“Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and well-being. Yoga is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with ourselves, the world and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change.” (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the UN General Assembly on 27 September 2014)

What is Yoga?

The word ‘yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning “to join”, “to yoke” or “to unite”. According to Yogic scriptures, the practice of yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness. Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body that will help in attaining self-realisation. It is an art and science for healthy living. Medical research in recent years has uncovered many benefits that yoga offers — physical fitness, musculoskeletal functioning and cardio-vascular health. It is also beneficial in the management of diabetes, respiratory disorders, hypertension, hypotension and many lifestyle related disorders. Yoga helps reduce depression, fatigue, anxiety disorders and stress.

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There are very few places in the world which have something to offer for every kind of traveller. On what has only been my second visit to the holy land of Rishikesh, I am pretty convinced that this is surely one of those places. It is quite an interesting mélange of spirituality and adventure. But after having spent a few days here as a solo traveller, I believe there is a lot more to the city. I like to call it “The blissful abode”.

The beautiful sound of the flowing Ganga is the best welcome you can get as you set foot here. That will in fact also be one of the most prominent views everywhere you go from that point on. Aside from that, you will read the words like yoga, meditation or river rafting everywhere you look. You will most definitely be convinced that you will either leave the place with a tranquil mind or an adrenaline pumped-up heart. But if you are someone like me who likes to experience everything a place has to offer, you might just leave with a mix of both.

There are many reasons why I say this place is for everyone. First, it has a range of options for accommodation. From budget hostels (costing only about Rs 600 a day) to one of the most expensive properties of Taj (costing about Rs 45k a night), there is no dearth of options if you choose to stay here for a few days. This is one of the many reasons Rishikesh is on the top of the list for solo travellers, students travelling on budget, as well as foreign nationals looking to stay here for a longer duration.

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Yoga has survived for more than 5000 years. Fad workouts come and go but yoga has stood the test of time. It offers holistic health benefits of peace, serenity and well-being and contributes to the complete, all-round development of the person. It is about mental, physical and spiritual well-being and growth. Yoga is a complete art and science. It increases the flow of ‘prana’ and brings energy up your spine.

Yoga instructor Yogesh Singh says that yoga offers several spiritual benefits. “Yoga connects the body and soul to God who is the ultimate Being. No matter what your religion is, yoga helps you to connect with the Lord. That is why I say yoga gives you complete mind, body and soul alignment.”

Yoga has tremendous healing power and promotes good health in mind, body and soul. Benefits of yoga include better sleep, fewer colds and pain relief. It lowers blood pressure, improves posture, enhances flexibility, improves concentration, builds muscle strength, prevents cartilage and joint wear and tear, protects the spine, improves bone health, increases blood flow, boosts immunity, increases heart rate, regulates the adrenal glands, controls diabetes, improves balance, maintains the nervous system, releases tension and beats stress, builds lung strength and capacity, keeps allergies and viruses away, supports connective tissue, peace of mind, relaxes the system, increases self-esteem, builds inner strength, builds awareness, and helps you to lead a healthy and happy life.

Besides burning calories yoga also tones muscles. It is a complete workout which combines stretching, strengthening and poses with deep breathing, meditation or relaxation exercises.

Yoga also improves cognitive functions, boosting focus and memory. It offers relief from anxiety, stress, mental tension and depression. Many psychiatrists and psychologists recommend yoga to their clients with mental health issues.

Yoga is like a body-mind cleanser. It helps to boost metabolism and therefore contributes to maintaining a healthy weight. Yoga helps to massage the internal organs and keep them in good condition. It beats stress and depression which are the main causes of lifestyle diseases and several skin problems. Regular practice of yoga cleanses the skin and keeps it glowing and beautiful.

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