Yoga (योग) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. Yoga is one of the six orthodox philosophical schools of Hinduism.
Yoga is a valuable gift to mankind given by our Rishi – Munis. Yoga gurus from India later introduced yoga to the West, following the success of Swami Vivekananda in the late 19th and early 20th century with his adaptation of yoga tradition, excluding asanas. Outside India, it has developed into a posture-based physical fitness, stress-relief and relaxation technique.
It is a complete fitness and wellness program without any expenditure if practiced regularly. It makes us a better person as it empowers our thinking, work and knowledge.
Modern Lifestyle is giving many health problems such as tension, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Yoga balances our mind physical body and intellect. Thus ends tension and mental problems. It is seen that presently Yoga has become popular among people and a part of their life.
Yoga works according to a persons physical capacity, his intellect and energy level. Yoga should be learnt under learned and experienced Yoga teacher. Yoga controls, food, sleep, physical body, negative thinking and resistance in change of weather related problems.
Yoga practices includes Yam, Niyam, Aasan, Pranaayam, Vyayam, Pratyahar, Dharna, Dhyaan and Samadhi.
Pranayam is a controlled practice of breathing which should be regular.
Aasan gives strength and stability to different muscles.
Vyayam Exercise gives flexibility to joints.
Dhyaan after you sit still, take normal breath, relax your body till the thoughts disappear except the one where concentrate.
Yoga as exercise is a physical activity consisting largely of asanas, often connected by flowing sequences called vinyasas, sometimes accompanied by the breathing exercises of pranayama, and usually ending with a period of relaxation or meditation. It is often known simply as yoga, despite the existence of multiple older traditions of yoga within Hinduism where asanas played little or no part, some dating back to the Yoga Sutras, and despite the fact that in no tradition was the practice of asanas central.
The United Nations General Assembly established 21 June as “International Day of Yoga”,celebrated annually in India and around the world from 2015. On 1 December 2016, yoga was listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.