Class 6 English · Original EZT practice
Yoga - A Way of Life (Class 6 English Chapter 12): an ancient practice for the whole world
Yoga began in ancient India and today the whole world practises it. This essay from Poorvi Unit 4, Sports and Wellness, explains what the word yoga means, how Sage Patanjali systematised it, what its many health benefits are, and why 21 June is celebrated as International Yoga Day. Below: a summary, key facts and practice questions. (Note: this is original practice, not a textbook exercise key.)
6 original worked examples, 6 fresh self-check questions and 4 mixed questions, with explained answers. These are not copied textbook exercises, an official chapter index or a full answer key. No affiliation with NCERT is claimed.
Official sources for topic and edition context, checked 23 October 2026:
1. What is yoga?
Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India; the word comes from the Sanskrit root 'yuj', meaning 'to join' or 'to unite' - symbolising the unity of mind and body, thought and action, and harmony between human and nature.
2. Benefits of yoga
Asanas stretch and strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, endurance and balance; breathing techniques and meditation calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and concentration; yoga can also boost the immune system, improve heart health and aid weight management.
3. Yoga around the world
Seals of the Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation, dating back to 2700 BC, indicate yoga was prevalent in ancient India; on 11 December 2014 the UN General Assembly, with 193 members, accepted the proposal to celebrate 21 June as International Yoga Day; the WHO launched the mYoga app on 20 June 2021.
4. Word meanings
The essay builds health words - originated, harmony, endurance, anxiety, boost, distractions - around mind-body practice.
Choose, solve, check, then try a fresh question.
Before calculating, read the method prompt and name the condition that makes it useful. Write your own attempt. Open the steps only when you need them, and use the check to catch a wrong sign, unit or interpretation. Finish with the fresh question before reading its answer.
Explain the word yoga
Choose the method: Yuj means to join.
EZT practice question
What does the word 'yoga' mean, and what does it symbolise?
Show the worked solution
- The word comes from the Sanskrit root 'yuj'.
- It means 'to join' or 'to unite'.
- It symbolises the unity of mind and body, thought and action, and harmony between human beings and nature.
Answer: It comes from the Sanskrit root 'yuj' - 'to join' or 'to unite'. It symbolises the unity of mind and body, thought and action, and harmony between human beings and nature.
Check: The meaning of the word is the idea of the practice - joining, not straining.
Watch for this: Do not define yoga as only physical exercise - the essay calls it physical, mental and spiritual.
Now try it yourself
Where did yoga originate?
Check your answer
In ancient India.
The essay opens with this fact.
Place Patanjali's role
Choose the method: The one who systematised it.
EZT practice question
Who presented the ancient tradition of yoga in a systematic way, and how did he describe yoga?
Show the worked solution
- Sage Patanjali systematised the ancient tradition.
- His work is the 'Yoga Sutras of Patanjali'.
- He described yoga as the means to make the mind quiet and free from all distractions.
Answer: Sage Patanjali, in the 'Yoga Sutras of Patanjali'. He described yoga as the means to make the mind quiet and free from all distractions.
Check: Patanjali did not invent yoga - he organised an ancient tradition.
Watch for this: Do not credit Patanjali with starting yoga - the essay says he presented an ancient tradition systematically.
Now try it yourself
What are 'distractions'?
Check your answer
Disturbances that take attention away.
A quiet mind is free from them.
List the benefits
Choose the method: Asanas for the body, breath for the mind.
EZT practice question
How does yoga help both the body and the mind?
Show the worked solution
- Body: asanas stretch and strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, endurance and balance, and can reduce body pains such as lower back pain.
- Mind: breathing techniques and meditation calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety.
- Also: better sleep, more concentration, immune system, heart health and weight management.
Answer: For the body - asanas stretch and strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, endurance and balance, and can reduce body pains such as lower back pain; for the mind - breathing techniques and meditation calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, improve the quality of sleep and increase concentration.
Check: The essay splits benefits the same way - physical first, then mental, then wider health gains.
Watch for this: Do not list only stretching - the essay's benefit list is much wider.
Now try it yourself
How can yoga help the heart?
Check your answer
It can improve heart health by lowering blood pressure and improving circulation.
One of the wider health benefits the essay names.
Cite the ancient evidence
Choose the method: Seals tell the story.
EZT practice question
What evidence shows yoga was prevalent in ancient India?
Show the worked solution
- Archaeology gives us seals of the Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation.
- They date back to 2700 BC.
- The figures on them indicate yoga was prevalent then.
Answer: A few seals of the Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation, dating back to 2700 BC, indicate that yoga was prevalent in ancient India.
Check: 2700 BC makes yoga thousands of years old - older than most living traditions.
Watch for this: Do not cite books as the earliest evidence - the essay points to the civilisation's seals.
Now try it yourself
What is a 'holistic approach' to health, as the essay calls yoga?
Check your answer
One that cares for the whole person - body, mind and spirit together.
That is why yoga is called a way of life, not just exercise.
Fix the dates
Choose the method: Three dates, one story.
EZT practice question
When is International Yoga Day, when did the UN accept the proposal, and when did WHO launch the mYoga app?
Show the worked solution
- International Yoga Day: 21 June.
- The UN General Assembly, with 193 members, accepted the proposal on 11 December 2014.
- WHO launched the mYoga app on 20 June 2021.
Answer: International Yoga Day is celebrated on 21 June; the UN General Assembly, with 193 members, accepted the proposal on 11 December 2014; and the WHO launched the mYoga app on 20 June 2021.
Check: Acceptance in 2014, celebration every 21 June, app in 2021 - the timeline shows yoga's global reach.
Watch for this: Do not swap the two June dates - the app launch was 20 June 2021, the Day itself is 21 June.
Now try it yourself
What does the launch of the WHO mYoga app tell us about yoga?
Check your answer
That yoga is valued worldwide - the app carries video and audio files so people everywhere can learn and practise it.
A world health body would not build an app for a local practice.
Match essay words to meanings
Choose the method: Fix each word to one plain meaning.
EZT practice question
Match: originated, endurance, boost, distractions - with their meanings.
Show the worked solution
- originated - started.
- endurance - capacity to continue without giving up.
- boost - increase; distractions - disturbances that take attention away.
Answer: originated - started; endurance - capacity to continue without giving up; boost - increase; distractions - disturbances that take attention away.
Check: Yoga originated in India, builds endurance, can boost immunity, and frees the mind from distractions - one sentence holds all four.
Watch for this: Do not confuse endurance with strength - endurance is the capacity to keep going.
Now try it yourself
Use 'anxiety' in a sentence about yoga.
Check your answer
Breathing exercises in yoga can reduce stress and anxiety.
That is one of the mind benefits the essay lists.
Try a mixed set
Choose a method or explanation before opening each answer.
1. Meaning of 'yoga'?
Show answer and reason
From Sanskrit root 'yuj' - to join or unite; unity of mind and body, thought and action.
Also harmony between human and nature.
2. Who systematised yoga?
Show answer and reason
Sage Patanjali, in the Yoga Sutras.
He called yoga the means to quiet the mind.
3. When is International Yoga Day?
Show answer and reason
21 June (UN accepted the proposal on 11 December 2014, 193 members).
WHO's mYoga app followed on 20 June 2021.
4. Evidence yoga is ancient?
Show answer and reason
Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilisation seals dating to 2700 BC.
They show yoga was prevalent then.
Try it yourself
Work these on paper before checking any notes. Answers are deliberately not shown here.
- Name two physical benefits of asanas.
- What does 'harmony between human and nature' mean?
- Fill in: yoga improves physical flexibility and also mental ___.
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Questions about this practice page
- What is yoga?
- A physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India; the word comes from the Sanskrit root 'yuj', meaning to join or unite.
- When is International Yoga Day?
- 21 June, accepted by the UN General Assembly on 11 December 2014.
- What are the main benefits of yoga?
- Stronger, more flexible muscles and better balance through asanas; a calmer mind, less stress and better sleep through breathing and meditation; plus immune, heart and weight benefits.
- What is the WHO mYoga app?
- An app launched by the World Health Organisation on 20 June 2021 with video and audio files to help people learn yoga.
- Are these the NCERT exercise questions for Class 6 English Chapter 12?
- No. EZT pages are original practice following the chapter's section order - use them to prepare for the textbook exercises, not as a substitute for your book.