What Is The Purpose of Yoga?

​The practice of yoga is more complex than we think it is. What is the purpose of yoga? Being a complex mechanism that brings together our mind, body, and soul, it is hard to know its sole purpose. Its purpose is multifold since it gathers together the mental and physical disciplines to achieve a tranquil body and mind. Aside from that, it also alleviates stress and anxiety. More so, it aids in muscle build-up and flexibility. Yoga cannot be reduced into a single activity with a sole purpose since it encompasses several aspects.

In a nutshell, yoga is a systematic practice of breathing control, physical exercise, positive thinking, relaxation, and meditation. This ensures the harmony of mind, body, and environment. As mentioned above, the practice of yoga is complex and has many benefits and purposes for an individual's well-being. Let us talk about yoga and its benefits one by one.

What is the Purpose of Yoga? 

Yoga is a systematic combination of practices that help achieve inner peace, good health, and harmony. This requires the use of yoga practices, spiritual development, and meditation. Fundamentally, they all form as one in practice. That is to work together in harmony and to improve your well-being as a whole.

The following are its main goals:

• Improvement of Physical Health
• Development of Mental Health
• Enhancement of Social Health
• Improvement of Spiritual Health
• Self-Realization or Divine Connection

Improvement of Physical Health

Yoga is a great way to enhance strength and flexibility. Some are for relaxation, which also contributes to the improvement of one's physical health. When asked, "what is the purpose of yoga?" I am pretty sure relaxation immediately comes to mind. Enumerated below are some of the physical benefits that the practice of yoga offers.

• Flexibility
  Some yoga poses work by stretching your muscles to its maximum point. These poses can help an individual feel less stressed or tired. You can already see an improvement in your flexibility.
• Strength
  Yoga styles, like power yoga and Ashtanga, are efficient when it comes to enhancing physical strength. These styles can help effectively improve muscle tone. The less vigorous yoga types such as Hatha and Iyengar are also perfect for honing endurance and strength.
• Posture
  Most yoga poses, whether sitting or standing, can help develop core strength. You need to use all your muscles to maintain each pose. This will give you a better stance and posture over time.
• Breathing
  Yoga always involves paying attention to every inhale and exhale. This can help you relax and improve your breathing techniques. However, do not expect yoga to be aerobic unless you are doing an intense type of yoga.
• Good for the heart
  Yoga is always linked to slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Slower heart rate is very beneficial for those who have heart disease or high blood pressure. Also, people with stroke tend to recover faster by delving into the world of yoga practice. Your immune system function will also be rapidly enhanced once you start doing yoga poses.

Development of Mental Health

Most of the time, our minds and senses lead us, rather than having them under our control. What is the purpose of yoga when it comes to our mental health? Yoga practices prevent the formation of thoughts and fears that will create an imbalance in our nervous system and thwart our physical function. This can cause deep sorrows, which can later turn into depression. With solemn yoga practices, you get inner freedom, clarity of thought, contentment, and a healthy amount of self-confidence.

Enhancement of Social Health

Social Health involves the ability to be happy with oneself and make others happy, as well. It also consists of nurturing relationships with other people by keeping genuine contact and communication with them. On a larger scale, it is the ability to assume responsibility and work for the community.

Yoga will help improve your social health by enhancing your relationships with other people, and not just within the ambit of the "self." There is so much more beyond the self that also needs nurturing. This includes the environment and the welfare of all humankind.

Improvement of Spiritual Health

Yoga embraces the principle of non-violence. This includes our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions. By meditating, praying, and positive thinking, spiritual health is also honed. This gives the yoga practitioner a better sense of the self, enough to develop compassion, mutual love, understanding, and greater tolerance. This is not only between a limited set of individuals but for all religious faiths, races, and nations.

Self-Realization or Divine Connection

Yoga is not a religion since it transcends religious boundaries and paves the way for unity. Humans, as we are, we aspire for spiritual guidance when it comes to our life's paths. Yoga practitioners claim that yoga helps improve self-realization or divine connection, whichever is applicable. For the religious, yoga strengthens their divine connection through prayer and meditation. Also, for those who need self-assessment, yoga is a safe place where you can contemplate your life decisions and path as a being that walks the earth.

Whichever it may be, yoga established the need to be in touch with your sentiments and emotions. This will lead to self-awareness and improvement of well-being. 

Conclusion

What is the purpose of yoga? Several purposes are applicable to every individual. Yoga is not just about reaching your toes or meditating yourself to sleep; it is about being in touch with all your sensibilities. If you are interested in joining a particular class, make sure you know the primary goal of your instructor and if that specific goal matches yours. If you want to improve your physical strength, then go for the more strenuous yoga activities. If not, then look for the best program that suits your needs.