I thought it might be good for me to write an article on Yoga and my experience with it as a first time class attendee. A friend of mine asked me if I wanted to try yoga in a class setting overlooking the Great Sacandaga Lake. I said sure why not give it a try. I need to get in better shape anyway and our plans to walk every day haven't exactly panned out.

Ony Antonucci, what a lady! She has so many talents, and she has this air about her that radiates such calmness and peace. She holds her classes at her home studio overlooking the Sacandaga Lake. It's a perfect setting to become grounded, which I've learned means to really feel the earth's goodness within, and re focus yourself away from all your daily troubles. Try to imagine yourself melting into the earth. It feels good to your body, soul and mind, and the room fills with this spirit of likeness. It's hard to put into words. You should try it.

What exactly is yoga? I certainly didn't know before recently buying a DVD on eBay to try it at home first. It taught me the basics, but it was like listening to a foreign language because I didn't understand the foundation of yoga.

Yoga is an ancient physical and spiritual discipline and branch of philosophy that originated in India reportedly more than 5,000 years ago. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means to yoke, join, or unite.
There is no written record of who invented yoga because it was practiced by yogis (yoga practitioners) long before humans knew how to write. Yogis over the millennia passed down the discipline to their students, and many different schools of yoga developed as it spread. The earliest written record of yoga, and one of the oldest texts in existence, is generally believed to be written by Patanjali, an Indian yogic sage who lived somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 years ago. Patanjali is credited with writing the Yoga Sutras (sutra means "thread" in Sanskrit), which are the principles, philosophy, and practices of yoga that are still followed today.

Yoga uses asana (postures), focused concentration on specific body parts, and pranayama (breathing techniques) to integrate the body with mind and mind with soul.

So now you have a brief history on yoga. I am amazed at how many people regularly practice yoga. Yoga today is used for wellness benefits like stress reduction, quality of life, health conditions and specific ailments like back or neck pain.

Now my experience going into this class was a little bit nerve-wracking at first because I have an ailment. I have a bad case of Scoliosis. I have for many years been to a chiropractor for this condition and that helped immensely. Yoga is different than chiropractic work but can be a very effective alternative. I didn't consult my chiropractor for his advice first if it was a good idea for me to practice yoga. That is probably not recommended, but I am being honest. I figured if I have lived with Scoliosis ever since I was born then I know my body better than anyone and what limitations I have. And I do have some. And that is the great thing about Ony's class; she teaches you it is all right to have limitations. Yoga is about what you can do and not about what you cannot do. That made a huge difference to me.

Don't go by what you see on TV or in some magazines or books that offer such poses that you think what kind of benefit could that ever have on you...it's not like that. It's the stretching you do that seems to be most beneficial. And don't think you will feel uncomfortable doing this because you thought it was affiliated with some religious group. It's just not like that. It has a religious background to it but I feel it is a non- denominational background. It originated from India remember, but it is more about a joining of persons within a like-minded goal.

However, I would recommend you discuss yoga with your doctor before starting if you have medical conditions like heart disease or high blood pressure and a host of other issues that only a doctor could advise you on. Ony is a yoga instructor that is highly trained, but she is not a doctor so just check it out first with them.

Ony also has taught at the Fulton County YMCA at 213 Harrison Street in Johnstown recently in conjunction with Healthlink Littauer. The YMCA's own Health and Wellness Director, Sheldon Howard, even took her class and stated he left feeling refreshed and relaxed as her teaching style has a wonderful warm, nurturing and upbeat style.

In my own words, I feel that after taking just two classes with Ony Antonucci my mood was better. I was definitely more relaxed in a deeper way than I even thought possible. All the tension just erased from my body as we did our cool down. She teaches you breathing methods that help to reduce stress and in today's society, I think we can all use some of that. My body just felt better. All this I thought, and without the use of medications to cover up ailments. It is all so natural.

Yoga is a great complement to aerobic and resistance exercise too. I highly suggest that you might give Ony Antonucci's Yoga class a try sometime. You might be really surprised at the benefits you experience. Even if you only have the slightest interest in yoga, I believe it's worth a try. Check out her website for more information or how to contact Ony. http://www.onyyoga.com/Home.html