These texts date back to 1700 BC, but others such as Mallinson and Singleton state that no one other than ascetics were practising yoga until the 20th century. Mark Singleton - author of ‘Yoga Body’, and a Senior Research Fellow at SOAS London University - spoke at a lecture I attended. At the same London lecture, Jim Mallinson - author of the title ‘Roots of Yoga’ - observed; "Yoga has been turned into something you can ‘fit in’ to a busy modern lifestyle. It can also help with back pain. It’s supposed to be very good for your back. It’s important to understand that changes, evolution and ‘reinvention’ within Hatha yoga practices didn’t just take place in the West (we didn’t ruin yoga!). It is about seeing that everything changes, understanding the impermanence of life and knowing I am not that what changes. It is connection with myself, life and the present. With classical postures such as Downward facing dog, Swan, forward bends and twists, this practice will promote grounding and calm, and a connection with the stillness and clarity which we all possess. It represents a connection between the individual practitioner and the universe. Liam Gillen is a practitioner and educator of the Amrit Yoga Method of Yoga Nidra.

I’d love to know your thoughts: what is yoga for you? Also, now that I know the poses better, I can make up my own sequences and just do those post-run. Let’s explore the philosophy of yoga and how it can help us achieve spiritual and mental wellness. "Yoga therapy is a self-empowering process, where the care-seeker, with the help of the Yoga therapist, implements a personalized and evolving Yoga practice, that not only addresses the illness in a multi-dimensional manner, but also aims to alleviate his/her suffering in a progressive, non-invasive and complementary manner. Whilst the majority of us ‘fit in’ a morning practice, or ‘pause’ to switch on a five minute meditation app, the ancient Hatha Yogis were renunciates. Throughout the evolution of yoga practice, the same word - Hatha - has come to mean different things too. Language is a powerful thing, and in different cultures the same word can have a variety of definitions.

It is about connecting to the source of the body - the here and now - so the body can stay strong, energetic and healthy. And then made us aware of each of our limbs, by asking us to lift each heavy section of our body (arms, legs, pelvis, head) and gently drop them back down. Take a deep breath and tilt your head towards the ceiling while also sticking up your pelvis -- this should mimic a "cow." Then, on your exhale, arch your back and bring both your head and pelvis down like a "cat." You can repeat these two motions a few times before moving on. Talking with friends, exercising, and seeing a school counselor are just a few. It is ultimately about seeing myself in everything, without holding on to a separate identity. Seeing the benefits of yoga as a simple alternative of harmonizing ourselves with the world, World Health Organization mentioned yoga as a means to improve health in its ‘Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018- 2030: more active people for a healthier world.’ As India celebrates its 75 years of independence, this 8th edition of the International Yoga Day celebrations come as a great feat in the sense of soft power for the Indian foreign policy.

You might say that this echoes modern day Instagram photos of difficult yoga postures earning ‘likes’ and sponsorship deals… It made up a part of Sufism, focussing more upon difficult postures intended to lead towards meditative practices. From being buried alive, practising complicated breathing patterns, and reciting mantras for religious, ceremonial and sacrificial purposes, we now find ourselves in a much more comfortable and safe variation of Hatha yoga in the modern world. This is the first time we know of an asana being reimagined as something other than a seated position for meditation. In the class, you will get to know physical anatomy and spiritual anatomy. Many forms focus solely on physical postures without any spiritual connotation. Persia and other parts of the Middle East were also practising forms of Hatha yoga. The practice of Hatha yoga aims to join, yoke, or balance these two energies. For balance specifically, SilverSneakers-a health and fitness program for seniors that's included in many Medicare plans-recommends eight key poses. What is True Health? The practical aspects of Yoga play a more important part than does its intellectual content, which is largely based on the philosophy of Samkhya, with the exception that Yoga assumes the existence of God, who is the model for the aspirant who seeks spiritual release.