Yoga is a spiritual, mental, and physical practice that dates back to ancient India. Originally developed as a diverse set of spiritual and physical practices aimed at achieving higher consciousness, yoga is now primarily associated with exercise and mindfulness. In India, however, it remains a spiritual practice, a significant form of healthcare, and an expression of the country’s soft power.
Yoga can be traced back to around 1500 BCE and was practiced by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and other various ethnic and religious groups. It gained Western popularity throughout the 20th century, thanks to traveling gurus, mass media, and a countercultural interest in Eastern spirituality.
Today, yoga is a popular form of exercise that’s believed to have a positive effect on both mental and physical health. About one in six US adults practices yoga, with women twice as likely to do so as men. It’s also popular with professional athletes, who find the practice enhances their performance.
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