YOGA : A Boon to Mankind

What is Yoga?

    Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. Yoga can not be defined, everyone has there own definitions. For some, it is a way to feel good within their bodies, whereas for some it is a spiritual practice, or let's say a way of life. Everything that human beings can do is essentially an expression of who they are. Somebody paints a picture, somebody sings a song, somebody cooks the food, whatever else, this is the expression of who we are. Whatever you speak or do is essentially the expression of who you are. Yoga is not about expressing yourself but it is to determine yourself or to become something you want to be. Today we have scientific pieces of evidence showing that our brain activities, our internal chemistry, and even the genetic content of us can be changed by practicing different systems of yoga. Practicing yoga helps provide a foundation and tools for building good habits, such as discipline, self-inquiry, and nonattachment. This exercise is also a pathway to empower you to make conscious choices to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

     Ashtanga, the eight limbs of yoga, is Patanjali's classification of classical yoga, as set out in his Yoga Sutras. He defined the eight limbs as yama (abstinences), niyama (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption). The eight limbs form a sequence from the outer to the inner. The eightfold path of Patanjali's yoga consists of a set of prescriptions for a morally disciplined and purposeful life, of which asanas (yoga postures) form only one limb.

Advantages of Yoga

    People already doing yoga knows the advantages and don't need any reason to do it. But if you are a beginner and ask passionate yoga practitioners about yoga's advantages, then you would find these pros in their explanation, which are given below.

Physical Benefits

"The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome,” explains Dr. Nevins. “Yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia.”

Other physical benefits of yoga include:

• increased flexibility
• increased muscle strength and tone
• improved respiration, energy and vitality
• maintaining a balanced metabolism
• weight reduction
• cardio and circulatory health
• improved athletic performance
• protection from injury

 Mental Benefits

The mental benefits of yoga are abundant, some of them are given below:

• activates your parasympathetic nervous system

• boost your overall intelligence

• increased happiness decreased stress

• pain reduction

• increased self-awareness

• increased information processing

 Yoga is a tool to find ultimate expression to life. Every human being must explore and know this. Otherwise, life becomes very limited and accidental. But once you start activating your inner energies, your capabilities happen in a different sphere altogether.

"Yoga means addition - addition of energy, strength, and beauty to body, mind and soul"        - Amit Ray