外國人最想和你聊的文化話題：瑜伽

     Yoga's origins lie in Hindu philosophy, which was developed thousands of years ago in India.
     瑜伽起源于印度哲學(xué)，在印度已經(jīng)發(fā)展了數(shù)千年。
     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.
     而今，瑜伽是一組強(qiáng)調(diào)身體控制與修身養(yǎng)性的運(yùn)動(dòng)和靜坐，是達(dá)到"天人合一"境界的一個(gè)有效途徑。
     Yoga's ideal state of knowledge is reached after a person has gone through eight different stages.
     人要經(jīng)過八個(gè)不同階段的訓(xùn)練才能達(dá)到瑜伽的完美境界。
     These include aspects of self-control, religion, postures, regulation of breath, restraint of senses, steadying of the mind, meditation, and profound thought.
     這包括了自制、信仰、體位、調(diào)息、節(jié)欲、內(nèi)省、冥想和三摩地。
     For a practitioner of yoga, or "yogi" the progression through these stages is a movement from the physical toward a perfect mental state.
     對瑜伽修習(xí)者來說，這些階段是從身體到完美精神境界的進(jìn)程。
     There are eight major schools of yoga, each varying in its area of emphasis.
     瑜伽有八大流派，每派強(qiáng)調(diào)的領(lǐng)域有異。
     The type of yoga thatis taught in the West is mainly a combination of exercise and meditation called Hatha Yoga.
     西方國家傳授的瑜伽名為"哈他瑜伽"(又稱"運(yùn)動(dòng)瑜伽") ，主要是運(yùn)動(dòng)與靜坐的結(jié)合。
     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.
     據(jù)說"哈他瑜伽"有許多良效，如減肥、強(qiáng)化肌肉與神經(jīng)、凈化身體進(jìn)而增進(jìn)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.
     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。
     The stretching and deep breathing of yoga, this practice is so calming with effective results.
     瑜伽術(shù)的肢體伸展和深呼吸這一練習(xí)可以使人平靜下來，效果極佳。
     Concentrating on the physical intricacies of different poses forces you to filter out the "endless tape loops of chatter and fear," says Dr. Timothy McCall, medical editor of Yoga Journal, allowing you to be present in the moment. In so doing, you begin to clear the mind of future worries.
     《瑜伽雜志》醫(yī)學(xué)編輯Timothy McCall博士說，集中注意力于不同姿態(tài)的身體的復(fù)雜之處可以迫使你過濾掉那些"如磁帶卷一般無休止的戰(zhàn)顫和恐懼"，從而使你回到現(xiàn)實(shí)中來。這樣，你就開始從腦海中清除對未來的擔(dān)心。
     Laughter yoga involves self-triggered laughter that is not necessarily initiated by humour.
     大笑瑜伽需要的是一種自發(fā)性的笑，不一定是被逗笑。
     The exercise routines combine yoga breathing techniques and laughter simulation with stretching, chanting and role playing.
     這種瑜伽將瑜伽呼吸技巧、大笑模仿與伸展、吟唱和角色扮演等活動(dòng)結(jié)合在了一起。
     "That's the gist of laughter yoga. We will be laughing without any reason, no jokes. We will be laughing because we want to be healthy. We have to have a good mind, good mindset." laughter yoga professor Paolo Trinidad said.
     教授大笑瑜伽的保羅·特立尼達(dá)說："這就是大笑瑜伽的要義所在。我們要沒有任何理由地去笑，而不是因?yàn)樾υ挾?。我們笑是因?yàn)槲覀兿Ｍ幸粋€(gè)健康的身體。我們想要有一個(gè)好的心態(tài)。"
     Snake yoga, is a new twist on the popular exercise class.
     與眾不同的健康時(shí)尚--"蛇瑜伽"在流行的健身課程上是一種新的瑜伽形式。
     Officially called Kumara Serpent Healing, Snake yoga is an offshoot of Kundalini Yoga-a branch of the form which mixes adopting physical positions with a focus on breathing, meditating and chanting.
     蛇瑜伽的官方說法是庫馬拉蛇治療，它是昆達(dá)利尼瑜伽的一個(gè)分支，它的形式是將采用物理位置和在呼吸、沉思以及交談中的專注度結(jié)合來達(dá)到的。
     The floating yoga performance combines yoga postures with artistic dance in water, showing the art of oriental charms.
     漂浮瑜伽融合了瑜伽動(dòng)作和水中舞蹈藝術(shù)，充滿了東方藝術(shù)韻味。
     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.
     我們對健康與健身的知識(shí)與日俱增，人們越來越感興趣的是不僅僅關(guān)心身體健康，還關(guān)心心理與精神的健康。
     As a result, many are turning to more complete approaches to health, including less mainstream fitness methods such as yoga.
     因此，許多人轉(zhuǎn)而尋求更全面的途徑來增進(jìn)健康，包括一些還未成為主流的健身方式，如瑜伽。