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Yoga
Therapy
The
word Yoga means to join or unite.
Yoga is a complete science of health, which deals with the
understanding of the adequate functioning of all systems of our body and
appropriate coordination between them, along with the healthy functioning
of our mind. The practice of Yoga integrates the body with the mind and
the mind with the soul, thereby helping us to understand our own natures
and to live compatibly with our fellow men.
Regular
practice of yoga not only keeps the body healthy and fit, but also
prevents physical, mental and emotional imbalances due to various reasons
in our day-to-day life. Daily
yogic practices gradually bring about a change in one’s thoughts,
conduct, attitude, behaviour words and deeds
and also a total transformation in personality as a whole.
One feels a unique enthusiasm, fearlessness, happiness, dedication,
faith, self-confidence, courage, boldness, satisfaction, peace and
contentment, culminating in physical fitness, mental stability, emotional
quietness and ultimately a fruitful life.
Yoga
has the capacity to free the body from most diseases. It not only operates
on the physical level but also has great benefits on mental worries and
tension. It is only yoga that
can restore normal functioning of the glands.
Yoga comprises three types of exercises:
yogasanas, mudras and pranayam.
Yogasansa invigorate our internal organs, the mudras ensure healthy
functioning of the glands and pranayam helps in purifying our blood and
decreases the intensity of mental stress.
There
is an eight-fold path in Yoga called
Ashtanga Yoga. These
are :
v
Yama or the universal commandments, such as :
·
Ahimsa ( non-violence)
·
Satya (truth
and honesty)
·
Asetya ( Non-selfishness)
·
Brahmacharya ( continence
and self-control)
·
Aparigraha ( Non-accumulation
of wealth)
v
Niyama or the personal disciplines, such as :
·
Saucha
(cleanliness and purity)
·
Santosha
(satisfaction and contentment)
·
Tapas
( ability to bear hardship)
·
Svadhyaya
( introspection)
·
Ishvara
Pranidhana (faith in
God)
v
Asana or
postures
·
Pranayama
or control of breath and bio-energy.
·
Pratyahara
or withdrawal of the sense organs from objects of sense.
·
Dharana
or intense concentration for developing inner vision.
·
Dhyana
or meditation, uninterrupted and deep concentration for a prolonged
period.
·
Samadhi
or the goal of Yoga, attained after a prolonged period of dhyana.
Guidelines
for Performing Yogasans.
There
are certain guidelines to be followed in
performing Yogasanas :
1.
Yogasansa should
be performed only after bowel movements.
Do not do any asana
except vajrasana after meals.
2.
Do them only on
a flat surface – on a mat or a pad.
Otherwise it may have adverse effects on
the body.
3.
Select a quiet,
well-ventilated area where you will not be disturbed.
4.
Wear clothes
that allow complete freedom of movement.
5.
After asanas,
do not eat anything for
at least half an hour.
Yoga
for Arthritis
Yoga
is an exhaustive subject and a science in itself.
Hence, yogasanas necessary in the context of Arthritis and
spondylitis are enumerated here. Yogic
exercises, described hereinafter, are corrective methods and aim at
raising functionality of the ailing organ by removing rigidity, pain,
stiffness and swelling. It should be noted that there is hardly any mental or
physical disorder that Yoga cannot cure.
ASANAS
Regular
practice of specific yoga postures ( asanas) provides considerable relief
to arthritic patients, especially if begun in the early stage of the
disease. Yoga therapy has
helped to successfully treat Arthritis sufferers through simple and
harmless yogic techniques. It
is a drugless treatment that boosts that boosts the natural healing power
for recovery of arthritic patients.
All
asanas are completely natural movements,
based on the formula of stretching, relaxing, proper breathing and
increasing circulation and concentration.
Maximum benefits from the asanas can only be derived if these
asanas are done in a correct and precise way.
As far as possible, the asanas must be practiced under the
guidance of a Yoga therapist.
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