MOTIVATION : WHY TO ADOPT 'YOGA' AS A WAY OF LIFE?

On 21st June this year too, billions of people are going to participate to practice Yoga across the world and thereby celebrate the International Yoga Day. In this age of modern medical science, this day symbolises the acceptance and accessibility of Yoga, basically a science - science of integrating body, mind and soul,  which is centuries old and has deep roots in ancient Indian culture.

That’s why many saints, scientists and great persons did say in different ways as said by B.K.S.Iyengar,”Yoga, an ancient but perfect science, deals with the evolution of humanity. This evolution includes all aspects of one's being, from bodily health to self-realization. Yoga means union - the union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul. Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day to day life and endows skill in the performance of one's actions.”

And whenever we confront with this hard fact that the whole world is passing through difficult times where besides different age-old known diseases, many life-style and stress related diseases are taking its toll in growing numbers, it becomes more appropriate to appreciate and accept this time tested method of being and keeping well in true sense of the term as extensive research on yoga therapy has vindicated its effectiveness in dealing with such diseases almost without any cost.

The term yoga has its verbal root as ‘Yuj’ in Sanskrit. ‘Yuj’ means joining. Yoga is that which joins and it’s really so, as people in different countries of the world sit in different places in large numbers to practice Yoga and reap health benefits hugely.

Undeniably, however, the benefits of Yoga can only be realised if we practice it regularly with complete faith and determination, with relaxed body and open mind. The outcome of such practice would make us feel better, re-energized, calm, cool and composed. As the days, weeks, months and years of regular and disciplined practice of Yoga continue, we can distinctly feel the positive change in our thoughts, behaviour, actions and attitude towards everything in life.

Besides, regular practice of Yoga has found to have very positive impact on our digestive and immune system, muscle strength, emotional stability as through different Aasans and Pranayam, we inhale more of oxygen and exhale more of carbon dioxide thereby making our nervous, digestive and circulatory system greatly activated. To say, after each Yoga session, one feels better physically, mentally and spiritually. That’s why Iyengar says, “Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame.”

To put it in simple words, Yoga is basically a way of life and should be practised as such. It’s not a short term pursuit, but is a daily activity of being and remaining conscious of all our activities, be it thinking, reading, eating, playing, working, sleeping and what not till the last day in our life.

Finally, let us get enlightened what Swami Satyananda Saraswati, the great Yoga Guru and founder of world famous “Bihar School of Yoga” says, “… We stand hypnotized by the belief that disease and illness are our fate and destiny, rather than health and bliss, our birth right and heritage. In order to emerge from our mass- hysteria and experience health, joy and creative fulfilment, we must make a systematic application of yoga in our daily life.”

As always, I'm keen to know what do you think on this subject. Hence, request you to post comments to share your views and experiences.

# Published in Patna Daily.com

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