08, Sep 2021
The word "yoga" is derived from the Sanskrit root "Yuj," meaning "to join" or "to unite."
Yoga is a union of the small self within us with the infinite.
Yoga goes back as far a 3,000 years to the ancient Hindu Rig Veda.
Yoga practice was brought to America by yogis and monks and soon became increasingly popular in America.
Famous Indian Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda deserves special mention as he spoke at the Parliament of World Religions in 1893. He was the first to bring yoga and its philosophy to the U.S.
He demonstrated how yogic meditation helps people reach higher levels of spirituality and awareness.
In the United States, in the past century or so, yoga has evolved into many forms such as Hot yoga, restorative yoga, goat yoga and posture- and exercise-heavy forms of yoga — with a new flavor and approach to Hatha Yoga.
Hatha Yoga, a combination of many styles, focuses on the postural exercise techniques (asanas), breath-control techniques (pranayamas), and the control of energy within our body ending with a resting period (savasana).
Yoga is more than just a physical exercise with constant self-reflection and connection with your inner self.
It reduces stress and anxiety, thereby increasing a sense of wellbeing. It also increases the flexibility of the body and range of motion.
Practicing yoga has been shown to improve one's ethical standards, mindfulness, self-discipline and spiritual practices, withdrawal from the senses, concentration, meditation and immersion into calmness, or a state of ecstasy.
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Yoga helps boost weight loss and maintenance by mindful eating and being sensitive to hunger cues and feelings of satiety.
At least 30 minutes of yoga once a week lower body mass indexes (BMIs), increase muscle strength and endurance, flexibility and cardio-respiratory fitness, compared with those who did not practice yoga.
Cardiovascular effects of yoga include improvement of lipid profiles in patients who have coronary artery disease.
It also includes improving high blood sugar levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetics, thereby reducing their need for medication therapy.
Yoga is incorporated in many cardiac rehabilitation programs nowadays due to its cardiovascular and stress-relieving benefits.
September is the National Yoga Awareness Month, raising awareness of the effect of yoga on our body, mind and soul.
Yoga is being recommended as doctors incorporate preventive medicine into their practices.
Before starting a new exercise program, make sure to check with your doctor.
Dr. Sue Mitra is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Please feel free to visit her website at www.suemitra.com. She can be reached at 321-622-6222 to discuss more Yoga awareness and lifestyle changes.
Dr. Sue Mitra and her staff strive to offer their patients the best care, advice and services available in the medical field with the goal to keep patient healthy & happy.
Dr. Sue Mitra is board certified in international medicine. She is seen here with a Cologuard, which is a noninvasive colon cancer screening test. (Photo by: Tim Shortt/Florida Today)