Yoga is the pride of our ancient culture. We proudly say that we have been the world’s teachers for centuries. Yoga is such an accessible and natural method through which we get many spiritual benefits from a healthy mind and body. The origin of yoga is from the Sanskrit word "YUJ," which means "synergy."
The word "yoga" is clear from the actions of the worthy. Through yoga, or you can say, through yogic actions, we establish a synergy between body, mind, and soul, that creates, among other forces, a unique spiritual satisfaction. It is an ancient belief that a healthy soul lives in a healthy body. If your body is sick, then you will think selfishly, concentrate on yourself, or stay focused while worrying about your health.
I think those who discovered yoga had a general state of health that included both physical and mental health in their minds. Traditionally, the knowledge of yoga is passed from one generation to another through a guru-disciple tradition.
I was at Patanjali Yoga center, established by Guru Ramdev a couple of weeks ago on my way to Rishikesh, Narendra Nagar, Rishikesh and Shivpuri in the foothills of the Himalayas, where I learned the history of yoga a little more deeply.
It all started in 200 BC, when Maharishi Patanjali found yoga in written form and composed the Yoga Sutras, the elements of yoga. There are basically one hundred and ninety-five Yoga Sutras, the basic elements of Yoga Basis. which define the way of living a perfect and healthy life. Swami Ramdev’s establishment of the Patanjali yoga center in Haridwar, where millions of people attend yoga classes and take advantage of this ancient science, is only carrying forward the tradition of yoga. I was there and attended one session, but that was not enough.
Yoga originated in India over 5000 years ago, as we can testify to what the archaeologists discovered during the Indus-Saraswathi civilization, which has evidence of ancient culture and the tradition of yoga. The Indus Valley Civilization, which is believed to be 3000–1700 BC old, shows that authentic descriptions of the practice of yoga date back to about 3000 BC.
We can see it all in the sculptures of the Indus Valley Civilization. The authentic text of yoga dates back to 280 BC, which is the first systematic treatise that yoga is only a way to stay healthy, mentally and physically, but has nothing to do with Hinduism, Buddhism, or Jainism. Even though the origin of all this is in the Vedas and the Upanishads, it has nothing to do with religion.
Yoga is an ancient Indian way of life that deals with bringing the body, mind, and spirit together. Through yoga, the body, mind, and spirit work in perfect synergy. Being healthy is not only about having a healthy body, but a combination of body, mind, and soul. You can attain perfect health through yoga practices, which are easy, but you must do them systematically.
Through yoga, we can diagnose and treat every physical disease and mental problem. Yoga infuses energy into life by making the immune system strong. Yoga makes the body strong and flexible. It also relieves stress, which is essential for everyday life. Yogasanas and mudras (postures) keep both your body and mind active.
There is no age limit to who can perform yoga exercises, as both men and women in any age group can practice yoga. However, some precautions are necessary. Yoga is also useful for health-related problems for anyone doing physical work, like sports persons, gymnasts, or dancers. Yoga is also useful for students to help them concentrate on their studies and their overall fitness.
As we all know, in our current fast-paced lifestyle, we have too little time at our disposal for activities that help us stay fit or spend long hours on fitness activities. Also, there are situations that give rise to stress, fatigue, and irritability. As a result, our lives become disturbed. To keep the body and mind healthy and energetic in these situations, yoga comes as a complete solution, a panacea that keeps the mind cool and the body healthy.
In the first book of the world, the Rigveda, one can find the mention of yogic actions in several sections. Patanjali gave yoga a systematic form, and according to Patanjali’s philosophy, the cessation of the vices of the mind is the complete cure for the disease. As I mentioned earlier, yoga is a science beyond religion, faith, and superstition. Yoga is the art of living. The word "yoga" has two important meanings: first addition and second concentration.
Yoga teaches us neither to believe nor to doubt. Yoga teaches you to remove doubt completely from your system and enjoy life as it is. According to yoga, every person has the right to knowledge and knows how to use it in their best interest. According to the yoga guru, Osho, yoga is a direct experimental science that has nothing to do with religion, faith, and superstition and is a complete medical system.
In today’s environment, yoga can make our lives healthy and happy. In the present polluted environment, yoga is a medicine that has no adverse effects, but many postures of yoga, to name a few, Kapalbhati, Shavasana, Bhramari, Pranayama, Vakrasana, Shalabhasana, Tadasana, Merudandasana, and Pawanmuktasana. All these postures help you recover from different diseases like high blood pressure, back and neck pain, providing relief from arthritis, etc. It’s a proven fact that through yoga, diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol can be easily brought under control. Yoga also helps pregnant women with difficulties during pregnancy and helps ensure a smooth delivery.
Yoga is a boon to humanity, both physically and mentally. Yoga helps all human organs, like glands, and muscles in the body, so that they work smoothly. It is only through yoga that the power to fight diseases develops without medicines. Apart from relieving stress, yoga also helps in getting good sleep. Appetite gets better by keeping digestion under control. Yoga promotes skin radiance by maintaining optimal blood circulation.
A method to improve life, yoga is not just a physical exercise or an action to remove diseases. Yoga is the ultimate remedy in the current lifestyle. Yoga is the journey of reaching to perfect body, mind, and soul through your own efforts. Come, let us all join this journey and make this life successful.
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