Alternative Medicine

Yoga

Introduction

Yoga’ means not only contemplation but also communion and yoking all powers of the body, mind and soul to God. It is a very ancient and efficient system of disciplines and controls designed to produce the integration of the body, mind and spirit. It also achieves higher states of awareness and self-realization by methodical efforts to attain perfection.

The therapeutic benefits obtained by performing the asanas are well known. The circulation of the blood is improved; tensions can be removed, and a feeling of well-being is induced. The muscles are strengthened, nerves soothed and physical endurance is increased.

One important aspect is that blood vessels and nerves for the internal organs are “massaged” by the twists and bending, ensuring proper functioning. Ageing bodies can have fewer aches and pains, stiffening of joints can be healed and depression alleviated.Often mentioned are the following divisions of yoga

1. Hatha Yoga
Concerned, primarily with the body and the asanas.
2. Bhakti Yoga
Path of love and devotion.
3. Mantra Yoga
Recitation and repetition of words and verses.
4. Karma Yoga
Service through action and work.
5. Jnana Yoga
The intellectual path.
6. Raja Yoga
Synthesis of Bhakti, Karma and Janan.
7. Laya Yoga
The secret path, the ‘Yoga of Dissolution’.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a philosophy brought down diligently through the ages. And, it has acquired more significance now because of the “stressed out” way of life that we live in this fast paced world filled with pressure, anxiety and energy consuming routine.

In ancient times, the seven stages of yoga consisted of :

1. Eyama – Good deeds
2. Niyama – Stoping bad habits
3. Asanas –
4. Pranayama – Breathing
5. Pratikaharan – Special diet
6. Dharana / Dyanam – Concentration
7. Samadhi – Submitting oneself to die

What we are trying to do here is not drill into your head that it is some kind of an exercise that has to be done. IT is certainly not so because it is just not some form of an exercise or some form of a routine that has to be rigidly followed. It is more of a philosophy and it has to become a part of yourself as much as eating, brushing your teeth, combing your hair or even breathing.

And, once it pervades your system there is no way that any thing can take its place. It becomes so much of a second nature to you that you find it difficult to even imagine that how you had lived without it for so long.

And this, is no exaggeration – it is the pure and simple truth itself.

What we are trying to do – online?

Here we are trying to get the basis of yoga put in a simple way so that we can draw more people into the real understanding of this kind of a pure philosophy. The ultimate goal is to create a world full of people who have a deeper understanding of this concept and practice it at some stage in life.

We will be giving weekly lessons on this site and this will be a continuing process.

So all you got to do is just follow our instructions so that you can get down to practising it directly from your place and more important at your pace.

Types of Yoga

There are different types of yoga that are practised such as the following:

Jananyoga, Bhaktiyoga, Karmayoga, Mantra yoga, Hatha yoga, Rajyoga, Ghatayoga, Nayayoga etc. various types of yoga are practised in India.

Generally we are doing asanas (posture) & pranayam (breathing) from Hatha Yoga and Dhyana (Meditation) from Rajyoga. These are one of the basic steps.

Yoga is an amalgamation of a philosophy, play (sports) and medicine. It is distilled as a science (viz. kala, krira & vigyan)

How does Yoga actually help ?

Yoga stimulates and rejuvenates the system totally.

It aims at each region such as:
a. Head & its parts
b. Lungs & heart (Respiratory & Blood circulation)
c. Digestive System.

Perfect timing for yoga:

After a bath
Between 4.30 A.M – 7.30 A.M on an empty stomach
Between 5.00 P.M – 7.30 P.M on an empty stomach

There should be an interval of 4 hours between meals (Strictly).

Yoga also helps in softening the nerves and gives peace to the mind apart from increasing immunity.

When yoga is practised in the morning the digestive related diseases are control, afternoon the bones and joints are
strengthened while yoga in the evening leads to the control of phlegm related diseases.

Now we can see how yoga helps in the prevention and cure of ailments.

How is Yoga different from exercise ?

Stimulation and rejuvenation of the system can be achieved through pavana mukth asana and pranayama (breathing exercises).

Pawana-Mukth-Asana (Warm-up Asanas)

These exercises are the first simple asanas and are considered as the introductory to the practice of yoga. This is beneficial to all types of people. Rigidity and stiffness of body – muscles and joints give place to softness and looseness. They remove almost all gas phlegm, blood pressure, diabetes and bile troubles.

These exercises are also useful for those who are convalescent, invalids, or for those who have difficulty in moving the body and the limbs. Even in case of people with high blood pressure these exercises are safely recommended as they do not aggravate the condition.

These asanas lead to higher types of asanas and bring peace and tranquillity of mind.

These are very simple to do and even a layman can do to them without any problem. And these are considered as stepping stones to the higher asanas .

One would feel oneself almost flying in the air if one performs these asanas regularly. They eventually make one’s body beautiful graceful and charming.

What we are planning to do:

We are planning to get these sessions of asanas online under the advice of Professor R Andiappan, who is an exponent of asana therapy for curing several physical ailments.

Our special feature is to simplify of yoga and just make it easy to practice it as well as understand it completely.

In the first week we will show you how the pawana-mukth-asana are done through illustrations and directions.

In the following four weeks we will be covering the whole set of the 40 pawana-mukth-asanas ( 10 per week and in the last week 15).