Yoga- A Way to Healthy Life

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Yoga, derived from the Sanskrit word 'Yuj', is a way to keep yourself fit and healthy throughout life. It involves the mental, physical and spiritual practices to enhance the growth and health of the body. Yoga was listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage on December 1, 2016. It has a wide range of definitions in Indian religious and philosophical traditions. Yoga helps promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improving medical conditions.

Maintaining a regular yoga practice in your daily routine can benefit your mental and physical conditions. Here are a few ways how-

The physical benefits- The relaxation techniques involved in yoga help to reduce headaches, back pain, and arthritis. It helps to reduce stress, depression, and insomnia. Other physical benefits are-

• It provides flexibility to the body.
• It helps in the reduction of weight.
• It improves the cardio and circulatory health of the body.
• Maintains the metabolism balance of the body.
• It lowers the blood pressure.
• It makes the body strong from any physical damage.
• Increases muscle strength.
• Improves the working of the respiratory system in the body.
• Increases energy and vitality.

1. The mental benefits-

The most important benefit of yoga is that it provides the management of stress in the body. It provides peace to the body and increases the patience level thereby protecting the body from the mental damages of stress. The stress may lead to problems like insomnia, depression, nausea, back pain, neck pain, and headaches. In this case, yoga is found to be very helpful for treating the person to get rid of stress. Other mental benefits include-

• Provides mental clarity.
• Improves the level of concentration.
• Teaches calmness.
• Relaxes the mind.
• Increases body awareness.
• Developing coping skills.

3 yoga asanas that are good for your health and how to perform-

1. Padahasthasana – 

• Stand up straight, extend your arms up with your palms facing each other.
• Empty the air from your stomach, bend forward bringing your arms forward and then down parallel to your legs.
• Place your chest and nose towards your knees.
• Place both the palms flat on the floor just beside your feet.
• Bend the elbow a little.
• Remain in this posture for 30 seconds.

Benefits: 

• Acts as skin antioxidant.
• Tones the stomach.
• Nourishes the hair and reduces the hair fall.
• Improves digestion.

 

1. Paschimottanasana –

• Sit up straight with your legs stretched forward and extend your arms up with your palms facing each other.
• Exhale the air from the stomach and bend your body such that your lower body is placed over your upper body.
• Keep your knees straight and hold your feet with your palms.
• Try to touch your nose to your shin.
• Remain in the posture for 30 seconds.

Benefits:

• Makes the back flexible.
• Stimulates the reproductive organs.
• Improves digestion.
• Helps to reduce the Hypothyroid and hyperthyroid.

 

1. Bhujangasana –

• Lie down on your stomach.
• Stretch your legs beside each other.
• Place your palms beside your chest on the floor with your elbows pointing upwards.
• Lift your chest off the floor while your navel touches the floor.
• Slightly bend your elbows and make sure your legs touch the floor.
• Hold the posture for 30 seconds.

Benefits:

• Makes your back flexible and body strong.
• It helps to tone the reproductive organs.
• Stimulates the digestive system.
• Increases the breathing capacity of the lungs.

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Side-effects of Yoga-

Yoga for health improvement has been the most ensured practice of all times. It improves the mental and medical health of a person but it may cause some negative side-effects in the body as well. Although the serious side-effects of yoga are very rare it is necessary to perform it under complete guidance and as per the handling limit of your body.

The exercises that lead to any kind of aches or injuries must be avoided as soon as noticed. 

Some side-effects of Yoga involve-

• Glaucoma complications- Extra pressure behind the eyeballs due to the yoga practices like headstand and shoulder stand may lead to the loss of eyesight.

 

• Increased blood pressure- Forceful exhalation and inhalation of air and the inversion poses can I increase the blood pressure in the body. 

 

• Muscle strains- The muscle strain problems can be caused due to the overstretching exercises.

 

• Back injuries- The stretching and folding exercises may lead to back injuries in the body.

Conclusion

It is necessary to perform Yoga with the complete safety of your body. Avoid over-exercising and over-stretching of the body. The health benefits of yoga include the enhancement of hair, skin, respiratory system, and digestive system.