Yoga - Torch bearer of a religion or a provider of health benefits?

Yoga – Torchbearer of a religion or a provider of health benefits?

Introduction

Yoga got a strong identity on the global platform when Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, called for observing an International Yoga day.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the celebration of International Yoga Day on June 21 at Rajpath in Delhi. Though, the program has been put under a lot of controversies, more than 30,000 people are going to be a part of this grand celebration.

The All India Personal Muslim Law Board protested against the practice of Surya Namaskar, which would be held during the Yoga day celebrations. They also demanded that yoga should not be made compulsory in schools or colleges. The Muslim community urged that the Modi government should not force people to participate in this celebration.

Yoga is a religion

1.Concept of Surya Namaskar – Surya Namaskar is an important concept which is followed in Hinduism. People belonging from Hindu community consider Sun as their supreme God and worshiping sun is their main custom. Thus, yoga promotes Hinduism by adopting the concept of Surya Namaskar.

2.Yoga Sutra – Patanjali's Yoga Sutra is an ancient text and is mostly used in all the yoga classes today. It portrays a set of moral codes which are to be followed by a yogi. Bhakti yoga, which is a branch of yoga, practices chanting to deities, praying etc.

3.Spiritual Growth – Yoga and Hinduism took birth from the Vedas. Religion is considered to be an unorganized system of faith and worship. Yoga encourages spirituality in a way that it is matched with many other religious practices.

a - A lifestyle that provides health benefits

1.Weight loss – This is what, most of the people want. Pranayam is a way to loose weight with the help of yoga. With a regular practice of yoga, our body becomes more sensitive to the kind of food that our body asks for. This also helps to loose the weight.

2.Inner peace – Most of the people love to spend their free time in a peaceful environment. Yoga is one of the best ways to achieve a calm and peaceful mind. Yoga along with meditation helps to a create a strong inner peace within ourselves.

3.Better relationships – Yoga can also help to improve the relationships with parents, spouse or kids. A relaxed mind can handle a relationship very calmly. Thus, it can strengthen the bond that exist between two people.

4.Increased energy – Doing multi tasking in a day can be quite exhaustive. A few minutes of yoga everyday can give you a fresh feel and can keep you energetic throughout the day.

5.Improved immunity – Our system is a combination of mind, body and soul. An ailment in the body can affect the mind whereas a tension in the mind can affect the body. Yoga massages the organs and helps to strengthen the muscles of the body. It helps to release the stress and improve the immunity.

Conclusion

Though yoga and Hinduism have received its roots from Vedas, it does not promote the concept of any religion.

Yoga is the best medicine for all the ailments and it frees a person from any sort of disease. Yoga is a continuous process and thus, practicing it, generates more benefits.

Keeping aside the religious concerns about yoga, people from all walks of life should adopt the concept of yoga into their life.