YOGA THERAPY CENTER

  

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 Swamy 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 19^th and early 20^th century, following the success of Swamy 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,  supramundane 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