 We all wish for good health and happiness for ourselves and our loved ones. We put in sincere efforts to reach these goals by exercising and working hard to meet the needs that we think will bring us satisfaction. But it seems that we are constantly struggling, and even in our quest to be healthier and happier; we bring more stress to ourselves. Work, study, health, family and relationships are just some of the areas we juggle to maintain a sense of balance and ease.
To add to this there is intense environmental stress from constant external stimulation via television, the internet, road traffic and noise, the lack of open space, and even competitive sports. We usually don't think of these influences as stressful, but often they are. The bustling pace of our busy lives can have a profound effect on our ability to deal with the challenges of daily life and our coping mechanisms.
Yoga is seen by an increasing number of people as an antidote to the challenges of urban city life – as a way to break away from the cycle of stress that we are caught up in. Documentation and research lists yoga’s health benefits to include increased physical flexibility and strength, stress reduction, increased focus, lowering of depression and anxiety, detoxification of the body and management of blood pressure.
Yoga offers a way to be healthy and stay active, to contribute to society in a positive way, and to age gracefully. Regular and consistent exercising of muscles and joints in a particular sequence keeps the physical body free of major illnesses. Through movement we have better blood circulation and over a period of time we develop endurance, flexibility and control over our body and thought processes.
Swimming, walking, running, tennis, and team sports such as soccer all exercise the body, while games like chess and mahjong sharpen the mind and its focus.
Yoga offers a unique combination of working almost all parts of the body that encompasses asana (pronounced ah-saa-na), breath work called pranayama (pronounced praa-na-yaa-ma) and techniques to engage the mind. It is non-competitive, does not require elaborate equipment to start and can be practised by anyone of any age and physical & mental capacity.
|