Yoga and wellness

YOGA IS ONE OF THE BEST WAY TO KEEP YOUR BODY AND MIND HEALTHY.

The Roots of Yoga

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to join or unite. This implies joining or integrating all aspects of the individual - body with mind and mind with soul - to achieve a happy, balanced and useful life, and spiritually, uniting the individual with the supreme.
In India, Yoga is considered one of the six branches of classical philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas - ancient Indian scriptures and amongst the oldest texts in existence. The Upanishads are also broadly philosophical treatises which postdate the Vedas and deal with the nature of the "soul" and universe.
However, the origins of yoga are believed to be much older than that, stemming from the oral traditions of Yogis, where knowledge of Yog handed down from Guru (spiritual teacher) to Sisya (spiritual student) all the way back to the originators of Yoga, "the Rishis," who first began investigation into the nature of reality and man's inner world.
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The Aim of Yoga

According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the ultimate aim of Yoga is to reach "MOKSHA (ultimate freedom). This is the experience of one's innermost being or "soul" (the Purusa). Then one becomes free of chains of cause and effects (Karma) which tie us to continual reincarnation. In MOKSHA one is said to exist in peace and tranquility, having attained absolute knowledge of the difference between the spiritualism which is timeless, unchanging and free of sorrows, and the material which is not.

This is considered desirable as life is analyzed as ultimately full of sorrows and pain- even pleasure and joy leave pain and loss when they have gone as nothing in the material world is permanent.
Yoga is therefore a spiritual quest. However, along the path of yoga, the aspirant also gains health, happiness, tranquility and knowledge which are indicators of progress and an encouragement to continue their practice. Buddhism and other Eastern spiritual traditions use many techniques derived from Yoga.

The Paths of Yoga

There are said to be 4 main paths (Margas), according to the Bhagavad Gita, by which to reach the ultimate goal of Yoga. There is the path of Knowledge (Gyan Marga) in which one learns to discriminate between what is real and what is illusory, the path of selfless work (Karma marga), the path of devotion (Bhakti Marga) and the path of control of the mind (Yoga Marga) where all the activities of the mind and consciousness are studied and brought under control. From these have come the various paths of yoga which can be followed..

• Raja yoga involves mastery of the mind and senses in Samadhi; essentially the advanced aspects of Patanjali's astanga yoga.
• Hatha yoga is the yoga of the will which involves cultivating ones energy to arouse Kundalini primarily by means of asana and pranayama.
• Mantra yoga involves reciting sacred syllables to reach perfection.
• Laya yoga involves absorption in god to experience ultimate bliss.
• Bhakti yoga requires absolute devotion to god to achieve the ultimate goal.
• Karma yoga achieves this through selfless work without thought of personal reward.
• Gyan yoga is the yoga of knowledge cultivating the discrimination between spiritual reality and the illusion of the material world.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF YOGA ASNAS:

• Nervous system - improved blood circulation, easing of muscle tension and the act of focusing the mind on the breath all combine to soothe the nervous system. Long term benefits include reduced stress and anxiety levels, and increased feelings of calm and wellbeing. Nerves from the brain and spine go to every tissue in the body and therefore the health of every tissue in the body depends upon the health of the brain and spine.

The headstand causes an increase in circulation to the brain, which stimulates the brain's nerve cells. This results in increased vitality and improved brain function (intelligence and memory).
Since the nerves from the spine go to all the organs and glands of the body, a healthy spine obviously plays an important role in vitality and rejuvenation. In fact, the spine is more critical to our well-being than the brain, since the brain is well protected by the cranium or skull bone. Where the spinal nerves leave the spine and pass through the inter-vertebral foramina is a very vulnerable area. If a vertebra is slightly out of place, it may cause the nerve to be ‘pinched’. The spinal nerves do not have protection against mechanical insults as the brain does.

The ancient yogis fully understood the vulnerability of the spine and the tendency for slight spinal misalignments to occur. They also knew that if the spine was kept flexible by yoga asanas there would be much less chance of spinal misalignments. Some of the asanas will even correct some minor misalignments.

If you do nothing to improve your spine's flexibility as you get older, your spine will deteriorate further and the spinal nerves will be increasingly impinged upon. This will lead to further deterioration of your organs and glands, until eventually their actual structure becomes diseased. We call this organic disease. At this stage, not only is their function impaired, but their cells are actually dying. If the condition is too advanced, it is irreversible. It's at this stage that many people go to doctors and are told that they have, for example, cancer of some particular organ. The cancer has not appeared overnight; in reality it has been developing for many years.

• Healthy Skin. Stretching of the skin during the asanas causes stimulation of the skin cells. This results in firmer, healthier skin which won't sag or wrinkle.
• The Endocrine System. Yoga asanas regulate and control the secretion of hormones from all glands in the body. Even if one gland is malfunctioning, a noticeable loss of health can be experienced.
• The Muscles, Bones, Nervous System, Respiratory, Circulatory and Digestive Systems. All are co-ordinated with each other. The body becomes more flexible, and more able to adjust to environmental changes. The sympathetic and Para-sympathetic nervous systems are brought into a state of balance.
• Cardiovascular system (heart and arteries) - asanas are isometric, which means they rely on holding muscle tension for a short period of time. This improves cardiovascular fitness and circulation. Studies show that regular yoga practice may help normalize blood pressure.
• Digestive system - improved blood circulation and the massaging effect of surrounding muscles speeds up a sluggish digestion. Even if we eat the most nourishing food, it still has to be digested and assimilated properly and the toxins have to be eliminated efficiently.

As we get older the digestive system functions with gradually reducing efficiency. The asanas result in an improved blood supply to the digestive and eliminative systems, which in time will get them functioning at peak efficiency. The stomach lift massages the digestive organs, as well as contracting and stretching them.

• Musculo-skeletal - joints are moved through their full range of motion, which encourages mobility and eases pressure. The gentle stretching releases muscle tension and increases flexibility. The result is to reduce stiffness, which will prevent arthritis or improve it if you already have the condition. Maintaining many of the asanas encourages strength and endurance. Weight bearing asanas may help prevent osteoporosis, and may also help those already diagnosed with osteoporosis, practiced with care, under the supervision of a qualified Yoga teacher. Long term benefits include reduced back pain and improved posture.
• Spiritual. For those interested in the spiritual path, they are a stepping stone (third) in the quest for liberation or self-realization.
• Mental. Asanas make the mind strong and able to endure pain and unhappiness. Determination, concentration and memory are enhanced.

Join Ayuskama’s Yoga and Ayurveda wellness programs to full fill your quest for longevity.

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