Chapter 1 : A Quick Overview of the History of Yoga

Yoga originated about 3,000 years ago in India. The meaning of the word Yoga is ‘to join’ and comes from the Sanskrit language. Yoga was extremely popular in India but it was not a religion.

Today over 5 million people practice yoga in the United States alone.  Many therapeutic exercises actually derive from yoga postures and poses.

There is more than one type of yoga and you have probably heard many of these types. One of the most popular types of yoga is Hatha Yoga. It is the best style for beginners to learn as it incorporates all the basic moves of yoga.

Yoga basically has three main components:

  1. The poses or postures – often referred to as Asana
  2. Breathing techniques
  3. Relaxation

In modern society stress is rampant and this leads to people having to deal with more health problems both mental and physical.   Unfortunately our food is not as fresh or wholesome as it once was. Even the air we breathe is more polluted. On top of this most people are less active than before and this leads to obesity in all age groups and genders.

The reason why yoga is increasing in popularity is because it is beneficial for the whole body.  In addition to improving the way your body looks, yoga can help you relax and heal your mind.

Yoga is easily known as the all in one exercise. It can be a spiritual passageway as well if you desire to follow this path. But it is the holistic qualities that are excellent for all people regardless of their background.

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