– Yoga Day to draw focus on the benefits of the art form

THE practice of yoga has grown more popular internationally and the Indian High Commission is encouraging more Guyanese to attend local classes as they would be able to benefit from improved holistic health.

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolising the union of body and consciousness.

“Yoga is a universal practise, it is not related to any person, caste or creed and so anybody who is breathing and is alive can join a yoga session,” Yoga Instructor at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), Agnela Patil said.

“Yoga connects the body, mind and spirit,” she explained, adding: “It is about physical health, mental health and spiritual health.”

According to Patil, for persons in the Western world and elsewhere, it seems as though there is only focus on the physical stretches and exercises. It is not just the physical stretches that augur well for one’s health, Patil said. She affirmed that yoga is much more than just exercising.

Yoga, she noted, focuses on the holistic health of the body, which is achieved when the mind and body are “stretched” through the eight ‘limbs’ practised through the art form.

The eight limbs, as explained by Seattle Yoga group are: Yama, which involves the attitudes toward the environment; Niyama, the attitudes toward oneself; Asana, the physical postures and stretches done; Pranayama, the restraint or expansion of the breath practised; Pratyahara, the withdrawal of the senses; Dharana, the concentration required; Dhyana, meditation; and finally, Samadhi, a spiritual connection which involves a meditative consciousness.

What was done on Friday was merely the Asana limb. This is the most commonly known yoga practice, where a myriad of stretches and postures are done to target different parts of the physical body.

“Yoga is a like a stepping stone to prepare your mind and body for a much happier, stress-free and fulfilling life,” the instructor told Guyana Chronicle.

At the SVCC, yoga sessions are offered free of cost on Tuesdays to Fridays and on Saturdays. On Friday, June 7, a larger session was held to usher in World Yoga Day, which will be observed on June 21.

Former President Donald Ramotar practises yoga at the SVCC. For him, it is a ‘stress reliever’.

“Yoga is an important aspect to help us deal with these problems,” he said.

A Harvard Medical School publication on the physical benefits of yoga, stated: “Yoga promotes physical health in multiple different ways.”

The study highlighted that the improvement to physical health could be attributed to yoga postures which help in stress management, promote flexibility and reduce joint pains.

On December 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131, and that day is observed as ‘International Yoga Day’ annually.

“The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga,” the UN noted, adding that the practice has been growing in popularity worldwide.