YOGA
It is a pure science; the great science of yoga is India's unequalled gift
to mankind. If mankind is to evolve further, and if it is to save itself
from its own aggressive tendencies, the only path open is the science of
yoga. Though the ultimate goal of this science is the realization of the
absolute, in day-to-day life, it is useful and necessary to maintain mental
and bodily health.
· Bodily exercises (asanas),
· Breath control (pranayama)
· Mind control (dhyana) |
Yoga Master N.R.SHYAM
E-mail: shyam@chennaionline.com
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Are helpful to win over the bodily and mental ills. The role of the mind
in the creation of health and ill health has been well emphasized by ayurvedic physicians. In praising Dhanvanthiri, the first sloka begins by
emphasizing that diseases arise in the body due to problems of the mind
like raga (excessive desire).
The human body and mind are gifts of God. The asset given to us without
any interest, for anything in life to be fulfilled, the body should be healthy and this needs constant care. Just as a car needs regular
maintenance, the body and mind also need the same. This is best achieved
by regular exercise. Awareness of these exercises is becoming popular. However people who do their regular exercises, still form a minority in our
vast world.
Before we understand health, diseases should be identified and eliminated.
Yoga identifies diseases at the embryonic stage, several years before they
are manifested. An easy example is the orthopedic disorder of low back
pain. Medicine has no method to predict who will not suffer this problem.
Yoga analyses a person in terms of the ability to perform certain postures,
and predicts the probability of the person suffering from low back pain in
the future. It is difficult to understand this further, unless one has
practiced yoga for many years.
For example a person in sitting posture on a chair, with the spine doubled
up and with the rib cage compressed medicine does understand that such
persons will suffer back pain as does yoga. But yoga adds value and states
that the heart and major blood vessels are compressed in such a posture,
healthy and pure blood cannot flow into the muscles of heart itself. Just
as sitting in a chair for prolonged periods will reduce blood supply to the
pressure points, the inner organs also suffer the same fate if the posture
is incorrect. Sure enough, all these can be proved by diagnostic tests.
Asanas or Posture is what everyone generally takes yoga to mean. However
asanas are not just a set of exercises or positioning of the body. They
rejuvenate the cells of the brain and activation of the cells of the bodily
organs. It takes years of sustained effort to master asanas and the concentration and balance needed make the mind razor sharp. Once the
asanas have been perfected, performing the same becomes effortless and the
yogi loses himself in the pose.
Pranayama , prana means all forms of energy like cosmic energy, mental
energy, sexual energy and physical energy. It is loosely translated as
breath. Ayama is control; or discipline of breathing. If the breath is
controlled and calm, the senses are stilled and the mind is settled. Pranayama raises the practitioner to that state of silence rarely
experienced in the normal day to day life.
A Technician stationed in the factory or office is prone to stiff lower and
upper back muscles. The research workers and lab assistants who have to
crane their necks into the microscope for hours at a stretch suffer degenerative neck disease. In order to ensure health, it is essential to
be aware of all such situations.
The next step is to provide correction and counter movements. Depending
upon the pattern of usage, either rest to the affected part or, better
still, exercises, which act as a form of rest to prevent cervical problems,
back bends on the ropes are useful. Back bends are useful as they remove
fatigue of the spinal muscles and prevent degenerative disc disease due to
constant loading of the spine in the flexed position. They also invigorate
the entire system and provide the necessary healthy blood circulation to
the organs, which are kept stationary, standing poses, are needed to promote
better stability for ligaments and muscles in the legs, inverted poses strengthen the cervical muscles
Asanas like dog pose, hand, stand, and urdhva mukha svanasana stretch the
palms, forearms and upper arms. This improves blood supply to the armpit
area. It also stretches the side chest are which is constantly pressed.
It is heartening to know that in this age of hurry and stress and of emphasis on high technology medicine, there are well established
techniques in the science of yoga to restore one's health, with happiness.
Importance and its benefits
Back bend
Spinal extension in Tadasana with neck on rope is high specific for re
aligning the spinal curvature and abolishing vertebra - Basilar min sufficiency. Back bend with double ropes
helps to elasticise the dorsal spine as well as all the spinal muscles in
the shoulder blade and neck area.
Dog pose (Athomugaswanasana):
Stretches calf muscles, lower and mid-back prevent and cures habitual injuries and "Achilles Tendonitis
Urdhavamugaswanasana
Shoulders and neck stretched to the maximum and relieve arthritic pain.patients with cervical spondylosis are benefited.
With best regards
N.R.SHYAM
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