Yoga is a practice that connects the mind and body through meditation, breathing techniques, and physical postures. The origins of yoga can be traced back over 5000 years to northern India, and the Rig Veda mentions yoga. The Rig Veda is an ancient sacred text that includes a mass of mantras and hymns used by priests from the Vedic age. The art of yoga was further developed by Rishis (seers/sages) and Brahmans, which can be seen in the Upanishads. Over the millennia, yoga has developed as it was passed down by yogis and eventually became a globally renowned form of exercise and meditation.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine that operates on the belief that disease is caused by stress and imbalance in a person’s consciousness. Yoga is incorporated in Ayurveda as it is used as a part of a treatment plan which includes purification, special diet, massage therapy, and herbal remedies.
Yoga has a wide array of physical benefits such as easing chronic pain, lowering blood pressure, increasing vitality, improving respiration, improving circulatory health, and more! Yoga can also be beneficial for your mental health as meditation and breathing exercises can help you manage stress and improve your overall mental well-being.
Yoga practices can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. Start your morning the right way by practicing sun salutations. Practice the breathing exercises to manage stress, check out our Breathing Exercises post for more information! Take a yoga break by rolling out a yoga mat and doing a few simple poses or even chair yoga, which is perfect for staying at your desk. End your day with a few minutes of meditation and self-reflection.
“Ayurveda.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/ayurveda.
“Benefits of Yoga.” American Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic Association, osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/benefits-of-yoga/.
“Explore The Ancient Roots of Yoga.” Google Arts and Culture, Google, artsandculture.google.com/story/explore-the-ancient-roots-of-yoga/rAKCRDl92CPuJg.
Nichols, Hannah. “Yoga: Methods, Types, Philosophy, and Risks.” Edited by Daniel Murrell, Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 25 Sept. 2018, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286745.