DHAKA: Yoga is emerging as one of the most effective weapons to combat stress in youth. This ancient art of marrying the soul and body together can bring about the desired harmony besides improving work life balance.

However, sifting through the vast jargon of several yoga forms can be confusing, especially for the youth who is trying to keep pace with several other developments in their lives, reports The Times of India.

“We all experience situations that make us fearful and depressed. When human body reacts to most stressful situations it floods itself with stress hormones which make the heart pump faster, increases breath rate and tenses muscles leading to overwhelming anxiety that may interfere with day to day functioning. Yoga harmonizes endocrine system which regulates our emotional health," says Anil Juneja, an award winning yoga guru and expert. 

According to him, Pranayama, which is controlled breathing techniques, teaches us how to consciously maintain a slow deep breath at all times to prevent and minimize anxiety and stress. He adds, “For the youth Iyengar’s yoga, a form of Hatha yoga, helps give primacy to the physical alignment of the body. 

Also, Power Yoga is a great alternative. “In the views of another yogi, Yogacharya Sandeep, yoga joins the mind, breath, body and is very important for the youth because when this unity is achieved then they can streamline a life which is mentally, physically and socially correct. 

He too agrees with Anil on Iyengar yoga, calling it “the best yoga technique for youth since it has the ability to make one feel young, healthy and replete with energy.” 

Gauri Sharma, yoga expert, says that yoga in any form is as effective as the other. “Yoga is a natural way to a healthy life. It is the mind body movements which help in muscle toning, strengthening, adding flexibility and improving co-ordination and concentration which gives a positive attitude to youth in their inner and outer personality to stay relaxed.”

BDST: 2334 HRS, DEC 09, 2014