As our knowledge of health and fitness increases, people are becoming more and more interested in not only taking care of themselves physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.As a result, many are turning to more complete approaches to health, including less mainstream fitness methods such as yoga.

隨著我們對健康與健身的知識與日俱增，人們在關心身體健康的同時，越來越關注心理與精神的健康。因此，許多人轉而尋求更全面的途徑來增進健康，包括一些還未成為主流的健身方式，如瑜伽。

Yoga’s origins lie in Hindu philosophy, which was developed thousands of years ago in India.Today, yoga is a system of movements and meditation that emphasizes physical control and discipline as a way to achieve a state of spiritual knowledge.

瑜伽起源于印度哲學，這種哲學在印度已經發展了數千年。如今，瑜伽是一組強調身體控制與修身養性的運動和靜坐，是達到“天人合一”這種境界的一個有效途徑。

Yoga’s ideal state of knowledge is reached after a person has gone through eight different stages.These include aspects of self-control, religion, postures, regulation of breath, restraint of senses, steadying of the mind, meditation, and profound thought.For a practitioner of yoga, or“yogi”the progression through these stages is a movement from the physical toward a perfect mental state.

一般要經過8個不同階段的訓練才能達到瑜伽的完美境界。這包括了自制、信仰、體位、調息、節欲、內省、冥想和三摩地。對瑜伽修習者來說，這些階段是從身體到完美精神境界的進程。

There are eight major schools of yoga, each varying in its area of emphasis.The type of yoga that is taught in the West is mainly a combination of exercise and meditation called Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is said to have a number of positive effects, such as reducing weight, strengthening muscles and nerves, cleaning out the body, and generally improving health and prolonging life.

瑜伽有8大流派，每派強調的領域各有不同。西方國家傳授的瑜伽名為“哈他瑜伽”(又稱“運動瑜伽”)，主要是運動與靜坐的結合。據說“哈他瑜伽”有許多良效，如減肥、強化肌肉與神經、凈化身體進而增進健康，延年益壽。

Recent decades have seen yoga gain widespread acceptance as a method of staying in shape, as well as a way of handling stress.Pop singer Madonna and super model Christy Turlington are just two of the many celebrities known to be strong advocates of youga.

近幾十年來，瑜伽已廣為世人接受，成為一種既能保持身材又能舒緩壓力的方法。有許多知名人士極力推薦瑜伽，流行歌手麥當娜與超級名模克里斯蒂?特靈頓就是其中兩位。

At present, there is a lot of speculation and uncertainty about yoga and its effects.One thing, however, is certain: In our modern world of fast-paced lifestyles, taking time out to meditate and do some relaxing exercise cannot be a bad thing!

目前，關于瑜伽及其作用有很多揣測與懷疑。然而，有一點是毋庸置疑的：在快節奏的現代生活中，花點時間靜坐和做些放松身體的運動，絕不是件壞事!

As our knowledge of health and fitness increases, people are becoming more and more interested in not only taking care of themselves physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.As a result, many are turning to more complete approaches to health, including less mainstream fitness methods such as yoga.

隨著我們對健康與健身的知識與日俱增，人們在關心身體健康的同時，越來越關注心理與精神的健康。因此，許多人轉而尋求更全面的途徑來增進健康，包括一些還未成為主流的健身方式，如瑜伽。

Yoga’s origins lie in Hindu philosophy, which was developed thousands of years ago in India.Today, yoga is a system of movements and meditation that emphasizes physical control and discipline as a way to achieve a state of spiritual knowledge.

瑜伽起源于印度哲學，這種哲學在印度已經發展了數千年。如今，瑜伽是一組強調身體控制與修身養性的運動和靜坐，是達到“天人合一”這種境界的一個有效途徑。

Yoga’s ideal state of knowledge is reached after a person has gone through eight different stages.These include aspects of self-control, religion, postures, regulation of breath, restraint of senses, steadying of the mind, meditation, and profound thought.For a practitioner of yoga, or“yogi”the progression through these stages is a movement from the physical toward a perfect mental state.

一般要經過8個不同階段的訓練才能達到瑜伽的完美境界。這包括了自制、信仰、體位、調息、節欲、內省、冥想和三摩地。對瑜伽修習者來說，這些階段是從身體到完美精神境界的進程。

There are eight major schools of yoga, each varying in its area of emphasis.The type of yoga that is taught in the West is mainly a combination of exercise and meditation called Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is said to have a number of positive effects, such as reducing weight, strengthening muscles and nerves, cleaning out the body, and generally improving health and prolonging life.

瑜伽有8大流派，每派強調的領域各有不同。西方國家傳授的瑜伽名為“哈他瑜伽”(又稱“運動瑜伽”)，主要是運動與靜坐的結合。據說“哈他瑜伽”有許多良效，如減肥、強化肌肉與神經、凈化身體進而增進健康，延年益壽。

Recent decades have seen yoga gain widespread acceptance as a method of staying in shape, as well as a way of handling stress.Pop singer Madonna and super model Christy Turlington are just two of the many celebrities known to be strong advocates of youga.

近幾十年來，瑜伽已廣為世人接受，成為一種既能保持身材又能舒緩壓力的方法。有許多知名人士極力推薦瑜伽，流行歌手麥當娜與超級名模克里斯蒂?特靈頓就是其中兩位。

At present, there is a lot of speculation and uncertainty about yoga and its effects.One thing, however, is certain: In our modern world of fast-paced lifestyles, taking time out to meditate and do some relaxing exercise cannot be a bad thing!

目前，關于瑜伽及其作用有很多揣測與懷疑。然而，有一點是毋庸置疑的：在快節奏的現代生活中，花點時間靜坐和做些放松身體的運動，絕不是件壞事!