Yoga and Ayurveda

Medicines are the means to put derailed system, back on the track. After gaining the power the body should function on its own, Homeostatic activity is a built-in program in the system. Medicines do not allow this activation of the mechanism. Ayurveda and yoga work on this principles. So they help immunity to come back to action. But generally we are happy with the suppression of the disease and do not allow the pathology to reverse. Ayurveda and yoga practitioners keep on telling this for years. We are happy with the medicines which give quick relief which is seldom complete. For years we keep on taking palliative medicines but we never think of bringing pathology back to normalcy.

Once the body undergoes process of imbalance it shows the effect in form of symptoms which are understood by the individual. It is not a happy situation. It may not be life and death situation, still there is a fear and we make every thing to hush-up the situation. Then things may not be the same as before and may not be simple also. Practicing yoga regularly and taking advise from Ayurveda for dietary control, things are brought well under control. But we generally look for the easy solution and unwinding of the disease process is never opted as a first thing.

In last post we had a look over the fundamental reasons for the illness. It starts with improper use of senses. Let us take example of eyes.

What we can perceive with the help of eyes is limited. We can enhance its capacity with the help of microscope and telescope like equipment. Yet it has limitations. Tolerance of brightness and trying to work in dark both have ill-effect on eyes. If we use more of computers, mobiles we forget blinking of eyes which is essential and there are many other means which can damage eyes. So over use, under use and improper use can be damaging to eyes as well as it affects our lifestyle also. Similarly we can think about all other senses and organs like hands, legs, speech, genitalia and anus. Mind is organ which does not have physical presence but no organ can functions without it!

Behavioral Medicine

Behavioral pattern is the key to understand the living being. We humans learn patterns to know the various species. 

These patterns are of two types. One is built in which are developed as growth pattern. They are formed during development even they are available as inherited legacy. Another pattern is developed with conscious effort. These patterns reflect in likes and dislikes also. Due to these likes and dislikes we have certain effects on our body-mind complex. These effects may be for living healthy life or they can to illness. 

Behavioral medicine is about bringing about changes in life and lifestyle. These changes are for living better life and healthy life. In this thinking behavioral changes are used as a medicine. 

 Ayurveda Gives three basic reasons for illness:

1. Inappropriate use of senses.

2. Cognitive failure to make choices and implement in life. That is Pradnaparadh: 

In Ayurveda Prajnaparadh is a cause for illness explained as one of the important causes for illness. This means, person knows that smoking is bad. In fact he or she knows it correctly how bad it is but still they adapt such habit and they do not leave it either. This leads to sedentary life and many hazards over period of time.

3. Time factor :Age related factors or duration of unhealthy pattern leads to illness.

Behavioral medicine is the branch of medicine more popular in U.S. which incorporates psychiatry, nursing, medicines and other disciplines to help person to change the habit pattern and thereby help to come out of illness.

 

Lifestyle modification has been like a keyword in modern medical practice. Many conditions are solved with the help of different disciplines of medicines. Alternative medicines are also a part of a treating some conditions. Many conditions like diabetes, obesity, certain types of cancers are known to be the effects of inflammatory process going on in the body for very long time. Medicines prove to be of limited use. Without changing any medical line of treatment we can adapt lifestyle modification to control the condition. There may a situation when we may able to reduce medication and eventually stop them with help of a consultation with your doctor.

These lifestyle modifications are brought up in many ways.  Yoga, Ayurveda, Natural therapy and many other practices which give inputs about a change in food pattern, physical activity and in many other ways.

We will discuss these issues in future postings.

Yoga

Do we practice yoga? Do we know what yoga is about? Is we see yoga today, Real Yoga?

Yoga we know as a fitness program more than anything else. No doubt that yoga for fitness or yoga for health are the most popular and well experiential aspects of yoga itself. One can easily relate with story about the elephant described by the blinds. When you try to study yoga it mandatory to read Hathyoga, Yogasutra by Patanjali and Bhagwat Geeta also. But it is not possible to systematize yoga unless you are thorough with Yogasutra by Patanjali. It is also said that Patanjali gives road-map of learning yoga and Bhagwatgeeta provides the implicit aspects of behavior of a yogi. Learning any text on yoga without its practice in life is waste of time and energy.

Real goal of yoga is not shoddy, limited to health and fitness but it is for bringing up unanimity in society. This culture is beyond cast, creed dogma or religion. It is freely permeable through national boundaries. Best and most creations in the world in any field are through yoga. All great people who are genuinely creative and inventive, practice yoga knowingly or unknowingly. In fact Yoga is a built in function in their system. Inventing and taking it to perfection is achieved through constant endeavor without thinking of its commercial aspect. To make those inventions commercially viable also require great efforts. Patience and relentlessly working till end is the true signature of yoga, we can say.

We will continue on these lines in future....