Say Yes to Yoga

The benefits of practicing yoga are manifold and lasting, from a physical, mental, health and even spiritual perspective, says SHERYL DIXIT.

It’s been around for centuries, and despite the lures of new age alternatives to health and wellbeing, yoga has persevered and is indeed, making a comeback in today’s world. Loosely termed as a ‘life science’, yoga is a system of physical, mental and spiritual discipline that originated in India, but whose beginnings are lost in remotest antiquity. Descriptions of yogic methods have been found in Hindu sacred works like the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagvad Gita and the Tantras. Besides, nearly 5000 year old intact ceramics discovered through excavations in the Indus basin depict some of the postures of yoga.

The word ‘yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’, meaning ‘to control’, ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. It can be construed as the union of body and mind in harmonious health and efficiency, but it also incorporates a harmony of the consciousness. The ultimate aim of yoga is spiritual freedom through self realisation (Samadhi) via a mystical union between the individual spirit (Atman) and the universal spirit (Brahman). However, any venture into yoga is beneficial to the person practicing it and after a short period of regular involvement, one will experience in improvement in health and vitality, a firmness of muscle, a feeling of lightness and relaxation, and an increase in confidence and poise.

In the West, yoga is practiced more for health, relaxation, emotional stability and psychological poise. The techniques of yoga relate more to posture, breath control and meditation, all of which contribute to the release of stress and maintaining of a harmonious and balanced lifestyle.

The ancient yogis, in their wise understanding of the ways of humanity, devised different paths for the different temperaments of man.
Jnana yoga or union by knowledge is for the intellectual, in which the truths of existence and the nature of the Self are examined.
Bhakti yoga or union by devotion involves faith and worship, through concentrating and meditating on the divine.
Karma yoga is the union of action, and involves work performed for the service of mankind, which is also perceived as worship.
Mantra yoga or union by sound seeks to concentrate the mind by the repetition of special words and sentences, prayers and incantations.
Hatha yoga or union by body control is about understanding the body and gaining mastery over it. Physical exercise, hygiene and breathing practices are all a part of this form of yoga.
Raja yoga or union by mental control aims at mastering the mind and controlling the stream of thoughts that flow through the human mind.

Each of these paths can be attained in isolation or through combining different ones. For example Hatha yoga and Raja yoga are closely linked and often practiced together, as the former brings the body and mind into harmony while the latter deals with mental mastery. The most natural progression from practicing Hatha yoga is to venture into Raja yoga. Most yoga practiced by the West is based on Hatha yoga, with some level of involvement with Raja yoga.

The practice of postures, breathing control and meditation are the most basic steps towards venturing into yoga, and of all home exercise systems, Hatha yoga is the best. It needs no equipment, can be performed in a small space without the need of a lot of energy and is gentle and refreshing. Yogic asanas are postures to be held, not exercises as we assume them to be. Those who practice the asanas regularly will find their bodies becoming shapelier as their muscles become firmer and stronger. Almost all the asanas have a stretching action on the spine which houses and protects the vital nerve channels. The ancient yogis believed in maintaining a healthy and efficient nervous system.

Yoga practiced daily not just wards off stiffness in muscles and joints due to old age, but also slows down the whole physiological ageing process. In addition, its calming and integrating influence improves one’s personality. The influence of emotions on health is now well-known to medical science. Emotional stress and conflict can cause both minor ailments and serious diseases. But yoga helps purify one’s mind and body leading to an inner peace and contentment which is not just discernable to its disciples, but all who come in contact with them. 

Thousands of people across the world have now accepted yoga as a part of their life, and the world is a better place for it. They testify that the practice of yoga has rejuvenated the body, reduced obesity, increased suppleness in the spine and body, toned the nervous system, promoted mental alertness and even kept the skin glowing and healthy.

 There are a whole range of asanas to suit your personal regime, but if you are planning to practice yoga for the first time, it would be best to consult a doctor before attempting some of the postures, particularly if you suffer from any specific ailment. For example, the pose called the ‘Headstand’ should be avoided by people suffering from high blood pressure, heart ailments, or ear, eye or brain illness. But if you are of normal health and fitness, you can attempt all the asanas, provided you don’t overstrain the body. Gradual progress is the best.

A regime of 15-30 minutes per day is usually recommended for beginners by practitioners of yoga, with simple postures. Once you are comfortable with these postures, advanced asanas can be attempted. Do not exercise within two hours of having a meal.

Meditation is another form of yoga which helps still the mind, leading to attaining inner serenity. By setting aside fifteen to thirty minutes each day for a session of meditation, you will find visible changes in your outlook and attitude to life. The best times to meditate are either early in the morning before the household rises to another day, as this will help you cope well with what the day has to offer; or just before going to bed at night, which will ensure a good and refreshing night’s sleep.     

Except for two hours after meals, any time of the day will do for yoga meditation. Once you decide on a time each day, try and stick to it, as it will become a habit and will be a part of your regular routine. To begin with, meditate in a quiet place free from noise, interruptions or extremes of temperature, either indoors or outdoor. It is best to use a meditative posture with the spine held naturally upright. If, for health or age reasons, you cannot adopt the easy posture, a comfortable, straight backed chair should do. Avoid lying on your back because this recumbent position will naturally promote a feeling of drowsiness. In yoga meditation, one needs to be awake and alert. As one masters the technique of yogic meditation, one will find it easier to meditate even in locations that are not considered traditionally suitable, like a train or a frequently visited park.

Breath control is an important part of yoga, as it teaches the art of breathing correctly. Yes, there is a technique to breathing, which is called Pranayama (prana: life breath + ayama: pause). Yoga breathing exercises, if performed sensibly and without strain, can lead to greater body vitality and can exert a beneficial influence over emotions and the mind. As with most yoga exercises, the last meal should be at least two hours prior to commencing Pranayama and should be ideally conducted either in the open, before an open window or in an airy room. There are various forms of breathing techniques, but all have the desired effect of increased body vitality and stimulation of the mental processes.

Hygiene and diet are important to maintain the feeling of wellness brought about when practicing yoga. There are many methods of cleansing the system of toxins, as well as methods of cleansing the colon, stomach, nostrils, eyes, etc. To meet with an added measure of success in practicing yoga, one must also pay attention to how and what one eats. Moderation is the key, so at any meal one should eat enough to satisfy hunger, but not so much that one feels bloated or gorged. Yoga masters recommend a diet of ‘pure’ foods like milk, milk products, fruit, vegetables and grains. However, it is acceptable if one doesn’t wish to abstain from meat or fish. What is desired is a balance supply of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, water, vitamins and mineral salts.

The physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga are now being appreciated even more, and this practice gains converts with each day. Yoga works, and it could make a marked difference to your lifestyle and attitude. Yoga practitioners are now abundantly available in Australia, and can even be practiced individually in the comfort of one’s home. So take a step towards discovering this life science; the results may surprise you.