Yoga is a science of life, developed over thousands of years. It promotes health and happiness by working on the body, mind and emotions. Yoga originated in India and has spread all around the world. It is not a religion. Yoga deals with universal truths and is therefore compatible with all faiths and none. The classical techniques of yoga date back more than 5,000 years.
The practice of yoga encourages effort, intelligence, accuracy, thoroughness, commitment and dedication. The word yoga means ‘to join or yoke together’. It brings your body and mind together, and is built on three main elements – exercise, breathing and meditation. Yoga is an ancient Indian philosophy that dates back thousands of years.
It was designed as a path to spiritual enlightenment, but in modern times, the physical aspects of Hatha yoga have found huge popularity as a gentle form of exercise and stress management. Asanas are practiced with breath awareness. Researchers have discovered that the regular practice of yoga may produce many health benefits of yoga, including increased fitness and normalize blood pressure. Yoga is a renowned antidote to stress.
Over time, yoga practitioners report lower levels of stress, and increased feelings of happiness and well-being. This is because concentrating on the postures and the breath acts as a form of meditation.
The exercises of yoga are designed to put pressure on the glandular systems of your body, increasing your body’s efficiency and total health. Breathing techniques increase breath control to improve the health and function of body and mind.
When practiced regularly, yoga can become a powerful and sophisticated discipline for achieving physical, mental and emotional well-being. The two systems of exercise and breathing prepare the body and mind for meditation, with an approach to a quiet mind that allows silence and healing from everyday stress.