International Day of Yoga
What is yoga in simple words
How good is yoga as an exercise
Why international yoga day is celebrated?
What are the main yoga sutras of Patanjali?
The word ‘Yoga’ is from the Sanskrit ‘Yuj, meaning to join. Yoga aims to harmonize the mind and body of the individual practising it. Yoga improves body strength, balance and flexibility.
Patanjali defined yoga as a Chitta vritti nirodha. He said yoga will remove the fluctuations of the mind. Chitta means “consciousness” or “memory,” Vritti refers to the thoughts that clutter the mind and it will be kind of waves. It can be translated in English as “mind chatter,” and is sometimes called “monkey mind.”
Yoga according Patanjali is the “restriction of the fluctuations of consciousness.” The practice begins by sitting and calming the fluctuations of the body, breath, and senses, and then the more elusive whirlings of consciousness.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a collection of 196 short verses that serve as a guide to get wisdom and self-realization through yoga.
The 8 Limbs of Yoga of Patanjali
- Yama (Restraints)
- Niyama (Observances)
- Asana (Posture)
- Pranayama (Breath Control)
- Pratyahara (Withdrawal of the Senses)
- Dharana (Concentration)
- Dhyana (Meditation)
- Samadhi (Pure Contemplation)
Top 20 benefits of yoga
- Yoga helps you in all-around fitness
- Yoga benefits in weight loss
- Yoga is one of the best solutions for stress relief
- Yoga helps for inner peace
- Yoga Improves Immunity
- Practice of Yoga Offers Greater Awareness
- Yoga Increases Energy
- Yoga Gives you Better Flexibility and Posture
- Yoga builds muscle strength.
- Yoga boosts metabolism
- Yoga helps in lowering blood sugar.
- Yoga Increases blood flow.
- Yoga keeps diseases at bay.
- Yoga improves lung function.
- Yoga helps you sleep better
- Yoga helps to keep your joints healthy.
- Yoga helps you to make healthier life choices.
- Yoga encourages your body’s natural healing process.
- Yoga may reduce inflammation
- Yoga may improve cardiovascular functioning
Even though yoga is not entirely similar to an aerobic, gymnasium with equipment, it is more beneficial in all aspects. The requirement for other forms of exercise is more when compared with yoga. All the types need 2D i.e. determination to do daily and dedication to doing daily.
International Yoga Day will spread awareness about the health benefits of yoga to humankind. During his speech at the 69th session of the General Assembly in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea of International Yoga Day.
On December 11, 2014, the UN passed the resolution for the International Day of Yoga. The first international yoga day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. “Yoga for humanity” was the theme.
Earth has the longest period of sunlight on June 21, so this day was chosen by the UN for International Yoga Day, making yoga practice easy for most parts of the world.
Tirumalai Krishnamacharya is the father of modern yoga. Numerous gurus followed his yoga for teaching and life.
Let us see some of them who have been following the father of modern yoga.
Ram Dev Baba believes yoga is a spiritual, mental and physical practice, and the solution to al the modern-day problems. The ram dev baba reiterates that “Do yoga, otherwise roga will Hoga(disease will come).
The birth name of Swami Ramdev Baba is Ram Kisan Yadav. He was born in 1965. He studied in the Gurukula system. Gurukula taught him yoga practice, and the study of Ayurveda gave him the strength to come out of congenital disability or a childhood illness which had made him partly paralysed on the left side of his face. This condition prompts his left eye to squint and wink involuntarily.
Ramdev held yoga camps throughout India and continues to do so.
On 5 January 1995, Balkrishna, Ramdev, and Acharya Karamveer founded Divya Yoga Mandir Trust in Haridwar. Under the Divya Yoga Mandir Trust, they offered yoga camps and established an Ayurvedic pharmacy.
Ramdev yoga was first telecasted on Sanskar TV in 2002. In 2003, Aastha TV began broadcasting him in its morning yoga slot and is doing now. Ramdev is a telegenic and has huge followers. A Large followers includes celebrities like Hema Malini from India and abroad attended his Yoga camps. He taught students in foreign countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. At his Yoga Gram, Ramdev practices and teaches yoga in an auditorium, for TV broadcast. Patanjali is one of the highest-grossing FMCG in India. In 2012, Ramdev established the Divya Yog Pharmacy in Haridwar.
Awards and recognitions For His Work For YOGA
- In January 2007, Honorary Doctorate, by Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, in recognition of his efforts to popularise the Vedic system/science of Yoga.
- In July 2007, The legislature of the US state of New Jersey honoured Ramdev for his commitment to improving health in mind, body and spirit and to enhancing the well-being of people from all social backgrounds.
- In April 2015, The government of Haryana appointed Ramdev as the brand ambassador of Yoga and Ayurveda. He was given the status of Cabinet minister for Haryana but he declined.
Unification of people for his yoga classes and camps is the mantra followed by Yoga Guru AnanthJi. He is mini Ramadev for Karnataka. He is conducting his yoga awareness and health camps throughout Karnataka.
He is known as “Aahaara-Aarogya-Aadhyaathma Bramha” among his fans. Guruji was born in the Tumakuru district of Karnataka. He wants to give full stop to people’s pain from physical ill health and help people to maintain mental wellness. His programs include “Namma Kaiyalli Namma Aarogya”, “Madhumeha Muktha Jeevana” & 7 days long “ Ondhu Vaaradha Palithamshayutha Shibhira” where he identifies root causes and provides solutions for the problems. He has conducted a 35 episodes “ Yoga Vismaya” program based on Yoga, telecasted on PRAJAA TV.
Once I did converse with him over the phone. He guided me with the preparation of Kashya for my mom’s nerve-related issue. He did talk to mom also and assured her she will recover. My mother recovered from her illness with his kind words and the kashaya medicine he suggested for curing disease.
In the end, last but not the least Swami Sivananda received the Padma Shri award for his contribution to yoga. He is not as popular as Ramdev,. His name came into the limelight after he received Padma Shri. A 125 years old veteran living with yoga and loves yoga is the ideal person for society. Today when we see 25 year old with a bundle of diseases, it is astonishing to see 125-year-old walking hale and hearty.