Out of the many things that India is
known for in her contribution to
the world, ‘Yoga’ is perhaps one of
the most important and popular
exports. From the ancient times,
the ascetics, the ‘rishis’ and the ‘munis’ of India
have been practicing this form of art and science
and deriving the benefits of enlightenment that
accompany yoga.
The importance of yoga in today’s world has a lot
of definitions floating around; however, if we go
back to the roots of the word, we find that the term
‘Yoga’ has its origins in Sanskrit. It means to unite
- Yoga helps the body to unite with the other vital
metaphysical aspects of the mind and spirit. It is
also often defined as a lifestyle which aims to have
a healthy mind within a healthy body.
Most simply defined, yoga is a set of poses or
‘asanas’ , coupled with breathing techniques,
which help impart strength and flexibility to the
body while helping to balance the mind and its’
thinking. Unlike other physical forms of exercises,
like the aerobics, by practicing yoga, one can not
only achieve physical health, but also mental and
spiritual well-being.