Just what is yoga all about, and what does it do for you and your body? How often should you practice it and under what kind of supervision? Purplelips has all the answers you need.

------------------------------------------------------------------- By Linda Lee

[eastciti.com, November 27]
If you think Yoga is a form of sports or exercise, you are probably wrong. The essence of Yoga really lies in it being a form of spiritual meditation. It refreshes your mind and unites, fuses and connects your soul to the body.

An unexplainable sense of ease engulfed me almost immediately upon my entrance into the small yet cosy all-white room. The 'White Room' for Yoga, as it was called, oozed and beckoned with a welcoming sense of comfort and tranquillity. It was simply furnished with a light touch and finishing. The warm morning rays penetrated gently through the window, blending in with the soft music and scented air (from aroma oils) in the room. Soft sounds of moving water drifted from a small fountain statue in a corner of the room.

For a while, you forget that you've woken up early to make a trip here after getting stuck in a jam on the busy roads of Singapore. Momentarily, you let loose and let your imagination take charge as you make a trip to the fresh and sweet-smelling woodlands and luscious rainforest. You feel the sand rubbing against the tender skin on your naked back as you come into contact with the beach and the sea. You experience and embrace nature with all your heart.

This is the kind of mentality you have to bring along when you attend Yoga classes. Sudepa, a soft-spoken woman will be there to show you the detailed procedures of the practice as she leads you on a relaxing journey of the mind along the road less travelled.

Dressed in white from head to toe, Sudepa seemed to merge with the purity and mood of the entire room. According to her, one needs only to practice Yoga for half an hour daily or 3-4 times a week in order to reap benefits to health and enhance the overall quality of life. This is why Yoga is not a physical workout which makes you perspire or tones your muscles, but rather, a non-denominational and holistic approach that trains the mind to achieve a state of relaxation, peace and rest.

Each session of Yoga tones the neuromuscular system, supplies the nerves with increased blood circulation, strengthens the joints and balances the operation of glands and organs. It helps keep the body lean, agile and flexible. Through the stilling of the mind, one can start to experience an inner state of calmness that heals and reflects the true human nature everyone is seeking in today's stressful and busy world.

In addition, Yoga also helps to effectively lessen the discomfort of various health ailments. It is especially good for women who suffer from menstruation cramps and those with migraine, heart, asthma, lungs, throat and high blood pressure problems.