The human body starts its functioning from the stage when it is in the seed form resultant of the union of male cell, the sperm and female cell, the egg or ovum. The zygote thus formed has all the information in the form of genetic codes inside it. This divides and forms different human tissues with distinct functions. This entire process of creation of a complete human being from two cells is the ultimate in creativity. Once the human body is fully formed the miracle of birth takes place and an individual which was dependent on the parent body for its survival is born with all animal survival instincts and complete functionality of all systems.

Despite the increase in the numbers of devout practitioners of yoga over the years, many people are there who only have a little inclination to learn and practice yoga. They may be unable to do so in totality. This section will highlight basic practices of yoga and asanas which are preliminary and useful to most people with general healthy disposition. If done with interest and regularity they can be completed in about forty minutes and would exercise all the systems of the body. So this section provides yoga practices in capsulated form of a package that suits the basic need of healthy living of almost everybody.

Yoga provides a way of healthy living. All yogic practices work towards a common goal of creating and maintaining complete harmony throughout all these complicated systems. In day to day life the practices of yoga can lead to energizing and strengthening of all these systems. How yoga can help each system is described here for general awareness.

(Links to individual chapters of each system may go from each system described here. Also various yoga asanas described later can be linked here according to the systems, the reference for this is provided with the description of yoga asanas)

The Muscular System: The yogic asanas involve exercising various muscles groups of the body. Different muscle groups are targeted by different asanas. A certain practice of targeting different muscle groups leads to exercising the complete muscle system of the body. It is also advised to do these yoga asanas in the evening time after a full day’s work to retain the suppleness of the muscles. In the mornings the muscles are generally a little stiff and they loosen up during the course of the day. So doing these asanas in the mornings just after getting up is a little difficult, while in the evenings they can rejuvenate the muscles and relax them as well.

The Digestive System: The digestive system is the group of organs in the body that helps in the digestion and assimilation of food. The digestive organs are lodged in the middle portion of the body but the alimentary canal begins from the mouth cavity itself. Some orthodox medicine practices believe that disorders in the digestive system are the root cause of all ailments in the human body. There are various yogic asanas that help in strengthening of the digestive system.

The Circulatory System: The cardio-vascular system of the body is responsible for reaching the oxygenated blood to each part of the body and removing the deoxygenated blood from each part of the body and to bring it back to the heart for recirculation after oxygenation. The blood flows in the arteries, veins and capillaries. The circulatory system is responsible for circulation of life giving elixir throughout the body. Various asanas improve circulation of the blood and enhance the condition of the heart, which is that vital organ of body that never rests even while the rest of the systems are resting.

The Respiratory System: Yoga promotes various techniques of respiration through many breathing exercises. Some asanas that promote breathing exercise invigorate the respiratory system and also relax it. Respiration also coordinates another vital system, the circulatory system. Oxygen reaching every cell of the body produces energy by a process of oxidation, and carbon dioxide and water vapour is released, which has to be removed immediately because of its toxic nature. This is a vital process that goes on in every living tissue and is imperative for survival. Yoga strengthens respiration and these asanas can be done by people of all age groups even by the people who cannot otherwise do other vigorous forms of exercises.

The Excretory System: The excretory system consists of kidneys, ureters, bladder, large intestines and the skin. The yogic asanas revitalize the excretory system with the aid of many yoga asanas. This system is vital for normal functioning and health of the body because it is the prime system that removes all toxic substances from the body. Without proper and optimum functioning of this system the other systems also fail to perform to their optimum levels.

The Endocrine System: The endocrine system controls the hormones of the body which are vital for the proper functioning of various systems. The endocrine system consists of glands like pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and sex glands. These are ductless glands and they secrete their secretions directly into the blood stream which are made available to the organs on requirement. This system is thus very important for proper functioning of the entire body. Many yogic asanas improve and rejuvenate the endocrine system.

The Nervous System: The complex network of neurons, nerves, spinal cord, ganglia and brain form the nervous system. There are two parts of nervous system, the central nervous system (CNS) and the autonomous nervous system (ANS). The neurons, nerves, spinal cord and brain form the central nervous system while two chains of ganglia running on the sides of the spinal cord form the autonomous nervous system. The ANS controls the working of the heart, digestive organs, kidneys, endocrine glands and it performs without our consciousness of it. The CNS controls the other complex processes of memory, thinking, reflex and response actions. The two parts of the nervous system are important and should work in perfect coordination with the rest of the systems for healthy living. Many yogic asanas and practices improve the nervous sytem.

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