YOGA & OUR LIFESTYLES

Dr. Sushil Rudra

We are familiar with yoga and its health benefits, but can’t be serious about it. We do everything in daily life, byt have no time to perform yoga daily. Owing to our bad lifestyle, we have been suffering from many serious ailments. Although we know that Yogasana controls our body and mind. Yoga and our lifetimes are interconnected. Without yoga, we are unable to live in a sound body and mind.

The key to be healthy in body and mind is possible through Yoga and meditation . The concentration of mind is the source of all great works. Today, I’m going to discuss Indian yoga and our lifestyles.

Sometimes we become weak either under massive pressure or for lack of confidence. We can regain this confidence through the practice of Indian Yoga and meditation. Now the question, what is Yoga?

DEFINITION OF INDIAN YOGA :

Indian Yoga is the result of ancient knowledge. Yoga means assimilation. It’s assimilation with God . It’s possible through deep meditation.

But yoga is some postures to be performed in our everyday life for wellness of our body and mind .It is an way of Indian lifestyle descending from ancient culture when the people didn’t depend on medicine for disease – free life.

However, the most prominent history of yoga system is Maharshi Patanjali’s ‘Yoga sutra’. It was written some million years ago . Swami Vivekananda preached this yoga when he was travelling in the West.

RAJA YOGA AND THE WEST : Yoga and our lifestyles

¶¶ Swami Ji taught “Raja – Yoga to his western devotees to enlighten them about the power of the mind concentration which is the valuable gems – like knowledge of India.

Among the forefathers whose contribution became the foundation of yoga system is Kapil(700B.C.) . The contribution of Kapil is called Samkhya philosophy.

According to Kapil , the answer to all human problem is in samyak jnana (proper knowledge). In the absence of samyak jnana , the unfamiliar and peculiar happenings cause dukkha (sorrow).

All troubles which affect the mind of an individual spring from three basic sources : 1. Nature ,2.Society, and 3. Self.

In other words, the particular problem which strains and causes mental imbalance in an individual is either nature – oriented, society- oriented or self – oriented which have been termed as Daivik , Bhautik and Atmik by Kapil in his Samkhya philosophy.

SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE: YOGA & OUR LIFESTYLES

So, when the individual develops and acquires proper knowledge about Purusha(self) and Prakiti (Nature), then the peculiar happenings and causations in any of the three sources do not cause dukkha.

This implies acquiring a scientific knowledge about rajas , tamas ,and sattva gunas, and all the tattvas (elements) of prakriti together with a knowledge about this composition, function and correlationship of sense organs ,action organs , mind ,intelligence and the totality of the Purusha (self).

When the individual becomes so knowledgeable, he attains the power of overcoming pain, maintains mental equilibrium and obtains pleasures, happiness and excellence in life.

SHANKHYA YOGA :

It’s said that Samkhya philosophy did not show the method and process of obtaining the goal. It needed a comprehensive system in order to help the individual adopt and achieve what had been so rightly stated by Kapil.

This system was propounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra . Therefore, it is essential to understand what Patanjali had to say .

PATANJALI’S YOGA SUTRA : WHAT &WHY

KAPIL & PATANJALI YOGA SYSTEMS : Yoga and our lifestyles

¶¶ The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is a treatise on methodological process of obtaining the goal laid down by Kapil and add something more. Whereas Kapil emphasized acquiring of jnana which involves only the mind , Patanjali’s system of yoga, on the other hand, involves both body and mind.

In this respect, the Purusha of Patanjali has to do two things simultaneously, that is , he most acquires samyak jnana and also he must practice yoga in order to achieve excellence of both body and mind .

This why, by combining ‘jnana and practices the individual would attain not only excellent health but would also be able to maintain a harmonious relationship between the mind and the boy.

Thus, we find that Patanjali’s yoga provides a better and more thorough answer to our problem of mental health than what is provided by Kapil.

8 STEPS OF PATANJALI’S SYSTEM : INDIAN YOGA AND OUR LIFESTYLES

¶¶ Since Patanjali’s system involves knowing and doing to, his method includes all those steps which are essential for obtaining the desired goal on both levels – physical and mental.

These steps are eight in number. They are mentioned below together with their basic meanings and implications:

Yoga (control and discipline) , Niyama ( rules, methods and principles), Asanas (making body postures), Pranayama (kriyas with air ) , Pratyahara ( avoidance of undesirables in taking actions, that is , knowing the proper actions), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (contemplation).

¶¶ Since these eight steps of Patanjali were not very comprehensively discussed in his “Yoga Sutra.” Further works were necessary for covering them properly.

In order to facilitate the practitioners, these steps were later grouper under different yogas according to their nature and substance. The yogas which cover all these steps are the following:

JNANA YOGA

It covers Yama and Niyama and it is the science of acquiring proper knowledge.

HATHA YAGA

It covers Asanas and Pranayamas and is the science of physical excellence.

KARMA YAGA

It covers Pratyahra and is the science of act.

RAJA – YOGA

Covers Dharana ,Dhyana and Samadhi and is the science of concentration and meditation.

¶¶ HATHA YOGA : DEFINITION :

We generally practice Hatha Yoga which is comprised Pranayamas, Asanas ,Bandhas and Mudra’s. But don’t try to follow other yogas .

Yama and Niyama is also very important for the yogic practitioners. Without proper knowledge of it , your journey towards perfection will not be fulfilled . Obviously, yoga is the practical part of religion.

BENEFITS OF YOGA :

Yoga control our body and mind in order to attach with God. You can say it as the medium of attachment between man and God.

So yoga means the method of joining man and God. Remember always, there are different Yogas for different minds, and if one does not suit you , another may .

CONCLUSION :

We are very busy with our regular activities. Everyone is having some personal issues which he or she has to manage . No other person can help him or her. It’s his burden . As a result, it affects their minds. Sometimes it turns beyond control .

WHY WE ARE STRETCHED ?

As a result , it is difficult to control your mind. Our lifestyle has been changed due to modern gadgets. We are either viewing Television programs or busy in network up to late night and used to getting up late at 9 O’clock in the morning.

However, we don’t take our lunch in scheduled time. Perhaps we are accustomed in junk food . Have a lot of pressures in office or working place we are becoming highly stressed.

Most of the modern generations are not happy with their job . Various kind of mental pressures gradually distract your mood and mental peace.

WHY WE SHOULD NEED YOGA :

We are going through a difficult time . Unemployment , corruption, endless needs , high aspirations – all these are causes behind it.

Moreover, we don’t engaged in physical works, nor we do yoga or Asanas or any sports. Even we do not walk regularly because of modern vehicles.

Ultimately, our bodies and mind are going to be distracted. We are being stressed deprived of peace of mind. Here is the need for Yoga, Asanas and meditation.

KEY SOURCE OF INDIAN YOGA AND OUR LIFESTYLES

Indian Yoga and meditation is the key source of energies, sound health and fitness. Meditation can improve your mental state . It’s sometimes advised by the Doctor.

So only medicine couldn’t able to give you peace. It’s yoga and meditation which can help us to get rid of all the mental and physical hurdles.

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