Yoga has roots dating back to 5000 years in India. The Yogis who lived in the forests developed different postures

Introduction of Yoga:

Early times one knew about Yoga was sitting cross-legged on a mat and quietly meditating. Today many people, who have known the benefits of yoga, practice it in daily life and realized that yoga helps of bringing mind, body, and spirit into balance.

Yoga has many forms, but most practiced are the ones, which combines physical postures or poses (asanas), with breathing (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana). They work on every part of your body. Some poses stretch and align the body, while others primarily build muscle strength. Poses range from simple positions well suited to beginners to very complicated and strenuous ones (such as head or shoulder stands) that should only be attempted by advanced practitioners.

Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program, including one that includes yoga.

Beginners should go slowly and listen to your body, as your body knows what it can do. Do not push too hard as it may hurt you. Know your limits. To avoid injury, always stop if you feel pain or become dizzy. Don't try to do something just because someone has been doing it.

One can also work with a teacher, and use books, videos and websites to learn and practice Yoga. Do stick to it once you have started as it will improve and make you feel better.

Yoga is not an exercise, but a series of postures or poses called Asanas. People of all ages can do yoga, and it can also be adapted for people with disabilities or special needs too. The gentle poses are held anywhere from 10-60 seconds or even more. There are numerous benefits of Yoga including improved physical fitness, stress control, general well being, mental clarity, and greater self-understanding. . The poses enhance muscle strength, coordination, flexibility and agility, and can help a bad back feel better.

Regular practice of Yoga helps to keep our body fit, controls cholesterol level, reduces weight, normalizes blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy, anxiety, and stress and improves heart performance. It is a tool for self-healing. Yoga helps one to develop flexibility, range of motion, concentration, cardiovascular health, reduces stress, tension, and tightness. Yoga practice can help anyone - male or female, young or old, fit or unfit - become healthier and find balance and moderation in all aspects of life.