International Day of Yoga is celebrated on the 21st of June world wide after the inception in the United Nations in 2014. India was the first country to organize this event in its capital New Delhi in 2015
Why to Practice Yoga
It is an art of living. It is neither just a form of physical Exercise nor is it just physical postures (asanas). Yoga is beyond just the physical aspect. It works all sheaths of our existence.
According to Taittriya Upanishad there are five levels of our existence i.e the “Pancha koshas”. Starting from the benefits to the first sheaths of our existence,the Annamaya kosha (physical level). This makes the practitioner physically fit.
It also provides benefits to the Pranamaya kosha i.e. the energy shield. The practices of yoga penetrate into deeper level of our existence. It benefits the Manomaya kosha, making the practitioner a person with strong mind.
It effects the Vijnanamaya kosha, intellectual component and increases the wisdom of the practitioner.Upon reaching the Anandamaya kosha the practitioner stays forever blissful, unaffected by the ups and down of the life.Thus we can see yoga affects the all round development of the practitioner or the yogi.
Yama and Niyama
According to Patanjali Yogasutra, its practice starts with Yama and Niyama.
- Yama that is the five social ethics of kindness, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation and generosity.
- The five Niyamas or personal practices are purity, contentment, austerity, self study and surrender.
These Yamas and Niyamas are the first steps in the process of Yoga. Here we can notice that it is far better and is a deeper level of practice which including physical fitness, mental health and spirituality.
In modern Times, it has been studied through the lenses of science as well. Many studies and research papers have been published confirming the benefits of Yoga in the Cure of Common Ailments. The practitioners have shown great results in its application as a complementary therapy to treat all major diseases. Thus we can see yoga is an art as well as the science of healthy and righteous living.
Darshan Sharma wrote this article on International Yoga Day, 2020 for Discover East. He is a practitioner, researcher, trainer and co-founder of Trisholin Yoga and Wellness.
You can also read about the benefits of yoga on mental health in this article.
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(Feature image source: East Coast Radio)
