Yoga:	Purpose of yoga	Role of yoga	Benefits of yoga	Keep-fit-yoga routine

Yoga for your Health and Happiness 


What is Yoga?

Since some years ago, many people were not aware of what yoga is. Some used to believe that practice of Yoga was akin to “magical performances” of the past such as bending bars and tearing plates, Breaking stones, walking on fire, remaining underground in a pit for several days, etc. In recent times, many people have begun to understand instead of wanting to know what yoga is, they are interested to know what among The different yoga practices should they follow for maintaining health, or for overcoming some common health problems.

Yoga is one of the very ancient Sanskrit works. It has two different meanings - a general meaning and a technical meaning. Both these meaning are not related with each other. In the general sense the word ‘yoga’ is deriven from the root “Yujir-yoge”, which means joining, coming together or union of any two or more things. The word ‘yoga’ has been used in the rigveda, one of the four vedas, of ancient test, to mean “unity of the intellect of the sages” or dheenam yogaminvati or “arrangement of verses” of Chhandasam yogam. In the Atharva veda, another of the four ancient texts, words such as ashtayogaih and shadyogebhih are used to indicate a plow pulled by eight for six bullocks respectively. Word such as viyoga, samyoga, agoga, prayoga, vinigoga, Sshayoga, are common examples of the use of the word ‘yoga’ even today in the general sense of ‘coming together’, derived from the root Yuji. 

The technical meaning of the term 'Yoga' is derived from another root “yoji” (samadhau). Here the meaning of word is not “Union” ,but “a state of stability, stillness, and peace”. The word ‘yoga’ here indicates both the state of stillness and the means of practices which lead to that state. These practices include asanas, pranayama, dhyana, yana-niyanmas, etc. While in the Veds the word ‘yoga’ is used only in the general sense, there are texts ( such as the Bhagavad Gita) in which both the meanings are ascribed to that word. In the Gita, words such as buddhiyoga, Karmayoga are used which refer to the technical meaning . Many experts have said that at the time of Panini, the famous Sanskrit Garmmarian of the seventhcentury BC, both the meanings of the word – general and technical – yoga were already in use. 

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Common Asanas for maintaining Health and Fitness

	Tadasana Standing erect and with weight evenly on both feet; straightens spine.		Trikonasana Straightens legs, straightens knees, lateral stretch to spine develops chest.
Parivrtta Trikonasana Gentle spinal twist. Tones thigh, calf and hamstring muscles.				Parsvakonasana Tones legs, develops chest, reduces fat around hips, relieves sciatica and constipation.

	Parivrtta Parsvakonasana More intense spinal twist. Massages internal organs, aides digestion.		VirabhdraasanaI-A Relieves stiffness in shoulders and back. Reduces fat around hips. Strenuous.
Virabhdraasana- B Strengthens leg and back muscles. Tones abdominal organs.				Uttanasana Extends legs and spine, tones inner organs, rests heart and brain.

	Vrksasana Tones leg muscles and develops balance and poise.		Virasana Rests legs after standing poses. Good for knees, corrects flat feet.
Parvatasana Works shoulders and develops chest. Keeps spine straight.				Dandasana Sitting at right-angle on perineum, strengthens back muscles and straightens spine.

	Navasana Tones kidneys. Strengthens abdominal muscles. Strenous.		Ardha Navasana Works on liver, gall-bladder and spleen. Strengthens abdominal muscles.
Bharadvajasana Gentle twist on dorsal and lumbar region makes spine more supple.				Sarvangasana Shoulder stand works on glands and inner organs, especially heart and liver.
	Halasana Further extension in spine. Preparation for forward bending poses. Chair under feet may help.		Savasana Important to end with 10-minute relaxation in copse pose. With breathing exercises, calms brain activity. Beginners apt to fall asleep, but pose should be reinvigorating.
Gomukhasana,  Loosens shoulders and releases neck tension. With feet on floor and sitting bones pressing into a chair, lift sternum to lengthen your spine. Bring right arm overhead and bend elbow to move hand down back. Place left hand on right elbow, inhale and push elbow up into hand to open armpit. Exhale, use your left hand to pull right elbow toward center. Breathe. Inhale to release, change sides