YOGA – A HEALTHY WAY OF

LIFE

'Yoga is the mastery of the activities of the mind-field

Then the seer rests in its true nature'

History of yoga:
Yoga’s history has many places of obscurity and uncertainty due to its oral
transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature of its teachings. The
development of yoga can be traced back to over 5,000 years ago, but some
researchers think that yoga may be up to 10,000 years old. Yoga’s long rich history
can be divided into four main periods of innovation, practice and development.

Pre-Classical Yoga
The beginnings of Yoga were developed by the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in
Northern India over 5,000 years ago. The word yoga was first mentioned in the
oldest sacred texts, the Rig Veda.
Classical Yoga
The Classical period is defined by Patanjali’s Yoga-Sûtras, the first systematic
presentation of yoga. Written sometime in the second century, this text describes
the path of Raja Yoga, often called "classical yoga".
Post-Classical Yoga
A few centuries after Patanjali, yoga masters created a system of practices
designed to rejuvenate the body and prolong life. They rejected the teachings of the
ancient.
Modern Period
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, yoga masters began to travel to the West,
attracting attention and followers.
Physical benefits:
1. Improves your flexibility and balance
Regular yoga practice stretches and tones the body muscles and also makes them
strong. It also helps improve your body posture when you stand, sit, sleep or walk.
This would, in turn, help relieve you of body ache due to incorrect posture.
2. Builds muscle strength
There are specific poses in yoga that are designed to increase strength and build
muscle. They bring a significant increase in upper body strength, endurance and
weight loss. Women will have a decrease in body fat percentage, as well.
3. Benefits your health
Yoga can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, all of which are
good for your heart and blood vessels. Moreover, lowering your blood pressure can
help reduce the risk of heart problems, such as heart attacks and stroke.
4. Gives your lungs room to breathe
By practicing some yoga breathing exercises, such as: lion’s breath, breath of fire,..
you will have a significant increase in vital capacity - the maximum amount of air
that can be expelled from the lungs.
5. Detoxifies the body
Through yoga, we can help the body eliminate impurities such as carbon dioxide,
lactic acid, and lymphatic fluid, and allow oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood to
flow to the organs.
6. Promote Sleep Quality
Doing yoga can help we fall asleep faster, sleep longer and feel more well-rested in
the morning. Yoga has been shown to increase the secretion of melatonin, a
hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness.
7. Promote healthy eating habits
Yoga could be used to encourage healthy eating habits behaviors, also called
mindful eating. Being more aware of how your body feels carries over to mealtimes
as you savor each bite or sip and notice how food smells, tastes, and feel in your
mouth.

Mental benefits:
 Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a
person manage stress. Regular yoga practice relieves chronic stress patterns; relaxes the
mind and sharpens concentration.

Possible side effects:

Yoga can have countless physical and mental benefits when practiced properly,
but if you do not know about the correct methods of yoga then it can also cause side
effects on your body. They are:
 Back injury
 Muscle strain
 Neck aches
 Knee pain
 Sprain in the heel
 Pain in the wrist
 Therefore, you need to be careful and choose the poses which are suitable for
your physical condition so that you can avoid these unexpected problems.

Precautions
 Sweating during practice. Do not wipe the body with a towel, but rub the
body with the palms.
 Avoid strenuous physical exercises like gymnastics, weightlifting, jogging,
tennis, swimming etc.
 It is recommended that you either practice early in the morning, or in early
evening on a relatively empty stomach.
 Avoid tea, coffee, smoking, alcohol, zarda, pan masala, sweets, fried food
and spices as they activate chemical toxins, which are harmful and lead to
stress and illness.