International Yoga Day is celebrated every year on June 21. It was first started by our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. He celebrated Yoga day for the first time on June 21 in 2015, after which Yoga Day started being celebrated all over the world on June 21 and turned into International Yoga Day. The festival of Yoga Day is celebrated every year by the Ministry of AYUSH in India. 

The word Yoga means a Hindu spiritual and ascetic  discipline, a part of which including breathe control, simple  mediation and the adaptation of specific body posture is  widely practiced bodily postures, is widely practiced for  health and relaxation which originated in ancient India. Yoga is the most effective way of connecting your soul to God. It balances our mind and body and connects us to the natural world and helps us appreciate the world in a healthier approach. Yoga is a discipline to improve or develop one’s inherent power in a balanced manner. It offers the means to attain complete self-realization.  

Yoga is performed as part of an exercise program to increase general health, reduce stress, improve flexibility and muscle strength, and alleviate certain physical symptoms; it is commonly used as part of physical therapy and rehabilitation of injuries. In addition to exercise and stress reduction, yoga is also used therapeutically to help children and adolescents with medical conditions. Yoga is a great way to work on your flexibility and strength. Some types of yoga are about relaxation. In others, you move more. Most types focus on learning poses, called asanas. They also usually include attention to breathing. 

Meditation a form of yoga helps us think about life and the Supreme power God which makes us a better person and help to make better decisions about life. Meditation is the most favorable method of balancing the psychological level of a person. It gives immense serenity and peace to the person and helps to undertake daily struggles in a healthy manner. 

Yoga for Flexibility:-

Yoga poses work by stretching your muscles. They can help you move better and feel less stiff or tired. At any level of yoga, you’ll probably start to notice benefits soon.  

Strike a Pose for Strength:-

Some styles of yoga, such as ashtanga and power yoga are very physical. Practicing one of these styles will help you improve muscle tone. But even less vigorous styles of yoga, such as Iyengar or hatha, can provide strength and endurance benefits. Many of the poses, such as downward dog, upward dog, and the plank pose, build upper-body strength. The standing poses, especially if you hold them for  several long breaths, build strength in your hamstrings,  quadriceps, and abs. Poses that strengthen the lower back  include upward dog and the chair pose. When done right, nearly all poses build core strength in the deep abdominal muscles. 

Better Posture from Yoga:-

When you’re stronger and more flexible, your posture improves. Most standing and sitting poses develop core strength, since you need your core muscles to support and maintain each pose.  

With a stronger core, you’re more likely to sit and stand “tall.” Yoga also helps your body awareness. That helps you notice more quickly if you’re slouching or slumping, so you can adjust your posture. 

Breathing Benefits:-

Yoga usually involves paying attention to your breath, which can help you relax. It may also call for specific breathing techniques. But yoga typically isn’t aerobic, like running or cycling, unless it’s an intense type of yoga. 

Less Stress, More Calm:-

You may feel less stressed and more relaxed after doing some yoga. Some yoga styles use meditation techniques that help calm the mind. Focusing on your breathing during yoga can do that, too. 

Good for Your Heart:-

Yoga has long been known to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. A slower heart rate can benefit people with high blood pressure or heart disease, and people who’ve had a stroke. Yoga has also been linked to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and better immune system function.