16/08/2021
Yoga
Yoga and its origin
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India almost 5,000 years ago. Yoga, in simple words, is an ancient physical,mental and spiritual discipline and branch of philosophy that was started by the Indian yogic sage.The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj which means to unite or join.
Who invented yoga?
There is no accurate record in history of who invented yoga because the tradition of yoga started long before ancient Indians . For the same reason, nothing can be said about the exact date when the basic principles of yoga were written. The earliest record of yoga was that which was written by Patanjali, an Indian yogic sage. It is believed that Patanjali wrote the eight sutras of Ashtanga Yoga around 500 BC and soon afterwards it became a tradition to practice yoga. The eight sutras of Patanjali serve as the basis of all other schools of yoga that were later developed by other yoga practitioners. It is surprising that though the practice of yoga started long back, it is as valid and popular today just as it was in ancient times.
Yoga has become popular since it doesn't only make you physically stronger, but it also makes you mentally and emotionally sound and spiritually connected. Unlike other form of exercises, it aims for overall well-being and development of an individual and creates a perfect harmony between your body, mind, and soul. Yoga is practiced today by many western practitioners and therapists. And is also very popular in USA. Moreover, it has been scientifically proven that sincere practice of yoga can cure a large variety of physical and emotional illness. In India, Swami Ramdeb Baba is a famous guru of Yoga.
Types of Yoga
There are many types of yoga. Hatha (a combination of many styles) is one of the most popular styles. It is a more physical type of yoga rather than a still, meditative form. Hatha yoga focuses on pranayamas (breath-controlled exercises). These are followed by a series of asanas (yoga postures), which end with savasana (a resting period).
Advantage of yoga :---
There are many benefits of yoga, including:
Stress relief: The practice of yoga is well-demonstrated to reduce the physical effects of stress on the body. The body responds to stress through a fight-or-flight response, which is a combination of the sympathetic nervous system and hormonal pathways activating, releasing cortisol – the stress hormone – from the adrenal glands. Cortisol is often used to measure the stress response. Yoga practice has been demonstrated to reduce the levels of cortisol. Most yoga classes end with savasana, a relaxation pose, which further reduces the experience of stress.
Pain relief: Yoga can ease pain. Studies have shown that practicing yoga asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduces pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as well as arthritis, back and neck pain and other chronic conditions.
Better breathing: Yoga includes breathing practices known as pranayama, which can be effective for reducing our stress response, improving lung function and encouraging relaxation. Many pranayamas emphasize slowing down and deepening the breath, which activates the body’s parasympathetic system, or relaxation response. By changing our pattern of breathing, we can significantly affect our body’s experience of and response to stress. This may be one of the most profound lessons we can learn from our yoga practice.
Flexibility: Yoga can improve flexibility and mobility and increase range of motion. Over time, the ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity.
Increased strength: Yoga asanas use every muscle in the body, increasing strength literally from head to toe. A regular yoga practice can also relieve muscular tension throughout the whole body.
Weight management: While most of the evidence for the effects of yoga on weight loss is anecdotal or experiential, yoga teachers, students and practitioners across the world find that yoga helps to support weight loss. Many teachers specialize in yoga programs to promote weight management and find that even gentle yoga practices help support weight loss. People do not have to practice the most vigorous forms of yoga to lose weight. Yoga encourages the development of a positive self-image, as more attention is paid to nutrition and the body as a whole. A study from the Journal of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine found that regular yoga practice was associated with less age-related weight gain. The lifestyle study of 15,500 adults in their 50’s covered 10 years of participants’ weight history, physical activity, medical history and diet.
Improved circulation: Yoga helps to improve circulation by efficiently moving oxygenated blood to the body’s cells.
Cardiovascular conditioning: Even a gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise.
Presence: Yoga connects us with the present moment. The more we practice, the more aware we become of our surroundings and the world around us. It opens the way to improved concentration, coordination, reaction time and memory.
Inner peace: The meditative effects of a consistent yoga practice help many cultivate inner peace and calm.
Pregnancy and yoga
A pregnant woman can also practice yoga . Here are some examples for pregnant women.
Utkatasana
Virabhadrasana I
Virabhadrasana II
Trikonasana
Utthita Parsvakonasana
Bitilasana
Balasana
Malasana
Baddha Konasana
Shavasana
Yoga for high blood pressure
Blood pressure or hypertension is a serious condition that leads to heart attacks, strokes, and even death. This ‘silent killer’ is all the more dangerous because it displays no symptoms. So, the only way you can find out is by getting yourself checked regularly.
Yoga Poses for high blood pressure
Shishuasana (Child Pose)
Vajrasana (Diamond Pose)
Paschimottanasana (Forward Bend Pose)
Shavasana (Co**se Pose)
Sukhasana (Easy Pose)
Ardha Matsyendrasana (Sitting Half Spinal Twist)
Badhakonasana (Butterfly Pose)
Janu Sirsasana (One-legged Forward Bend)
Virasana (hero pose)
Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)
Ardha halasana (half plow pose)
How to overcome from stammering
What is stammering?
Stuttering or stammering is a condition of state where a person finds it challenging to speak smoothly . Most often, stuttering happens at the beginning of a sentence when a person repeats the first letter a few times till they get it right. However, there are times when stuttering can happen throughout the sentence as well.So to overcome this problem there Yoga is the ultimate solution . Example of yoga which help a person to overcome this problem is -
Simhasana is a yoga pose in which your body looks like a roaring lion. The word Simhasana is made of two Sanskrit words; Simha which means a Lion; and Asana which means pose or posture. The asana is not too tough and is medium in toughness. It is also called Lion pose in English. Only five minutes of practice regularly you can improve your voice and speak fluently.
