Yoga is a
spiritual, mental and physical practice, originated from the ancient
period. It is the royal route between the mind and the body. With the
regular practice of yoga, one tends to see and feel its benefits and a dramatic
change with the heightened energy levels, significant changes in the cellular
levels and reduced stress, increasing the happy hormones. Yoga is extremely
beneficial when it comes to managing stress which is prevalent in the youth
today. Yoga is not a “substitute” for medication, but a much better and smarter
way of dealing with the continuously increasing level of stress instead of
resorting to pills that’ll undoubtedly have major side-effects.
Mantras
are sounds and vibrations of phrases that should be chanted while meditating, which
potentially transforms the state of consciousness. According to the Hindu and
Buddhist traditions, these mantras create spiritual energies for healing and
increasing creativity. These are powerful in providing a sense of relief in
challenging situations by increasing calmness and tranquility in the
individual’s mind.
Below given are a number of poses and mantras.
CAT- COW POSES - Marjayasana
Two poses that bring flexibility to the spine and warmth to the
body. It provides a good stretch and strengthens the neck, back, torso and
abdominal organs, opens the heart, chest, slows down and deepens the breathing.
Regular practice of this pose can significantly reduce backaches.
Cat-cow pose calms the nervous system thus, relaxing the
perpetually fluctuating mind by secreting positive, happy chemicals in the mind
and body.
Mantra – “I’ll find happiness in today's journey”
GODDESS POSE - Utkata Konasana
A wide-legged squat while standing. This pose affects the muscles
and mind. This works marvelously on the lower body strengthening the lower
back, hips, thighs and calf muscles, stimulates the pelvic floor as well as the
urogenital system. This pose also stretches the shoulder joints thereby
straightening and strengthening the spine.
Utkata Konasana is great for women especially during pregnancy and
childbirth, reducing pain and thus, increasing comfort. It energizes the entire
body and reminds the individual that he is responsible for this own
happiness.
Mantra- “I am strong and confident enough”
DANCER
- Tadasana
Tadasana requires coordination of the
entire body increasing balance, meditation, flexibility, and strength. It opens
the heart, stretches and strengthens and leg muscles, shoulders, and chest. The
dancers pose is said to increase focus, improve balance, and provide
flexibility to the spine, shoulders, and hamstring.
Tadasana provides mental benefits too
like the feeling of calmness and happiness by releasing stress and tension and
opening up the heart. It is one of the most beautiful poses.
Mantra- “Happiness begins with an
open heart"
CROW
POSE / Bakasana
This is also called the “Crane Pose”. This pose requires the
individual to slowly bring all their body weight onto the hands, with the shins
resting on the upper arm and slowly lifting the feet off the ground and
balancing solely on the hands.
This pose strengthens the walls of the abdomen, thighs, and back.
Boosts confidence and happiness seeing oneself balance on two limbs, something
not too many people can achieve. It increases focus and concentration by
calming the mind and building endurance.
Mantra – “Strength and Happiness is welcomed"
HEADSTAND -
Shirshasana
This Asana is often referred as the king of postures. It improves
blood flow to the eyes, head and scalp. Also this helps to improve digestion.
It flushes out the adrenal glands. And the accumulation of fluid in legs,
ankles and feet is also reduced while performing this asana. This pose is the
inversion posture of standing. It builds strength in the upper portion of the
body. It provides many physical benefits.
It signifies looking the world and at one's life from a different
perspective. As one could feel the flow of blood in the entire body. It helps
to start a day with full of positive energy.
Mantra- “Maintain peace with what cannot be changed.”
WARRIOR POSE
Also known as Veerbhadra, a graceful
pose that increases strength and stability in the mind and body. It improves
flexibility to the upper parts of the body and the hips. This warrior poses the
body, mind, and spirit with all the attention and strength of a “warrior” needs
while fighting a battle.
The Veerbhadra pose reminds the
individual about his strength, capabilities and that he is amazing just the way
he is, encouraging them to embrace their individuality and uniqueness. The
warrior pose improves balance, concentration, and stability of the mind, and
body.
Mantra-“Every morning is a new
beginning"
WHEEL POSE - Urdva Dhanurasana
Stamina and determination are
required while performing this pose. A huge effort from the entire body and
mind needs to be exerted in order to push the body upwards, against the gravity
of the earth forming an arch.
This pose stretches and strengthens
the kidney, liver and pancreas, a good alternative for many medicated
treatments. It is extremely effective in strengthening the heart and cures
infertility, osteoporosis, and asthma. Dhanurasana provides a stretch to the
torso that helps to release stress and tension, and thus, energizing the entire
body, mind, and spirit as performing this pose produces the Endorphins - the
happy hormones.
Mantra- “Mistakes are made to have a
second chance to learn.
A
combination of Mantras along yoga helps to strengthen attention. Yoga is an
amazing workout, lose weight and tone up the entire body. Besides fitness, it
provides additional mental and spiritual benefits. It improves mental health,
by reducing negative emotions, stress, depression, and anxiety.
It
helps to control the mind, emotions and provides strength to face challenges in
our day to day life. With regular practice of yoga,
provides significant changes in an individual’s body and mind.
One
should always be patient while practicing yoga. The main thing to keep in mind
while performing yoga should be to achieve the correct posture without worrying
about the speed. It takes a while to heal and cure illnesses and to see visible
results. Although people usually don’t have so much patience, thus, resort to
shortcuts - artificial methods and procedures to lose weight like taking
medicines, undergoing surgeries, and getting hooked onto harmful steroids that
will do more harm than good. These shortcuts can have serious consequences and
negative impacts on health. However, yoga has only slow yet steady benefits to
provide. The significant time taken by yoga to
show results is worth all its long term benefits.
