Essay on Yoga

Yoga is a gift of ancient India to the world. The word comes from Sanskrit and means "to join": it joins the body, the breath and the mind. The sage Patanjali set down its principles in the Yoga Sutras long ago. Yoga includes asanas, or body postures, pranayama, or breathing exercises, and meditation. Regular practice makes the body flexible and strong, improves digestion and sleep, and keeps the mind calm and attentive. It needs no costly equipment, only a mat and a quiet corner. It is best done in the morning on an empty stomach, and beginners should learn it from a trained teacher. Since 2015, 21 June has been celebrated every year as the International Day of Yoga, and people of many countries now practise it.

In today's fast life, people are short of time and full of tension. Many diseases come from sitting too much, eating wrongly and worrying constantly. Yoga, a discipline that India developed thousands of years ago, offers a simple answer to these modern problems.

The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root "yuj", which means to join or to unite. Yoga aims to bring the body, the breath and the mind into harmony. It was practised by sages in ancient India, and the sage Patanjali arranged its teachings in a text called the Yoga Sutras. Yoga is therefore not just a set of exercises. It is a way of living that includes good conduct, postures, control of breath and meditation.

The parts of yoga best known to students are asanas and pranayama. Asanas are postures such as Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Bhujangasana and Padmasana. Surya Namaskar is a chain of twelve postures done in a flow, which exercises the whole body. Pranayama is the practice of slow, deep, controlled breathing, such as Anulom Vilom. Meditation, or dhyana, trains the mind to become still.

The benefits of yoga are many. The body becomes flexible, the muscles strong and the posture straight. Digestion, breathing and sleep improve. Regular practice helps to keep weight under control. For students, the greatest gains are in the mind: yoga reduces fear and anger, sharpens memory and increases the power to concentrate. A few minutes of deep breathing before an examination can calm the nerves.

Yoga is easy to begin. It needs no machines and no large ground, only a mat, loose clothes and a clean, airy place. It is best done early in the morning on an empty stomach. Asanas should be done slowly, without jerks and without forcing the body. Beginners should learn from a trained teacher, and those with an illness or injury should take a doctor's advice first. Yoga works slowly, so regular practice matters more than long sessions.

The world has recognised the value of yoga. In December 2014 the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga, and it has been observed every year since 2015. On this day, people in countries across the world roll out their mats together.

Yoga costs nothing and gives a great deal. If we give it even fifteen minutes every morning, it will reward us with a healthy body and a peaceful mind for life.