Yoga originated in India thousands of years ago. It is regarded as the oldest system of personal development which encompasses the entire body, mind and spirit. Yoga brings the body and the mind together into a harmonious experience. Yoga aims to attain the unity of mind, body, and spirit through three main Yogic structures:
Exercise: On practicing yoga exercises regularly, the glandular system of the body becomes more efficient and this brings a positive change in the total health. Breathing: We know that breath is the source of our life. On practicing yoga regularly, the breath control gets increased and thereby, shows improvement. Meditation: Meditation has the power to relieve the mind from stress. The thinking capacity of the person gets increased. And, mind is at peace. Yoga has 6 branches. These include the following:
Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga is one of the most popular branches of yoga. The term ‘ha’ means sun and the term ‘tha’ means moon. This branch of Yoga brings union of the opposite pairs referring to the positive (sun) and the negative (moon). On practicing the exercises in this category, a person can feel stronger and very relaxed. Bhakti Yoga: This group of yoga is also called as the yoga of devotion. The Yogis who regularly practice this yoga sees the Divine in everyone. This helps him to be lovable and he has an accepting attitude towards people. Raja Yoga: It focuses more on meditation and contemplation. People who practice this form of yoga are generally very spiritual. Jnana Yoga: ‘Jnana’ means wisdom. Jnana yoga deals with wisdom and knowledge and it is regarded as, ‘The Yoga of the mind’. This yoga leads to the path of self-realization. Karma Yoga: Karma means ‘deeds’ and this yoga group is regarded as, ‘The yoga of service to others and to God’. It explains people to work for their own sake without bothering much about the results. This path of yoga demand humans to be selfless and to work towards good deeds and good thoughts to transform the soul. Tantra Yoga: This path of yoga is the simplest of all. It involves regular and prolonged recitation of one or more potent sound. It is believed that these sounds have the power to awaken the chakras. There are Five Principles of Yoga. They are the basis of attaining a healthy mind and body. These include the following:
Proper relaxation Proper exercise Proper breathing Proper diet Proper thinking Yoga can cure almost all diseases. However, it is important to practice the right yoga postures. Also, it is important to practice yoga regularly to maintain a good mind and body. |
