International Yoga Day 2021:Here The All Details You Have To Know
Why do we choose June 21 for International Yoga Day?
The United Nations General Assembly proposed on
December 11 and established June 21 as
"International Yoga Day." The date
was assigned for the occasion as it is the
longest day when the
sun is out at its
most compared to every other day of
the year.
What is the theme of Yoga Day 2021?
The theme for this Yoga Day is 'Yoga for Well-Being' and how the practice of Yoga can promote the holistic health of every individual.
What are the benefits of yoga?
Yoga
increases your flexibility
This
is why many people start yoga, and it’s certainly a great benefit of yoga
practice. Yoga postures and sequences help to increase the body’s range of
motion. The mindful approach of yoga helps to ensure that stretching is done
safely, allowing the nervous system to release the muscles into gentle,
effective stretches. This reduces the risk of injuring ligaments and tendons,
which can occur through more aggressive approaches to flexibility training.
Releasing tension in the muscles can also help them to relax and let go,
helping your body to open up more.
Yoga
helps you to build strength.
Although many
people overlook this one, seeing only yoga’s benefits for flexibility, yoga is
actually a fantastic strengthening practice. Yoga helps to strengthen the
muscles that support the body’s weight, leading to functional strength. It is
also fantastic for building core strength. This improves athletic performance and
your functionality in everyday life, while keeping you safe from injury.
Yoga
improves your posture.
One of the great
things about the strengthening and stretching work of yoga is that it is a
balancing practice. Yoga can help to address any muscular imbalances,
lengthening tight areas and strengthening weak areas. Our posture can often
deteriorate as we age, in a large part due to our habitual movement patterns
during the day. For instance if you spend a long time working at a computer,
you may find yourself vulnerable to slumping with rounded shoulders. Over time
the back muscles become weak, and the chest muscles become tight, exacerbating
the rounded posture. Yoga can help you to stretch out the chest and strengthen
the muscles of the back. It can also make you far more aware of your body and
posture, so that you find yourself automatically self-correcting to come into a
healthier alignment throughout the day.
Yoga
helps to keep your joints healthy.
Yoga will
strengthen the muscles around the joints, helping to stabilise them. By moving
the joints in their full range of motion, yoga can help to promote better joint
health. The mobilisation of the joints improves the flow of synovial fluid,
which lubricates them, allowing for smooth and healthy movement of the bones.
Synovial fluid also delivers fresh oxygen and nutrients to the joint cartilage,
helping to restore it and keep it healthy. Yoga can even help those with more
serious joint problems such as arthritis, improving physical function and reducing
pain.
Yoga is
a powerful mindfulness practice.
Yoga is about uniting the mind, body and breath. In doing this
it brings you into the present moment. Mindfulness has proven benefits for a
whole range of health conditions, and is particularly effective in promoting
positive mental health. In particular, mindfulness practices have been shown to
strengthen the immune system, improve social relationships and reduce
depression, anxiety and neuroticism. The benefits of increased mindfulness
through yoga clearly reach far beyond the mat.
Yoga
reduces stress.
Many people begin yoga to improve their flexibility, but they
keep coming back because they find it makes them feel so much better. The
focus, centring and breathing of yoga all help to reduce stress and can be the
ideal antidote to a hectic modern lifestyle. In part this is another wonderful
benefit of the mindful aspect of yoga. It is also due to the positive impact of
increasing activity levels and exercise, along with the relaxation and
reduction of physical tension that yoga brings. Yoga can leave you feeling
relaxed and refreshed, physically, mentally and energetically.
Yoga lowers blood pressure
Having high blood
pressure is a serious medical condition, which is associated with increased
risk of both heart attacks and strokes. As well as reducing stress, which can
be a contributing factor to high blood pressure, several aspects of yoga
practice are thought to directly improve blood pressure. The relaxation and
deep breathing of yoga can reduce high blood pressure even after the practice is
finished. Certain postures such as Supported Bridge Pose, Legs Up The Wall Pose
and of course Savasana or Corpse Pose are particularly beneficial for those
with high blood pressure.
Yoga
helps you to make healthier lifechoices.
There is a story in yoga about the student who asked their yoga
teacher whether their smoking habit would interfere with their yoga. The
teacher smiled and replied. “No, but your yoga will interfere with your
smoking.” Whether or not that was the case, one of the great things about yoga
is that it helps you to tune into what your body wants and needs. Many people
find that the acceptance and self-love that they practise on the yoga mat can
have a profound impact to the way they treat their bodies off the mat, whether
that is through improved activity levels. better nutritional choices or reduced
reliance on alcohol or tobacco.
Yoga
improves breathing.
The basis of yogic breathing practices lie in pranayama, or yogic breathing techniques. These techniques, which are integrated into the vast majority of yoga classes, can be amazing for restoring balance and vitality to the body and mind. Controlled breathing can increase energy levels and relax the muscles, while reducing stress, anxiety and depression. On a physiological level, regular yoga practice has been found to improve lung capacity and breathing both in healthy adults and those who suffer from asthma.
Yoga
encourages your body’s natural healing process.
The body has an incredible ability to heal itself, given the appropriate
conditions. Yoga practice can be a wonderful way to create an environment which
allows the body’s innate healing powers to kick in. In
part this is due to the effects of mindfulness on the immune system, increasing
the body’s ability to fight disease and restore health. The strengthening and
lengthening effects of yoga can improve mobility and function, helping the body
to recover from physical injury. And the benefits for mental health can lead to
improved sleep patterns and enhanced wellbeing, greatly improving your quality
of life.
