Let’s get our mats and water bottles to know the secrets of Benefits of Yoga and Dhyana (Meditation) in our lives
What is yoga ?
Yoga is a combination of physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to improve physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
It includes poses and stretches to increase flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as techniques to calm the mind and reduce stress.
How old is yoga in India?
Yoga is believed to have originated in Northern India approximately 5000 years ago. As it is the oldest form of exercise which is practiced by all ages. It is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It is an art and science of healthy living. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’.
DHYANA IN JAINISM:
Preksha Dhyana: Preksha means “to look”. It means gathering the mind’s attention inward and constantly looking within, which allows the practitioner to become free from the world of name and form and abide in Absolute Truth Consciousness. Preksha Dhyana can be practised anytime, anywhere, but regular practice at fixed times daily brings speedier results. The steps that follow in this meditation are Shwasa Preksha (Breath awareness) and Animesh Preksha (gazing at an object). Sharira – Preksha (Body-awareness), Vartmana Preksha (Awareness of present), Ekagrata. This can be practised while sitting, lying, or standing. Dhyana gradually releases tension and brings relaxation to the body, develops a deep-silent and slow breathing pattern, sublimates the effort to speak undesirable things, transforms the mind and brings quiet, calm and relaxation
How important is yoga in each one’s life?
You can achieve the perfect unison through Hatha Yoga and its various branches Ashtanga Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Yin Yoga, Kundalini Yoga), depending on your preferences and the issues you aim to address through the practice.
Benefits of Yoga:
Mental Health:
One of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage mental health. Most importantly, yoga helps anyone deal with stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind. Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate. Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills. This practice helps people to reach a more positive outlook on their life.
Increased Focus:
Focus is one of the main benefits of a calm mind. In today’s world, the importance of concentration is very high because people often find themselves juggling numerous tasks. Meditation is one potent practice for sharpening the focus. In meditation, you bring your attention to the breath, mantra, or visual every time your mind wanders.
Strength and Flexibility:
The lifestyle now prevails over physical health problems like limited flexibility, low strength, poor posture, stiffness, and many more. The performance of yoga asanas enables body movement in different directions, increases joint mobility, and releases emotions, leading to strength and flexibility. It is crucial for the healthy maintenance of muscles, tissues, and ligaments.
Discipline and Mindfulness in life:
Thus, it creates a healthy lifestyle and maintains discipline and a right positive mind within ourselves. Being thoughtful in every action, performing acts with compassion, and living life in the present moment eventually makes us happy.
Likewise there are few more benefits:
Enhanced Circulation:
Yoga improves blood circulation. This means better transportation of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Improved blood flow also indicates healthier organs and glowing skin.
Reducing Hostility:
When yoga is performed on the regular basis, the anger is greatly controlled. The breathing and meditation calm the nervous system, thereby decreasing anger and hostility. Reduction in hostility means reduction in blood pressure. This automatically enables a stress free and healthier approach towards life.
Allows- Self Acceptance:
Yoga enables self-awareness and betterment of health. Your self-esteem improves, and you become more confident. It builds self – control. The controlled movements of yoga teach you how to render that self-control to all the aspects of your life.
Yoga boosts metabolism:
A morning yoga practice will help to get the blood, breath and muscles moving before breakfast, therefore allowing the nutrients from your food to be better absorbed. A strong practice can help build muscle, dramatically boost metabolism, and breathing fully and deeply increases circulation, also helping the metabolism to stay ticking along nicely.
Yoga frees your feet!:
Being barefoot is more important than we might expect. Many shoes are designed more for the way they look than the way they feel, and you may be surprised to know that your favorite shoes could actually be the cause of your aches and pains. Our feet are the foundation of the body, so giving them time to breathe, to move freely and to articulate in a way that allows the arches, joints and bones of the feet to move naturally can help the alignment of the body improve.
Yoga helps you to express gratitude:
Traditionally, yogis would rise with the sun and perform Surya Namaskar as a way to greet the new day and pay homage to the sun, the giver of warmth, light and life.
How important is Dhyana in each one’s life?
As meditation or reflection, Dhyana holds significant importance in many people’s lives, regardless of cultural or religious backgrounds. Its importance derives from its potential to bring about numerous physical, mental, inspirational, and spiritual benefits. Dhyana is a person’s internal journey that connects the soul, which moves away from the materialistic world to attain inner peace and happiness.
Benefits of Dhyana
Dhyana helps in stress reduction:
Dhyana helps to reduce stress by calming the mind and relaxing the body. Through focused attention or mindfulness, it allows individuals to let go of tension and worry.
Dhyana improves concentration:
Regular practice of Dhyana enhances concentration and focus. By training the mind to stay present, it becomes easier to sustain attention on tasks and activities.
Dhyana enhances self-awareness:
Meditation fosters self-awareness by encouraging introspection and observation of thoughts, emotions, and sensations. This heightened awareness can lead to greater understanding of oneself and one’s behavior patterns.
Dhyana maintains emotional regulation:
Dhyana teaches individuals to observe their emotions without judgment, which can lead to better emotional regulation. By cultivating a sense of inner calm, one can respond to challenging situations with greater equanimity.
Dhyana improves memory:
Studies suggest that Dhyana can enhance cognitive function, including memory. By promoting relaxation and reducing mental clutter, it may improve the ability to encode, store, and retrieve information.
Dhyana ensures better sleep quality
Meditation has been shown to promote better sleep by inducing a state of relaxation and reducing insomnia. By calming the mind before bedtime, it can help individuals achieve deeper and more restful sleep.
Dhyana boosts immune system:
Research indicates that regular meditation practice can strengthen the immune system, making individuals less susceptible to illness and disease. This may be due to its stress-reducing effects and positive impact on overall health.
Dhyana lower’s blood pressure:
Studies have shown that regular meditation can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, it helps to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.
Dhyana reduces anxiety:
Meditation is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety by promoting relaxation and easing nervous tension. It teaches individuals to observe anxious thoughts without becoming consumed by them, leading to a greater sense of calm and peace.
Dhyana helps in spiritual growth:
For many practitioners, Dhyana is a path to spiritual growth and self-discovery. It fosters a deeper connection with the self and with the greater universe, leading to a sense of purpose and fulfillment in life.
In conclusion:
The Benefits of Yoga and Dhyana (Meditation) in our lives are multifaceted and profound. It encourages self-awareness and promotes inner peace and self-attainment. These practices offer a holistic approach to self-care, providing tools for managing the challenges of daily life and nurturing a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us. Integrating yoga and meditation into our routines allows us to experience greater resilience, clarity, and joy, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful existence. Ultimately, the benefits of yoga and Dhyana extend far beyond the mat or meditation cushion, enriching every aspect of our lives and empowering us to live with greater purpose, presence, and compassion.
