Yoga
technology for inner wellbeing
The practice of Yoga is believed to have started with the very dawn of civilization. The science of yoga has its origin thousands of years ago, long before the first religions or belief systems were born. In the yogic lore, Shiva is seen as the first yogi or Adiyogi, and the first Guru or Adi Guru. Yoga works on the level of one’s body, mind, emotion and energy. This has given rise to four broad classifications of Yoga: karma yoga, where we utilize the body; bhakti yoga, where we utilize the emotions; gyana yoga, where we utilize the mind and intelect; and kriya yoga, where we utilize the energy.
Yoga does not adhere to any particular religion, belief system or community; it has always been approached as a technology for inner wellbeing. The widely practiced Yoga Sadhanas (Practices) are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana (Meditation), Samadhi /Samyama, Bandhas & Mudras, Shat-karmas, Yukta-ahara, Yukta karma, Mantra japa, etc.Yama’s are restraints and Niyama’s are observances. These are considered to be pre-requisits for the Yoga Sadhanas (Practices). Asanas, capable of bringing about stability of body and mind ‘ kuryat-tad-asanam-sthairyam…’ , consists in adopting various body (psycho-physical) patterns, giving ability to maintain a body position (a stable awareness of one’s structural existence) for a considerable length and period of time as well.
Health benefits of Yoga
Research suggest that yoga may
- Shodhana therapy (Purification Treatment)
- Shamana therapy (Palliative Treatment)
- Pathya Vyavastha (Prescription of diet and activity)
- Nidan Parivarjan (Avoidance of disease causing and aggravating factors)
- Satvavajaya (Psychotherapy)
- Rasayana therapy (use of immunomodulators and rejuvenation medicines)
National survey data from 2012 showed that 94 percent of adults who practiced yoga did it for wellness-related reasons, while 17.5 percent did it to treat a specific health condition. The numbers add up to more than 100 percent because some people reported doing both.
The majority of adults who practiced yoga said that it helped in these wellness-related ways
- 86% said it reduced stress
- 67% said it helped them feel better emotionally
- 63% said it motivated them to exercise more regularly
- 59% said it improved sleep
- 82% said it improved overall health and made them feel better.
Smaller numbers of people reported other benefits
- 43% said yoga motivated them to eat healthier
- 39% said yoga eased coping with health problems
- 25% of people who currently smoke cigarettes said yoga motivated them to cut back or stop smoking cigarettes
- 12% of people who currently drink alcohol said yoga motivated them to cut back or stop drinking alcohol.