PEARLISHKA BURRUN, 15 years
Sodnac State Secondary School
According to Sadhguru Jagadish ‘Jaggi’ Vasudev: The word “yoga” essentially means, “that which brings you to reality”. Literally, it means “union.” Union means it brings you to the ultimate reality, where individual manifestations of life are surface bubbles in the process of creation.
Yoga is a wonderful discipline that helps you bring equilibrium in your life at mental, physical or spiritual level through pranayamas (breathing exercises) asanas (postures), shrabha asna (relaxing) and dhyana (meditation).
Yoga works with prana, energy flowing in the body which helps in inner self-healing and activation of the 7 chakras present in the body. Yoga also helps to understand the language of the universe by a simple chant (OM/ AUM).
All of this helps having a proper balanced, peaceful and healthy life.
Yoga originates from ancient India and is still present nowadays. But many people, specially youngsters, consider yoga practice as an anachronism and waste of time. As a youth myself, I did not want to hear about yoga because I thought that it was old-fashioned and I was afraid of what my friends would think of me as an adept of yoga.
But the day I started the first session with an experienced teacher, it was just mind blowing. Yoga helped me physically, mentally and spiritually. I was then able to understand that it’s not a waste of time at all. It has not changed me but helped me improve myself. I am now able to see things from a different perspective, being able not to judge but to understand and help, to be calm even in an alarming situation as it’s only when we are calm that we can find good solutions.
Yoga also taught me that nothing is eternal; anything can change in a fraction of second. It can be hard but we should be able to accept it and move on as it is only by doing this that we will be able to experience and understand the concept of life. And also as a youth and student, it helped me in dealing with stress and anger issues.
So I hope that this experience of mine will help you understand and try a bit of yoga!
The map showing the distribution of yoga centres in Mauritius may be helpful to you (See map). If you click on a specific yoga centre indicated in the Goggle map, you will get practical info about this centre. (Go to https://www.google.com/search?tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:14&tbm=lcl&q=yoga+mauritius+(map+showing+distribution+of+yoga+centres&rflfq=1&num=10#rlfi=hd:;si:;mv:[[-20.015073599999997,57.6117945],[-20.5204628,57.3488106]]
Multiple benefits of yoga according to Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine, with headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, has identified 9 potential benefits of yoga pairing some of these benefits with 1 yoga pose for practice.
1. Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility.
Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while
holding a pose can build strength.
Try it: Tree Pose
Balance on one foot, while holding the other foot to your calf or above the knee (but never on the knee) at a right angle. Try to focus on one spot in front of you, while you balance for one minute.
2. Yoga helps with back pain relief.
Yoga is as good as basic stretching for easing pain and improving mobility in people with lower back pain. The American College of Physicians recommends yoga as a first-line treatment for chronic low back pain.
Try it: Cat-Cow Pose
Get on all fours, placing your palms underneath your shoulders and your knees underneath your hips. First, inhale, as you let your stomach drop down toward the floor. Then, exhale, as you draw your navel toward your spine, arching your spine like a cat stretching.
3. Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms.
Gentle yoga has been shown to ease some of the discomfort of tender, swollen joints for people with arthritis, according to a Johns Hopkins review of 11 recent studies.
4. Yoga benefits heart health.
Regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing to healthier hearts. Several of the factors contributing to heart disease, including high blood pressure and excess weight, can also be addressed through yoga.
Try it: Downward Dog Pose
Get on all fours, then tuck your toes under and bring your sitting bones up, so that you make a triangle shape. Keep a slight bend in your knees, while lengthening your spine and tailbone.
5. Yoga relaxes you, to help you sleep better.
Research shows that a consistent bedtime yoga routine can help you get in the right mindset and prepare your body to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Try It: Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose
Sit with your left side against a wall, then gently turn right and lift your legs up to rest against the wall, keeping your back on the floor and your sitting bones close to the wall. You can remain in this position for 5 to 15 minutes.
6. Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods.
You may feel increased mental and physical energy, a boost in alertness and enthusiasm, and fewer negative feelings after getting into a routine of practicing yoga.
7. Yoga helps you manage stress.
According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss and quality sleep.
Try It: Corpse Pose (Savasana)
Lie down with your limbs gently stretched out, away from the body, with your palms facing up. Try to clear your mind while breathing deeply. You can hold this pose for 5 to 15 minutes.
8. Yoga connects you with a supportive community.
Participating in yoga classes can ease loneliness and provide an environment for group healing and support. Even during one-on-one sessions loneliness is reduced as one is acknowledged as a unique individual, being listened to and participating in the creation of a personalized yoga plan.
9. Yoga promotes better self-care.
The U.S. military, the National Institutes of Health and other large organizations are listening to — and incorporating — scientific validation of yoga’s value in health care.
Practise in the quiet of your home
Once you have learned yoga techniques properly from a Sri Sri Yoga teacher, and are comfortable, you can start practising them on your own. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you prepare yourself for a fun yoga practice at home.
1: Choose a convenient time
2: Choose a comfortable place
3: Practise on a relatively empty stomach
4: Keep your yoga wear simple
5: Warm up before doing intense yoga postures
6: It is your own body; be gentle on it
7: Be consistent
8: Make yoga time as ‘family fun time’
9: Include a variety of yoga techniques
To conclude, let us observe that although Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind, bringing a lot of health benefits yet it is not a substitute for medicine. It is important to learn and practise yoga techniques under the supervision of a trained Sri Sri Yoga teacher. In case of any medical condition, practice yoga techniques after consulting a doctor and a Sri Sri Yoga teacher.
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Photo shows the “bridge posture”