Yoga and Healing
Can yoga heal the body? Many people are familiar with the concept of yoga as it becomes increasingly popular in the United States. We commonly associate it with meditation, downward dog, and lululemon among other things.
But what is yoga? Where did it originate? Is it a form of healing? In today’s blog post, we’re going to be exploring these questions and answering them.
First, let’s start with what yoga is. Yoga is a form of alternative or traditional medicine that has been practiced for many thousands of years. Yoga itself is a healing system of theory and practice; it is a combination of breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation (Science daily).
So, when did this practice even begin, and how did it arise? Yoga is such an ancient practice that no one knows when it began. Although there are only approximations of when yoga first started, we can agree that yoga originated in India from Hindu culture and began when people were trying to understand what life was all about.
A set of ancient scriptures known as the Bhagavad Gita was the first to outline the yogic philosophy, and it focused entirely on the spiritual aspect of yoga(Source). Back then, yoga was all about meditation and achieving enlightenment; there were no complex poses or breathing exercises. However, yoga has largely evolved to include exercises to strengthen the mind and body in addition to the soul.
Now that we know what yoga is and its origins, let’s dive into the benefits of yoga. Yoga is considered a mind-body intervention that is used to reduce the health effects of generalized stress. It is believed to calm the nervous system and balance the mind, body, and spirit. It is also thought that yoga prevents diseases and maladies by keeping the energy meridians open and life energy (prana) flowing (Science daily).
Yoga is also a holistic form of healing that can help you relax and release tension, as well as strengthen weak muscles and stretch tight ones.
In these uncertain times filled with panic, zoom, and masks, school and life can be difficult. It’s no secret that taking a test online while your parents are in meetings, your dog is barking in the other room, and your neighbor is cutting their grass is mind-blowingly frustrating. In fact, I was in that exact position a few weeks ago. To cope with stress and anxiety, I decided to join an online yoga class and the difference it made was unbelievable, hence why I’m writing this blog post. As future health care professionals, we are often so focused on learning about how to take care of others that we neglect ourselves in the process. Even if yoga may not be the thing for you, find something that makes you happy and eases some of the tension in your life.
If you want to learn more about yoga, I have attached a few helpful links below:
Yoga: Fight stress and find serenity: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/yoga/art-20044733
The origins and history of yoga: https://www.yogiapproved.com/om/origin-of-yoga-history-of-yoga/
20 minute guided yoga session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEYSO-Tc2Go
By: Sreenidhi Saripalli
