5 Reasons That Add to The Popularity of Yoga

Yoga

It is a fact that yoga is not an exercise. It is art rather a form of discipline which if religiously followed will keep your mental, physical and spiritual state in proper coordination. The existence of this form of discipline dates back to thousands of years ago. This is practised mainly among the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Their origin has been mentioned in the Rig Veda also.

This form of practice first gained popularity in the east; later on, spreading towards the western part of India as well. Yoga is mostly granted as a physical form of art; although gurus have highlighted the spiritual side of yoga more. Reports say that practice of yoga with utmost dedication have also cured diseases like cancer and asthma. Yogis say that practising this form will help you to attain liberation also create a proper coordination between the body and the mind.

Why is yoga becoming so popular?

Education has led to the increase in practicing yoga. People nowadays are more aware of its benefits and healing power. Earlier people were not so educated to understand the benefits, but nowadays people have started thinking in a logical way. Yoga is becoming more popular as it posses several benefits. Given below are few of its major benefits.

• Practicing different yoga asanas will make your body flexible. Practicing this on regular basis will slowly start stretching your muscles and increase the movement of your joints. If you keep practising on a regular basis, your body will release lactic acid. Releasing lactic acid will result in better movement of your body and will minimize body aches and pain.
• With the increase in age, people start to slouch while walking. This distorts your body posture completely. If you practice certain asanas, it will help you to tighten your muscles and your core; thus, providing you a perfect physique. As a result, you will be able to stand straight and not slouch.
• If you put on weight, you may start developing breathing problems. This may further result in asthma. Practicing breathing asanas for example pranayama will increase your breathing capacity and also will keep your lungs healthy.
• Nowadays out of ten people, eight of them inevitably undergo stress. Practicing certain meditation methods will reduce your level of stress. As a result, your anxieties will be kept under check. Less stress will also help to increase your concentration level. Stress can also be controlled via deep breathing.
• Practicing various asanas will keep your heart healthy and will also normalize your blood pressure. As a result, one tends to be less prone towards heart problems.

Yoga

Important asanas and their benefits

Some of the most important asanas of yoga and their benefits are listed below:

• The bridge asana helps to ease out the joints in the hip region. In this posture, you form a backward curve and try to touch the ground from behind thus forming an arch. Bending your spine in a curve form will improve the flexibility of your spinal cord. Practicing this asana will also decrease stress and depression.
• Practicing the downward dog posture will lengthen your spinal cord and your arms. Moreover, this asana enables fast flowing of oxygen to the brain resulting in relaxation of your mind.
• The most calming posture is of “child pose” where you stretch your arms and touch the ground. This posture relieved your back and neck aches.
• For a woman, the irregular menstrual cycle is very stressful. Practicing the easy pose will help you to have an easy flowing menstrual cycle. Added to that, this also helps in reducing the level of anxiety.