Why Yoga is more than just Fitness

The term means the union of the individual self with the supreme self and comes from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’ meaning to unite. Yoga was initially developed as a way to achieve harmony between the heart and soul on the path to divine enlightenment.

The development of yoga can be traced back over 5,000 years, with some researchers estimating that yoga may even be 10,000 years old.

The term ‘yoga’ encompasses a vast number of concepts and practices, but its true origins lie in the Indian tradition. Yoga has since crossed India’s geographical and cultural borders, merging with different philosophical doctrines and giving life to the Tibetan, Taoist, and Buddhist yoga, among others. What’s more, yoga is open to everyone and can be practised by children and adults alike.

Today, our exposure to yoga is mostly restricted to yoga asanas, meaning ‘seat’ in Sanskrit, but now used as a collective term for the various yoga stretches and poses. This is why most people associate yoga with flexibility and fitness.

Asanas are a necessary part of the preparatory process to enable the body to enter a meditative state and sustain higher levels of energy. However, while yoga asanas are immensely helpful and effective, there is much more to yoga than the asanas or poses which it is more commonly known for today.

One of the main reasons yoga has taken off in the West is because it provides a beneficial, natural remedy for many ailments. It has been discovered that yoga has a practical benefit of curing many diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure and alleviating physical injuries and chronic pains.

As yoga has become increasingly popular outside of India, in many different cultures, the practice of yoga has influenced many different schools of teaching.

Here are 7 of the lasting physical and psychological benefits of practising yoga.

1. Yoga is a spiritual practice that allows your mind to soften and your heart to open.
2. Yoga makes you more aware of your breathing, which is the single most important thing you do every day.
3. Yoga can help you stay connected to yourself so that you can put your own needs first.
4. Yoga can help you to gain clarity about things you’re working through each day.
5. Yoga is a great way to say, “yes!” to yourself and everything important to you.
6. Yoga can help you move beyond negative inner-dialogue.
7. Balance poses in yoga invite you to get out of your head and into your body.

Yoga gives you all of the physical benefits a gym can offer, but in a peaceful, safe and more holistic way. It combines aspects of cardio, functional and strength training all in one. Plus you will feel more calm and relaxed, and experience less stress and anxiety. You will experience higher levels of energy and enthusiasm and more self-confidence and self-acceptance.

For additional focus, meditation is also an integral part of a well-rounded yoga experience. It is an incredible mental technique which you can use to increase your focus, concentration, mindfulness, consciousness and feeling of bliss.

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