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| Saturday, 31 July 2004 |
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The healing power of Yoga
But with all these advances have we acquired a better quality of life? The pace of life has increased so fast resulting in stress. The air we breathe is polluted with to effusions from vehicles and factories. The food we eat is contaminated. Deseases of degeneracy such as cancer, diabetes and coronary thrombosis are on the increase Mental illness all the world over has increases manifold. It is to counter all these ills that the practice of Yoga has become popular all the world over. In the western world where the pace of life is even faster the need in even greater. I read in an issue of last year's "Time" magazine that over 10 million American adults practise some kind of meditation regularly. Facilities for this is provided for in schools, offices, hospitals and prisons. The article goes on to say that researchers have found that the brain like the rest of the body undergoes subtle changes during deep meditation. In the 1960s it had been discovered that Yogis who go into deep meditation do not react when hot test tubes are pressed against their bodies and do not flinch at the sound of a gunshot. Based on these findings Samurais and Kamikas pilots are trained for their work which need absolute focus of mind and body. The yogis of ancient times compiled and practiced yoga to relax both the body and mind and achieve peace and calm. With acceptance and dedication we can practise it and achieve a great measure of relief from bodily ailments leading to mental calm and peace. The Yogic asanas (exercises) were compiled to exercise every part of the body from the toes to the top of the head. Unlike other forms of exercise all movements are done at a slow pace. The bends however are deep and the streatching exercises all the muscles of the body. Age is no barrier to start to practice yoga. It was with great trpidition that I joined Ouida Keuneman's yoga classes in her home in Colombo, when I was in my late sixties. I had indulged in sports activities in my younger days and in later years when I had given up found that that I was beginning to feel arthritic pains in my joints, and also suffering from asthma. It was my good fortune that at this time I met my old school friend Ouida and she gave me the assurance and the courage to start on Yoga. Since then I have not looked back. At the beginning I could not even sit crosslegged on the floor for a time but now I take part in most exercises with a number of other pupils of all ages. Even my own grand daughter joined for a while until she had to go out for her studies. Ouida who studied under Yoga Swami Geethananda of India is knowledgeable on every single asana and what it does to a particular part of the body. She is a good teacher with a lot of patience and understanding. She often reminds her class that the body of each individual is different and not to compare oneself with others but to persevere and improve oneself. To most of her pupils her words prove to be prophetic. Today my arthritis hardly bothers me and asthma is a thing of the past. Quite a few of those who come to her classes have ailments such as headache, back pains, breathing problems and high or low blood pressure. If the ailments are of a serious nature Ouida advices us to get clearance from our doctor. It is heartening to note the number of those who come to her on the advice of their doctors. Ouida is always willing to help those who need special guidance as to which asanas are more beneficial to them and which exercises are best avoided for a time. Correct breathing is a very important part of Yoga. Yogis believe that correct inhalation and exhalation cleanse the body of impurities and thereby help to overcome many ailments. My own experience is that having suffered from asthma as a child I had got used to shallow breathing and not filling my lungs properly. Even today I realize that my breathing is far from perfect and I lag behind the others in the breathing techniques we are made to do. Yogis believe that full exhalation of the breath is even more important than inhalation, to cleanse the body of impurities. Therefore to those who suffer from asthma, bronchitis and related ailments as well as ills caused by impurities in the blood correct Yoga breathing is very important. Relaxation of the mind and body is the ultimate aim of Yoga exercises. As we all know overwrought nerves can lead to many problems such as losing friends and the inability to get along in one's home or workplace. In extreme cases overwrought nerves can even result in heart attacks. Yoga exercises done correctly under the guidance of a good teacher can restore one's well-being. Starting with the sun salutation it slowly builds up to more difficult postures such as the 'wheel' or shoulder stand. One hardly feels the one and a half hours spent in the class because the exercises are well spaced out with breathing exercises in between. The class ends with relaxation where everyone lies streatched out on the yoga mat in the corpse' position, the whole body relaxed breathing slowly to ones own rhythm. The pupils are asked to letgo of all thoughts and concentrate on the breath going in and out. It may take a little time to get used to it but once it is mastered it gives a sense of calm and well-being. A couple of hours set aside once or twice a week will help one to overcome every day stresses of life and face the future with greater calm and confidence. - L.E. Subasinghe. |
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Produced by Lake House |
We live in a modern age. Compared to primitive times we live in luxury.
Scientists have harnessed energy to make life easy. We travel through
space from one end of the earth to another in a matter of hours. Doctors
perform the most daring operations to give us longer life.
