S. No.

Topic
1. Introduction to Yoga
2. Why do we need Yoga?
3. Benefits of Yoga

















INTRODUCTION OF YOGA

Yoga is the physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that aim to transform
body and mind. The term denotes a variety of schools, practices and goals

in Hinduism, Buddhism (including Vajryana and Tibetan Buddhism

and Jainism,

the
best-known being Hatha yoga and Raja yoga. The term yoga is derived from the literal
meaning of "yoking together" a span of horses or oxes, but came to be applied to the
"yoking" of mind and body.
The origins of Yoga may date back to pre-vedic Indian traditions. The earliest accounts
of yoga-practices are to be found in the Buddhist Nikayas Parallel developments were
recorded around 400 CE in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which combines pre
philosophical speculations and diverse ascetic practices of the first millennium BCE with
Samkhya-philosophy. Hatha yoga emerged from tantra by the turn of the first
millennium.


Gurus from India later introduced yoga to the west, following the success of
Swami Vivekananda in the late 19th and early 20th century In the 1980s, yoga became
popular as a system of physical exercise across the Western world. This form of yoga is
often called Hatha yoga.
Yoga physiology described humans as existing of three bodies and five sheets which
cover the atmman, and energy flowing through energy and concentrated in chakras.
Many studies have tried to determine the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary
intervention for cancer, schizophrenia, asthma, and heart disease


WHY DO WE NEED YOGA
Yoga makes you feel better. Practicing the postures, breathing exercises and meditation
makes you healthier in body, mind and spirit. Yoga lets you tune in, chill out, shape up --
all at the same time.
For many people, that's enough of an answer. But there's more if you're interested.
For starters, yoga is good for what ails you. Specifically, research shows that yoga
helps manage or control anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, blood pressure, carpal
tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, headaches, heart
disease, multiple sclerosis, stress and other conditions and diseases
Yoga gives us control of ourselves. It helps cut through the layers of mis-identities that
arise in response to our actions, experiences and feelings. It calms the frenzy, clears
the clutter and allows us to get back in touch with ourselves.
Yoga is union with self. Or, as Patanjali, one of the great yoga sages, said:
Yogashcittavrittinirodhah (Yoga stills the fluctuations of the mind).
Tada drashthuh svarupe' vasthanam(Then the true self appears.)



BENEFITS OF YOGA

The benefits of yoga are felt in a profound yet subtle manner. Here, we look at
the top 10 benefits of regular yoga practice.
1. All-round fitness. You are truly healthy when you are not just physically fit but
also mentally and emotionally balanced. As Sri Sri Ravi Shankar puts it, Health is
not a mere absence of disease. It is a dynamic expression of life in terms of how
joyful, loving and enthusiastic you are. This is where yoga helps: postures,
pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation are a holistic fitness package.
2. Weight loss. What many want! Yoga benefits here too. Sun Salutations and
Kapal Bhati pranayama are some ways to help lose weight with yoga. Moreover,
with regular practice of yoga, we tend to become more sensitive to the kind of
food our body asks for and when. This can also help keep a check on weight.
3. Stress relief. A few minutes of yoga during the day can be a great way to get rid
of stress that accumulates daily - in both the body and mind. Yoga postures,
pranayama and meditation are effective techniques to release stress. You can also
experience how yoga helps de-tox the body and de-stress the mind at the Sri Sri
Yoga Level 2 Course.
4. Inner peace. We all love to visit peaceful, serene spots, rich in natural beauty.
Little do we realize that peace can be found right within us and we can take a
mini-vacation to experience this any time of the day! Benefit from a small holiday
every day with yoga and meditation. Yoga is also one of the best ways to calm a
disturbed mind.
5. Improved immunity. Our system is a seamless blend of the body, mind and
spirit. An irregularity in the body affects the mind and similarly unpleasantness or
restlessness in the mind can manifest as an ailment in the body. Yoga poses
massage organs and strengthens muscles; breathing techniques and meditation
release stress and improves immunity.
6. Living with greater awareness. The mind is constantly involved in activity
swinging from the past to the future but never staying in the present. By simply
being aware of this tendency of the mind, we can actually save ourselves from
getting stressed or worked up and relax the mind. Yoga and pranayama help
create that awareness and bring the mind back to the present moment, where it
can stay happy and focused.
7. Better relationships. Yoga can even help improve your relationship with your
spouse, parents, friends or loved ones! A mind that is relaxed, happy and
contented is better able to deal with sensitive relationship matters. Yoga and
meditation work on keeping the mind happy and peaceful; benefit from the
strengthened special bond you share with people close to you.
8. Increased energy. Do you feel completely drained out by the end of the day?
Shuttling between multiple tasks through the day can sometimes be quite
exhausting. A few minutes of yoga everyday provides the secret to feeling fresh
and energetic even after a long day. A 10-minute online guided meditation
benefits you immensely, leaving you refreshed and recharged in the middle of a
hectic day.
9. Better flexibility & posture. You only need to include yoga in your daily routine
to benefit from a body that is strong, supple and flexible. 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 pain due to incorrect posture.
10. Better intuition. Yoga and meditation have the power to improve your
intuitive ability so that you effortlessly realize what needs to be done, when and
how, to yield positive results. It works. You only need to experience it yourself.
Remember, yoga is a continuous process. So keep practicing! The deeper you
move into your yoga practice, the more profound are its benefits.