THERAPETIC YOGA and ITS ESSENTIALSTherapeutic yoga is basically a system of self treatment. According to yogic view, diseases, disorders and ailments are the result of faulty ways of living, bad habits, lack of proper knowledge of things related to individual’s life, and improper food. The diseases are thus the resultants state of a short or prolonged malfunctioning of the body system. This malfunctioning is caused by an imbalanced internal condition, created due to certain errors of the individuals.
Since the root cause of disease lies in the mistakes of the individual, its cure also lies in correcting those mistakes by the same individual. Thus, it is the individual himself who is responsible in both the cases, that is, for causing as well as for curing the disease.
This being the basic assumption in this system about the nature of the trouble and its remedy, there is total reliance on the effort of the patient himself. The yoga expert shows only the path and works no more than as a counselor to the patient.
The yogic process of treatment comprises three steps:
Proper diet.
Proper yoga practice, and
Proper knowledge of things which concern the life of an individual.
Proper Diet:
The diet is recommended according to his disease and his bodily condition of patient.
The most common items of diet for almost all patients of therapeutic yoga are: fruits, salad, leafy vegetables, green vegetables, wheat bread and pulse (selected). For non-vegetarians, fish and lever are allowed in certain cases but meat and chicken are generally forbidden.
Basic principles of eating: eat slowly, to eat only 85% of capacity, to eat at least two hours before their retiring time at night, to avoid drinking water while eating, not to eat to hot, spicy, fried and roasted food, not to take more than one or two cups o coffee or tea in a day and if possible to stop these completely, to give up the use of tobacco in any form, and to avoid the use of alcohol.
Yoga Practice:
The patient is asked to practice yoga according to his disease and his bodily conditions.
In a majority of the cases, a regular practice of only few asanas is enough for curing the diseases. In some of the diseases the practice of pranayama together with the asanas becomes essential of good results. In certain cases, specific KRIYAS such as BANDHAS, MUDRAS and certain yogic techniques are used for desired result.
Besides these, practice of concentration and mediation is also necessary in certain cases.
A large number of diseases are cured within two months of yoga practice. In certain cases, it takes about four months or even more. Diseases that take a longer time are Juvenile diabetes, Polio, Paralysis, Parkinsonism, Obesity, Ulcer, mental health cases, etc.
The patient of particular disease is advised to practice only as much of an asana as is possible for him. By doing only what is physically performable, the patient gains in strength as the kriyas begin to condition the body and diminished the disease. When the disease is cured, physical ability improves and the same asanas are performed better even by those who were unable to do them at the beginning.
Proper Knowledge:
A lot of things need to be told to the patient which are informative, conceptual theoretical and also philosophical. Yogic literature is very rich in this respect and is divided into two main categories: (1) Spiritual interpretation of things, and (2) Scientific interpretation of things. Depending upon the nature of the disease, a patient is counseled and informed in detail about the various concerned aspects of life.
Yoga Vs Medical System:
In any medical system the primary reliance is on medicine. It is assumed that a particular medicine will cure a particular disease. That means in the medical system an external agent is needed. But here, it is the patient himself who’s personal understanding, practice and care cures his disease in yogic system.
The patient’s suffering from various chronic diseases, which had lost their faith in the medical system because in spite of year’s treatment they had not a lasting cure. On the other hand, a great number of such patients achieved permanent cure through therapeutic yoga within a period of two to four months. This has specially been so in cases of diabetes, arthritis, asthma, gastro-intestinal disorders, nervous tension and various other cases.
This limitation of the medical system should not mean that it is inferior to the yoga system; rather it is only a matter of limitation and scope of a given system. There are areas where only the medical science and not yoga can come to the rescue of the patient. Similarly, there are certain diseases, which though regarded incurable though medical system, are definitely cured through yoga. This shows that every system of treatment has certain unique points as well as limitations.
Further, the medical treatment has now become so expensive that millions of people all over world cannot afford it. Yoga on other hand does not involve any expenses.
The therapeutic yoga is now scientifically established, it can be used as a ‘self-cure method’ by people suffering from various disorders in any part of the world.
Essentials of Yoga practice:
Self-treatment though yoga needs suitability of time, place, body condition, dress and similar other matters. In order to drive full benefit of therapeutic yoga it is necessary to understand the following requirements and principles related to its practice.
Time:
Though the morning time before breakfast, is regarded best for practicing yoga, one can also do in the evening or at any other time, provided the stomach is empty and not heavy with food. The general principle is to give an interval of three to four hours after eating and then do yoga. Also a gap of half an hour or so should be given after drinking water, tea or any juice. The body should be in a restful and normal condition at time of practicing yoga. One should do yoga at the same time every day. A practice for at least five to six days in a week should be enough to show improvement.
Palace:
Practice yoga on floor. Avoid bed. Use a carpet, rug, blanket or mat on the floor. The place of yoga should be neat, clean and well ventilated. There should be constant supply of fresh air at the place. During summer a fan can be used. If the place is air-conditioned, make sure that there is sufficient supply of air.
Silence:
One should maintain silence while doing yoga. Any conversation, mental activity and even listening to music should be avoided. Silence helps in preserving energy as well as in being attentive during practice.
Rest:
There are two types of rest in yoga:
Short rest and,
Long rest.
The short rest should be for about six to eight seconds only. This is taken in between two rounds of the asana, or between one and the other asana.
The long rest comes at the end of all the asanas, pranayamas and other kriyas which one does at a stretch. The general principle is to devote one forth of the actual practicing time for this rest. For example, if one has done yoga for twenty minutes, the rest at the end should be for five minutes. The rest is better done in SHAVA SANA.
Dress:
There should be minimum clothes on the body while doing yoga.
Male practitioners can wear half-pants or pajamas.
Ladies can wear sari, slacks or stretch-pants with blouse.
Bath:
It depends on the convenience and personal choice of the practitioner to bathe either before or after the practice. It should be better to take bath before yoga. There are certain asanas which are done after bath and it creates feeling of neatness and purity.
Female Problems:
Female practitioners should avoid yoga practice during menstrual period and during advanced stage of pregnancy. Under such conditions, yoga practice should be generally discontinued. Yoga for pregnant women (after 4 month) has to be performed on a selective basis under proper care and instruction of a yoga expert. Proper practice of yoga during early stages of pregnancy enhances the health of the child in womb and it also helps to make the delivery painless.
How Much Yoga:
Maximum time devoted for actually practicing yoga should not exceed forty-five minutes in a single day of winter. In summer, the maximum time for actual practice should be thirty minutes. This difference in practicing time has to be maintained because of variation in impact of weather on the body.
Though there should be only one session of yoga practice in a day, those who would like to divide their in two sessions should allow a gap of eight hours between the first and the second session. A minimum practice of fifteen minutes per day should be quite satisfactory for maintaining good health.
Proper Diet:
Diet occupies a dominant place in the yoga system. It is said that ‘as you eat, so you become’. This is because the kind and quantity of food affects the physical and mental condition of the individual.
In yoga, all foods have been divided into three categories; Rajasi, Tamasi and Sathvik.
Satvik food is good for yoga practitioners. In this type, the food is cooked with the least amount of spices and without much seasoning. The food is fresh and nutritive, and is cooked in a simple way.
The most important principle is to eat a balanced diet. Balanced diet contains salad, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and raw nuts.
The ideal time to eat salad is to make it the first item of lunch and dinner.
Eat not more than about 85% of your capacity. Do not overeat or even to your full capacity. The proper method of eating is to eat slowly and swallow the food after thoroughly crushing and chewing it. One common error which the overweight people generally make is that they eat too fast.
Yoga practitioner should drink Ten to twelve glasses (5Ibs) of water every day. Water should not take at the time of eating, but after half an hour of eating it is recommended.
According to yoga literature, several skin diseases and disorders are corrected if water is not taken while eating. The drinking of plenty water is highly recommended.
