Where does Yoga come from?
Yoga's origins can be traced to northern India over 5,000 years ago. The word yoga was first mentioned in ancient sacred texts called the Rig Veda. The Vedas are a set of four ancient sacred texts written in Sanskrit. The Rig Vedas is the earliest among the Vedas and is a collection of over a thousand hymns and mantras in ten chapters known as mandalas, used by Vedic age priests. Yoga was refined and developed by Rishis (sages), who documented their practices and beliefs in the Upanishads, a huge work containing over 200 scriptures.
Yoga is amongst the six schools of philosophy in Hindusim and is also a major part of Buddhism and its meditation practices.
What are the benefits of Yoga?
1) Yoga improves strength, balance, and flexibility.
Slow movement and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles while holding a pose can build strength.
Try it: Tree pose
balance on one foot while holding the other foot to your calf or above the knee (but never on the knee) at a right angle. Try to focus on one spot in front of your balance for one minute.
2) Yoga helps with back pain relief.
Yoga is as good as basic stretching for easing pain and improving mobility in people with lower back pain. The American College of Physicians recommends yoga as a first-line treatment for chronic low back pain.
Try it: Cat-cow pose.
Get on all fours, placing your palms underneath your shoulders and your knees underneath your hips. First, inhale as you let your stomach drop down toward the floor. Then, exhale as you draw your navel toward your spine, arching your spine like a cat stretching.
3) Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms.
Gentle yoga has been shown to ease some of the discomforts of tender, swollen joints for people with arthritis, according to a Johns Hopkins review of 11 recent studies.
4) Yoga benefits heart health.
Regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing to healthier hearts. Several factors contributing to heart disrase, including high blood pressure and excess weight, can also be addressed through yoga.
Try it: Downward dog pose.
Get on all fours, then tuck your toes under and bring your sitting bones up so that you make a triangle shape. Keep a slight bend in your knees while lengthening your spine and tailbone.
5) Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods.
You may feel increased mental and physical energy, a boost in alertness and enthusiasm, and fewer negative feeling after getting into a routine of practicing yoga.
6) Yoga helps you manage stress.
According to the National Institutes of Healt, scientific evidence shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss, and quality sleep.
Try it: corpse pose(Savasana)
Lie down with your limbs gently stretched out, away from the body, with your palms facing up. Try to clear your mind while breathing deeply. You can hold this pose for 5 to 15 minutes.
7) Yoga connects you with a supportive community.
Participating in yoga classes can ease loneliness and provide an environment for group healing and support. Even during one-on-one sessions, loneliness is reduced as one is acknowledged as a unique individual, listening to and creating a personalized yoga plan.
You must be logged in to post a comment.