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Yoga



Yoga practice is a set of physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines that originated in India and aims to control and still the mind, realizing a detached witness consciousness uncontaminated by the mind and mundane suffering.

There has been a significant impact of yoga philosophy on the way society in India functions, including areas such as health and medicine, education, and the arts.

The ultimate goal of yoga is stillness, insight, resting in detached awareness, and liberation (Moksha) from Samsara and Duhkha: a path to unity (Aikyam) with god (Brahman) or oneself (Atman). This varies by philosophical or theological system, but samadhi and remaining in it as pure awareness is the ultimate goal of classical Astanga yoga.

With values based on integrating mind, body, and soul for greater mental, spiritual, and physical well-being, yoga makes up a large portion of the community's ethos. As a result of yoga poses, meditation, controlled breathing, word and chanting, an individual can gain self-realization, relieve any suffering they may be experiencing, and attain freedom.

Studies have investigated the effects of postural yoga on physical and mental health, with evidence that regular yoga practice is beneficial for stress relief and low back pain. According to a 2017 Cochrane review, yoga interventions designed for chronic low back pain improved function after six months and significantly decreased pain after three to four months.

The decrease in pain was similar to that of other exercise programs designed for low-back pain, but it was not large enough to be considered clinically significant. These changes are believed to be caused by increased strength and flexibility, physical and mental relaxation, and increased body awareness.

The practice can be adopted by young and old without discrimination based on their gender, class, or religion, as well as spreading throughout other parts of the world. Yoga was traditionally transmitted through Guru-Shishya (master-pupil) relationships and yoga gurus acted as primary custodians of associated knowledge and skills.

Currently, yoga ashrams or hermitages provide additional opportunities to learn about the traditional practice, in addition to schools, universities, community centers, and social media. The teaching and practice of yoga also utilize ancient manuscripts and scriptures. There is also a wide variety of modern books on the topic.

Modern westerners often use the term "yoga" to describe a posture-based form of Hatha yoga, a stress-relief, and relaxation technique, which is mostly made up of asanas; this differs from traditional yoga, which is focused on meditation and liberation from worldly attachments.


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