Yoga for preventive, curative, and promotive health and performance

Abstract

Yoga is an ancient Indian system of philosophy, culture, tradition, and way of maintaining better life, established in India thousands of years ago. The Sanskrit word Yoga means union of body and mind through breath control methods, asanas and meditation. The ashtang yogic practices, very popularly known today, are derived from Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. Asana (postural exercises), pranayama (breathing maneuver), and dhyana (meditation) are mostly practiced in different combinations for physical and mental well being. It gradually develops the spiritual harmony of the individual through the control of mind and body. The practice of yoga uses eight methods, known as limbs, thus being known as Ashtanga Yoga: yama (restraint), niyama (observance), asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (sensory deprivation), dharana (contemplation), dhyana (fixing the attention), and samadhi (absolute concentration). Regular yogic practices endow perfect physical and mental health to its practitioner. It improves aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, joint flexibility, and muscle strength. Evidence shows that the regular execution of these practices provides the practitioner with more physical flexibility, muscle strengthening, increased vitality, delineated psychological stress, and reduced cardiovascular risks. Yogic techniques are known to improve one's overall performance and work capacity. During yoga session, the postural maneuvers are executed without repetition and are connected to each other by passages that establish links between the exercises in a sequence. Yoga is not only a discipline to be practiced by saints or spiritual aspirants but also has relevance to the spirit of military activities.