Yoga is the proudest discovery of India which was introduced to the whole world back in the 20th century. Nowadays, it has become a very popular phenomenon around everywhere up to a level that an entire day (I.e. 21st July) is now dedicated to this natural treatment. The word ‘Yoga’ actually came from Sanskrit which explained it as a discipline that helps a person to overcome various physical and mental challenges with the power of spirituality.
Earlier, people in the West presumed it as a stretching and strengthening exercise but later, the meaning of Yoga took a more elaborative spin around the world. Yoga works as an art form which incorporates various body positions and poses that collectively aims to align the whole body with the mind and thereby, helping a person to achieve inner peace. It not only brings inner peace but also helps to increase a person’s creativity and further, teaching him about the essential nature of a body.
Through all these years, many studies have been carried out about learning the extent to which Yoga can help in the field of medicine. But as of now, its effective nature is found rather low in some major diseases like cancer, asthma, schizophrenia and heart diseases. However, there are many people around the world who found their refuge in Yoga to fight diseases that probably left them at a dead end. The general areas which can be improved through Yoga are –
- Increasing mental strength
- Reducing stress and thereby, fighting depression
- Increasing stamina and reduce inflammation
- Balancing and strengthen all parts of the body
- Relieves anxiety
- Could reduce chronic pain
- Improves breathing problems
‘Ashtanga’ is the classical India yoga which was defined by the sage Patanjali. This classical yoga has eight stages through which a person is believed to attain inner peace and acknowledge his true self as an aftermath. The stages of this yoga are –
- Yama (moral codes)
- Niyama (self-purification)
- Asana (postures)
- Pranayama (control breathing)
- Pratyahara (sense control)
- Dharana (concentration)
- Dhyana (meditation)
- Samadhi (enlightenment)
Day by day, the meaning of Yoga is also evolving and there are many other benefits realized by every day. Many people have recognized it as a popular regimen to maintain good health.
