga Sutra, written somewhere between 200-800 years BC, is the seminal text for virtually all schools of yoga. In it, he defined technical concepts and philosophy, describing the eight limbs of yoga.

The limbs of Patanjali’s Eightfold Path are: universal ethical principles (yamas); rules of personal conduct (niyamas); the practice of yoga postures (asanas), to which Hatha yoga belongs; breathing techniques (pranayama); the controlling of the senses (pratyahara); the concentration of the mind (dharana); meditation (dhyana); and finally, samadhi, or absorption in the infinite. The language of yoga is Sanskrit, which is still used today.

Yamas include things your parents told you when you were young – don’t lie, steal, or be greedy. The niyamas are codes of behavior which are wise to remember regardless of age or spiritual orientation and include self-discipline, self-study, and finding contentment in the moment.

The yoga boom of the 1990’s generated designer yoga classes; their content far removed from the purpose of Patanjali’s Hatha yoga, which was to prepare the body to sit for long periods of time in meditation.

In addition to established schools of yoga, a range of hybrid forms have popped up, such as prenatal yoga, yogarobics, Thai Yoga Therapy, yoga for back care, Yogilates™ and even yoga on a physioball.

With over 20 million practitioners in the US alone, yoga has truly gone mainstream.

Yoga is a terrific way to become fit cardiovascularly, strengthen the upper body, stretch over worked muscles, balance major muscle groups in the body, and learn how to calm the mind.

Opportunities to study yoga in Playa del Carmen abound. The laid-back atmosphere of our relaxed beach community is a perfect backdrop for learning yoga.

Find a teacher and a method that suits your needs, tune into your breath, and be here now. Playa’s a beautiful place to be, and even better when you’re doing yoga!

Arielle Thomas Newman can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

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