Yoga as a Lifestyle Choice
Do you ever get hit by a sudden wave of motivation to workout and be healthy? This fad of working out rigorously continues for a day or two then quickly wears off. You then seem to find no sustainable exercise routine that keeps you healthy and you actually enjoy doing. Doesn't this seem familiar to us? Well, if this is you then you should try out Yoga!
What is Yoga?
Yoga is an ancient practice that most probably originated in India. It involves movement, meditation, and breathing techniques to promote mental and physical well-being. Yoga is a mind and body practice that can build strength and flexibility. It may also help manage pain and reduce stress. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation.The overall philosophy of yoga is about connecting the mind, body, and spirit.
How many branches of Yoga are there?
There are six branches of yoga. Each branch represents a different focus and set of characteristics.The six branches are:
Hatha yoga, Raja yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga and Tantra yoga.
What is a “Chakra” in Yoga?
There are seven main chakras situated along the spine, from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. This age-old belief has become integrated into many New Age styles of thought. Chakras are thought to provide subtle energy that helps your organs, mind, and intellect work at their best level.
What does “Chakra” signify in Yoga?
The word “chakra” means “spinning wheel.” Yoga maintains that chakras are centre points of energy, thoughts, feelings, and the physical body. According to yogic teachers, chakras determine how people experience reality through emotional reactions, desires or aversions, levels of confidence or fear, and even physical symptoms and effects.Did you know that when energy becomes blocked in a chakra, it triggers physical, mental, or emotional imbalances that manifest in symptoms such as anxiety, lethargy, or poor digestion. That's why they say Yoga is the connection of mind and body.
What are Asanas in Yoga?
Asanas are the many physical poses in Hatha yoga. People who practise yoga use asanas to free energy and stimulate an imbalanced chakra. There are seven major chakras, each with its own focus: Sahasrara, The Ajna, Vishuddha, The Anahata,The Manipura, Svadhishthana, Muladhara.
Yoga focuses on exercise, strength, agility, and breathing. It can help boost physical and mental well-being.There are many styles of yoga. A person should choose a style based on their goals and fitness level.
According to a 2012 survey , 94% of adults who practise yoga do so for wellness reasons.
What are the benefits of Yoga?
Yoga has numerous physical and mental benefits. Some of them are:
It builds muscle strength
It enhances flexibility
Promotes better breathing
Supports heart health
Helps with treatment for addiction
Reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain
Significantly improves sleep
Enhances overall well-being and quality of life
Focuses on the whole body while working out
Can be done anywhere with no cost or equipment
Rejuvenates you instead of tiring you
Can be practised by teenagers to elderly.
Here is an evidence of real life scenarios where Yoga has proven beneficial:
Yoga helps you quit smoking:-
There’s evidence that yoga may help people stop smoking.
A 2019 NCCIH-funded study with 227 participants compared yoga classes with general wellness classes as additions to a conventional once-weekly counselling program. The people in the yoga group were 37 percent more likely to have quit smoking by the end of the 8-week program. However, 6 months after treatment, there was no difference between the groups in the proportion of people who were still not smoking.
A study published in 2020 showed a reduction in cigarette cravings after a single yoga session, as compared with a wellness education session. The study participants were people who were trying to cut back or stop smoking.
Written By: Aadyaa Keyal
Sources:-
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286745#benefits
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/yoga-effectiveness-and-safety
