The importance of yoga and its exercises, the asanas, has increased in the present world of stress and strain. Work-load for man has increased so much that he cannot spare time even for a good walk, much less for a game or a sport.
There are others, whose official position or position in society including that of the VIPs does not allow them to have a free outdoor movement. It is for such catagory of persons also that the practice of asanas is recommended.
In an urban life, it is not possible to find an open and secluded place to perform yoga asanas to one’s satisfaction. Asanas afford the urban population some means to have exercise at home itself.
Another point is that, while the outdoor physical exercises develop the body’s muscles and improve one’s physique, they, however, do not involve particular movements of stretching and twisting of organs, like the stomach or the spinal cord.
Outdoor exercises, rather, harden the body’s muscles and joints, instead of making them more soft, supple and flexible. Instead of lowering the blood pressure, they increase the supply of blood to the heart and raise the BP which is already on the higher side in some people.
On the contrary, the asanas are complete exercises as a whole. They give gainful exercise of each and every limb of an organ, bending and stretching each digit of the spine and muscle of the stomach, etc.
Thus in the modern way of life, when indoor exercise has assumed importance, the need for the practice of yoga asanas or other yoga practices is being felt all the more.
The baths, too, have the benefit of indoor exercise. Both baths and Yoga exercises are important constituents of Nature-cure treatment.