Good day everyone.

Yoga is one the most enjoyable yet beneficial exercises that can be done not only in a studio or gym but in the comfort of your own home. It is also so good to invest your time in something either than your job or daily duties.

The purpose of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body, While there are more than 100 different types, or schools, of yoga, most sessions are typically include breathing exercises, meditation, and assuming postures (sometimes called asana or poses) that stretch and flex various muscle groups. Yoga is practical.

The physical benefits of Yoga are many relaxation techniques which have been incorporated and you can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome. Yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia. Upon constant Yoga exercises you will have increased flexibility, increased muscle strength and tone improved respiration. Yoga gives you “new energy” and a vitality maintaining a balanced metabolism weight reduction cardio and circulatory health. An athletic would agree that injuries heal faster as well.

Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps a person manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind today. Stress effects everyone and can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse, and an inability to concentrate. Yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life. Yoga’s incorporation of meditation and breathing can help improve a person’s mental well-being on a daily basis and can be practised even at work.

Traditionally Yoga has always been for the benefit of the individual who practised it. However today it is taught throughout the world in Yoga centres, adult education, health institutions, fitness and sports clubs, rehabilitation and health resorts. Yoga is suitable for all ages and for people who are physically challenged, pregnant or even for little children. I believe that Yoga should be taught at a young age and if it has to become a way of life it should start at an early age.

There is one area in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that Yoga can play a key role in terms of transformation and tolerance, Goal 16 Peace, Justice and strong institutions. There is no stronger institution than that of the body, mind and soul. We have to all be radical about implementing Peace, gender equality and health; therefore we must use Yoga for Peace building and its transformative potential, to achieve inclusive Peace and sustainable societies through attitudinal change. We can achieve this by making yoga part of our daily lives.

The Minority Front would like to encourage every one of you to make some time to practice some Yoga movements. It will relax your mind; and can help with early detection of physical problems and allow for early preventive action.

Stay healthy!

Thank you