International Day of Yoga
The International Day of Yoga just flew by on 21 June, but you may have missed it if you’re not in the ‘Yogi’ circle. But don’t worry if you missed it this time around; We’ve got you covered! Keep reading to learn more about yoga, how it can improve your wellness, and how you can get involved.
Yoga has been practised for centuries, and it’s no surprise that yoga not only benefits our physical health but also our mind. Originating in India, yoga has evolved into many different styles and forms and is now practised around the world.
The primary goals of yoga are the balance of mind, body, and soul while focusing on physical health and mental well-being. It continues to grow in popularity, which is great news for the health of humanity as a whole.
Total health is not only a healthy body but also a healthy mind and soul. Yoga works on all these areas.
For my body: Yoga is, at its core, a physical activity. Instead of rigorous training, yoga delves into the practise of controlled, fluid movements. Through yoga, one can develop strength, flexibility, and physical stamina as well. The benefits to your body can also include:
- Strengthens and revitalizes internal organs
- Improves flexibility
- Strengthens muscles and bones
- Better posture and body alignment
- Improves digestion, circulation and immunity
- Enhances function of neurological and endocrine organs
- Increases energy
For my mind: What sets yoga apart from many other physical activities is the incorporation of mindfulness and mental practise. One must learn to calm the mind, focus their energy, and develop a mental self-control when practising yoga. As a result, yoga can introduce a host of benefits for the mind as well:
- Develops intuition
- Reduces stress and calms the mind
- Sharpens intellect
- Enhances memory
- Increases clarity
- Blossoms creativity in one’s life
The Secretary General of the United Nations had this to say in the 2016 message:
Yoga balances body and soul, physical health and mental well-being. It promotes harmony among people, and between ourselves and the natural world. […]
As exercise, yoga has multiple benefits. Physical inactivity is linked with a number of non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, which are among the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. By improving fitness, teaching us how to breathe correctly, and working to diminish stress, yoga can help to cultivate healthier lifestyles.
Practicing yoga can also help raise awareness of our role as consumers of the planet’s resources and as individuals with a duty to respect and live in peace with our neighbours. All these elements are essential to building a sustainable future of dignity and opportunity for all.
The best part about modern-day society is that the ever-growing demands of the workplace doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your mental and physical health. With yoga and the widespread acceptance of yoga practise, many businesses are now able to offer corporate yoga classes to their employees.
Office Yoga helps keep your employees fit, healthy and flexible in both body and mind. It provides all the benefits resulting from reduced stress, plus it provides additional benefits from improved physical health. In addition to the benefits above, workplace yoga also ushers in the following:
- Higher staff morale
- Decreased absenteeism and illness
- Reduced workers’ compensation claims
- Better inter-staff relations
- Improved customer service
- Higher productivity
You can learn more about HSG’s corporate yoga programs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and around Australia and South-East Asia.
