Interesting Facts About Yoga

8 Enlightening Facts you Probably Didn’t Know About Yoga

You know those moments when you’re sitting there quietly, minding your own business, and then suddenly an interruptive thought starts banging around in your mind, taking you out of the moment and whisking you away to somewhere far away? They might range from deeply existential questions about your place in the grand scheme of the universe, to wondering about some seemingly simple things, like what “yoga” even means. Believe it or not, these thoughts, little or large, are far more connected than you might initially think! Let’s break down some surprising and interesting facts about yoga together. You never know, you might just end up unlocking the secrets of the universe!

In a nutshell, “yoga” means peace and a celebration of life. It’s right there in the name, the origin of the word “yoga” means “to join” or to “to unite” in Sanskrit. What’s more reassuring than knowing that we’re all connected as one soul, becoming one with the earth beneath us, the air blowing at us, and the living beings around us? On top of that, yoga is so much more than a pathway to connectedness. Read up here on the spiritual, physical, and mental health benefits that yoga can bring into our lives with just a little bit of practice, persistence, and self-love

The Meaning of Yoga The “OM” Mantra

“OOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM.”

You might have heard this watching television, listening to a meditation, or walking past a yoga studio. Often during exercises, people practicing yoga inhale as much as their lungs allow them and exhale making an, “OM” sound for as long as they can. It’s important to feel the vibration coursing through the body and try to fixate it solely on that. Repeating the OM mantra a few times consecutively when practicing yoga can help you clear your mind, expand your awareness of your surroundings, embrace happy thoughts, and take on a more positive perspective. The OM mantra originated in the 6th century, and the chant empowers those who seek a deeper knowledge of themselves and their surroundings. Today, it’s mostly employed as a core spiritual element during yoga practice and meditation sessions. Try it out and tell us your experience!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Yoga Can Boost Sexual Performance and Satisfaction

The yoga fanbase has been growing - between 2012 to 2016, the number of American yoga practitioners has doubled! Is there a holistic reason so many people are interested in implementing yoga in their lives? YES! Yoga improves cognitive functionality (check out p.18), which can ultimately help reduce risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, or postpone its effects. Not only that, yoga can also improve the quality of sexual experiences!. In a study involving 40 women aged between 22 and 55, 75% recorded that their sexual satisfaction increased after they started practicing yoga. Yoga can also help with premature ejaculation in men. In a study of 68 male patients, the 38 who practiced yoga showed improvements regarding premature ejaculation, with 65.7% recording a positive boost!

“Doga”

“Doga” is a portmanteau used to describe “dog yoga”. What that means is your dog practices yoga on their own (with your assistance), taking on a couple of poses, or you both practice yoga together, with your dog mimicking your movements, or poses. So, there you have it, a new yoga buddy that can make the practice more enjoyable!

Yoga and Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy has proven itself worthy of medical attention for the effective goodness it brings into our lives, whether that means enhancing our mood, or relieving stress and anxious feelings (see p. 20). Did you know that applying aromatherapy to your yoga sessions, even once a week, can help boost the quality of your sleep?

Psychoanalysts Were Drawn to Yoga Long Before it was Popular

Carl Jung, a Swiss psychoanalyst and psychologist, explored yoga and its effects on human psychology. Jung examined the idea of the ego from a strictly psychological perspective, and compared it with how ego is seen from the spiritual perspective of yoga. Sonu Shamdasani, author and editor, believed there was an important factor that was “completely lacking” in European culture which was the “development phases of higher consciousness”. But, he wasn’t the only psychoanalyst intrigued by yoga! Before him there was the German author Oscar A. H. Schmitz, introduced yoga to many Europeans in 1923 with his book Psychoanalysis and Yoga.

There’s a Difference Between Yogis, Yoginis, and Gurus

“Yogi”, “yogini”, and “guru” are terms often used interchangeably, but a significant difference exists between them. So, without dragging you down a rabbit-hole, here’s how you can tell one from the other! A yogi is a yoga instructor who devotes their time and attention to the growth of a person’s mental, spiritual, and physical wellbeing. Yogini is largely used as a gendered term for female yoga practitioners, although the origins of the term would encompass much more than the yogini’s gender by also suggesting women’s sexual and spiritual awareness. “Guru” describes someone who was revered and idolized, such as a teacher, religious leader, or a spiritual guide. While today there are many types of gurus, each of them share an ability to lead people on spiritual journey that helps them recognize the deep realities of life and find the path to their inner spiritual awakening.

Where to Begin?

While there is a certain consensus that Hatha Yoga is the go-to type for a beginner, it is actually a specific type within Hatha Yoga that is recommended for beginners as it curates to the body's needs and its “physical condition”. A great thing about yoga for beginners is that there are specific poses you may want to try before immersing yourself into the Hatha type. Don’t miss out on our six sworn-by tips to elevate your yoga performance!

See below three of the most admired yogis and gurus that many yogis and followers of yogic culture look up to!

It’s believed that Shiva was the first yogi and guru, and that he passed his teachings initially to his wife, Parvati. Though some people consider it a bit mythic, Shiva holds a very esteemed status among their followers in hindu culture, and his teachings live on to this day, with current prominent yogis and gurus, such as Sadhguru.

Shiva

Sadhguru

Sadhguru is one of the world’s most admired spiritual leaders for the work he does through his establishment “Isha Foundation”, a non-profit organization that aims to establish unity amongst communities and restore the connection between individuals and their physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing through “Isha Yoga”.

Indra Devi

Considered to be the first yogini, Indra Devi excelled in the field! Although it may be surprising as she is Latvian-born, her love for India and the yogic culture drove her to channel her passion into founding “Sai Yoga” and has since become a prominent spiritual leader recognized all around the world.