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Yoga is one of the latest buzzwords in the health and fitness industry. Everywhere you see there are Yoga studios opening up, gyms and fitness clubs are offering Yoga classes and people can be seen carrying their Yoga bags as they dash from home or office to their Yoga workshop. So, what is the hype all about? Read on to find out all you want to know about Yoga.

Yoga is a science and an art that was developed in 3000 B.C., that is 5000 years ago. The Yoga source is the Indus Valley Civilization. Yoga believes in achieving equilibrium between the body, mind and soul of an individual. The main aim of Yoga at the time of its origin was to ensure the harmony of the spirit with the universe and tended to focus a lot of meditative aspects of Yoga. Along the course of Yoga history, Yoga came to be regarded as a social science, emphasizing on code and conduct of the body and describing a way of life. In 2^nd century, the popular belief was that the body is after all a vehicle, even a temple, of the spirit and hence must be given equal importance as the spirit. The most important Yoga source at that time came to be Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, where he defines the Eight-fold path of Yoga as well as 195 sutras. Since that stage in Yoga history, the importance of a healthy body and a healthy mind in achieving spiritual enlightenment has been highlighted.

One of the most interesting aspects of Yoga is that it is highly adaptable. Over its long history, it has evolved numerous times to suit the requirements of its followers. This adaption is what has enabled it to survive 5 millenniums and this adaptation can be witnessed even today.

Yoga was introduced to the West only a few decades ago. Yet, it has evolved into numerous styles and forms to meet the individual requirements of its practitioners. Yoga can be adapted to treat physical ailments like high blood pressure, heart problems, joint problems, etc. It can also be adapted to treat psychological problems like stress, anxiety and depression. But, apart from using it as treatment, there are many other benefits to be derived from regular practice of Yoga. Listed below are some of the common benefits you can be sure of achieving by practicing Yoga regularly:

• Your body will become supple, nimble and flexible
• Your immunity will be boosted and you won’t fall prey to common ailments and diseases
• Your body will detoxify itself, getting rid of toxins
• Your internal systems like your metabolic, digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems will improve significantly
• You will be more mentally alert and absorbent and your memory will improve
• You will find yourself coping with stressful situation more efficiently without getting stressed yourself
• As you practice regularly over a long stretch of time, you will also find at peace with yourself, in harmony with everyone around you and with the world at large