Tell me about Yoga

How is yoga different from stretching? Is it simply the "Ommmm" or maintaining positions for long periods of time while clearing your mind?
I ask because yoga is against my religion because of it's ties to other religions.
BUT, I have always utilized yoga positions naturally because I have Ehlers Danlos Disease III (hypermobility type, possibly vascular type), which means I'm slightly double jointed and my joints often cause me pain. Recently in life, I discovered yoga and saw my natural use of it.
???
Which brings me to my above questions.

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Originally Posted by Zhaylin

How is yoga different from stretching? Is it simply the "Ommmm" or maintaining positions for long periods of time while clearing your mind?

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It's a thousands of years old tradition and is much more than stretching. Clearing your mind and maintining positions, deep breathing, and other things are a part of it but it's not limited there.

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Originally Posted by Zhaylin

I ask because yoga is against my religion because of it's ties to other religions.

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Yoga has strong ties to religion, spirituality. It actually relates to the word "union" or "yoke". I wouldn't (and don't) rule it out because of such connections, but I personally think yoga as just postures isn't "yoga"...more "bodily exercise".
It doesn't ~have~ to conflict with your religion IMO.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zhaylin

BUT, I have always utilized yoga positions naturally because I have Ehlers Danlos Disease III (hypermobility type, possibly vascular type), which means I'm slightly double jointed and my joints often cause me pain. Recently in life, I discovered yoga and saw my natural use of it.
???
Which brings me to my above questions.

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If it's good for your body, use the positions ("asanas"). Don't strain. Best to see a teacher beforehand.

I don't know a whole lot about it, but I think its kind of like meditation but with diffrent stretches and positions. From what I've read its mostly about making the paths to your chakras more clear. (if you beleive in that stuff anyway)

I started using the Nintendo Wii gaming system last week, with Wii fit.
I think this is a great way to introduce people to the world of yoga/yoga poses, but not a replacement for a regular yoga practice.

Western Yoga doesn't have any ties to religion.

What is Western Yoga?

I don't know a whole lot about yoga, but I did take a class in college, twice a week for about four months. I enjoyed it and it did help me to become more flexible, helped my posture, and helped me to remember to breathe (something I actually forget to do when I get very focused on something). I liked having an experienced instructor because she could tell me when I wasn't doing something correctly or help make a certain exercise easier to do.

As far as the spiritual aspect of it, I didn't dwell on it. I respected the attitudes of those who follow that direction, but I treated the class as a physical exercise, something that was both stimulating and relaxing. We didn't dwell on meditation much at all during the class, but some do. Instead of trying to "reach enlightenment" or some sort of mystical sense of self, I focus on relaxing and clearing my mind or focusing on more positive thoughts.

Yoga can be what you want it to be. I've heard of Christians holding yoga classes and choosing to focus on God rather than chakra or other forms of spiritual energy. If you do have some physical disorder, I would recommend finding out what kind of exercises you should avoid and which types of exercises would truly benefit you. Yoga is flexible that way :D

Yoga is yoga, and connects to the traditions. Or there are 'exercises'.

Thanks for all the information :)