Yoga is a spiritual discipline which focuses on bringing peace to your mind and body. It is the art and science of leading a healthy and fulfilled life. Moreover, yoga is known to provide numerous health benefits to practitioners, including improved flexibility, relief from body pain, improved strength, balance, and stress levels. In simple words, if you are planning to start a new hobby, you must give yoga a shot. Did you know that yoga is over 5000 years old? Here are other interesting fun facts about yoga.
Facts About Yoga
- The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj” and means “union”.
- Yoga is over 5000 years old.
- Historical evidences of the existence of Yoga were seen from the pre-Vedic period till the Patanjali period.
- Yoga refines and purifies the eight centres of our body, also known as “chakras”.
- Yoga is scientifically proven to relieve symptoms of numerous health issues. It improves flexibility, muscle strength, and respiration, and helps maintain good metabolism.
- Lord Shiva is said to be the first yogi or Adiyogi.
- It is believed that Adiyogi spread his knowledge to Saptrishis or “seven sages” on the banks of Lake Kantisarovar in the Himalayas. Then, the sages carried these teachings to different parts of the world, including Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
- According to yogic scriptures, practising yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with Universal consciousness, creating harmony between mind and body.
- Researchers have found numerous seals and fossil remains of the Indus Saraswati Valley civilization with Yogic figures and Yoga Sadhana.
- Bhagawadgita explains the concepts of Gyan yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Karma yoga.
- There are over 100 different asanas in yoga.
- The Modern period of 1700 – 1900 AD was when Vedanta, Bhakti Yoga, Nathayoga, or Hatha-yoga flourished.
- B.K.S. Iyengar is the founder of Iyengar Yoga, a unique style.
- Traditional Schools of Yoga include Jnana-yoga, Bhakti-yoga, Karma-yoga, Dhyana-yoga, Patanjala-yoga, Kundalini-yoga, Hatha-yoga, Mantra-yoga, Raja-yoga, Jain-yoga, Bouddha-yoga.
- International Yoga Day is observed every year on 21 June to celebrate the health benefits of Yoga and the importance of practising it every day.
- Yoga teaching is becoming an increasingly popular career choice around the world.
- Swami Vivekananda, an Indian philosopher, spread yoga and other Indian traditions around the world.
- In 1982, Angela Farmer created the first yoga mat to create a sticky surface while teaching.
Hope you had fun reading these interesting facts about yoga. If you like reading about facts, you can visit our interesting facts page to read more such blogs.