Yoga is not just any exercise. It is a discipline that involves principles that help promote radiant well-being and create a harmonious way of life.
Vishnudevananda Saraswati, an Indian guru who was possibly the first yoga teacher to train programs in the West, integrated the ancient yoga wisdom into five modern principles. These include the following:
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Asana or Proper exercise
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Pranayama or Proper breathing
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Savasana or Proper relaxation
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Vegetarian or Proper Diet
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Vedanta and Dhyana or Positive thinking and meditation.
Swami Vishnudevananda compared our body to a car to explain the five points of yoga. The car, he said, needs proper lubrication (proper exercise), a battery (proper breathing), a radiator (proper relaxation), fuel (proper diet), and a responsible driver (positive thinking & meditation) to run efficiently.
These principles serve as the foundation of modern yoga practices. They highlight the holistic approach of yoga to help create in us a sound mind, body, and soul.
Read more: The Five Points of Yoga