Yoga is an ensemble of ethical, mental, physical, and psychological practices or philosophies that originate in ancient India, aiming at mastering and stilling the restless mind, unenlightened by the actions of the human mind and ordinary daily suffering. Yoga Nidra is an ancient form of meditation that focuses on breathing through the nose, which is said to allow us to reach a deeper level of consciousness by more closely observing the subtleties of breathing. While most people think of yoga as the physical exercise routine that you have to do to get fit, but in fact, yoga is much more than that.
In this fast paced world that we live in today, it is important to maintain good health and well-being. The present lifestyle of most people is filled with stress and strain from work, family, and other issues. Stress is known to be the main culprit in the development of many health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc. The use of proper breathing techniques, meditation, as well as proper diet can help eliminate stress and improve overall well-being, through improving both mental and physical health.
Yoga postures not only help reduce the effects of stress and reduce overall tension and fatigue, but they also help to bring the body, mind, soul, and spirit into balance, through the focused breathing techniques and the physical postures. Most people are familiar with the yoga positions or asanas that can be performed during class sessions, such as the chair pose, shoulder stand, balancing ball pose, tree pose, pesarotarda pose, cobra pose, etc. However, not many people are aware that there are several other asanas that can be done in yoga classes and that can be even more helpful to one’s well-being. One of the most widely practiced postures is the child’s pose or the elephant stand. It has been practiced for centuries in both India and China, and was especially popular in India. The purpose of this pose is to strengthen the body and keep it stable, while teaching children good posture and respect for the body.
The word yoga means “to join,” and there are various references throughout the Gita that refers to this practice as being a path of joining or uniting (kya signifies to bind or interlock). The Gita teaches that the ultimate goal of yoga is to realize the divinity within oneself (kyetabha) by overcoming the ego’s false belief that he/she is superior to everything else. This is the essence of what yoga is all about. And it is the ultimate goal of Hatha Yoga, which started in the 4th century BC in the Himalayan region of India. Hatha Yoga is an ancient art form that is still being practiced today in India, Tibet, Nepal, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the United States.
There are several benefits to participating in a yoga class and learning yoga postures. Although yoga is primarily done to strengthen and improve the body, there are also many other health benefits that are obtained through the constant stretching of muscles, strengthening and toning of bones and joints, developing the respiratory and circulatory systems, improving the overall sense of well-being, increasing flexibility, decreasing stress, and generally improving your quality of life. Many people who have never considered yoga to be part of their lives now are finding out just how much it has changed their lives for the better. With so many different health benefits, there is no reason not to participate in a yoga class or series of postures.
Overall, yoga helps people find inner peace and a greater sense of themselves. It helps to relieve stress and anxiety, which can have an effect on your mental health. Furthermore, the continual practicing of yoga helps to maintain a healthy weight, lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, decreases the risk of heart disease, reduces the chance of cancer, improves digestion, strengthens the immune system, and increases the overall quality of life.
