CONFERENCE
OF CLASSICAL YOGA FOR TOTAL HEALTH
MAY
2012
Organizer
and co-coordinator: Jiwan Goyal
THE
PRESENTERS:
Shailesh
Parikh, Dr. Shantharam Shetty, Niranjan Gogia, Prof L.M. Sukhatankar
OBJECTIVES:
What
we want to convey to participants
Classical
Yoga is not merely an exercise ∕
workout but it is a science of self-development
Classical
Yoga is a way of life
Classical
Yoga is Education - physical, mental, emotional, moral and spiritual
(Self-development in these five areas)
Classical
Yoga is for preventing and managing health by individual education
Classical
Yoga Education in schools will help the students grow with the
appropriate life style for total health
Classical
Yoga Education in schools to Children from the very beginning will
help them grow with the appropriate life style for total health then
much less of therapy or curative health will be required
Classical
Yoga is a culture of Consciousness.
FOUR TOPICS WERE PRESENTED
``Yoga
in ∕ and
School Health`` the school teachers, principals, school board
members, educationists, students may have limited idea about
Holistic health approach of yoga, yogic concentration and
awareness, so how can they help the students and everyone else
involved.
``Yoga
in ∕ and
Health and Healing`` Mental Health Association, Heart and Stroke
Foundation, Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health, Medical
professionals, physical/occupational/speech therapists,
nurses, massage therapists, may not comprehend how Yoga can
prevent Diseases and effect therapeutic healing. How do we
approach to help these minds understand the body –mind-spirit ?
``Yoga
in ∕
and Corporate Health`` How will yoga impact corporations
and its employees health?
``Yoga
for Householders`` How will yoga help in achieving a higher
state of consciousness for the Householder and everyone else?
Yoga
is a way of life - Healthy life style.
By
Dr Shantharam shetty
Yoga
is a science of self development through self direction and self
discovery. The yoga techniques are helpful in generating useful
experiences which can be the basis for one’s self development. The
yoga philosophy when followed sincerely can impart meaningful
transformation in ones personality.
Yoga
has the key to health and happiness of man, Yoga believes in total
integration of body and mind. It is a science of right living. If
done as physical exercise benefits of Asanas will be temporary. If
done systematically as per yogic guidelines yoga’s physical
benefits are undeniable but getting lost only in physical level and
not committing higher is an incomplete approach in the science of
yoga. Since human life is not lived only on physical level, we live
more on mental and emotional level, one needs to work beyond physical
culture. Developing awareness about the body, its strength and
weaknesses, the mind, its strength and weaknesses and developing
overall awareness about life should be the objective of yoga. The
yoga techniques done with total involvement and dedication can bring
about the awareness about our breath, physical aspects, our thought
processes and emotions .This can be good beginning in the path of
self development. The techniques can not only improve ones physical
well being but also will help to achieve a balanced mind. Most of the
techniques of yoga help in integration of mind and body complex. The
emotional stability is the byproduct of yoga technique.
The
mind is behind all the problems that people face. Human mind is like
child, needs constant training.
Yoga
believes in the training of mind with correct understanding and
correct techniques. Yoga is such an amazing science that even one
technique or philosophical principle if followed diligently, can
bring about remarkable results. Following basic yama
(Principles
of social discipline) and niyam
(Benevolent
Indifference)
as
(principles of self disciplines) or trying to follow the principles
of right diet , right thinking , right actions and right
recreational activities is of utmost importance.
Besides
attending to ones body, in the Bhagvad Geetha the other scripture
which is closely related to science of yoga talks about the duty
concepts. It believes in doing ones duty to ones best of the
capacity with total dedication and involvement but with detached way.
Karmanyevadhikaaraste
ma phleshu kadachana. Ma karmaphalheturbhoormaa the sanghosthva
karmani
. - BhagvadGeetha -Ch II- Sl 47(You are entitled to do your duty but
let the result come by it self).
Yoga
believes that every individual has an immense potential for self
development. People have to know themselves, work on themselves,
remove their weaknesses and delve deeper in selves to reach higher
levels of consciousness. That is yoga.
Yogic
principles of satvic diet are at par with modern healthy diet.
As
the food, so the mind, as the mind, so the man.
This was the ancient proverb. Yogis have given sufficient
consideration to food. With their analytical mind they could improve
the quality of food to be taken by human beings. They discriminated
diets in to three categories depending on the nutritive value of
food. The foods were divided in to satvic,
rajasic, and
tamasic
categories according to their end products and their effect on body
and mind. The fruits, vegetables, whole grains ,pulses, honey
jiggery, sugar, sprouts, and dairy products fall under satvic
category.
They are easily digestible, absorbable. Satvic
food
is a wholesome balanced food. They when taken in moderate quantity
can produce the alertness, quietedness and feeling of well being.
The satvic
food can be taken most the disease conditions. The rajasic foods are
high energy producing food stuffs. Difficult to digest and can
generate rajasic
attitudes like anger, aggressiveness, and irritability. Nonveg foods,
soya bean , chick peas, certain pulses, spices, onion, garlic are the
examples of rajasic
foods. Stale, processed foods, and frozen foods fall on the tamasic
category. They induce the dull and drowsy feelings. People after
tamasic
food
become lazy and lethargic. The
satvic food
has a balanced composition of minerals and vitamins. The fibre
content and antioxidant property of this food is good. These foods
have got a good healing property. Satvic
diet
is good for prevention of chronic diseases and also has got anti
aging property. Yogis also prescribed the method of eating. Breakfast
at 8am , lunch at 12 noon, evening snack at 4 pm and dinner at 8 pm
are the timing of major meals . Bed time one should take fruits only.
In between one may take some simple liquid foods like clear soups or
lime juice. The frequency in between two meals can be two to three
hours. Avoid water one hour before and one hour after the meals.
Avoid taking water during the meals. Take half full stomach of solid
food and 1/4 of liquid and rest of the place for gases. If one does
not get hungry after 3 ot 4 hours of food, it indicates person has
taken more food. In that case he must only take liquid diet in next
meal. The yogis believed in taking raw foods for their health
benefits. While eating one’s mind should be totally on eating
only. Taking sufficient time for eating and proper attention on
chewing of the food is important. It is always better to observe
silence while eating. If not possible try to generate the happy and
joyous environment while eating. One should go above likes and
dislikes. Not to have negative opinion about the food and the person
who had prepared the food.
Difference
between Modern Education and Classical Yoga Education.
By
Niranjan Gogia
Modern
Education is heavily tilted towards information and facts about the
external world. Cognitive learning and Psycho-motor learning are the
main stay of Modern Education. The main focus is on learning &
knowing things external to us. The result is the development of stark
materialism and commercialization of every aspect of human life. The
internal world of experiences and affective learning has remained
more or less secondary and even neglected. The increase of the stress
levels in everyone's life and the resultant ill effects in the form
of explosion of psychosomatic diseases is a sure sigh of this neglect
of that which is vital and important. We are also witnessing a lack
of self direction and ability to steer ones life peacefully and
harmoniously.
Yoga
Education, while enabling us to get a highly objective knowledge
about the external world helps us to become clear of how we are
affected by it. How we feel and what we experience. Yoga Education
aims to develop right attitudes, which go a long way in helping one
to lead a healthy and meaningful life. In yoga these attitudes are
known as Bhavas.
There are four basic attitudes. Dharma
(Right choice and Right Action), Jnana
(Correct
Knowldge), Vairagya
(Objectivity) and Aishvarya
( Ability and Confidence) These attitudes are recognized to be innate
as well as acquired. Yoga Education helps one to become aware of ones
personality traits and attitudes guiding ones life and experiences.
The techniques also enable one to strengthen these attitudes to lead
a healthy, happy and meaningful life. Such an individual not only
leads a good life himself but also becomes an asset to the community
he is living in. Such an individual can play a pivotal role in
reduction of the social stresses and a peaceful co-existence. The
ethical values recommended by Yoga as a necessary condition for
success in yoga are very vital and important for developing a healthy
peaceful and strife free society.
Classical
Yoga & School Health
Yoga
provides the oldest Blue Print for total Personality development.
Yoga Education system with a highly developed technology helps total
and holistic growth of human personality. Being totally healthy is
one of the important areas of development. Yoga prescribes a healthy
life style and preventive health care by incorporating certain
healthy routines in daily life. If practices regularly on day to day
basis these routines can help one maintain good health. Although the
knowledge and education of physiology and anatomy in educational
institutions, modern medical research and facilities have done a
great deal in the field of health but it doesn’t seem to be
adequate. The number of institutions, varieties and the astronomical
amounts of money being spent on the alternative health therapies will
bear this point. The routines and techniques prescribed by Yoga are
not only time tested but are also very simple and easy to learn.
These simple routines can help a great deal in maintaining good
health. Yoga emphasizes on the Preventive measures although the
therapeutic effects of its purificatory processes and asanas,
pranayama
etc are well established. For example, a technique of Jalaneti
can
be a very effective, inexpensive and easily learned measure against
any kind of air borne diseases
Schools
could be the right place to introduce and inculcate healthy habits
and routines. This will not only help in better health for every on
but also reduce the burden of expenditure by the governments and the
institutions towards health care.
The
work may begin at a very basic level like how to sit correctly, how
to stand correctly. Now such a simple measure can lead to proper
circulation of blood and also a good concentration. Yoga provides us
with such very simple and easy to incorporate techniques which can
lead to well being.
Aachaar
(Conduct)
Aachaar
means the right conduct or that conduct which will take one in the
direction of total well being. Such a conduct helps one to maintain
one’s physical, mental, moral, spiritual and social health. Aachaar
included one’s daily conduct towards one own self and towards
other. Other includes not only the people but also the environment
and ecology around ones habitat. This conduct or actions for one’s
own self interest and preservence have to be guided by
Dharma.
Similarly, the behavior or conduct towards others has to be guided by
Dharma
i.e. Values like Ahmsa,
Maitri, Karuna
etc. If one is healthy and energetic, one can fulfill his desires and
carry out all duties and social obligations. Hence, Yoga emphasizes
on taking care of one’s own self, which entails daily activity in
the form of healthy routines. Yoga follows Ayurvedic concept of
Dinacharya
which
means daily conduct or daily routines. Keeping oneself positive and
joyous, Following discipline in daily life in eating, drinking,
working, sleeping and resting at regular intervals, controlling ones
negative emotions like greed, anger, hatred, jealousy, resentment
etc are recommended to be followed. All this has a beneficial effect
on the mind. Aachaar
also includes treating others with respect and dignity, sensitivity
and empathy, recognizing and honoring other’s rights and helping
them. Person following this kind of conduct is not only successful
and happy himself but help in developing social order and harmony.
Stress
and Corporate Executives & Employees’ Health-Classical yoga as
a remedy.
By
Prof. L.M. Sukhatankar, PhD
This
session had presentation and discussion on
Stress
-What is it? How does it affect individual? What are the symptomatic
effects of stress?
Corporate
environment in daily life- real and imaginative stress. Employee
trying to bring balance, trying to escape Stress which leads to
distress. Minor and major health difficulties that affect the
individuals.
Classical
Yoga approach to understand Stress and incorrect perception. The
individual examines what are factors generating distraction and what
creates work and personal life distress and imbalance
Awareness
is built on what and how systems of the body get affected and the
employee is encouraged to bring back balance and peace. Self
awareness is generated by practicing simple yoga postures with
coordinated breathing practices which employees incorporate in daily
routine.
Education
is imparted on eight fold path of classical yoga for self
development and self management.
How
four pillars of Classical Yoga lifestyle- Ahar,
Vihar, Achar and Vichar
are developed by the person in his life for Total Health and
balance? These need to get cultivated and practiced over a period of
time.
Further
interaction with the teacher-counselor and self introspection for
ones physical, mental, emotional and Spiritual development is
recommended. This helps generates balance, positive states &
peace.
Vihar
(Relaxation and Rejuvenation)
Activities
that relax and rejuvenate body and mind are required in very busy and
fast paced life that we lead in present day world. Person should get
involved actively with body-mind regularly into activities for some
time (may be half an hour) where he can express his emotions in some
creative things. This would help express creativity and hence
regulate and control emotions.
Activities
such as gardening, playing a musical instrument, singing songs or
poetry, drawing and painting or hobbies which one likes would help
create joy. Nature walks to garden, sea shore, near a lake or river
side or a hill top in the morning or evening time in sunshine could
also rejuvenate body, mind and soul. Simple playful activities like
playing or throwing ball/ring to each other or play dough ball where
laughing and giggling may happen playing such games regularly could
also help rejuvenate body and mind and soul. Playing with children or
involving in children’s activities can also help relax and
rejuvenate
After
long and hard physical and mental work conscious relaxation practices
of hath yoga including shavasana
or
nishpandabhava
would help relax and rejuvenate oneself. Conscious relaxation would
also include good quality of sleep where body should be able to
comfortably relax and mind should be quiet and calm.
Pratyahara,
Dharana, Dhyana
Awareness
and practice of external yoga viz. Yama,
Niayama, Asana, Pranayama,
the first four limbs or steps of eight fold path of yoga; makes one
ready to practice internal yoga. Fifth step in the eight fold path is
to subdue the senses by conscious work of withdrawal. Conscious
symbolic practice of this is to use ones own fingers of both the
hands to close the senses with right and left hand fingers.
Sitting
in a meditative posture, the practitioner gently and symbolically
closes the ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth and skin by thumb, index
finger, middle finger, ring finger and baby finger respectively by
both the hands. Further, this can be checked by checking thoughts by
activation of senses by internalization. With this process the senses
and mind are internalized and this helps mind to get purified.
Restraining and controlling the senses can help checking the thoughts
and the senses are internalized. Regular practice of this can help
reach reality.
Senses
and Mind is withdrawn and closed regularly to experience reality
which is full of peace, purity, freedom and bliss if one may use some
words to mention about it. Sitting in a meditative posture, mind is
fixed internally between the eye brows and one may gradually work on
increasing the duration of holding the mind there gently and
experience mind and breath slowing down and see brightness and light
in this region and feel oneness and stay in that state. The focus
and concentration could then be applied to work and same could
become Karma yoga.
CLASSICAL
YOGA FOR HOUSEHOLDER’S HEALTH
By
Shailesh Parikh
Think
of self development first - peace and clarity
Always
be happy to help through one’s appearance, emotions
Be
cheerful and mild mannered
Our
grasping of the situation.
Remaining
clear headed
If
internally peaceful and cheerful, we can be more useful.
To
know of agencies that can help.
To
understand Yogic Philosophy.
We
are not God
- The world will carry on according to its laws.
- One should do one’s duty.
- Understand concepts of Dharma (duty).
To
understand Yogic Philosophy.
Understand
Karma Yoga Through Yoga
Learn
to be aware all the time.
Not
getting involved in emotional situations and getting lost.
Be
law abiding – carry out help in Boy Scout spirit. Not in the
spirit of a politician or social worker.
VICHAR
(Thoughts)
PARIKARMAS
(Cleansing
Techniques for the Mind)
Maitri
(Amity)
Karuna
(Compassion)
mudita(Goodwill)
upeksha
(Benevolent Indifference)
Om,
may He protect us all
(The
teacher and the taught).
May
He look after us all to enjoy
(The
fruits of scriptural study).
May
we all exert together
(To
find the true meaning of the sacred text).
May
our studies be fruitful so that we acquire lustre.
May
we never quarrel with one another.
Om
Peace!Peace!!Peace!!!
MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT YOGA
WHAT
YOGA IS NOT
Yoga
is not a ritual.
Yoga
is not a religion.
Yoga
does not need a temple or an ashrama.
It can be done in ANY place,
calm or otherwise.
Yoga
is a systematic study of man and his mind.
IT IS EXPERIENCE BASED.
Yoga
was not invented by Patanjali, it has existed since ancient
times. However he systematized and standardized and put it into
perspective in less than 196 short lines
.
The
improvements in mind and body by practising yoga maybe magical, but
it does not make yoga a system of magic.The magical improvements are
a by-product of practising yoga.
Yoga
is not a competition of flexibility or about external show.Yoga is
to calm the mind and understand its true nature by a holistic
approach of the 8 fold path of yoga as advised by Patanjali
Yoga
is not a curer of disease by some asanas or breathing exercises but
by a holistic approach of ahar, vihar,achar and vichar.
Yoga
will not make you fly.
It
will make you walk properly.
WHAT
YOGA IS
It
will help us breathe properly.
It
will help us bend.
It
will help us relax.
It
will help us be quiet.
So
do not understand yoga as some funny acrobatic postures
It
is something that we can do that will enhance our life.