Indian Echo - YOGA: A Pure Science

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