A Powerful Tool For Overall Enhancement Of Physical & Mental Health & Well-Being
Yoga, since time and ages, has proven to be highly beneficial for people of all ages and incomes. The advantage of Yoga, taught at Yoga Teacher Training in Goa or any place in the world, is that it can be practiced anywhere, at any time, and by people of all countries and cultures. In fact, Yoga is a powerful tool for individuals, communities and countries for enhancing not only physical, but also mental health, as well to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular ailments, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes accounting for more than 80% of all premature NCD deaths, amongst which 85% occur in low- and middle-income countries. Schools, workplaces, civil society organizations and communities should take up the responsibility of incorporating yoga learnt at Yoga Teacher Training in Goa or elsewhere, into daily activities thereby supporting each country’s mission to achieve 15% relative reduction in physical inactivity by 2030-earmarked as the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target. Appropriate healthcare providers should make it a point to encourage patients adopt healthy lifestyle, of which yoga is a part of, to promote health, prevent and regulate ailments including NCDs and accelerate recovery from ill-health and injuries. And it is these noble and humble missions of the communities, countries and society at large to promote health and wellbeing in all aspects of life, that has made Yoga earn the tag of ‘Yoga for Humanity’, imparting a state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social contentment. Moreover, it teaches life’s basic principles and human values like mindfulness, temperance, compassion, discipline, and perseverance leading to a more sustainable living, healthier populations in near future. Yoga, to put it this way, Yoga for Humanity, is a practice that brings joy, health and peace from within, whilst deepening a sense of continuous connection between an individual’s inner consciousness and the world out there.
Where did it all start from?
The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit meaning ‘to unite’, symbolizing the union of body and mind or consciousness. It’s an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice that has its origin in India, and is now practiced in varied forms and postures the world over.
Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11th December 2014, the United Nations declared 21st June as International Day of Yoga, which was approved by 175 states. Being first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 69th session of General Assembly, the first International Day of Yoga was observed on 21st June, 2015, and from then on, it’s been going strong and gaining ground with each and every passing day.
Significance of Yoga for Humanity:
With the way our environment and lifestyles are changing, we often tend to fall sick. Added to that, a pandemic like COVID-19 and others, strike the world every now and then, impacting millions of peoples’ lives. When our body’s immune system is affected, we suffer from illness or a pandemic. This is where Yoga learnt at Yoga Teacher Training in Goa or any other place, comes into the picture! In fact, yoga provides an amazing boost-up of body’s immunity system to combat and resist any kind of infections whatsoever. Incorporating and practising yoga on a regular basis helps to prevent and fight minor-to-severe infection like the recent coronavirus pandemic thereby serving and saving humanity.
Top 10 Benefits of Yoga for Humanity Promoting Wellbeing for All
Physical Health Benefits:
- Prevents Heart Diseases-Practising yoga learnt at Yoga Teacher Training in Goa, aids in improving your heart health and minimizing risk factors for several coronary artery diseases. Regular yoga practice tends to lower blood pressure, pulse rate, BMI, cholesterol levels, triglycerides and circulatory strain. Moreover, yoga enhances vascular well-being by reducing changes in veins that add to coronary ailments.
- Reduces Chronic Pain-Numerous researches and studies indicate that practising yoga helps to reduce many kinds of chronic pain in conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis. In fact, yoga constituting humanity in general, to put it simply, Yoga for Humanity, is a better option than exercise-based recuperation for lower back pains as well.
- Improves Flexibility & Balance-Through the use of specific asanas or poses, yoga helps in increasing flexibility of the body. Regular yoga practice improves balance and mobility amongst people of all ages, particularly older individuals.
- Accentuates Muscle Strength-Yoga has excellent strength-building benefits. There’re specified poses or asanas in yoga apt for increasing strength and building muscle. By practising yoga on a daily basis, one can experience a significant improvement in upper body strength and endurance. Moreover, it also helps in weight loss and decreases percentage of body fat.
- Improves Respiration-Yogic breathing taught at Yoga Teacher Training in Goa, or anywhere, known as Pranayama, is a practice that focuses on controlling breathing via different breathing techniques and exercises. It aids in improving lungs’ vital capacity preventing asthma and other respiratory or lung ailments.
Mental Health Benefits:
- Reduces Stress & Anxiety-Yoga promotes relaxation thereby reducing stress and anxiety. Practising yoga regularly leads to a significant decrease in the secretion of cortisol-the hormone primarily responsible for stress and anxiety. In fact, yoga imparted at Yoga Teacher Training in Goa, is also proven to minimize Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) thereby improving the overall quality of human life and mental health-both deeply linked to one another.
- Combats Depression-Yoga is an effective medium or treatment to tackle depression-another concerning mental health problem the world is facing right now. Several studies indicate that yoga acts as an anti-depressant owing to its capability to decrease cortisol levels-the stress hormones responsible for mental ailments and disorders.
- Promotes Sleep Quality-Incorporating yoga into your daily regime tends to enhance sleep quality as it increases the secretion of melatonin, a hormone responsible for managing sleep and wakefulness. As a result, one falls asleep faster for a longer duration of time, feels well-rested and energized in the morning, contributing to his/her mental and overall wellbeing.
- Stimulates Brain/Cognitive Function-According to studies and researches, regular yoga practice tends to improve your mind’s capacity and uplifts vitality levels. Furthermore, it enhances the speed and precision of working memory, mental adaptability, task exchanging, and data review capabilities.
- Yoga Balances Human Relationship with the World-On a deeper, philosophical note, the essence of yoga taught at Yoga Teacher training in Goa, lies in balancing out the human relationship with the external world, besides keeping the mind and body in harmony. Mindfulness, temperance, discipline, perseverance are values taught amongst yoga enthusiasts, and when applied to communities and societies, provides a path to a sustainable and more meaningful living.
All in all, a fruitful, harmonious combination of a healthy mind and body advocated by Yoga, is a key to a successful, blissful and contented life beneficial for humanity at large. There lies the application and success of the term ‘Yoga for Humanity’!
Learn Yoga, in broader sense, Yoga for Humanity at Diya Yoga–Yoga Alliance RYS200 school located at Mandrem-a small town in North Goa, India. Our best Yoga Teacher Training in Goa merges ancient Vedic knowledge with modern asanas taught by highly skilled and competent Indian and International yoga teachers. We deliver comprehensive theoretical and practical training program during our 24-day structured course. On completion of our teacher training program in Goa, you will emerge as a confident teacher imparting yoga lessons to aspirants. Come, be a part of our noble and humble effort to spread the all-round benefits of yoga far and wide!