Yoga Therapy for selected Diseases

Yoga Therapy for selected Diseases

This small but rich informative book on Yoga Therapy is successful in providing comprehensive, scientific and to the point elaboration of selected diseases and their treatment through yogic methods. Illustration of the yogic poses has made this book highly useful for those who have some exposure to yoga and are keen to help themselves or others against disorders such as arthritis. asthma, spondylosis, backache, hypertension, diabetes and several other psychosomatic disorders which are very common in society mainly due to modern style of living. It is a must collection for every family.

INTRODUCTION

Where there is a health, there is happiness. Here the meaning of happiness is not the pleasure out of fulfillment of the desire but the jubilant feeling all the time that is free from fears and tensions. The primary objective of yoga is spiritual advancement and not to cure the diseases. However, it has been observed that many psychosomatic disorders are controlled best with the help of yoga practices and the persons who practice yoga regularly (Sadhana), can very well maintain their health, throughout their life.

This indicates that the resistance power against the diseases i.e. immunity is improved due to the regular practice of yoga. The long life span of the yoga practitioners also indicates that the yoga practice can slow down the aging process. Today, many people are taking best advantage of this preventive and promoting aspect of yoga. There however is a growing tendency to apply yogic methods as the last resort for each and every disease, irrespective of its severity, duration and the age of the patient. This is however a wrong concept of yoga therapy.

Man has conquered the diseases like Malaria, Typhoid, Small pox and Tuberculosis arising out of infections caused by germs, bacteria, viri etc. But doctors and scientists have realized that in spite of good number of medicines, most sophisticated diagnostic tools and other medical facilities, it is difficult to cure the patients suffering from stress related disorders such as, Hypertension, Hyper-acidity, Insomnia, Heart diseases, Diabetes, Asthma, Arthritis, Spondylitis etc. with the conventional line of treatment.

These disorders are even worse than usual infectious disorders. The human being has been challenged by these germless disorders. The reason is we often ignore the causative factors of these diseases.

Concept of health

As per WHO health does not mean merely an absence of disease but a jubilant feeling of well being at physical, mental, social and spiritual levels According to Ayurveda too the same message is seen:

समदोष समाग्निश्च समधातुः मलः क्रियाः ।
प्रसन्नात्मेंद्रियमनः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते ।।

In short, when all the anatomical-physiological factors are in balanced condition and the mind, soul as well as sense organs are working in harmony, it is considered as a healthy state. Dissatisfaction or unhappiness in mind would cause imbalance in these factors. We know that in spite of all the luxuries at home, if the mind is dissatisfied we cannot enjoy anything. Happiness comes from within and does not depend on material gain or physical enjoyment (Nagarathna 1990).

That is why the mental health is very important component of total health. Disturbances at the mental level can even alter the neuro-musculo-glandular mechanism of the body. It can also disturb the autonomic balance and hence the vital regulatory systems like cardio-vascular system, as well as endocrine system. The word ‘to heal’ is incorporated in the word ‘health’. It indicates that the perfect healing is ‘health’.

According to yoga health is an integrated state of body, mind and spirit. There is a harmony in all the psycho-physiological functions. It is well coordinated and balanced condition of body and mind wherein the homeostasis is adequately maintained. Therefore a feeling of happiness and contentment are essential factors of the sound health.