"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self."
- The Bhagavad Gita
The Sanskrit word “yoga” derives from the root “yuj,” meaning to “yoke”, or to “join.” That’s why yoga is often thought of as union: between the breath and movement, the mind and the body, the atman (the self, consciousness), and the Divine.
Yoga is a practice that uses postures and breathing techniques to induce relaxation and improve strength. The Yoga “pose” or “asana” offers you to become more aware of your body, mind, and environment. It is an eight-branch system of well-being that incorporates exercise, meditation, conscious breathing, diet, and other elements, yet how it impacts mind-body fitness alone is proving to be a solid barrier against age-related loss of versatility, cardiovascular disease, and depression.
There are many kinds of yoga, from Hatha Yoga, the gentle level to Bikram yoga, a more intense level.
The Breath of Life
Conscious breathing is at the centre of devoted yoga practice, and the reduced risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases gives us another cause to breathe in and breathe out profoundly. “Our general population does not breathe correctly, and many of us even hold our breath unconsciously. For my students, the hardest part of yoga is learning to take deep, full breaths. Old breathing habits must be unlearned. Once attention is given to the breath, tensions can be released”, says Nancy Poole, a teacher at Clarksburg Yoga and Wellness, in Clarksburg, Maryland.
Yoga improves lung capacity and brings more energy to the cells, which in turn creates more energy and life force in our bodies. It helps us to live from the heart’s centre and foster a better quality of life. Each time we show up on our mats, we show up for ourselves, an opportunity to nourish the body, our one, and only temple.
Stretching into Joy and Content
A hatha yoga study published in the Journals of Gerontology revealed increased cognitive function in older adults after eight weeks of yoga three times a week. Yoga's super force lies in its ability to reset the autonomic nervous system and increase mindset boosting serotonin while reducing monoamine oxidase, a compound that incapacitates the effect of stress hormones like cortisol. Under yoga’s influence, the brain is bathed in calming neurotransmitters, combatting depression and anxiety, and imparting positivity.
Yoga additionally helps us to embrace tough situations and ride the waves. With the instruments that yoga gives, we can swim towards the light. It also helps us to experience a more personal connection with body and soul, and in turn, settle on better decisions in all parts of life. Yoga gives us integral assets so we may age gracefully. One of them is to oversee stress with poise.
Reduced Health Risks
Yoga’s inverted poses increase blood circulation to vital organs, including the intestines, which facilitates the assimilation of nutrients and waste elimination. Asanas like shoulder stand, bridge, and downward-facing dog stimulate blood flow from the lower extremities to the heart and fortify red blood cells by increasing haemoglobin, guarding against blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. Yoga can also strengthen the bones. A study published in the International Journal of Yoga shows improved bone mineral density in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Much like a house that sits empty or a car left to sit unused in a garage, our human parts can age and rot without movement. Movement creates more energy. Joints lose flexibility as we age, but the yoga movement provides them with essential oxygen, blood, and nutrients.
I encourage you to use the power of yoga to improve the wellness of your mind and body and start your journey towards a healthier and purposeful life!
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