Yoga:
The word "Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word "yur" which means to unite or integrate." Yoga is about the union of a person's own consciousness and the universal consciousness. It is primarily a way of life, first propounded by Maharshi Patanjali in systematic form Yogsutra. The discipline of Yoga consists of eight components namely, restraint (Yams), observance of austerity (Niyama), physical postures (Asana), breathing control (Pranayam), restraining of sense organs (Pratyahar), contemplation (Dharna), meditation (Dhyan) and Deep meditation (Samadhi).
These steps in the practice of Yoga have the potential to elevate social and personal behavior and to promote physical health by better circulation of oxygenated blood in the body, restraining the sense organs and thereby inducing tranquility and serenity of mind and spirit. The practice of Yoga has also been found to be useful in the prevention of certain psychosomatic diseases and improves individual resistance and ability to endure stressful situations.
Yoga is a promotive, preventive rehabilitative and curative intervention for overall enhancement of health status. A number of postures are described in Yoga literature to improve health, to prevent diseases and to cure illness. The physical postures are required to be chosen judiciously and have to be practiced in the correct way so that the benefits of prevention of disease, promotion of health and therapeutic use can be derived from them.
The United Nations General Assembly had declared June 21st as the International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014. Accordingly, the first International Yoga Day Celebration was organized at Rajpath in New Delhi on June 21st, 2015. Two Guinness World Records were achieved, viz: the Largest Yoga Lesson involving 35,985 participants and Maximum number of Nationalities (84) participated in a single yoga lesson.
