Houston Zoo Elephants Participate in Unique Yoga Classes

Elephants of today are known to be gentle giants but are still wild animals not to be reckoned with. With their enormous size, an adult elephant can trample a human to death, as reported in some cases, especially in India.

While the said large mammals are considered highly social and intelligent, they can also do other activities that humans also engage in, such as yoga.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Houston Zoo elephants are participating in yoga classes seven days a week to stay fit and healthy.

This is not surprising at all since elephants are considered sacred in a country where yoga was also invented, India. In a viral video, the mammals are seen performing some of the famous yoga positions even with their large body size.

Houston Zoo Elephants

Elephants at the Houston Zoo have been reported engaging in yoga practice for around 30 seconds to 5 minutes each day, in a method to help them strengthen their muscle and stimulate their brains and bodies, according to the Good News Network.

Houston Zoo elephant supervisor, Kristin Windle, stated developing relationships with their elephants is important to give them the best healthcare for their well-being.

In previous years, there have been reported instances where animals such as dogs accidentally doing yoga poses to imitate their owners engaging in yoga.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is more than just a form of exercise but an ancient practice where an individual uses a combination of physical, emotional, and mental concentration. In general, the practice allows the body to relax through a series of physical postures, deep breathing, and meditation. There are also instances where yoga can help cure psychological and physical conditions like stress, depression, and fatigue.

The health benefits of yoga can range from improving general wellness to losing weight and relieving physical pain such as low-back pain and neck pain, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, under the National Institutes of Health. The mentioned potential benefits of yoga have been before by some studies, according to the U.S. government health agency.

Where Did Yoga Originate?

One might wonder if yoga has always been a universal practice since it is now prevalent in many countries worldwide, including in the United States and others in the West, despite its Asian origins.

Yoga is believed to have its origin from the dawn of civilization thousands of years ago, a time when long before the first belief systems or religions existed, according to the Government of India's Ministry of Ayush, which said it was in India where the yogic system fully came into fruition.

The term "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word "yuj," which translates to the union of the yoga practitioner and universal consciousness, according to the website Art of Living. The ancient practice has its deep roots in Indian philosophy developed by yoga gurus.