Today on June 21st, we celebrate International Yoga Day - a perfect time to explore and appreciate the practice that brings balance and harmony to so many lives. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a curious newcomer, this day is a great opportunity to dive deeper into what yoga is all about. Let’s take a closer look at what yoga is, what it isn’t and why so many people devote hours of their lives to their yogic practice.
What is Yoga and Where Has it Come From?
Yoga has undergone significant transformation as it has travelled from its ancient roots in the East to the modern-day West. Yoga actually dates back over 5,000 years to the ancient Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India - the word ‘yoga’ first appeared in some of the earliest scriptures known to man, the sacred texts known as the Vedas. To many of us, yoga appears to be bending and stretching on a mat. However, this ageless system is a deeply spiritual practice encompassing a broad range of disciplines, such as physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), meditation (dhyana), and various ethical guidelines that work together to help the practitioner achieve self-realization and enlightenment, often called "moksha" or "samadhi.".
In fact, the word ‘yoga’ translates in Sanskrit as ‘Union’ – it is the union between physical, mental, and spiritual practices in order to achieve harmony between the body, mind and spirit. These various practices were organised in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali in 400 CE into what is now known as the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Patanjali’s work remains foundational in yoga philosophy today.
What Are the Benefits of Yoga?
Yoga has a plethora of benefits for your body, mind, and spirit:
For the Body
Improved Flexibility and Strength: Regular practice of yoga stretches, lengthens and works the muscles, enhancing overall flexibility & strength and reducing the risk of injury.
Better Posture and Balance: By focusing on alignment and awareness, yoga helps correct poor posture habits, reducing back and neck pain and improves overall stability
Cardiovascular Health: Certain styles of yoga, like Vinyasa or Ashtanga, can provide a cardiovascular workout, improving heart health.
Pain Relief: Yoga can alleviate chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, lower back pain, and migraines through gentle stretching and strengthening exercises.
Respiratory Efficiency: Breath control exercises (pranayama) enhance lung capacity and improve respiratory function.
For the Mind
Stress Reduction: Yoga promotes relaxation and reduces the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, helping to manage stress and anxiety.
Improved Concentration: The meditative aspects of yoga enhance focus, attention, and cognitive function.
Better Sleep: Regular yoga practice can help improve sleep quality by promoting relaxation and reducing insomnia.
Mood Enhancement: Yoga stimulates the production of endorphins and other neurotransmitters, boosting mood and overall sense of well-being.
Increased Mindfulness: Yoga encourages present-moment awareness, helping practitioners to live more mindfully and reduce negative thinking patterns.
For the Spirit
Emotional Regulation: By promoting mindfulness and self-awareness, yoga helps manage emotions more effectively, reducing impulsivity and reactivity.
Greater Self-Awareness: Yoga fosters a deeper connection with oneself, promoting self-discovery and personal growth.
Inner Peace: The meditative practices in yoga cultivate a sense of inner calm and peace, reducing feelings of anxiety and agitation.
Enhanced Resilience: Yoga builds mental and emotional resilience, helping practitioners cope better with life's challenges.
Spiritual Connection: For many, yoga provides a path to explore their spirituality, fostering a sense of connection to something greater than oneself.
What are the Eight Limbs of Yoga?
In order to truly practice yoga in its entirety, yogis aim to embody and live by numerous principles:
Yamas (Ethical Standards): These are guidelines for how we treat others, like non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), and non-stealing (asteya).
Niyamas (Self-Discipline): These are practices for self-care and personal growth, such as cleanliness (saucha), contentment (santosha), and self-study (svadhyaya).
Asanas (Postures): These physical exercises improve flexibility, strength, and balance.
Pranayama (Breath Control): Techniques to control and regulate your breathing, enhancing your vitality and mental focus.
Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses): Turning your attention inward and away from external distractions.
Dharana (Concentration): Focusing your attention on a single point or object.
Dhyana (Meditation): Sustained meditation leading to deeper awareness.
Samadhi (Enlightenment): The ultimate state of self-realization and unity with the divine.
How Can the Benefits of Yoga be Enhanced?
Yoga is one of many ancient systems of health and wellness that originate from the East, another of which is Ayurveda. Ayurveda focuses on balancing the body's energies or ‘doshas’ (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and often prescribes personalised yoga routines based on an individual’s prominent dosha to support balance and health. In this way, combining regular practice with Ayurvedic routines creates a holistic approach to living in harmony with one's body, spirit and mind, ensuring long-term wellness and balance. Such examples of Ayurvedic practice include oil pulling with Coconut Oil, which enhances oral health and regular use of natural oils for skin care and hair care. As such, use of such oils and butters such as Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter in one’s self care regimen complements and enhances the benefits of yoga by promoting overall physical health and vitality.
Common Misconceptions About Yoga
Yoga is Just Physical Exercise: While yoga does involve physical postures, its practice and benefits extend far beyond the mat for those who practice yoga in its entirety
You Need to Be Flexible to Practice Yoga: Flexibility isn’t a requirement for yoga, it’s the outcome. Yoga meets you where you are and allows you to progress at your own pace.
Yoga is a Religious Practice: Yoga is spiritual but not tied to any specific religion. It’s a philosophy and practice that can complement any belief system.
Conclusion
This International Yoga Day, why not embrace the ancient wisdom of yoga and its transformative power? Whether you want to improve your physical health, find mental clarity, or embark on a spiritual journey, yoga offers a path to harmony and well-being, especially if you combine it with age-old self care traditions and practices. Join millions around the world in celebrating by rolling out your mat and discovering all that yoga has to offer.
Namaste!
