By this time around, we are all well-versed about yoga and what it can do to your mind, body and soul. We all know that it began in India, it consists of physical asanas and breathing techniques. At some point in time, we have even attempted yoga.
Then, there are some facts that not many people know about. So the next time you’re at a social gathering with your yogi friends, you can just share these interesting facts with them as your learning of the day!
1. Yoga is Found in One of the Oldest Texts in the World
The word ‘yoga’ was first mentioned in the Rig Veda, written approximately around 1500 B.C or before! This only goes to show that yoga has been in our culture since time memorial, especially if it was mentioned in one of the oldest texts in the world!
2. Yoga Can Cause Injuries
Yes, it can heal your mind, body and soul. It can also alleviate a lot of health issues but it can hurt you as well. Yoga is like a double-edged sword, if not practiced correctly, you could injure yourself. But don’t get too tangled! If you find a good enough teacher (like Ronak Gajjar and Sheetal Tewari on GOQii Play :D) and exercise caution, you should be fine!
3. It Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease
Other than reducing stress, it also helps lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood glucose levels, thus, in turn, promoting good heart health. A handy lifestyle intervention, we’d say!
4. There is no Shortage of Variety
As a generation that is spoiled for choice, you’ll be glad to know that there is no shortage of asanas when it comes to yoga! With over 84 asanas, you’ll have plenty of variety to choose from.
5. It Can Spice Up Your Sex Life
This primarily works on two levels: mental and physical. Yoga helps you counteract stress, fatigue and poor self-image, all of which can suppress your libido. It can also help you increase your flexibility, muscle control and strength, all of which help you physically. Your sex life will be blooming after a few asanas!
6. Yogis Believe We Have Limited Number of Breaths
This explains the reason why breathing is so controlled in yoga. Yogis often practiced it as a means to increase their lifespan. As they believed that each human has a limited amount of breaths allotted to them, controlling their breath would help them prolong their life.
7. Lord Shiva is Considered the First Yogi
Lord Shiva is considered the progenitor of yoga, the first yogi or the Adiyogi. He was the first one who sowed the seeds of yoga into the human mind. Lord Shiva had imparted the wisdom of yoga to seven individuals who came to be known as Saptarishis and were tasked with spreading it throughout the world.
8. Yoga Can Increase Your Lifespan
When people say “Yoga is Life”, they aren’t lying. It improves your heart health, helps you lose weight, makes your bones stronger, aids digestion and improves mental and emotional health, to name a few. With so much work going into your body, you are bound to live a long and fruitful life!
Now that you’re all geared up on knowledge, it is time to share it with the world!
If you want to brush up on your yoga skills or want to learn it, subscribe to GOQii Play within the GOQii App and learn from specialists on our platform.
Did we miss out on any interesting facts? Do you know some more? Share them with us in the comments below!
#BeTheForce and wish you a Happy and Blissful Yoga Day!
An old friend asked me what is yoga? Her interpretation was ‘People twisting and turning their bodies like pretzels while chanting and sitting like a statue’. Is that what it really is? I took this question as an opportunity to explain what yoga is and what are its basic dos and don’ts.
