To some, yoga and wine may not seem to have much in common. One is an ancient practice that gradually trains your body and mind to be in a constant state of peace. The other might be considered a fleeting remedy, which can temporarily raise your spirits and relieve your inhibitions. But if you take a closer look, you'll discover that yoga and wine have far more in common than you might think. In my research on the topic, it seems that there has been a wave of wine and yoga-related workshops sweeping the USA in recent years. "Yoga teaches you how to age gracefully just like a great bottle of wine ages gracefully," explains David Romanelli, an instructor in California who teaches yoga and wine workshops across the country.
Yoga has many meanings and is derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj", meaning "to control", "to yoke" or "to unite". Other translations include "joining", "uniting", "union", "conjunction", and "means". Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines that originated in India nearly 5000 years ago. Yoga exercises are based on the belief that the body and breath are intimately connected with the mind. By controlling the breath and holding the body in steady poses or "asanas" yoga creates harmony.
So imagine that you just completed a fulfilling yoga practice and you are fully in tune with your body, and then at the end of the practice you assume the relaxation pose, usually savasana (corpse pose). Feeling fulfilled and relaxed, you then take a sip of your favourite wine, complete with retro nasal breathing to get the full aroma and bouquet of the wine; just imagine how much better that wine will taste.
Not everyone agrees with the concept of wine and yoga. The purists truly believe that the mere fact that you have taken up yoga suggests that you are seeking the truth and enlightenment. No alcohol should pass your lips, some diehards believe. For me, take everything in moderation.
Some do Yoga for exercise, others as alternative medicine; there are those who are on their journey seeking their own enlightenment and understanding of consciousness. As the popular saying goes: 'To each, his own'.
The above article in Jamaica Observer is food for thought.
Not many people are aware that in India, yoga and wine have the same roots - the Vedas. While Yoga is well known as an exercise regimen, it is more of a holistic path for union with one's source/divinity. Ayurveda, (Ayu means life in Sanskrit, Veda means wisdom,) the Indian medicine system, revealed to meditating sages some thousands of years ago, has a living tradition of red wine - Draksharishth. It is made by fermenting grape juice and herbs. Its role has been to sustain health. Draksharishth is recommended as a tonic and to increase the digestive fire. It is especially useful in anemia. Not many people, (that includes Indians too) are aware of the wine and yoga connection anymore. Wine was used as medicine. To the extent that wine was used as a food item was because in Ayurveda, proper food or Pathya is used as preventive medicine. Yoga and Ayurveda serve the holistic purpose of assisting a person reach one’s full potential in health and spirituality, among other benefits.
Read more at: http://yogatips.infoplugin.com/
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