Yoga: Yoga
is a word from the ancient Sanskrit language that means
Health: According
to WHO, the World Health Organization, total health
should include Physical, Mental and Social well being.
·Yoga has for thousands of years had a holistic
understanding of the Human being, its subtle physiology and the connection
between mind and body. The vast philosophies and disciplines of Yoga have
remained essentially the same for thousands of years.
·Currently western science is exploring the benefits of
Yoga and its effects on mind and body with keen interest. Scientific research
has been expanding at a modest rate for at least the last three decades.
·
Yoga views the Human body as a composite of
Mind, Body, Spirit and supplies unique techniques that create a harmony between
these increasingly more refined aspects of our total personality.
·
One of the yogic models used to describe, what
constitutes the human beings total personality is known as the Pancha Kosha (five sheaths or
bodies) theory. The five body theory can be experienced through awakening of
the major chakras,Sushumna
and Kundalini i.e.) Yoga
·
A
brief summary follows:
·
Yogic
Model of a Human Being (Pancha Kosha)
From the most subtle (Deep) to the gross (Superficial)
Yoga views the innermost essence of everyone as:
··
Spirit Body- Anandamaya Kosha (body of Bliss)
··
Psychic Body-Vigyanamaya Kosha (Unconscious mind)
··
Mental Body- Manomaya Kosha (Conscious mind)
··
Energy Body- Pranamaya Kosha ( Bio-Plasmic energy, life
force)
··
Physical Body-Annamaya Kosha (Food dependant, gross body)
Another analogy once described by Swami Niranjan went like this. Imagine a human being like an
onion consisting of five layers. The outer ring or sheath the physical body,
the second ring inside the bio energy sheath, the third ring or body the mental
body, the fourth ring the psychic body or sheath, and the last ring the
innermost essence being the spiritual essence and experience.
Yoga views health as essential and an outcome
of having found a balance between our total personality and the world around
us. This fits the model described by WHO.
Nadis (Indian Yoga System) Meridians (Chinese TCM System)
·Yoga offers more than basic exercises, Yoga develops
an awareness of the inner self, and provides a holistic understanding of our
own physical, mental, and social existence.
·According to Yoga when there is a free flow of Prana
or Chi (Life force or Subtle energy) within the Nadis or Meridians, which permeate our bodies there, is
health. A bit like, the bodies ability to maintain a physiological and
Psychological homeostatic balance.
·
·When there is an imbalance or blockage to the flow of
consciousness or energy that moves within these channels, then illness and or
disease can manifest and impact on our health. As in western medicine health
problems can be created in many ways including somatopsychically
and psychosomatically. Yoga uses techniques that help boost, harmonise and
refine the flow of Prana or Chi, thereby helping to maintain or enhance health.
Yoga Postures- Asana
the body
,can include forward bending postures, backward bending postures, sideways
bending postures, twisting postures,inverted,balancing
and meditational postures.
A repertoire of breathing exercises to
revitalise the physiological components of respiration (breathing). Techniques
to balance the nervous system, and harmonise the Sympathetic Nervous System
overdrive.
A vast
array of techniques exist for every level of aspirant, beginning with
relaxation (Yoga Nidra) students can then progress to
more advanced meditation techniques depending on their needs and experience.
Through Meditation you realize how important a balanced mind is through
experiencing deeper aspects of your personality and then you begin to balance
your essential needs and desires.
·
A good example of Asanas can be seen in the
practice of Surya Namaskara
(Salute to the sun). It only involves forward and backward bending but can also
include additional elements such as breath synchronisation, mantra repitition, chakra concentration.
This takes the simpler version to a more absorbing sophisticated version.
·
It should be emphasized that Yoga is best learnt from a qualified Yoga
teacher and not from a book or video. These resources can supplement Yoga
instruction but never replace it. Some techniques may also be contraindicated
(not advisable). Ask your teacher and learn from their experience.
Health Care
To
make these beliefs and values accepted within the health care system would take
a shift in paradigms by the powers of the health care system model, and an
open-minded outlook that integrates western science and eastern wisdom. This short essay looks at Yoga and its path
to acceptance within the Australian health care system. The health care system
evaluates would-be’ health professions that are seeking recognition by
measuring how closely they meet certain criteria. This has to be met, before any professional
group is taken seriously as a professional body within the industry. Their trade/craft thereby
being endorsed as a “Profession.”
The Profession:
·Must have a Philosophy: Yoga has some of the deepest
and most ancient philosophies known to man. Its ancient wisdom still has
immense practicality in our so-called advanced modern society. Now more than
ever-modern society needs some wisdom and philosophy to keep the balance with
the void of meaning we find in our material world and existence.
· Must be based in Science: Science is currently proceeding at a moderate
pace, validating the benefits of yoga, which are enormous. Research is moving
on many fronts, in many countries throughout the world. As with all scientific
research funding is a major issue which limits the speed of dissemination of
useful valid data.
·Must have something beneficial to offer society that
enhances physical, mental and social health and wellbeing. Yoga is an art,
craft, with an enormous repertoire of techniques that are beneficial for the
individuals that make up our society. It has techniques that are designed to
help harmonise and integrate in a balanced way all aspects of the human being.
Many people from all walks of life throughout
many strata’s of society are practicing yoga, for whatever reason. The numbers of
people receiving the benefits of Yoga is growing at a healthy rate worldwide.
For example it is estimated in the
One way Yoga will earn this respect and
recognition is through:
·
Scientific research
·
At least Diploma
level, and if possible degree level education courses with a continual
commitment by Yoga teachers to the theme of lifelong learning. (Masters degrees and PhDs are available in
·
Standards of care,
registration of teachers, regulatory and governing bodies, standards of the
profession, professional liaison with other health care organizations and
institutions.
By keeping abreast with past and current Yoga
related research, Yoga teachers will be in a better position to integrate and
translate the “evidence based practice” model into our teaching, thereby
enhancing student/client/teacher outcomes.
For the professional advancement of Yoga teaching as a profession we
endeavour to
1.1.
Integrate the subjective experiences of wellness,
health, peace, bliss, psychic and spiritual experiences and the general
benefits of Yoga, with
2.2. Objective quantifiable and scientific yoga research data, and match
whatever is necessary using the tools (techniques) at our disposal to the
current needs of society.
I am
happy to be witnessing the upsurging trend towards complimentary therapies and
alternative health modalities around the world and even in
This
outlines that change comes from the individuals who make up society. Eventually
people change, societies, cultures norms, political policies change and the
environment changes. The truest fact is that change is in the nature of all of
creation.
I do
not claim to be a health care professional, but I am interested in health,
total health that encompasses physical, mental and spiritual health. The small
understanding I have about health comes from twenty years of studying and
practicing the sophisticated, ancient science art and philosophy of Yoga and a
few years of tertiary health science studies.
At
the outset Yoga as an alternative Health practice or discipline has a holistic
view of the Human Body/Mind /Spirit complex that is unsurpassed.
For
at least six thousand years of recorded history in
Following
the world wide interest over the last century India is now proudly leading the
way having the worlds first Government accredited Yoga University known as the
“
The
MSc.Yoga Psychology, MA.Yoga Philosophy, MSc.Applied
Yogic Science and Grad Dip. Yoga Ecology. Bihar Yoga
Bharati has now been approached by mainstream Universities from
Dissemination
of scientific research coming out of this institution and many others in
In
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation
The
Universities are sponsoring the conference that is being organised by the Swami
Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, which has its headquarters at
The
internationally respected Scientifically oriented
institute holds a yearly conference in
The
aims of this conference will go a long way in increasing the awareness of the
Benefits of Yoga and Meditation to australian
and international medical dignitaries.
Some
of the key areas of focus for this conference quoted below are directly from
the (http://vkyoga.org.in/conferences.html)
·
The
Importance of Yoga in modern society for propagating health, harmony
·· Medical
Applications of Yoga therapy to face the challenges of common ailments
·· Applications
of Yoga techniques for Stress Management
·· Medical
applications of Yoga principles for stress related ailments and research
perspectives.
·· How
the application of Yoga can complement modern medicine in dealing with specific
ailments, such as those affecting the brain, cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems.
·· Yoga
as a systemic and holistic approach to better health and the prevention of
these ailments
·· The physiological,
Psychological, Mental and spiritual effects of Yoga practice
Conclusion
Currently
health care funds in NSW are providing rebates to members with top cover or
ancillary benefits. This is no doubt aiding members to reap the benefits of
participating in Yoga classes. The Yoga Industry is slowly getting its act
together regarding government regulation, accreditation and licensing which
should be passed sometime this year.
In
years to come Yoga will definitely be taken more seriously by members of the
health care system and society at large. This will be due to the hard work of
inspired individuals and Institutions that successfully integrate the ancient
yogic technologies of Body, Mind and Spirit with the current needs of society.
My
principal Yoga inspirer has been Swami Satyananda Saraswati from Deoghar, India.Swami Satyananda
had as his teacher and inspirer one of the greatest Indian Yogis of the last
century, Swami Sivananda Saraswati. Before Swami Sivananda took up the
lifestyle of a (Swami) renunciate Yogi, he was an eminent
Doctor and physician. The mission statement that he gave to Swami Satyananda
was “Take Yoga from shore to shore and door to door” explaining it
scientifically. This is what he did, touring internationally disseminating Yoga
for twenty years. Even now at nearly eighty he still works behind the scenes
supplying aid and health care to the poor often-illiterate village people in
his vicinity around Deoghar by the thousands.
References
1.
Second Australian Conference on Yoga for positive
Health (2002)
Swami Vivekananda Yoga
Research Foundation. Retrieved
From the World Wide Web: http://vkyogas.org.in/conferences.html
Copyrightă Swami Mounamurti Saraswati
2002