Yoga for the Body, Mind, and Soul
“The nature of yoga is to shine the light of awareness into the darkest corners of the body.” — Jason Crandell
Yoga has its roots in the ancient Sanskrit word “yuj” meaning “union” — unifying mind, body, and soul. It is one of the most orthodox traditions of Indian philosophy, and its dimensions traverse back into the forgotten past of ancient times. To reaffirm its importance, Prime Minister Modi established International Yoga Day on 21st June during his UN General Assembly Speech in 2014.
Health Benefits of Yoga
Useful for cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health
Advantageous in the management of lifestyle diseases like diabetes and elevated blood pressure
Helps fight weariness, stress, and depression
Helps improve women’s health
Yoga and Your Genes
Yoga does more than stretch muscles — it alters the molecular landscape of the human body. Researchers have reported that performing yoga changes gene expression and decreases transcription activity, thereby increasing the immune response. Research by Manoj K Bhasin and his team revealed that mind-body interactions (MBIs) reduce long-standing stress and improve quality of lifestyle. Another study reported that Yoga Based Lifestyle Intervention (YBLI) can enhance the quality of life of progeny by altering gene expression in spermatozoa.
“To think that yoga is all about the human body is wrong. It is about the body, mind, and soul. Yoga helps man rise above the innate animal instinct, live through the human instinct and reach the levels of divinity.” — Mandapaka RT, 2016
References
Bhasin MK et al. “Relaxation response induces temporal transcriptome changes in energy metabolism, insulin secretion and inflammatory pathways.” PloS one 8.5 (2013): e62817
Dhawan V et al. “Meditation & yoga: Impact on oxidative DNA damage & dysregulated sperm transcripts in male partners of couples with recurrent pregnancy loss.” Indian Journal of Medical Research 148.Suppl 1 (2018): S134
Mody J. “Epigenetics and Yoga.” J Clin Epigenet 4.2 (2018): 10
Know Your Body Before You Train It
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