YOGA:
AN ALTERNATE MEDICINE
DR. Titto
Cherian
Faculty in Physical Education, Patriarch Ignatius
Zakka-I Training College, Malecruz
Abstract
Yogasanas are Indian’s unique contribution to Physical Education.
Yoga and Physical Education may be compared to two bullocks hitched to shaft as
they are for the judicious blending of the education of the body and the mind.
There is no denial of the fact that yoga and Physical Education attach importance
by gaining the benefits of physical health, mental health, physical fitness and
peace of mind through their regular practices. The ultimate of which is to
enjoy a good health and optimum fitness. Yoga is providing a multidimensional
development and it has now become an adjunct to physical education.
Key
Words: Environmental temperature, education students,
explosive power.
Introduction
During the
primitive age movement was for survival, and ‘survival
of the fittest’ was the order of the day, so even the females had to be as
strong as men. But gradually physical activities for women were reduced.
Thousands and thousands years of practices lead to degeneration of physical
prowess of women baring finer muscle activities. Especially in India until the
onset of secondary sex characteristics we allow boys and girls to take part in
almost all the types of physical activities and sports. But after the onset of
sex characteristics we impose lot of restrictions on girls and most of the
girls are kept away from physical activities and sports. Result-muscle becomes
weaker and onset of obesity which is the root cause for many other life style
diseases. So physical activity is necessary right from the childhood days
itself. Now a days in India most women play dual role as professionals and home
makers. But because of their busy schedule they are neglecting their own health
and physical fitness. Yoga helps in improving and maintaining physical fitness
and health of an individual. Yoga helps in the overall development of an
individual –physical, mental and emotional.
The term ‘yoga’
is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’ which means to ‘Yoke’
or ‘Bind’. It is the greatest contribution of India to the world.
Yoga is defined as the silencing of the mind activities which leads to complete
realization of the intrinsic nature of the supreme leaving. It is universal
benefiting all people of all ages. The practice of Yoga is designed to bring
about performed state of well being of the body, mind and spirit. Yoga is also
said to be harmony. It is thus an integral subject which takes in to
consideration individual as a whole. Yoga helps one to achieve better emotional
and intellectual concentration. The yogic physical culture relies on training
the organism to work more efficiently conserving energy input. Yoga deals with
health, strength and conquest of the body. It brings health, healthy strength,
fitness and expression, calmness of the nervous and happy disposition.
When
Pranayama and asanas are done together the perfect posture is not disturbed.
One soon realises that when asana are well performed, Pranayama breathing
automatically sets in. The practice of Pranayama develops a steady mind, strong
will power and sound judgment. Pranayama is the fourth anga in the field of
Yoga. This is highly beneficial to increase the longevity of life. The purpose
of Pranayama is to make the respiratory system function at its best. The
respiratory system is the gateway to purity of the body, mind and intellect.
Suryanamaskar
signifies paying homage to lord ’sun’. It is a very ancient art of indigenous
system of exercise. One standing facing east in the early morning, offers
prayer to lord Surya with Suryanamaskar. It is a graceful sequence of ten
positions. As a matter of fact these ten positions are ten different asanas.
The practice
of yoga contributes to wellness and results in physiological, psychological and
biochemical benefits when based on regular practice of traditional asana,
Pranayama and meditation. Yoga a scientific system that originated in India
more than five thousand years ago, practices self-investigation,
self-transformation and self-realisation
Therapy means
’curing, healing’ and is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually
following a diagnosis. In the medical field, it is synonymous with the word
“treatment”. Among psychologists, the term may refer specifically to
psychotherapy or “talk therapy”. Yoga therapy is a holistic healing art. Rather
than prescribe treatments, it invites presence and awareness. Yoga therapy is
the personalized application of yoga techniques to fit the current needs and
interests of the individual. It is an integrated mind-body approach for
restoring balance and adaptive functioning to the physical, physiological
(digestion, respiration, cardiovascular, endocrine) and mental/emotional
systems
The healing
efficiency of Yoga and meditation was proved when Dr Dean Omish a Sanfrancisco
cardiologist (USA) cured forty advanced heart patients in 1988 by exclusive
regimen of yoga exercises, meditation and low cholesterol diet. This experiment
made headlines and highlighted the magic of yoga. A little yoga coupled with
meditation is enough to lower the blood pressure, to boost the blood volume and
to melt the bad facts in the blood.
Therapeutic
yoga is the clinical application of the science of ‘hata’ yoga for various
medical disorders. Yoga therapy is a long established and recognized healing
modality in India and is now an emerging field in the west. Today, modern yoga
therapy blends the ancient wisdom of yoga with the latest knowledge of science
and research to bring us closer to balance. Yoga is beneficial for the health
in ways that modern science is just beginning to understand. Even though it has
been applied with therapeutic intension for thousands of years, yoga as therapy
is only just now emerging as a discipline in itself. Most of the time injuries
are common in sports due to many reasons like improper training method,
overload, stress, imbalance of biomechanics etc. Yoga for sports enables an
athlete to integrate specific yoga techniques with traditional modern training,
sports science and periodisation.
More and more
athletes are turning to yoga as a supplementary exercise routine to fix the
imbalance in their body and to improve their performance in their chosen field
of sports. Yoga therapy takes care of the physical and physiological issues.
Meditation practices are taught as a way to quiet the mind and help work with
the psychological components of injury and disease. Yoga is not about becoming
more fit but rather about learning more about yourself and your true nature.
Yoga therapy is the adaptation of yoga practices for people with health
challenges. Yoga therapists prescribe specific regimens of postures, breathing
exercises and relaxation techniques to suit individual needs.
Conclusion
Medical research
shows that yoga therapy is among the most effective complementary therapies for
several common ailments. The challenges may be an illness, a temporary
condition like pregnancy or child birth, or a chronic condition associated with
old age or infirmity. Yoga therapy is a true traditional way of teaching yoga.
As yoga therapy is a complete system with itself it need not draw from any
other source. Yoga Chikitsa requires little or no equipment. Yoga therapy is a
remedial medical science as old as the concept of yoga itself. Yoga Chikitsa is
considered a modern alternative medical system, it must truly after alternative
life style to that of modern medicine
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