RELEVANCE OF YOGA
1. Introduction: Relevance of Yoga
In today’s world, there are few people who have not heard about the term “Yoga”. However, most of them are not aware of the meaning of yoga or are less interested in learning about it. The term yoga refers to the union of cosmic consciousness with individual consciousness. One who performs Yoga is called Yogi. But, can everyone who practices yoga be a Yogi?
“Sadhu sadhu mahabaho yanmam tvam pariprichchasi;
Kathyami cha te vatsa savadhano’vadharya”.
The meaning is – O Mahabaho (my disciple)! I appreciate your question. Oh dear my disciple, let me explain the question you have asked that you are keen to learn Yoga. Listen carefully, to how to acquire this knowledge.
There are four phases of a human being to be a yogi:
- Jignasu (Curious)
- Seeker (Aspirant)
- Sadhaka (Devotee/Practitioner)
- Yogi (One who attains the truth): The focus should be to gain knowledge and the inner
Truth, maybe the man is a householder, sanyasi, or a liberated soul.
Every man has a curious mind. At one time, everyone wondered why he had come to this world and what is the purpose of his coming. At this stage, the man tries to understand the relevance of yoga. Most people, forget this thinking over a period of time either due to aversion or reluctance. But very few think about this, adopt the Yogic path, and start sadhana. On continuous practice, according to Guruji’s advice, man can achieve his goal and attain salvation.
2. History of Yoga: Evolution and Propagation
Yoga is prehistoric in India and started its journey from Vivaswat (The Sun God who is associated with knowledge and wisdom) to Manu (The progenitor of humanity and the founder of human civilization and is often considered as the first king). Manu is said to have survived a great flood akin to the biblical story of Noah. Thereafter, Ikshvaku (son of Manu) carried the legacy of Yoga. In some ancient scriptures, the reference is available.
After Ikshvaku, Lord Rama born probably in pre-500 CE also enunciated from Sage Vasistha and learned Yoga from him. In between Ikshvaku and Rama, several Sages appeared and practiced Yoga, references are available from Rigveda. In continuation of this rich Indian yoga legacy, Sage Patanjali forwarded this to Lord Krishna who also taught his great disciple Arjuna about Yoga. This is available in Shrimad Bhagavat Gita in all 18 chapters. In the post-classical period between 600 -1800 CE, yoga evolved significantly. During this period Yoga was influenced by various schools of thought including Tantra and Vedanta which incorporated ritualistic and physical elements.
In 1893 Swami Vivekananda visited the United States for his groundbreaking speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions for introducing Hinduism where he also introduced Vedanta and Yoga in the United States. Thereafter, in the 19th century, Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj came forward to spread Yoga throughout the world through Shyama Charan Lahiri, Yukteswar Giri, and Paramahamsa Yogananda. From the Autobiography of a Yogi, it is learned that Babaji said “I am forwarding this valuable Kriya Yoga through you as the revival of the same science which Lord Krishna gave this to his disciple Arjuna” millions of years ago.
Thereafter, Parahamansa Yogananda traveled to the Western world to propagate Yoga as per his Guru’s order. Now, several hundreds of Yoga centers in India as well as in Western countries have been developed through enlightened and non-enlightened Yoga Gurus to propagate the relevance of yoga.
3. The Relevance of Yoga in today’s world:
Yoga is part and parcel in every human life. If we consider that yoga provides individual consciousness apart from cosmic consciousness, it helps us to fight with contradictions and complexities within ourselves. Therefore, the relevance of yoga is more crucial than ever before. It is worthwhile to mention here that all forms of activities of the mind are the products of Prakriti, Matter, and completely distinct from the soul and individual consciousness. A conscious mind helps us to fight with complex thoughts within ourselves. The tools and techniques available in Yoga help us to protect our physical health, remove stress, improve mental wellbeing, lead to ethical living, and choose a better lifestyle. Considering all these aspects, we are compelled to think about the Relevance of Yoga in today’s world.
4.The Physical Benefits of Yoga:
Sage Gheranda says
“Naasti maaya asamh passo naasti Yogaat param balam;
Naasti jnaanaat paro bandhur naahankaaraatparo ripuh”.
Naasti Yogatparam Balam indicates that there is no power or force as powerful as Yoga. How is this so powerful and why do we give some much importance to the relevance of Yoga? Yoga lies in the form of energy which can exterminate the shortcomings within the body because the inherent force within the body can be moderated, balanced, and brought under control the whole personality, the body, mind, intellect, thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Perhaps there is no scientific method that can help to symmetrically develop the body, mind, and consciousness in an organized manner. That’s why the relevance of yoga lies.
To get rid of ailments, several medicines such as allopathy, homeopathy, and ayurveda are available but Yoga itself can offer relief from physical disorders by simple yogic methods, the mind can be developed and wisdom can also be achieved by awakening intuition.
Therefore, the great sage Gheranda says, “There is no force in the world more powerful than Yoga”.
- Balancing energy through Asanas:
A fundamental component of yoga practice is energy balance through asanas, which harmonizes the mind, body, and soul to produce inner harmony. Physical positions known as asanas are intended to channel, stimulate, and stabilize energy in certain ways. In order to extend the free passage of prana (life force), each position focuses on a distinct chakra, or energy center, in the body. For example, grounding poses like Mountain (Tadasana) stabilize the root chakra, bringing peace and focus, while backbends like Cobra pose (Bhujangasana) open the heart chakra, increasing energy and openness.
Here, the relevancy of Yoga lies in the balance of energy which extends more than simply physical powers; it also includes emotional stability and mental clarity. The positions and postures provide a feeling of Centre by energizing the nervous system and assisting in stress regulation. A more focused, energized, and tranquil state of being can result from doing asanas, which provide a comprehensive method of releasing stress and balancing internal energy. Whether you want to ground yourself, recharge, or discover inner peace, asanas provide a powerful way to re-establish a connection with yourself and bring balance to your everyday life.
5. A case study: How yoga helps Athletes stay fit and agile
Fitness for top athletes involves more than simply physical training; it also involves optimizing regaining, flexibility, and attention. LeBron James of the NBA is a great example; he added yoga to his practice to increase his flexibility and minimize his chance of injury. He understood the relevance of yoga in his sports field. By reducing tension and increasing joint mobility, yoga helped him to manage the strenuous physical demands of his game and maintain his ability to move quickly on the court.
Similar findings were found in a Stanford University study of collegiate runners. Yoga twice a week significantly improved flexibility, decreased injury rates, and speed up recovery for athletes. Stretching, core strengthening, and breath control were the main focuses of the yoga sessions. This all-encompassing strategy helped athletes stay constant in their performance by preventing injuries.
Here also, the relevance of Yoga is important to Athletes since it helps to promote a mind-body connection and has been extremely beneficial in sports. Yoga is a complete tool in competitive sports because it helps players maintain both mental and physical agility. Because of these advantages, yoga is becoming more and more popular as a main sports training regimen all over the world.
6. The Relevance of Yoga in Mental clarity : A path to inner peace
Relevance of Yoga is also important in achieving mental clarity. It is a great technique for discovering inner peace and soothing the mind; it’s not only about physical postures but also it helps us to calm the incessant thoughts and anxieties that frequently occupy our minds by using different Asanas, Pranayama, and meditation.
We can think more clearly and experience less stress when we have this mental clarity. Through yoga, we learn to focus on concentration especially when we use breathing techniques like pranayama. By reducing mental disorders, this concentration facilitates the release of unpleasant emotions and worrisome ideas. Another essential component of yoga is meditation, which helps us to notice our thoughts without being caught up in them.
This attentiveness eventually results in a calmer mind and more inner serenity. To put it briefly, yoga provides a means of achieving mental clarity by assisting us in better thought management, improved concentration, and a greater sense of inner calmness.
6. Relevance of Yoga in Meditation and Mindfulness.
“Pranayama laghavam cha dhyanat pratyaksha matmanah
Samadhina nirliptam cha muktireva na samshayah”
Dhyanat pratyaksha matmanah:
Dhyana means meditation. Self-realization is achieved through meditation. We all know that the subtle mind is clarified through meditation and mindfulness is achieved through meditation. When we go deeper and deeper, we can realize the cosmic feelings within ourselves. We can see the bright light within ourselves and that is inexplicable. This is the supreme power that lies within everyone. Only we have to practice and energize ourselves more and more to gain cosmic blessings. Therefore, meditation and mindfulness is a tool for knowing the self and understanding the self.
7. Relevance of Yoga in Spiritual growth and self-realization:
Here also the relevance of yoga is important. To achieve spiritual growth and self-realization, the yogi should practice regularly with the help of his Yoga Guru just as a student practices the alphabet to acquire knowledge of all the scriptures. Similarly, by mastering yoga self-realization is achieved as well as spiritual growth. With continuous dedicated sequential yoga practice, the attainment of self-realization is possible. The important requirement is to achieve an understanding of an individual’s physical, mental, and psychological interactions before adopting the yoga path.
Here the relevance of yoga in spiritual growth and self-realization is important because the yogis should practice sequentially. A yogi should be conversant with the physical, mental, intellectual, psychological, and internal activities of the body and mind. Once the yogi lays the foundation properly, it will be easy for him to achieve his goal. You can’t reach the goal in a short period; it is a continuous practice until your goal is achieved. You will be enlightened when you attain the goal. Rest is depending on the yogi’s efforts and the Almighty’s blessings.
“Mūkaṃ karoti vāchālaṃ
Paṅguṃ laṅghāyate girim
Yat kṛipā tamahaṃ vande
paramānanda Madhavam”
The meaning is: “I bow to Maadhava, the source of ultimate joy, whose grace enables the speechless to speak and the disabled to cross mountains.”
Therefore, without the blessings of Maadhava (The Supreme power), nothing is possible.
7. How the relevance of yoga is important in modern life: A daily tool for everyone:
Yoga stands out as a daily tool that anybody, regardless of age or lifestyle, may use in today’s world of stress and fast-paced routines. With its roots in ancient practice, yoga has developed to suit modern demands while providing a comprehensive approach to mental and physical health.
Regular yoga practice is a great way to combat inactive lives since it may increase flexibility, strength, and attention. The advantages of yoga are not just physical. By lowering stress, anxiety, and tension, practices like mindful breathing, meditation, and mild stretching can help people stay balanced in the face of everyday difficulties. The people who understand the Relevance of Yoga, have adopted this path right from office professionals to students, by incorporating easy routines like morning stretches or focused breathing exercises into a hectic schedule.
People may now practice yoga anywhere, at any time, thanks to contemporary yoga applications and online courses that further erase accessibility restrictions. All things considered, yoga is a universal technique that helps individuals discover peace, resilience, and a higher quality of life despite the stresses of modern life. Because of its versatility, yoga may be incorporated into each person’s daily routine to promote both physical and inner vigor.
8. Analysis:
Considering the fast-paced modern life, people frequently face stress, anxiety, and burnout and to counter these physical problems, yoga has become an important tool to overcome all these ailments. In today’s world, the lifestyle has become sedentary and, therefore, tends to become sick. These people spend a huge amount of their earnings to get relief from the ailment. But, if these people understood the Relevance of Yoga, they might have adopted the path of Yoga to lessen their recurring medical expenses, and could have led a disease-free and happy life.
Generally, people are more interested in physical pleasure or following the thought process for their quick advancement in life. But when they face failure, they become disappointed. They feel tired, physically, mentally, and emotionally whereas a Yogi does not feel tired. Tiredness does not mean the way the body feels after physical labor.
Such type of feelings of tiredness is created when the person is more concerned about their future. When the past is related to the future in the absence of the present, a shady state of affairs arises and the man becomes more tired. To overcome this problem, Yoga is a must to establish a connection with their physical and mental well-being by encouraging awareness, movement, and self-care.
Furthermore, yoga offers simple methods for reducing stress, increasing concentration, and boosting general wellness. Yoga provides methods that enhance emotional resilience and supplement conventional therapy at a time when mental health issues are becoming more prevalent. The advantages of yoga and Relevance of Yoga are further supported by scientific study, which indicates that practice can improve immunological function, lower cortisol levels, and lessen the symptoms of anxiety and sadness.
9. Conclusion: Why the relevance of yoga is more important now than before:
The present modern life is full of stress owing to their hectic activities starting from morning to night. It becomes difficult to remember in the night what they have done throughout the day and why he is tired and stressed. If the person can remember the cause of anxiety and stress and take out a few minutes from their busy schedule for Yoga, the person can lead a stress-free life and thereby improve his quality of life.
The relevance of yoga is just not important; it’s essential. It helps us to provide mental clarity, physical flexibility, and emotional strength which we need to live with purpose and balance. Therefore, as you navigate the demands of today’s world, try to include Yoga in your schedule to get a stress-free and healthy life. Yoga could be your guide to finding stability, serenity, and strength, no matter how fast life moves.
FAQ:
Question :
- Why Yoga is important?
Ans: Yoga is important for every individual either for living a stressless and healthy life or for attaining spiritual goals. Those who aspire to a stressless and healthy life should practice some yogic postures, and those who want to attain spiritual goals should strictly follow some rules, avoid a sedentary lifestyle, adopt some postures as their routine, and perform Pranayam and meditation.
- What is the relevance of yoga in the 21st century?
Ans: The relevance of Yoga in the 21st century is immense and offers solutions starting from physical, mental, and societal challenges. Right from morning to night, we face a fast-paced lifestyle, high stress, and overreliance on modern technology. We forget to spare time for our health. But, yoga is the only solution to a holistic approach to our well-being and to challenge these problems.
- What is the historical origin of Yoga?
Ans: Yoga is prehistoric in India and started its journey from Vivaswat (The Sun God who is associated with knowledge and wisdom) to Manu (The progenitor of humanity and the founder of human civilization and is often considered as the first king). Manu is said to have survived a great flood akin to Noah. After Manu, Ikshaku carried the legacy. Thereafter Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Mahamuni Babaji Maharaj, Shyamacharan Lahiri, Yukteshwar Giri, Paramahansa Yogananda, Dayamata and so on.
- How does Yoga contribute to mental health?
Ans: Yoga has profound benefits for mental health, helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. Its combination of physical movement, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices creates a unique blend of tools that can improve overall mental well-being. This is not an unscientific idea because when life becomes controlled, balanced, and positive, negative actions are not created. To accomplish this balance, the yoga path must be adopted.
- Why Yoga is important in modern life?
Ans: Yoga is essential in modern life because it offers a balanced approach to health and wellness, counteracting the negative effects of today’s fast-paced and often stressful lifestyle. As modern life demands more from our minds and bodies, yoga provides tools to manage stress, boost mental clarity, and maintain physical health—all of which are increasingly necessary for a healthy, happy life.
