What is the simple definition of yoga?
(joʊgə ) 1. uncountable noun. Yoga is a type of exercise in which you move your body into various positions in order to become more fit or flexible, to improve your breathing, and to relax your mind.
Some of the top Benefits Of Yoga
Studies have shown that stretching exercises help ease lower back pain.
Iyengar yoga has been shown to help people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Yoga can detox your system and get you feeling fresh much faster after a hangover.
Research has shown that adults with mild to moderate asthma who did an eight-week session of yoga combined with their regular meds saw a marked improvement in their condition.
Many yoga poses massage internal organs and help your digestive system.
Doing yoga twice a week helped people sleep better, reduce stress, and lower anxiety.
A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, found that participants (adults older than 55 and with mild cognitive impairment) who practiced yoga over a 12-week period experienced improvements in mood and in visual and verbal memory for up to six months. (alzheimersprevention.org “THE YOGA RX FOR DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER’S, AND MEMORY LOSS)
Now, lets define what it means to Meditate:
1 : to engage in contemplation or reflection He meditated long and hard before announcing his decision. 2 : to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.
The Benefits Of Meditation:
Meditation Increases:
• A relaxed state, by strengthening the neurological circuits calming the part of the brain that triggers fear and anger
• Positive emotions, as the parts of the brain that help form them become increasingly active
• The quality of sleep, relieving insomnia and promoting a more restful sleep
• The body’s natural painkillers: endorphins and enkephalins, as well as the neurotrans- mitter serotonin
• eeg synchronicity, improving communication between the right and left hemisphere of the brain and mind-body coordination
• Brain rhythm changes from beta to alpha waves, increasing relaxation and creativity
• Recovery from exertion. stress and sleep deprivation
• Resistance to disease
While also increasing -
• Sense of personal identity
• Creativity, energy and general productivity levels
• Serenity, detachment, and dispassion
• Healthy emotional expression, humor
• Contentment, a sense of well-being and happiness
PSYCHOLOGICAL
• Stress-related abnormalities such as sleep deprivation, stuttering, and extreme nervousness
• Dependence on external substances such as cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
• Depression, and its effects, such as hopelessness, mood swings, and isolation
• Sense desires, wild imagination, envy, obsession, ill-will, laziness, selfishness, worry, anger and hatred
PHYSICAL
• Increases mind-body coordination
• Improves athletic performance
• Shortens reaction times
• Increases perceptual ability
MENTAL
• Allows negative thoughts and suppressed feelings to surface from the subconscious mind, facilitating letting go of habitual negative thoughts and allows us to face suppressed emotions, reducing the need for possessiveness;
• Develops positive attitudes, patience and adaptability
• Increases equanimity, which in turn helps to:
• Remain peaceful and less affected by outside events
• Make better decisions
• Improve discrimination and dispassion
• Promotes broader comprehension
• Increases ability to learn
SOCIAL
• Increases ability to get along with people and to cope with different environments
• Increases job performance, productivity and satisfaction
• decreases hostility
• Promotes better relationships with bosses, co-workers, and family members
• Produces a calmer, clearer mind
• Improves ability to focus
• Increases self-awareness
SPIRITUAL
• Facilitates self-purification
• Increases awareness of inner stillness
• Develops humility, acceptance, unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness
• Frees us from the ego
• Creates a sense of spiritual oneness with all beings and things
• Brings a deeper understanding of, and desire for, selfless service
• Provides an experience of permanent peace and ultimate knowledge of the truth
• Brings awareness of inner peace, love and joy