Yoga
Yoga is an optimal art and science of living that leads to the real knowledge of self and mitigates all the miseries of human existence as defined in the most noted yogic scripture Srimadbhagvad Gita (6:17). This concept of yoga implies the contemporary significance of mind-body-spirit interventions (MBSIs) to prevent and moderate worldwide spread psycho-somatic illnesses that causes most of deaths, disharmony, poor work performance and economic decline. Yoga has been accepted as one of the most prominent and popular dimension ofCAMand found inexpensive, generalized and global approach for health promotion, disease prevention, rejuvenation, healing(Kuntsevich, Bushell, &Theise, 2010), age reversal (Ornish et al., 2008) and ascetic elevation (Acharya, 2009).The yogic efficacy to lead the journey from illness to wellness, zero to absolute, miseries to ecstasy, diversity to unity and pluralism to holism is experientially and experimentally validated.
Samkhya philosophy as the theoretical foundation of PatanjaliYoga Sutras defines yoga as the process for the separation of Purusha and Prakirti, i.e. isolation of Purusha from Prakirti to be established in its real form (Kaivalya). Where Purusha is pure consciousness, immortal, omniscience, omnipresent, omnipotent, blissful, eternal and unchangeable but Prakirti is a balanced state of three strands- sat, raj and tam with features of inertia, eternality and changeability. The changeability is the function of three strands and the root for all miseries. Ceasing changeability or detachment from Prakiriti by yogic/spiritual ways culminates in eternal bliss and peace what everyone is seeking for. Importantly, the union of Purusha and Prakirit leads to evolution with subsequent downfalls of ultimate consciousness accompanied with products namely cosmic intelligence (mahat), ego (feeling of self-existence) with three levels- sat, raj, and tamthateventually resulting in one mind, five each sensory organs and motor organs (from satwikahamkar) and five subtle elements followed by five elements- cosmos, air, fire, water and earth (from tamsikahamkar). The journey of Purusha and Prakiriti from their primordial states to five tangible elements is evolution. Conversely, yoga is a journey of involution from five tangible elements to primordial states of PurushaandPrakiriti till their complete isolation accompanied with subsequent elevations of the lowest consciousness to ultimate consciousness. The subsequent goals of yoga practices are somatic fitness, expanded vital force, stillness of conscious, and entry into sub-consciousand thenunconscious mind eventually to go beyond all these minds by the long-term detachment practice supported by the real knowledge realized after entering into unconscious mind. As the entry into the unconscious mind is the enlightenment and meetingwith the foundation of tip of mental ice berg to realize the truths of past, present, future, Prusha and Prakirti.
From psychological perspective, yoga is an art and science of understanding self-personality at entirety, awakening paranormal powers, mobilizing the awakened powers for collective welfare and being free from all miseries (Saraswati, 2002), i.e., absolute isolation from the domain of three strands (gunas- sat, rajandtam). In yogic sense, self-personality is the aggregation of physique, mind, emotion and spirit driven by prana– vital force. This implies that study of self-personality begins from the understanding of anatomy, physiology, morbidities and the diagnosis, prevention and management of morbidities (diseases, dullness, scepticism, procrastination, laziness, over-indulgence, delusion, inability and instability) related to physique,prana, mind, emotion and spirit.Obviously, the understanding of self-personality begins from the study of anatomy, physiology, morbidities and their preventive& curative/healing practices in connection to physique (aggregation of five elements), prana, mind, emotion and spirit. This concept is beautifully argued and quoted in noted classical yogic text Guru Gita as “yoga is the highest medicine for all pros and cons of human life”.
Optimal yoga teaching is to be undertaken by considering physique, power, mind, diet, lifestyle and environment based on work nature, age, sex, health condition, region, ideology, body constitution, disposition, personality, passion, interest and capability of the aspirant. The systematic yoga teaching accorded with these points maximizes expected benefits by minimizing possible contraindications. The yogic teaching and training targets therapeutic yoga prescription and special classes to empower wellness and work performance at individual and organizational level.
Diverse modules can be designed and administered for general health and well-being on the need based request. Yogic modules to be designed administered and assessedfor children, teens, corporate workforce, security staff, sportsman, women, artists, administrators, stress management, depression, insomnia, musculoskeletal problems, cardio-pulmonary problems, genito-urinary problems, autoimmune diseases, neurological problems, relationship betterment, optimal dietary habits, and lifestyle modification base on emotive, rational, dynamic and volitional aspects of yoga, lifestyle and environment. The bio-psycho-socio-spiritual efficacies of these specific yogic modules may be scientifically validated and published in scholarly journals.
Reasons for Choosing Yoga
Youthfulness
Yoga is a complete art and science of health promotion, prevention, healing and enhancing longevity. The long term-practice of yogic and life practices such as postures, breath regulation, natural diet, social support and yogic stress management techniques can stimulate telomerase activity and lengthen telomere as a potential marker of youthfulness (Ornish et al., 2008). Additionally, the evidence based findings made regarding mind-body efficacies on health have argued the decrease of inflammatory markers such interleukin-1, interleukin-6, cytokines, c-reactive protein etcetera and increase in counts of IgA, T cells, and NK Cells as the result of regular mind-body practices have established yoga as the most inexpensive and viable alternative for boosting immune system and maintaining youthfulness.
Healing & Therapy
The practice of yoga therapy contained with somatic, pranic and mental yogic practices along with optimal- diet, lifestyle and environment eliminates the impurities from physique, mind, energy channels and centres leading to perfect health and wellness. More than 101 health problems can be benefitted by optimal yoga practice (www.drMcCall.com). Mechanisms underlying the modulating effects of yogic cognitive-behavioural practices (e.g., meditation, Asanas, Pranayama, caloric restriction) on human physiology can be classified into four transduction pathways: humoral factors, nervous system activity, cell trafficking, and bio-electromagnetism that shed light how yogic practices might optimize health, delay aging, and ameliorate chronic illness and stress (Kuntsevich, Bushell, &Theise, 2010). Regular yoga practice leads tosuppleness, muscular strength, feelings of well-being, reduction of sympathetic drive, pain control and longevity (Brown &Gerbarg, 2009; Lipton). Yoga is thus advocated as a complementary and alternative therapy for a wide range of health problems such as insomnia, depression, stress, anxiety, musculo-skeletal(arthritis- RA & OA, backache, osteoporosis, kyphosis, lordosis, carpel tunnel syndrome), cardiovascular illnesses (CAD, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infraction, angina), cancers (ovarian, prostate, breast, cervix, lung), GIDs complaints (GERD, APDs, IBS, hepatitis), headaches (tension, migraine), genito-urinary problems (premature ejaculation, low orgasm, erectile dysfunction, menstrual syndromes, infertility), respiratory illnesses (asthma, pneumonia, COPD, TB, rhinitis, sinusitis), diabetes, obesity, addictions and HIV AIDS.
Bernadi, L., Gabutti, A., Porta, C. &Spicuzza, L. (2001). Slow breathing reduces chemoreflex response to hypoxia and hypercapnia, and increases baroreflex sensitivity. Journalof hypertension, 19, 2221- 2229.
Bernardi, L., Porta, C., Spicuzza, L., Bellwon, J., Spadacini, G., Frey, A. W., …Tramarin, R. (2002). Slow breathing increases arterial baroreflex sensitivity in patients with chronic heart failure. Circulation, 105, 143–145.
Bernardi, L., Spadacini, G., Bellwon, J., Hajric, R., Roskamm, H., & Frey, A. W. (1998). Effect of breathing rate on oxygen saturation and exercise performance in chronic heart failure. Lancet, 351, 1308–1311.British Medical Journal (Clin Res Ed), 291, 1077.doi: 10.1136/bmj.291.6502.1077
Brown, R. P. &Gerbarg, P. L. (2005). SudarshanKriya Yoga Breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression: Part I – Neurophysiological model. Journal ofAlternative and Complementary Medicine, 11, 189–201.
Brown, R. P. &Gerbarg, P. L. (2005). SudarshanKriyaYoga breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression: Part II: Clinical applications and guidelines. Journalof Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11, 711–717.
Brown, R. P., &Gerbarg, P. L. (2009). Yoga breathing, meditation, and longevity. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1172, 54–62.
Butera, K. (2010). Yoga therapy for the digestive health. Yoga Living, xii(ii), 14. Retrieved from http://yogalivingmagazine.com/wpcontent/ issues/2010/sept/YogaWebFall10%201_16.pdf.
Dhikav, V., Karmarkar, G., Gupta, M., &Anand, K. S. (2007). Yoga in premature ejaculation: A comparative trial with fluoxetine. Journal of Sex Medicine, 4, 1726–1732.
Dhikav, V., Karmarkar, G., Gupta, R., Verma, M., Gupta, R., Gupta, S., &Anand, K. S. (2010). Yoga in female sexual functions. Journal of Sex Medicine, 7, 964–970.
Evans, S., Tsao, J. C. I., Sternlieb, B., &Zeltzer, L. K. (2009). Using the biopsycosocial model to understand the health benefits of yoga. Journal of complementary and integrative medicine, 6(1): Article 15. doi: 10.2202/1553-3840.1183
Kuntsevich, V., Bushell, W. C. &Theise, N. D. (2010). Mechanisms of yogic practices ih health, aging and disease. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, 77, 559-569.
McCall, T. (2009).Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing: Bantam. Retrieved from www.DrMcCall.com
Murugesan, R., Govindarajulu, N., &Bera, T. K. (2000). Effect of selected yogic practices onthe management of hypertension. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 44(2):207-10.
Nagarathna, R., &Nagendra, H. R. (1985). Yoga for bronchial asthma: a controlled study.British Medical Journal, 291(6502), 1077-1079.
Nagendra, H. R., &Nagarathna, R. (1986). An integrated approach of yoga therapy for bronchial asthma: A 3-54-month prospective study. Journal of Asthma, 23(3), 123-37.
Narendran, S., Nagarathna, R., Narendran, V., Gunasheela, S. &Nagendra, H. R. (2005). Efficacy of yoga on pregnancy outcome. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11(2), 237–244
Ornish, D. (2009). Intensive life style changes and health reform. The Lancet Oncology, 10,198-199.
Ornish, D., Scherwitz, L. W., Billings, J. H., Brown, S. E., Gould, K. L., Merritt, T. A.,…Brand, R. J. (1998). Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heartdisease. JAMA 280, 2001–2007.
Ornish, D., Scherwitz, L. W., Doody, R. S., Kesten, D., McLanahan, S. M., Brown, S. E., &Gotto, A. M. (1983). Effects of stress management training and dietary changes in treating ischemic heart disease. JAMA, 249(1), 54-59.
Raub, J. A. (2002). Psychophysiologic effects of hatha yoga on musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary function: a literature review. Journal of Alternative andComplementary Medicine, 8(6), 797-812.
Ross, A. & Thomas, S. (2010). The Health Benefits of Yoga and Exercise: A Review of Comparison Studies. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(1), 3–12. doi: 10.1089=Acm.2009.0044
Sivananda, S. (2003). The Bhagavad Gita (11th ed.). Uttarakhand, India: The Divine Life Society.
Lifestyle Moderation
Lifestyle covers wide array of systematic activities that come under daily, night and seasonal regimens such as sleep, wakefulness, dietary habits, physical activities, self-study, time management, practice of psycho-somatic cleansing techniques, worship, clothing, biological urges (intercourse, defecation, urination, yawning), interpersonal relations and discharging duties. Lifestyle moderation is a special program with amalgamation of tips from yoga and ayurveda to optimize aforesaid activities and behaviours for promoting health, preventing diseases, enhancing longevity and work excellence.
Work Excellence
Improving four human faculties and wellness through yogic and spiritual living leads to quality work performance and excellence in action as argued in noted yogic classical text- Srimadbhagvad Gita (2:48). The substantial evidences came out from scientific researches and standard modern concept of yoga therapy also support energizing, curative/healing and elevating powers of yoga. The impact of yoga begins from work excellence and culminates in ultimate excellence of human life. The improved health and inner harmony have hierarchal connection to quality work performance, work-life balance, empathy, feeling of interconnectedness, interpersonal relationship, effective leadership and envisioning.
