Part - I

 YOGA IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

Nagarathna R, Nagendra H R, Shirley Telles

Vivekananda Kendra Yoga Research Foundation, Bangalore, India

The modern medical system has replaced almost all the traditional systems of medicine in different parts of this globe because of its rational basis. It has proved itself most effective in saving man from the fatal hands of contagious and infectious diseases. However, rapidly increasing incidence of stress related ailments is posing a great challenge to the modern medical system. It is here that Yoga appears to make a vital contribution to the modern medical system. To date, large number of publications are available studying various aspects of yoga in health and disease.

YOGIC CONCEPT OF ILLNESSES

The root cause of Stress induced ailments is the amplified likes and dislikes at the manomaya kosa which results in distressful emotional surges called 'Aadhi'. The life style gets disturbed because of long standing uncontrolled surges of stressful reactions like intense desire, (Kama), anger (Krodha), fear (Bhaya), jealousy (Matsarya), etc. These agitations cause violent fluctuations in the flow of prana in the 'naadis' which are said to be the channels distributed all over the body through their branching system. Each and every cell in the body, requires the right quota of its pranic energy to carry on its biochemical processes in an efficient way. The example is that of uninterrupted power supply necessary for every electrical gadget in right quantities. Just as these equipments would fail if there is any irregularity in the power supply, human organ systems fail to function if they do not get the right quantum of prana. Thus the disturbances in the Manomaya kosa percolate into physical body (Annamaya Kosa) through disturbed prana flows. Hence the management of these stress induced ailments should correct imbalances at all these levels. Yoga techniques are offered to correct the imbalances through a set of yoga practices which we have termed as Integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT). These are practised to correct the problem at various levels:

Annamaya Kosa: Physical Kriyas (Traditional voluntary internal cleansing techniques), Yogasanas (body postures) and Shavasana (Relaxation posture).

Pranamaya Kosa: Five types of systematic regulated slow deep breathing practices with or without breath holding, called Pranayama.

Manomaya Kosa: Meditation (Dharana and Dhyana) and devotional session (Bhakti yoga).

Vijnanamaya Kosa: Understanding the nature of ones problems in the light of Indian thinking through self analysis (Jnana yoga).

Anandamaya Kosa: Practice joy under all circumstances (Karma yoga). Try to touch the inner core of one's self in solitude and establish in the experience that Ananda is the basic fabric of this universe including the self.