Yoga

Hey Everyone,

I thought today I will venture into something I have been practicing for ten years now and after much contemplation felt that it would be nice on my part to share my knowledge and experiences with all of you. 

Yesterday, I saw that my daughter was enjoying practicing little bit of yoga that she knows and that moment I realized that I should share my experiences of yoga with all of you. I am not an expert, but I practice some, not all asanas on a daily basis which may not be difficult at all for anyone of you.

In today’s times, especially in this pandemic period where everyone must follow certain COVID appropriate protocols, staying healthy is the biggest challenge. So, what do we do? How do we maintain our health in the best possible way and stay in shape? The best way out is - practicing Yoga at home.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a form of exercise meant not just for our physical well - being but also our mental health. It originates from India where it is practiced even now in large numbers. The word itself has its origins to the Sanskrit language which is the mother of all languages. It was practiced not just by the Rishis, Saints and Sadhus but also by Royals and even the ordinary people in India. It is practiced even to this day widely across India and now has spread its wings world over.

Why Yoga?

The main objective of Yoga is uniting the soul (Aatma) with the Divine (Paramatma). Yoga is a combination of not just physical exercises but also meditation and breathing exercise (Pranayam). The beauty of yoga is that you do not have to time it or wear a particular kind of dress or wear shoes or sock. 

You can take your own sweet time to practice yoga and wear any clothes which you feel you are comfortable in. One does not have to go to a yoga studio but can practice it at home, park or sometimes in your office while sitting on a chair like performing the cat and cow pose (Chakravakasana). 

Yoga can be performed by everyone irrespective of age. Even children as young as 3-year-old can practice some basic poses like touching toes, chair pose etcetera, to name a few.  

Benefits of Yoga

 There are various studies which have shown that yoga is beneficial for the overall well - being of a person. It not only gets you back in shape but also relieves you of many medical problems which we often complain about like back and neck pain, knee, or joint ache. The various benefits which I have personally experienced are:

• Relieves back and neck Pain: I used to often complain about these two problems, but I did not want to take any medication. I used to lie down quite often, take some rest. All this was of no use as I had to deal it with it again. My mother used to advise me about this ancient form of exercise, but I never had paid any heed to it. But then I thought why not try it as nothing is working. So, I joined a yoga class and then practicing yoga every day at home became a ritual and 'whoosh' went away all the pain. And trust me, I still practice every day waking up early in the morning. It is now part of my life.
• Helps to concentrate better: I have not just regained my health back but also now have an increased level of concentration in whatever I do. Various forms of meditation and Pranayams (breathing exercises) as well the Suryanamaskar (the Cobra Pose) have helped me in increasing my concentration.
• Better flexibility and strengthens your muscles: Postures like Vrkshasana (Tree Pose), Tadasana (Mountain Pose) are some of the simple poses which even my daughter does these days and her muscles have gained immense amount of strength.
• Relieves stress and better sleep: The shavasana (The Corpse Pose) and chanting of ‘OM’ is the best thing to do in yoga which can relieve you of your stress and a happy mind leads to better sleep.
• Better Metabolism: Poses like Shalabhasana (Locust or Grasshopper Pose) can help you boost your metabolism. It also helps your back in a great way. But if there is some chronic stomach or back issues, please consult your doctor performing these poses.
• Best for knees and joints: Sethu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose) can help you relieve you off from your knee pain. I practice this pose daily for at least three to four minutes in my routine and my knees have responded well. I can climb stairs at a good speed now without panting much.
• Helped me in Pregnancy and Post Pregnancy: I practiced some light yogasanas during my pregnancy like Chakravakasana (cat and cow pose), Shavasana (Corpse Pose), did lot of meditation, chanting of ‘OM’ helped me a lot. I would say I never tried any bending exercises during my pregnancy.

Yoga is not just practiced for fitness purposes but also it brings discipline back in our life. We become much calmer. As human beings we would learn to respect and value our bodies and mind more than ever.  Always remember that yoga is not fast paced but done slowly with calm mind and good amount of breathing.  Enjoy friends.

Remember to comment and follow me. You can also follow me on Koo App. I will be waiting to hear from all of you.

I am not a yoga instructor or an expert in yoga. It is just that I have been practicing yoga for around ten years now after attending a yoga class. Friends, before performing yoga please take medical advice. Again, I would like to remind you all that I am neither a medical nor a healthcare professional. My advice on yoga cannot take the place of a medical practitioner. So please consult your doctor if you have any medical problems.

Bye.

Love you All,

Namitha