Yoga and Ageing
This research article
will look into the ageing process and the reasons why, in spite of a carefully
planned healthy lifestyle, our systems eventually shut down. It will look at
what happens to the cells of the human organism during its lifetime and which
systems of the body are most susceptible to deterioration. I will then
investigate which yoga practices can effectively provide longevity to the
average person while enhancing the quality of their lives.
According to
the Yoga Sutras, we must first perfect the external practices of yoga before we
attempt to look inwards in search of our spirituality. Therefore in keeping
with this discipline, I will first of all explore the physiological aspects of
ageing before looking for yoga practices that will delay its assault.
Introduction
'We begin to die the day we are born' is not a very
palatable statement, however growing old does not need to be a condition of
disease and senility. Progressive changes over time, independent from the
effects of disease, the abuses of social life or detrimental effects of the
environment are unavoidable. Ageing can be perceived as a chronological process
that assesses age in terms of time or a biological process in which mental,
physiological and mechanical dysfunction takes place in one or many of our
human systems. No matter when or where these
dysfunction happen, one thing is certain - they all originate at a cellular
level; cells begin to change and some die.
The maturation of the 'baby boomers' is here, therefore the success of antibiotics and improved
medical technology presents society with an increasing number of aged
populations. Unfortunately as these numbers increase so too does the incidents
of cancers, cardiovascular, dementia and other degenerative diseases and
although there are many theories expressed, there are no definite cures for
them at this time. Yoga provides a preventative measure against disease more
than a cure, although in some instances certain practices will facilitate the
healing process.
Different theories relating to ageing are the
"wear-and-tear" theory, in which lifestyle and the environment take
its toll on the health of us all. Progressive disorders of
the immune system is another theory that is spoken of in which cells
turn against and destroy each other. Then of course there is the "genetic
theory" that involves the credibility of our genes to provide the
necessary framework to fight pathogens and the cellular intelligence for our
"telomere time-clock" to function adequately3.
Telomere binds the ends of chromosome strands to the
nuclear matrix in cell division, a continuous process throughout our life span,
but with each division the telomere gets shorter and it is up to the enzyme
telomerase to cooperate during this process by reconstituting the supply of telomere.
However it is believed that the supply of telomere eventually becomes depleted
and cells are unable to multiply. It is possible to synthesise the enzyme
telomerase but unfortunately because a synthesised version is not recognised as
'self' it tends to accelerate the number of cancerous cells and is therefore
not an appropriate remedy.
Cellular proliferation (turnover) is easily
interpreted in mitogenisis (the cell cycle) and in
apoptosis (programmed cell death) but differentiation is much more complicate.
It involves the regulation and generation of specialised cells on the basis of
molecular signalling pathways; cell to same cell; cell to different cell; cell
to extracellular matrix3.
In proliferation the immediate descendants of
self-generating stem cells may slightly change (differentiate) between one or
two different lineage, however this potential is eventually exhausted. For as
the cells become too deranged from the original stem cell, they are no longer
recognised as "self" and are rejected, so where there is a serious
fault in the replication of a cell, apoptosis occurs. The gradual decline of
telomere through repeated transcription sees the cell reach what is known as
the cell's cytoplasmic maturation and it dies3.
1.
Normal Cell division
Cells that go through the normal process of mitogenisis, as is the case of the skin, are highly prone
to disease and UV radiation5.
SKIN:
Reduction in collagen, partly due to a less efficient
respiratory system and decrease in nutrients is one of the first signs of
ageing. Epithelia of the skin is thin and as the protective covering for the
body it is more prone to trauma from exposure to cold, wind and the sun's rays
and is the first system of the body to come in contact with disease.
The skin provides a means for elimination of waste
products and as we age a poorer circulatory system reduces not only the
nutrients carried to the peripheries of the body but the waste products that
could be disposed of in our sweat. The natural survival system of the body
draws whatever blood is available toward maintaining its vital organs. Still we
must consider that from the day that we are born, we begin to die; our skin
cells are in a continuous state of decay and renewal. Very
symbolic of life itself.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
Asana, in particular
Surya Namaskara
will increase general circulation and provide nutrients from the blood for
healthy tissue. If practised for a reasonable time, long enough to bring about
a state of light perspiration, toxins can be eliminated from the body through
the pores of the skin, flushing out bacteria absorbed from the external
environment.
2.
Inverted
postures provide an increased blood supply to the upper body and bring greater
nourishment to the cells and taking waste products away from the cells of the
lower body at a faster rate that usual.
LINING OF GUT:
The intestinal lining is a continuation of the skin -
a protective barrier for other tissue and organs from the effects of strong digestive
enzymes. A sluggish metabolism and poor circulation will have their effect on
absorption into the cells and excretion out of the intestines. Cellular
composition of the lining can be influenced through gastric reflux and change
into cells similar to those that line the stomach. This increases the chances
of developing cancer in the oesophagus.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
Asana will increase
the circulation of blood throughout the body, providing nutrients to epithelial
lining of the entire gastrointestinal tract. The increased exchange of oxygen
at cellular level increases the metabolic rate, speeding up the digestive and
excretory processes.
2.
Relax
the muscles of the abdominal-pelvic region with the practice of Tadagi Mudra. This
practice generates intra-abdominal pressure on the entire digestive system,
which utilises the contract-relax response to the muscles. Relaxation of the
digestive tract effectively allows the system to work more easily.
3.
Stubborn
undigested food particles may be flushed through the system with the Shankhaprakshalana practice of Laghoo.
The major substances in the body's interstitial fluid are sodium and chloride;
therefore using saline water slows down absorption of the liquid by the G.I.T.
This allows the water to reach into the thousands of folds that harbour
segments of undigested food that are then eliminated with the water through the
anus.
4.
In
the case of chronic gastric reflux, another of the Shankhaprakshalana
practices, Kunjal is of great benefit. Again
with the use of saline water, the stomach is filled to capacity by drinking as
much of the fluid as the stomach can handle and expelling the contents.
5.
Some
people have hang-ups and find that they do not have success with Shankhaprakshalana. For these people, yoga offers a
technique in Yoga Nidra that utilises the
mind/body connection; visualising the digestive process and experiencing it
with each breath; bringing harmony of the breath to the harmony of peristalsis.
RESPIRATORY TRACT LINING:
This is also a continuation of the skin and a
protective barrier. Smoking can turn the finger like ciliated cells into flat
squamous type tissue thus reducing their protective properties. Through the
ageing process respiratory efficiency declines but this may have more to do
with skeletal muscle atrophy than damage to the lining of the respiratory tract. Gas exchange between the alveoli and the capillaries
becomes affected, as does the gas exchange between the capillaries and the blood.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
Yoga
offers many breathing techniques all of which benefit efficient respiration.
Swami Satyananda states that "pranayama
is indispensable for getting rid of the body's toxins and to avoid ailments
resulting therefrom"1 .
2.
Spiritual
aspirants, to control and direct vital prana, thus awakening the energy that
lays dormant within us, use many of the more advanced techniques. However for
therapeutic purposes, simple Deep Rhythmic Breathing is sufficient to
stabilise the internal rhythms of the body and to provide life-sustaining
oxygen to every cell of the body. Whenever muscle contracts or a gland
secretes, or even when we think of something, there is oxidation in the
corresponding organs of our body1. The oxidation also involves the
removal of waste products from our systems, some of which are transported via
the bloodstream to the lungs for expulsion with each exhalation.
LYMPH NODE FOLLICLES:
With poorer circulation, the immune system becomes
less efficient as lymph node follicles at the outer extremities are deprived of
essential nutrients. An efficient lymphatic system helps in maintaining
adequate blood volume. Fluids are filtered in the lymph nodes, killing off
bacteria etc. and recycling unused nutrients before the fluid is returned to
the blood. Without this ongoing process, bacteria filled fluid remains at the
extremities, damaging surrounding cells.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
Pawanmuktasana - Part 1 is ideal for
targeting specific areas. The gentle pumping, rhythmic action assists the
movement of the lymphatic fluids while at the same time increasing blood flow
to the area.
2.
Because
the lymphatic system does not have a pumping system Surya
Namaskara is ideal for stimulating the entire
circulatory system including the lymphatics. The major lymph nodes at the back
of the knee (popliteal), the groin (inguinal) and at the armpit (auxiliary) are
pumped adequately to encourage movement of the lymph.
3.
With
the same principal in mind, (ie. the lack of a
pumping system) Inverted postures may be useful,
however, it must be considered that this alone will not increase the necessary
circulation that activates the filtration of the blood.
BONE MARROW:
Red blood cells T-cells, B-cells are manufactured in
bone marrow at the rate of about an ounce per day. Our bones stop growing when
we reach physical maturity and reserves of calcium need to be maintained for
bone density. Resorption exceeds formation after the age of 40 so it is
necessary to stimulate its continued production.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
Regulation
of calcium is controlled through the endocrine system (in particular, the
parathyroid gland) and it is advisable to control the manufacturing process of
calcium to ensure that supplies in the bone matrix are not overtaxed. Formation
of red and white blood cells is an ongoing process as the life of these cells
is only 100-120 days.
2.
Therefore,
by following a sensible Yogic Diet, which provides the essential vitamins
and minerals for homeostatic balance, other effects from ageing will be
reduced. Nutrition is a specialised field - advice should be sought from
someone trained in this area.
3.
There
is no better yoga practice than Surya Namaskara for
regulating the endocrine system and it is the homeostatic balance of this
system that will ensure both efficient use and effective production of the
necessary elements for bone remodelling.
ENDOMETRIUM & TUBULES OF THE TESTES:
Both types of tissue are highly dependent upon
hormones released by the endocrine system, which is discussed in the next
section.
2.
Cells that divide only under certain conditions
Some cells, as in the organs (or glands) listed below,
require the release and activation of hormone chemicals for mitogenisis
to take place. Cell division must be coordinated by the presence, on the cell
membrane, of hormones and growth factor receptors. Transduction signals bring
on amplification that relays the message to the cell's nuclear protein to divide.
Therefore the entire feedback system must be working in harmony to maintain
homeostasis of the entire organism.
ENDOCRINE GLANDS:
To discuss the entire cellular activity of the
endocrine system is an enormous task; therefore I will select some of the key
areas affected by ageing. There are a number of endocrine glands, each one
reliant on secretions from one of the others for activation. The control centre
is the hypothalamus in the brain that release secretions, which stimulate or
inhibit hormones, involved in growth, reproduction and metabolism etc.
The major chemical regulatory gland, the pituitary
gland, slows down by 14% every decade and by the time we are 60 years of age we
are on half production. The thymus, a major site of T-cell production, becomes
fibrous which brings about a greater susceptibility to illness; T-lymphocytes
play a vital role in the immune response.
The important thing to remember is that the whole
endocrine system works through a feedback loop, as one chemical becomes diminished
it triggers the release from one of the other glands for a stimulating hormone.
As a chemical becomes overabundant another signal will go to a gland to release
an inhibiting factor that stops production. Homeostasis keeps this system
synchronised for good health.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
The
chakra system of yoga bears a strong correlation to
the position of several of these endocrine glands, therefore as we stimulate
various chakras for spiritual awakening; we also
improve the well being of the whole physical body (annamaya
kosha). For example, the pineal gland is situated at ajna chakra, the thyroid
gland at vishuddhi, the thymus gland at anahata, the adrenal glands at manipura
and the ovaries/gonads are located at swadhisthana/mooladhara.
All yoga practices, whether asana, pranayama,
mudra, bandha or shatkarmas act upon one or more of the chakras
2.
A
more advanced practice that influences several of these areas is Mana Bandha. Maha Bandha affects
the hormonal secretions of the pineal gland and regulates the entire endocrine
system. The decaying, degenerative and ageing processes are kept in check while
every cell in the body is rejuvenated. Through this practice we merge prana
(vishuddhi / anahata) and apana (swadhisthana / mooladhara) with samana (manipura) in agni
mandala. This convergence creates a force of vital energy to be directed up
sushumna to ajna chakra.
LIVER:
The liver is an important metabolic organ at any age,
maintaining homeostasis of blood sugar levels through gluconeogenesis,
glycogenesis and glycogenolysis. It is the storehouse for glucose and fats that
are required for energy production. Amino acids are taken up to manufacture
plasma proteins that are important blood buffers and essential for maintaining
osmotic pressure of the blood. The liver produces bile that enables us to
digest fats in the small intestines and it detoxifies metabolic wastes from the
blood.
After menopause, the liver can also assist with the
production of oestrogen that would normally have been secreted through
ovulation. The liver salvages iron from worn out blood cells to be released
into the blood when iron levels are low and converts other waste products to
urea.
When cells of the liver become inflamed, they
regenerate quickly but the liver's resulting scar tissue cells regenerate even
faster. As a result the liver becomes fibrous and its activity is suppressed.
If you keep in mind that the liver's main function is to filter nutrient-rich
blood, as the scar tissue shrinks, blood flow is impeded.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
Think
about the compact scar tissue and how it impedes blood flow within the liver;
now consider that by stretching and massaging the liver, you will assist in
releasing tissue adhesions. Therefore the practices of Paschimottasana
and Ardha Matsyendrasana
that compress, massage and stretch the abdominal organs, in this case the
liver, should be considered. Acknowledge that the liver is fused with the
diaphragm from above and attached by a ligament to the stomach below.
2.
Shankhaprakshalana practices that assist
with the elimination of waste products from the gastrointestinal tract will
minimise the enormous workload that is required of the liver.
KIDNEYS:
Kidneys filter the blood, secreting and re-absorbing
nutrients then eliminating nitrogenous metabolic wastes in urine. They also
regulate the composition, volume and the pH balance of the blood.
For many reasons, metabolism tends to be more sluggish
in the aged population and they are more prone to kidney infection and kidney
stones. Removal of electrolytes and nitrogenous body waste is slowed down also
as a result of the reduced metabolic rate and impaired regulation of the bodily
fluid's pH balance can have significant effects on the cardiovascular system.
The kidneys actually shrink with age and the nephrons
(filters) reduce in size and number. This condition is believed to be a result
of a narrowing of the arteries of the kidneys caused by atherosclerosis in
which fatty deposits lodge on arterial walls, thickening and possibly closing
them off.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
Improving
metabolism can prevent the declining number of nephrons and again the benefits
of Surya Namaskara
cannot be denied. All backward bending and forward bending asana will stimulate
the mechanical function of the kidneys. A well balanced diet that is
appropriate to the level of physical activity should be considered (advice from
a nutritional expert). Arteriosclerosis can be effectively reduced through
gentle asana practices and reducing fat content from the diet. Increasing the
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) level in the blood will carry the lipids from
the arterial walls to be destroyed by the liver.
2.
Shankhaprakshalana practices (reduced
quantity of salt is recommended) that assist with the elimination of waste
products, will also increase the fluid taken up into the bloodstream thereby
increasing blood volume. As water is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys,
they are flushed.
SMOOTH MUSCLE:
Smooth muscle is found in the gastrointestinal tract
and is remarkably trouble free. Tissue can however find irritation from
alcohol, spicy foods and bacteria.
3.
Cells that do not divide or multiply
Other cells do not have the capacity to reproduce, so
once they become affected by disease they die. Apoptic
cell bodies become detached from neighbouring cells and form a cytoplasmic
eosinophilic (granular white blood cell) mass that is then phagocytosed
(destroyed) by nearby cells.
NEURONES:
Cell death can be through unsuccessful synapse
connection. In such cases it is believed that the message may then find another
pathway while the weaker connection just withers away. Eventually should too
many neurones die off, dementia or Alzheimer's disease, major diseases
affecting the elderly will result. Are they really diseases or another of the
processes involved with growing old? Many theories have been put forward and
scientists are still investigating the cause and possible cure.
Calcium surplus depresses neurone function but a
deficiency in calcium affects nerve transmission. So it would appear that a fine balance of calcium levels need to be achieved through
efficient metabolism. However, survival is uppermost in the organism's evolutionary
structure and we should bear in mind that the brain will always be taken care
of to the disadvantage of other organs and tissue. So maybe it is not the lack
of calcium that causes brain cells to decay, but a defect in the endocrine
system.
Never-the-less, one thing that all cells need is blood
for the supply of oxygen and nutrients and should there be a lack of this to
the brain, supporting cells (not only neurones, but all cells) of the brain
will suffer and this may have a detrimental effect on the neurones. In fact the
cells of the brain die after only three minutes of oxygen deprivation 7.
The human organism is a finely tuned instrument; when
one organ is malfunctioning, it effects those with
which it interacts. It is interesting to note that programmed cell death of
neurones occurs during the embryonic period. When a human life is first
created, there is a full complement of neurones, two-thirds of which die before
we are born.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
The
physiological influences of yoga practices supercharge,
improve and elevate the function of the brain. Pawanmuktasana
practices encourage and develop a sense of awareness of the whole organism.
Physical, mental and pranic awareness are stimulated
thus encouraging and stimulating neural activity relating to the corresponding
nerve centres.
2.
Rotation
of awareness, feelings of opposites and visualisations during Yoga Nidra stimulate many neurones in the brain.
3.
Pranayamas such as Ujjayi combined with Full Yogic Breath promotes
increases oxygen uptake into the blood. Nadi
Shodhana will balance the arterial flow in each
of the nostrils ensuring that both hemispheres of the brain receive adequate
supple of blood. Cleansing the nasal passages with Neti
beforehand will enhance this practice. Bhramari
Pranayama creates a vibration that emanates
throughout the body effectively stimulating neurone cells. Studies have shown
that pranayama cannot be compared with simple
breathing exercises that also increase the oxygen intake, for they require
greater respiratory and cardiac work. Pranayama
increases the supply of oxygen to vital areas of the brain while simultaneously
reducing the workload of the heart 7.
4.
Asana, in particular Surya Namaskara,
involves an element of weight bearing that promotes bone remodelling. Neural
activity requires the presence of calcium to carry the neural message to its
intended receptor site. As muscles are stretched, the tendons pull at their
attachments to relevant bony structures. This weight bearing on the bones
encourages bone remodelling thus maintaining essential calcium levels for nerve
transmission.
CARDIAC MUSCLE:
Muscle contraction requires calcium to maintain normal
heart rhythm and adequate circulation through the cardiac tissue to receive an
ample supply of oxygen and nutrients. A sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary
habits tend to be more damaging than ageing for cardiac muscle, for as with all
other muscles it is dependant upon good blood supply. Arteriosclerosis is a
condition where fatty deposits thicken arterial walls, reducing the volume of
blood that can travel through the body. This in turn asks for greater effort
from the cardiac muscle to pump more blood.
RECOMMENDED PRACTICES:
1.
Establishing
good dietary habits is fundamental to healthy heart tissue and a balance
yogic diet is usually suffice, however, anyone with concerns is better advised
to consult a nutrition specialist for dietary analysis.
2.
Pranayama practises for those who
have a diagnosed heart condition should first learn basic breathing techniques
without any strain or trying to control the breath in any way.
3.
Abdominal
Breath Awareness exerts a profound physiological influence by
automatically altering the method by which the lungs are filled. Respiration
becomes more relaxed and efficient and at the same time the heart rate slows
without compromising cardiovascular efficiency.
4.
Pawanmuktasana - Part 1 promotes
relaxation and blood flow to the extremities of the body. Even the most fragile
people are able to undertake this practice. This can be followed by Part 2 of
the Pawanmuktasana series as the heart becomes
stronger which will improve circulation and metabolism.
5.
For
the more physical, Surya Namaskara provides a tremendous increase to circulation
throughout the entire body. Initially just three slow rounds would be
recommended followed by relaxation in shavasana.
6.
Meditative
asanas are an important preventative measure for
cardiovascular degeneration. They induce an automatic shunting of blood to the
arterial beds of the brain and the skin, reducing the workload of the heart. Siddhasana was recommended by Dr Christian Barnard to
stabilise cardiac function7.
SKELETAL MUSCLE:
Connective tissue surrounding muscle fibres tends to
increase with ageing while at the same time the number of muscle fibre
decrease. Muscles atrophy mainly as a result of inactivity. By maintaining high
aerobic capacity, one can maintain a metabolic rate that provides good supply
of oxygen and nutrients to muscle fibres.
Oxygen is essential for the production of ATP (energy)
at a cellular level; this same energy source is required for all molecular
activity. As the muscles waste away and there is a decline in ATP production,
heat, a product of energy is shunted away from extremities toward vital organs
reducing circulation which in turn affects all other systems that become
starved of their vital oxygen and nutrients.
Following a nerve impulse to contract, muscle fibres
need calcium to complete the task. A release of calcium is stimulated by the
presence of the neurotransmitter (neural chemical) allowing the muscle fibres
to contract. ATP released with the contraction moves the calcium back into its
storage site when the contraction is over. The parathyroid gland regulates
blood calcium uptake from the kidneys and the release of calcium from the
bones.
RECOMMENDED PRACTISES:
1.
Surya Namaskara is the best
all round practice for increasing aerobic activity while at the same time
encouraging ATP production and toning the parathyroid gland. It increases
cardiovascular and respiratory activity, which in turn enhances the efficiency
of all other systems.
2.
A
full range of asana that included lateral flexion and rotations
to accompany Surya Namaskara
will provide the stretching, compression and torsional actions needed to
release 'connective tissue bound' muscle fibres.
3.
The
inverted posture of Vipareeta Karani Mudra will stimulate
and tone the parathyroid gland; its influence on this gland ensures normal
development and regeneration of bones, preventing premature calcification. Jalandhara Bandha
will stimulate and tone this gland also.
4.
Kunjal not only stimulates the
throat area but also helps to eliminate energy blockages that may be impeding
the release of parathormone, the hormone that
regulates the calcium levels in the blood.
Summary
Our inherited DNA contains oncogenes that act like
accelerators when replicating tissue cells, however
this is detrimental where carcinogenic cells are present. Another gene (p53),
known as a tumour suppressor gene, is responsible for the regulation of
apoptosis3. If we are very fortunate we may inherit an excellent
immune system with a very efficient army to fight pathogens and a diligent workshop
for repair and renewal of damaged tissue. We must also bear in mind that
lifestyle has quite an impact on our inherited genes when it comes to
longevity. Cellular abuses, through incomplete diet or injury from vigorous
leisure activities, are repaired throughout our lives. Studies have shown that
normal fibroblasts responsible for cell renewal have a limited life span5.
Other studies show that systems clogged with adhesions and scar tissue obscure
diagnosis of other infectious conditions that may otherwise have been
eliminated at its primary state.
The problem with ageing is that it can hit us before
we have a chance to put into effect useful preventative strategies to delay its
onslaught. Our lifestyles have an enormous impact on our biological age and
indicators of ageing relate more to our overall health and risk of disease
rather than it being a disease in itself. Most of these lifestyle factors are
within our control, but where do we begin, which category of cell would you
protect most? Yoga has invariably proved effective, and even where death has
been inevitable, yoga has given relief, hope and courage and an extension on
life itself. The preventative role of yoga must be considered especially the hatha yoga shatkarmas such as Shankhaprakshalana that yogis use periodically to purify
the entire gastrointestinal tract, both as a preventative and as a curative
measure. The individual who adopts the yogic lifestyle of asana, pranayama and mediation has the best possible guarantee of
a disease free future1.
People ask whether yoga has something to offer to cure
diseases such as cancer. Therapies have been diverse, they have been
unscientific and therefore unacceptable to many of us but we cannot deny that
they have been instrumental in some cases in the past7. At the same
time let us remember that the medical profession has scarcely fared any better
with their modern technology. Yoga is a therapeutic science, which has to be
prescribed practically and scientifically just like a medicine. It is best prescribed
with full knowledge of medical history and following scientific examinations,
which requires sound understanding of anatomy and physiology.
Our cells are in a constant state of replication
and/or death; it is this unique state that provides us with our homeostatic
balance without which would see the whole organism die much earlier. So how do
we regard this ageing process? Age can be defined as period of time but It is
not a process of dying, not a process of necrotic cell death through disease. Ageing
in reference to the human organism means cell death and cell death is a natural
process of cell renewal.
Swami Satyananda says in his discussions in "Yoga
and Cardiovascular Management"7 that just as all the dualities
of life - pleasure and pain, love and hatred, joy and sorrow, life and death
are really the two sides of one coin, so physiology and pathology are really
only two different ways of viewing the phenomenon of life in the human body.
There is no physiology without pathology, nor can there
be pathology without physiology. In tantra the twin
forces are recognised as Shiva and Shakti; they are working together in order
to relentlessly evolve consciousness from the clutches of matter. He further
says, "For me, life itself is all fullness, and whatever it brings me is
satisfactory and sufficient. And what about death? It
is just a part of life; that is all".
Copyright © - Satyam Yoga
Centre – 2000
mailto:satyamyoga.com@bigpond.com
Visit our yoga Website http://satyamyoga.com
The author grants the
right to use this file only in its entirety and authorship must be acknowledged
References
1.
Swami
Satyananda Saraswati, Dynamics of Yoga 1983,
2.
A.D.A.M.
Software, Inc. " Copyright 1991-1996
3.
Jeremy
R Jass, Understanding Pathology 1999, Harwood
Academic Publishers
4.
Well-being
1999, Wellspring Publications Pty Ltd,
5.
Marieb, Human Anatomy & Physiology 1998,
Benjamin Cummings,
6.
Swami
Satyananda Saraswati, APMB 1996,
7.
Swami
Satyananda Saraswati, Yoga and Cardiovascular Management 1984,