The present-day lifestyle among students’ calls for the need for yoga and meditation, and these two should indeed be placed on an upper pedestal, in order to achieve the overall development of a student. As these two play an important role, they should be inculcated in the student curriculum. Meditation and yoga can contribute directly to improve mental focus and concentration among students. It involves long, deep, slow breathing, as well as the coordination of mental concentration. Yoga combines strength and flexibility exercises with relaxation and meditation. Studies have revealed that yoga has helped cure a wide range of mental and physical health problems, mainly among teens and children. If the present trend of lifestyle as mentioned above is again taken into consideration, it can be said that, in contrary to the olden times, Children these days, rarely involve themselves in sports and other similar aspects and are rather busy with smartphones, videogames and other static entertainment. Hence, Yoga and Meditation becomes a matter of Paramount importance in student life.
What is Yoga? Yoga in simple terms can be defined as a spiritual science of self-realization. The origin of Yoga dates back to over five thousand years in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian Sage ‘Patanjali’ defined Yoga as the process of Spiritual Development. In addition to this, he even came up with the different Postures, known as asanas and various Breathing Exercises, which are known as pranayama. He also defined the four limbs of meditative stages, as follows
Control of Sense – Pratyahara
Concentration – Dharana
Meditation – Dhyana
Enlightenment – Samadhi
If the present day situation is taken into account, it can be said that the concept of yoga has gained popularity in the western world due to the increasing awarness among peopel around the world and a need for balanced lifestyle. Another vital phenomenon to be taken into consideration is hatha yoga; hatha yoga has become quite popular among the westerns, it seeks to promote health and well-being through physical exercise. The regular practice of asanas and breathing exercises (pranayama) makes the body strong, supple and healthy.
Meditation can be defined as a practice where an individual uses a technique, such as focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity, to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state, it basically means transforming the mind. Even the origin of meditation has a thing with India, as the sages here were profoundly known for their meditating skills. Various Hindu religions like Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism give significance to yoga and follow it as a part of their religious practice. It encourages developing concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and a calm seeing of the true nature of things. By engaging with a particular meditation practice you learn the patterns and habits of your mind, and the practice offers a means to cultivate new, more positive ways of being.
Yoga and meditation if practised regularly may yield very good results among the student community, which can be fighting depression, anxiety etc. which would prove to be beneficial to the students in a long run. Yoga improves physical as well as mental health of an individual while meditation provides peace of mind and control over the body.
1. Improved concentration– It leads to better grades, balanced blood pressure, decreased absenteeism and tardiness, improved interpersonal relations, and enhanced confidence level, sleep, relief from a headache, improved calmness and a sharper mind.
2. Weight management– There are lots of problems like obesity and uneasiness in breathing that are related to weight and very common among students. Such children are usually the targets of bullying. Practising yoga daily can help in weight management.
3. Flexibility– Yet another advantage of practising yoga regularly is the flexibility of the body. Stretching the muscles through yoga poses releases the lactic acid that builds up within your body preventing stiffness, pain, fatigue and tension that can really be painful at times. Stretching increases joint lubrication and stretches the soft tissues of your body. For students playing sports, yoga can decrease the risk of injury through increased range of motion and less fatigue.
4. Strength– Strength and endurance are very important, especially for young people who have to toggle between various activities all through the week. It increases muscle strength and endurance if practised regularly. It also tends to give a great deal of strength and calmness of mind.
5. Concentration and sharpness– Meditation and yoga have proved to be of great importance in increasing concentration and sharpness of the brain. Balanced blood pressure, arthritis and asthma can also be controlled through yoga.
The concept of sound of silence was originally put forth by Buddha, by the way of introduction of the concept of ‘divine eye theory’. It was stated by Buddha that it is always easier to hear the sound during the night time when the surrounding is calm. Once, the person identifies the sound, he is required to give his complete attention to the sound and should continuously listen to it by giving all his concentration to the sound and keep his awareness there and he should further keep going into the sound.
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