Today is International Day of Yoga, a day to celebrate this ancient practice that India gave to t…

Today is International Day of Yoga, a day to celebrate this ancient practice that India gave to the world. Yoga is not just a fad. It is not just an exercise. Ask those who are ardent practitioners and they will tell you Yoga is a way of life. It’s an integral part of their lives.

The word ‘yoga’ derived from Sanskrit  means to join or to unite, symbolising the union of the body and consciousness. The theme for the 2017 celebration, organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, is ‘Yoga for Health‘. The theme highlights the fact that yoga can contribute in a holistic way to achieving an equilibrium between mind and body.

If you are still on the fence about Yoga, we give you the following reasons to incorporate Yoga in your life.

1. Physical benefits

Practising any form of yoga will impact positive changes in your body. Yoga is not about weight loss, though it is one of the benefits you gain from proper practice. With regular and consistent practice, you will increase your flexibility, improve your muscle strength and tone, have more energy, improve your cardio and circulatory health, experience better athletic performance and even protection from injury.

. Stress Reduction

Practising yoga is not only an effective stress reliever but also a way to ease symptoms of anxiety. By transferring focus and attention to the body and breath, yoga can help to temper anxiety while also releasing physical tension.

Yoga poses for Stress Release

Incorporating a