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.
随着我们对健康与健身的知识与日俱增,人们在关心身体健康的同时,越来越关注心理与精神的健康。因此,许多人转而寻求更全面的途径来增进健康,包括一些还未成为主流的健身方式,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.
瑜伽起源于印度哲学,这种哲学在印度已经发展了数千年。如今,瑜伽是一组强调身体控制与修身养性的运动和静坐,是达到“天人合一”这种境界的一个有效途径。
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.
一般要经过 8个不同阶段的训练才能达到瑜伽的完美境界。这包括了自制、信仰、体位、调息、节欲、内省、冥想和三摩地。对瑜伽修习者来说,这些阶段是从身体到完美精神境界的进程。
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,每派强调的领域各有不同。西方国家传授的瑜伽名为“哈他瑜伽”(又称“运动瑜伽”),主要是运动与静坐的结合。据说“哈他瑜伽”有许多良效,如减肥、强化肌肉与神经、净化身体进而增进健康,延年益寿。
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.
近几十年来,瑜伽已广为世人接受,成为一种既能保持身材又能舒缓压力的方法。有许多知名人士极力推荐瑜伽,流行歌手麦当娜与超级名模克里斯蒂特灵顿就是其中两位。
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,关于瑜伽及其作用有很多揣测与怀疑。然而,有一点是毋庸置疑的:在快节奏的现代生活中,花点时间静坐和做些放松身体的运动,绝不是件坏事!
Key Phrases/ Words重点解析
mainstream[ ' meinstri: m] n. 主流
origin[ 'ɔ ridʒ in, 'ɔ: -] n. 起源;原点;出身;开端
posture[ ' pɔ stʃə] n. 姿势;态度;情形
vary[ ' vεə ri] vi. 变化;[生]变异;违反 vt. 改变;使多样化;[音]变奏
widespread[ ' waid's pred] adj. 普遍的,广泛的;分布广的
effect[ i'fekt] n. 影响;效果;作用 vt. 产生;达到目的
Practising& Exercise实用句型/词组
1. Please take care of(照顾) the baby for me for a while, will you?
2. A number of(一些) people have left.
3. He speaks Spanish as well as(和……一样好) English.