ROLE OF YOGA IN STRESS MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The state of the mind and that of the body are intimately related. If the mind is relaxed, the muscles in the body will also be relaxed. Stress produces a state of physical and mental tension. Yoga, developed thousands of years ago, is recognized as a form of mind-body medicine. In yoga, physical postures and breathing exercises improve muscle strength, flexibility, blood circulation and oxygen uptake as well as hormone functions. In addition, the relaxation induced by meditation helps to stabilize the autonomic nervous system with a tendency towards parasympathetic dominance. Physiological benefits which follow help yoga practitioners become more resilient to stressful conditions and reduce a variety of important risk factors for various diseases, especially cardio-respiratory diseases. One of the effective factors to deal with the mental disorders is sports activities like yoga techniques. Yoga is a series of interventional procedures composed of the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual trainings, which provide holistic and systematic approach to meet human needs. The physical and breathing exercises of yoga can increase the flexibility and muscle strength. Yoga can improve circulation, oxygen uptake, and performance of hormone system. Relaxation and meditation in yoga by stabilizing the autonomic nervous system and controlling the emotions can improve the sense of well-being. Yoga is a theory of personality, which aims to understand the psychological mechanisms associated with the regulation of emotions along with the physical development.