Yoga is the physical, mental and spiritual practices or disciplines
that aim to purify or transform the elements in the body and mind to obtain
vital energy. The origin of Yoga and its practices is part of the pre-Vedic
heritage and Indian traditions. The contributions made for the development of
Yoga by the Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism is significant. The term yoga is
derived from the literal meaning of "yoking together" a span of
horses or oxes, but came to be applied to the "yoking" of mind
and body. The earliest accounts of yoga-practices are to be found in the
Buddhist Nikayas. Parallel developments were recorded around 400 B.C. in
the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which combines pre–philosophical
speculations and diverse ascetic practices of the first millennium B.C. with
Samkhya-philosophy. By studying Samkhya, we can deepen our understanding
of the Yoga Sutra. It can enrich our yoga practice with meaning, and realize
how to bring yoga into our lives for greater health, happiness, and
enlightenment. Hatha Yoga emerged from tantra by the turn of the
first millennium.
The first Hindu
teacher to actively advocate and disseminate aspects of yoga to a western
audience was Swami Vivekananda. He toured Europe and the United States in
the 1890s. The amazing reception which Swamy Vivekananda received built an
active interest in Yoga and Vedanta on the intellectuals of those countries. Gurus, learned experts on yoga, from
India, later introduced yoga to the West in the late 19th and early 20th century, following the success of Swami
Vivekananda. In the 1980s, yoga became popular as a system of physical
exercise across the western world. Since 2001, the popularity of yoga in
the USA has risen constantly. The number of people who practiced some form of
yoga has grown from 4 million in 2001 to 20 million in 2011.
“Yoga promotes profound mental, physical
and spiritual awareness.” Its form of stretching, and as an enhancer of breath
control and of core strength is emphasized by great men. U.S. President
Mr. Barack Obama throws
weight behind yoga by eloquently
saying, "Yoga has become a universal language of spiritual exercise
in the United states, crossing many lines of religion and cultures,"
the White House said without any reference to the ongoing controversies and
lawsuit. "Every day, millions of people practice yoga to improve their
health and overall well-being. That's why we're encouraging everyone to take
part in PALA, so show your support for yoga and answer the
challenge." President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama included a
'yoga garden' for children and their parents who attend the traditional Easter Egg Roll festivities in
the White House premises at Washington.
Yoga
exercise, breathing, and meditation can be an excellent training for children
and adolescents. It is both, a form of physical exercise for breathing, focus,
mindfulness, and stress relief: Yoga improves concentration. Meditation in
Jainism aims at realizing the self, attaining salvation, liberating the soul.
Buddhist meditation encompasses a variety of meditation techniques that aim at
developing mindfulness, concentration, supra mundane powers,
tranquility and insight.
Yoga-Yajnavalkya, a
classical treatise on yoga is attributed to Yajnavalkya, a Vedic sage, who defined it like
this; “Yoga as jivatmaparamatmasamyogah, or the union between the
individual self, jivatma, and the Divine, ‘paramatma’.” The text contains 12
chapters and its origin has been traced to the period between the second
century B.C. and fourth century A.D. Many yoga texts like the Hatha
Yoga Pradipika, the Yoga Kundalini and the Yoga
Tattva Upanishads have borrowed verses from or make frequent
references to the Yoga Yajnavalkya.
Yoga as medicine: While much of the medical community
views the results of yoga research to be significant. Long-term yoga users
have reported reduced symptoms of asthma in asthmatics. The regular yoga
practice increases and improves memory levels. The three main focuses
of Hatha-yoga (exercise, breathing, and meditation) make it beneficial to those
suffering from heart disease. Yoga may reduce high blood pressure, improve
symptoms of heart failure, enhance cardiac rehabilitation, and lower
cardiovascular risk factors. Yoga exercises decreases back pain. I understand
that Yoga is used for treatment of cancer patients to decrease depression,
insomnia, pain, and fatigue and increase anxiety control. It is also good to
control diabetes and piles.
I attended Yoga classes with a
professional yoga practitioners namely,
Prajapati Girija B. Nair at Kaloor and Babu
Varghese at Desabhimani Road at Ernakulam. I learned a few of the techniques of
yoga, some of the asanas, pranayama, and meditation, with
their meanings and direction.
Some of the ‘asanas’ body
postures I used to practice were:-
Vajrasana” Thunderbolt poses
‘Pavanamukthasana’ Forward bent
breathing out full air from lungs
‘Bhujangasana’ Cobra poses
‘Matsyasana’ Fish pose
‘Sarvangasana’ Shoulder stand
‘Ardhasalabhasana’ Half Locust
pose
‘Salabhasana’ Locust pose
‘Naukasana ’Canoe pose
‘Pachimothasana’ sitting
forward bend
‘Halasana’ Plough poses
‘Danurasana’ Bow poses
‘Gomukasana’ Cow faced pose
‘Padmasana’ Lotus poses
‘Savasana’ Corpse or
Relaxed pose
While performing ‘asanas’, the
particular part of body gets a natural massage through the stretching and
releasing of muscles, nerve glands, skin, organs and joints. This can give a
soothing effect by rectifying irregularities, if any, of that part.
Moreover, by regular practice of these different ‘asanas’ our body can be tuned to perfection. .
I have noticed that they do not
recommend certain yoga exercises for women during menstruation, for pregnant
women, or for nursing mothers. However, meditation, breathing exercises, and
certain postures which are safe and beneficial for women in these categories
are encouraged. I would suggest that the beginners should commence their
initial classes with professional instructors to avoid physical injuries.
As the demand for yoga classes has
increased, many people get certified to become yoga instructors. Shri. Saburaj
Tharayil hailing from Palluruthi, having six months certified course to his
credit from “Yogendra Institute, Bombay.” He has been runnig an institute for
Yoga Therapy for the last few years in Puthukkat House, near Siva Temple at
Kumbalam. He says it is also good for Parkinson’s disease, back pain,
paralysis, and for victims of accident.
Excerpts from
MEMOIRS
An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment