Category: Yoga

The term Yoga has been derived from the Sanskrit language. ‘Yoga’ literally means ‘to join together, and it actually works by joining the individual with his or her innermost, i.e., by bringing the working system of body and brain together. It is a system in which some simple exercises help in the physical and mental well-being of the individual. Breathing, i.e., circulation of air through the body, and consequently circulation of inadequate blood measure through different parts of the body, happens to be the mainstay of the healing process of Yoga. Pranayam, i.e. ‘controlled breathing’ is the term that describes the essence of Yoga. Stated to have been developed some 5 thousand years ago, Yoga has its origin in the Vedas, the oldest record of Indian culture[1]. Its mainstay is preparing the individual to recognize his or her potential. Deepak Chopra (2005), an internationally renowned Indian philosopher, says,

“The first spiritual law of success is the Law of Pure Potentiality. This law is based on the fact that we are, in our essential state, pure consciousness. Pure consciousness is pure potentiality; it is the field of all possibilities and infinite creativity. Pure consciousness is our spiritual essence. Being infinite and unbounded is also pure joy. Other attributes of consciousness are pure knowledge, infinite silence, perfect balance, invincibility, simplicity, and bliss. This is our essential nature. Our essential nature is one of pure potentiality.”

What is quite interesting to know is that Yoga provides a healing touch to the body without much effort or trouble in undertaking the yoga exercise. Running, brisk walking, skipping, etc., are some of the effective exercises which help in retaining a physically fit body, but Yoga, on the other hand, requires different parts of the body to be at ease, and the yoga exercises do not require lots of energy. But the healing process is time taking and requires adequate discipline on the part of the individual in food habits and an overall lifestyle. The book ‘Yoga Sutras’ written by the much revered Indian philosopher Patanjali is considered the bible of Yoga. The term ‘Sutras’ literally means short notes or formulas, which implies yoga sutra provides the simple ways to do Yoga. Yoga sutra describes a system composed of[2] Classical Yoga, Patanjali Yoga, Ashtanga (Eight-limbed) Yoga, and Raja Yoga.

Air Circulation in the Body: The Key to Pranayam

‘Pran’ in the Hindi language means the soul, the one responsible for the life of a human being. According to Hindu belief, ‘Pran’ is the creation of god Brahma, the supreme king. The Yoga gurus say that[3] ‘The inherent quality of Pran is “Motion.” This quality of Pran is felt and experienced in Vayu (Air), which is always in motion.’ This air, when it enters the body in good measure, helps the body and all its organs to work effectively and efficiently. The Hindu way of life believes that a human body is composed of five essential elements, namely, Akasha (i.e., space of vacuity), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jala (water), and Prithvi (earth). Out of these five, the air is said to have a central role in keeping the body in motion. In order to gain materialistic benefits and success in life, the body must be in sync with our thought process while allowing us to make the efforts required for success. In general, if left to ourselves, it will be very difficult for us to concentrate on something without wavering to worldly tensions, but with the help of meditation and spirituality, the mind and body are said to work in perfect synchronization. Underlining the need to take good care of one’s health and spiritual values, Deepak Chopra (2005) says,

“There are many aspects to success; material wealth is only one component. Moreover, success is a journey, not a destination. Material abundance, in all its expressions, happens to be one of those things that makes the journey more enjoyable. But success also includes good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of well-being, and peace of mind.”

The yoga sutra also points out that the human body itself has certain channels and points which require to be tapped for releasing the energy hidden in the body. The eight stages of Yoga stated by Patanjali are;

1. Niyama (Self-purification through discipline): Self-discipline lays the foundation for preparing the body and mind to practice Yoga in right earnest. The discipline demands that one should have a routine in getting up early, sleeping early, eating a healthy diet, no to the junk food, etc.
2. Asana (posture): The posture in which yoga exercises can be done is also very crucial because it requires a relaxed body and tension-free frame of mind to work wonders for the individual.
3. Pranayama (breath control): This practice helps the inadequate amount of air intake into the body and thus manipulating the energy levels of the body to the advantage of the body. In fact, Baba Ramdev, the saffron-clad yoga guru, who has created waves all across India and many places around the world, has been placing maximum emphasis on the correct way of breathing. According to him, the breathing exercises[4] can be further subdivided into different forms like;

• Bhastrika pranayam: Bhastrika is the Sanskrit word for Blower. So this pranayam works when, after a deep breath, the air is released forcibly like a blower from our nose. This yoga exercise is said to be helpful for cold, cough, allergy, asthma, and respiratory diseases.
• Kapal Bhati Pranayam: ‘Kapal’ is the Sanskrit word for forehead and ‘Bhati’ for light.
• Bahaya pranayam: Bahya is the Sanskrit word for outside
• Anulom Vilom Pranayam: This is one of the most popular ways of Pranayam, in which one nostril is used at a time for breathing and the other one for releasing the air subsequently.
• Bhramri Pranayam: For this, the lungs are filled with air with a deep breath, and then the air is held inside for a while, followed by slowly exhaling the air from the mouth with a slight humming sound

4. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the mind from external objects): This effectively means we must try to forget our worldly desires during the period we intend to have the yoga therapy.
5. Dharana (concentration): As the individual starts controlling the desires overlooking worldly affairs, the concentration power increases.
6. Dhyana (meditation): It requires the individual to remember the almighty god and just think about the supernatural power which is controlling all of us
7. Samadhi (state of super consciousness): In this stage, the most difficult one for the general people to attain the person feels like going on a journey out of this world. In fact, in this state, the needs like hunger, thirst also disappear, and the person starts controlling all his needs

Such yoga therapies help in refreshing the body and mind, and the person is ready for the day’s work with renewed vigor. Realizing the importance of Yoga in boosting the energy levels, big corporate houses in many countries are making it mandatory for the professionals to indulge in yoga and relaxation exercises during the course of their work so that these professionals can contribute their maximum towards the functioning of the organization.

Besides Pranayam, yoga therapy works wonders for the physical fitness of the individual by way of a number of asanas. Asana is a Hindi word that means sitting posture. Therefore different parts of the body can be worked up by systematically assuming certain positions and postures, which activates different parts of our body to infuse new energy and enthusiasm in us. Some of the popular asanas are;

Sidhasana(Cock Pose), Mandukasan (frog pose), Padmasana (Lotus Posture), Bhujangasana (Snake Posture), Mayurasana (Peacock Posture), Dhanurasana (Bow Posture), Chakrasana (Circle Pose like a wheel), Savasana (Corpse Posture, i.e., motionless), Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Posture), etc.

This Sansa’s not only helping in better circulation of blood flow in different parts of the human body, but they also help in providing a soothing touch to the mind of the individual as well.

References

Brian Sheen. Yoga: The Path to Enlightenment. Web.

Deepak Chopra (2005). Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams. Amber Allen Publishing.

Divya Yoga Mandir Trust (2008). Pranayam revolution. Web.

Incredible India (2008). Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Web.

Patanjali (2000). The Yoga Sutras. Web.

Introduction

The injuries sustained by athletes can pose a serious threat to the career of these people. The critical task is to develop and adopt effective strategies that can minimize the risk of such events or at least reduce their effect on the performance of an athlete. This paper will focus on the use of yoga and soft exercises as the techniques that can be useful in achieving this goal. In particular, one should focus on the physiological effects of these exercises.

Much attention should also be paid to the psychological benefits that these practices can bring to athletes. Finally, it is necessary to discuss the financial costs and impacts of injury-preventing methods. Overall, yoga and soft exercises can be helpful in minimizing the risk of various traumas and relieving the stress experienced by professional athletes.

Physiological Effects

Professional athletes are more exposed to the risk of different traumas and injuries; to some degree, this threat is an inherent part of their work. Nevertheless, researchers and medical workers argue that many of these problems are preventable (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Moreover, their adverse effects can be reduced if proper precautions are taken (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). To a large degree, the success of professional athletes depends on their ability to use appropriate injury-preventing methods.

Yoga is one of the alternatives that athletes and coaches should consider. It should be mentioned that some benefits of this approach have been confirmed by researchers. For example, one can refer to the research carried out by Polsgrove, Eggleston, and Lockyer (2016) who argue that the use of these exercises is critical for increasing the flexibility of muscles. These scholars report that yoga enhances muscle torque which is useful in avoiding different injuries (Polsgrove et al., 2016).

Moreover, it helps people to alleviate pain in low back and reduce muscle soreness (Polsgrove et al., 2016). The authors also point out that yoga can assist athletes in increasing shoulder flexibility, knee bend, and hip extension (Polsgrove et al., 2016). One should mention that yoga incorporates a variety of soft exercises that are needed for stretching tendons and muscles. To some degree, they can increase a person’s preparedness for various situations that sometimes result in injuries.

The beneficial impacts of yoga on the physical health of a person are described by other researchers. For instance, in their book, Kisner, Colby, and Borstad (2017) recommend yoga as one of the techniques for managing the symptoms of pain caused by injuries. Moreover, the exercise incorporated in yoga can assist patients who struggle with chronic pain (Kisner et al., 2017). This is why athletes should incorporate these approaches into their daily practices. In this way, they can shield themselves against the threat of many injuries.

Psychological Impacts

There are other advantages that yoga can offer professional athletes; in particular, it can help them overcome stress. Yoga should not be viewed only as a set of physical exercises; it is also a technique for coping with anxiety, depression, and stress (Patil, Mullur, Khodnapur, Dhanakshirur, & Aithala, 2013). Each of these problems can have a detrimental impact on the performance of athletes. These people continuously have to meet high expectations set by coaches; therefore, they are more exposed to the risk of different mental problems (Patil et al., 2013). This aspect of yoga is also critical for addressing the problem of injuries.

According to the findings of researchers, stress is one of the factors that determine people’s physical wellbeing (Heidari et al., 2016). For instance, it can impair the work of a person’s immune system (Heidari et al., 2016). Furthermore, this psychological problem can impact athletes’ perception of pain (Heidari et al., 2016). As a rule, it intensifies the pain experienced by an individual (Heidari et al., 2016). Moreover, these experiences usually only slow down the process of recovery. Thus, people, who want to succeed as professional athletes, should be able to avoid such experiences.

In its turn, yoga incorporates several techniques that are helpful in reducing the feeling of anxiety. There is statistically significant evidence indicating that this practice can influence different autonomic processes that lead to stress (Patil et al., 2013). This goal is usually achieved with the help of different breathing exercises. To a great extent, yoga can have a placebo effect on the physical health of an athlete. It should be mentioned that the emphasis on physical and psychological states of an individual is an important strength of yoga. This practice can help athletes cope with the impacts of injuries and accelerate recovery.

Socio-Economic Context

While discussing the problem of injuries, one should also speak about the socio-economic factors affecting the behavior of professional athletes. As a rule, they sign contracts with professional teams. According to these agreements, the compensation received by athletes is partly dependent on their performance. Furthermore, these people are obliged to lead healthy lifestyles and take reasonable precautions against injuries.

It is also critical to remember that a serious trauma can threaten the entire athletic career of a person. Due to these reasons, he/she is motivated to take precautions that can minimize the risk of injuries. It is important to mention that the adoption of injury-preventing techniques may necessitate some costs. For instance, athletes and coaches will have to hire a professional instructor who will design exercises for the needs of an athlete. Nevertheless, these expenses can be justified because they are required for avoiding the losses caused by serious injuries. In its turn, yoga is one of the strategies that can assist athletes in avoiding injuries.

One has to acknowledge that yoga is not the only injury-preventing technique that should be considered by athletes and their coaches. It is only one of the methods that can supplement other interventions developed by therapists. However, this approach should not be disregarded because there is substantial evidence indicating that this practice can bring valuable benefits (Polsgrove et al., 2016; Patil et al., 2013). Providing that coaches combine different technique, they can obtain positive results. This strategy will critical for avoiding preventable injuries or making them more manageable.

Conclusion

The prevention of injuries is one of the top priorities for professional athletes and coaches. These people should take measures that can reduce the probability of such events or at least minimize their effects on a person. The use of yoga and soft exercise can help them attain these objectives. The findings of researchers suggest that these practices can increase the fitness of muscles and tendons. Additionally, they are helpful in reducing painful symptoms experienced by athletes. It is important to remember that the contracts signed by these people impel them to adopt healthy lifestyles. The adoption of injury-preventing methods may necessitate some costs; however, such costs are fully justified.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). Sports and recreation-related injuries. Web.

Heidari, J., Mierswa, T., Kleinert, J., Ott, I., Levenig, C., Hasenbring, M., & Kellmann, M. (2016). Parameters of low back pain chronicity among athletes: Associations with physical and mental stress. Physical Therapy in Sport, 21, 31-37.

Kisner, P., Colby, L. A., & Borstad, J. (2017). Therapeutic exercise: Foundations and techniques (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.

Patil, S.G., Mullur, L.M., Khodnapur, J.P., Dhanakshirur, G.B., & Aithala, M.R. (2013). Effect of yoga on short-term heart rate variability measure as a stress index in subjunior cyclists: A pilot study. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 57(2), 153-158.

Polsgrove, M., Eggleston, B., & Lockyer, R. (2016). Impact of 10-weeks of yoga practice on flexibility and balance of college athletes. International Journal of Yoga, 9(1), 27-34.

Claim

It seems reasonable to state that body shaming has become a pressing issue today, given the rapid development of social media – starting from Instagram and ending with Twitter. The users of these platforms impose the standards of how people should look, which leads to the mentioned phenomenon. Body positivity and its promotion may be considered as a significant answer to such a considerable problem.

Reason 1

Body positivity has become a movement that is founded on activities that deal with the current crucial adverse trends in social media.

Explanation

As mentioned above, body shaming comes from the imposed standards imposed by the online community, which worsens some inevitable psychological problems.

Evidence

Adolescents pay more attention to what makes them unique and, unlike others, paying special attention to appearance. During pubertal adjustment of the body, there are prerequisites for dissatisfaction with their body (Gam et al. 1325). Raised in a prosperous family, the child still faces difficulties in forming a positive image of his or her own body.

Evidence

In the social sphere, the image can have both positive and negative aspects. The positive is that every effort is made to achieve the goal through the presence of the image of the desired. At the same time, it can be dangerous at the social level if a personal conflict arises (Martínez-González et al. 6630). When society sets strict limits, teenagers lose themselves in efforts to be within these limits.

Explanation of Evidence

The described problems seem to be the basis of why body shaming has such a negative impact today.

Reason 2

Body positivity is the only way to face the body-shaming challenge today.

Explanation

It seems that there are no other efficient alternatives to address body shaming.

Evidence

Coyne et al. demonstrate the significance of body-positive music (5).

Evidence

Pickett and Cunningham explore inclusive physical activity spaces, referring to the case of body-positive yoga (336).

Explanation of Evidence

A plethora of scholarly studies demonstrates the effectiveness of body positivity practices.

Works Cited

Coyne, Sarah, et al. “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Effect of Lstening to Body Positive Music on Implicit and Explicit Body Esteem.” Psychology of Popular Media, vol. 10, no. 1, 2021, pp. 2–13.

Gam, Rahul Taye et al. “Body Shaming among School-Going Adolescents: Prevalence and Predictors.” International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, vol. 7., no. 4, 2020, pp. 1324–1328.

Martínez-González, Marina, et al. “Women Facing Psychological Abuse: How Do They Respond to Maternal Identity Humiliation and Body Shaming?” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021, vol. 18, no, 12, pp. 6627–6644.

Pickett, Andrew, and George Cunningham. “Creating Inclusive Physical Activity Spaces: The Case of Body-Positive Yoga.” Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, vol. 88, no. 3., 2016, pp. 329–338.

Yoga is a rather controversial and questionable concept in the minds of many. For some, it leads to enlightenment and relaxation and for others, it is a pointless waste of time. The disconnection between traditional practices and outcomes is evident, in that disbelief and inability to concentrate and practice overtake the benefits and positives of yoga. Yoga has always been closely connected to traditional practice and beliefs of select people.

It has become a part of life and a division of philosophy that helps and guides through the challenges that people face. But even though it has had close encounters with people’s thoughts and hearts, it is also seen as a separate entity, being of different world and space. Yoga can be traced to the ancient times and has become a part of society.

Many people view it as a way of life, even a religion. The fact that it is so unique also distances it from many people. There is a limited number of individuals that can master the true skill of yoga and develop the technique that will be beneficial to them. Societies view yoga as physical exercises and not as a religion (Anderson 3).

Yoga opens up a lot of controversy, where people of different religions can be blamed for taking part in other religious beliefs through its practice. The age of yoga and the methods of Hindu monks contribute to the disbelief people attribute to the truth of yoga and its sincerity towards other religions. People are said to participate in a form of a ritual and thus, are practicing a different religion from their own.

Presently, there are numerous discussions about yoga and its true nature. Many people say that it is not connected to religion and is a process that can only lead to negative things. The argument about this point of view is that there is only one true way to reach salvation and it is God.

As most of the world believes in God that is a single entity, it is unclear, to the believers, how yoga can help find true peace and understanding. An interesting point about yoga is that it has no end and there is no God on the way or anywhere. It is meant to practice self knowledge and reach understanding that is far from human regular thoughts and feelings.

This can be seen as blasphemous because religion is thought to be one of the strongest points of humanity. If it does not contain God, it is said to be evil. The ways of attaining true knowledge and understanding are unique to everyone but religion encourages everyone to use the same ways. Yoga is said to be very similar to religion, in the fact that everyone has a chance to practice it and there are same techniques in finding the true meaning of one’s life.

But the modern world has added another perspective to the comprehension of religion. The search for the self has become a very individual and private practice that cannot be attained through going to churches, praying and believing. Yoga has somewhat separated itself from regular beliefs because traditionally, people have had a certain criteria to abide by, to follow rules and regulations that were set by their ancestors.

The origins of yoga are also traditional and set up by previous generations but the difference is in the process itself. It uses seemingly old methods but they lead to an understanding that is new, different and unique from the previous ones. Every person has an individuality that is never repeated in anyone else.

It cannot be quantified and divided into pieces, thus it is impossible to duplicate. Religion has become weaved into human society so much that anything different is thought to be wrong.

Yoga is often said to lead to the gates of heaven and peace but this is a direct contradiction with what religion teaches. God is the only path and people should swear their allegiance to Him only. Yoga contradicts beliefs that most people have, setting the division between regularity and strangeness.

Just as there is a connection to the common public and unity of all people, yoga is a search for the self, as previously mentioned. Patanjali writes about yoga in the following terms: “Even though proper moral action in the world is not the goal of yoga, a great vow to live by the universal principles of nonviolence, truthfulness, avoidance of stealing, celibacy, and poverty is specified as a precognition for further yogic practice” (Patanjali2).

This statement shows how private yoga can be and how different it is from the goals of the population. But the opposite is also true, as the laws and rules of the modern world are directed at the same thing-preservation of peace, absence of violence and moral rights and freedoms.

The difference is that the goals of many people—society, are much different from the individuals’. Family, closest relatives and person’s own well-being are the primary care for anyone. Yoga teaches inner goodness and peace with the self and the surrounding environment, which is Nature.

But, for some reason, people are sometimes thought to be apart from Nature. The violent and selfish acts that are often attributed to humanity and are true, cannot be united with peace and love. Yoga has the connection to natural being but the spiritual path that leads to salvation can be seen as “too spiritual”, not of this world.

People have been raised to believe in limits and ends. The Earth has certain physical boundaries that people cannot overtake. Yoga takes a step away from these traditional beliefs and promises people things of a world much different from this one. The regular duties and responsibilities that are taught since childhood, are service to the country and community. Anyone who moves away from this line of thinking is thought of as deviant.

Even though some people have changed their predisposed way of thinking, anything different from normality is thought to be immoral and strange. Yoga follows the same path, as people who practice it are not traditional, they are said to be following something that is ancient and not modern.

Those who follow regular rules and beliefs are surprised when they learn that someone is practicing yoga. People without specific knowledge about yoga are not sure what it really is and consider it very different from the regular life (Rosen 20). Everyone is familiar that it is also spiritual but the disbelief that the end goals and states of yoga are exaggerated is quite strong. The society lives by one standard and the individual by another.

The majority believes that there is happiness and it is attainable but not with ease and quick solutions. Yoga does not provide quick solutions either but it promises happiness and salvation. It is true that this is exactly what people strive towards but at the same time, there are doubts and disbelief that it is possible to achieve.

It becomes almost “unwanted” because then there will be nothing to work towards. Everyone wants to be happy but is afraid to be happy. It is a contradiction in and of itself, due to the fact that it is an eternal goal, something that cannot be accomplished in this lifetime.

Yoga is much different from God, as it makes an individual path, a way for everyone to find their own true meaning but it is God-like also since it is the search for one’s soul and happiness. This is usually found through pain and suffering, loss and limits. But as always, perspective differs true meaning: “A “thug” in American newspapers is an armed robber.

But the name is derived from a North Indian community of the last century, whose members not only gained a livelihood through armed robbery but considered it a religious duty” (Behanan 3). Who is to say what is right and wrong? People believe that in order to receive something great, they must earn it by bleeding and fighting.

Yoga offers a practical method to love and joy without significant stress or pain. This is not very traditional because people were led to believe otherwise. Years of human history and grandparents’ stories have taught people that accomplishments are not easy to come by.

The general belief is that salvation is only attainable by a select few and these people must be special and unique. Yoga creates a possibility for everyone who has some form of will power and determination. For the majority of people, this goes against their beliefs and traditions. It is humorous that the simplest solution is the obvious and closest one but this fact is still disbelieved and negated by many.

Yoga is not given the much deserved attention; it is mostly treated as an exercise routine that is meant to physically strengthen the body. It is possible to suppose that it is an excuse people make for themselves because the path itself is hard and long. Yoga is not a quick solution to the problem; it is a way of life that must be absolved in its every aspect. “A true aspirant has to conform strictly with all the rules set down by yoga discipline” (Rajarshi 8).

This is a hard criterion for most to follow and so, yoga is disregarded as something strange and different from reality. People are used to things that are easy, quick solutions and material things. Yoga parts with the spiritual and divine, which is so unfamiliar to most. Religion has become a part of life because it is much easier.

The majorities go to church, contribute financially and pray when things go bad but religion is much more. Those who truly believe know the sacrifices and battles with the self that true belief requires. The same can be said about yoga and its truth is exactly what sets it far from the regular traditions that people possess.

Yoga has been around for ages, many people practice it but less understand the true meaning and power of yoga. The fact that people know about it, does mean acceptance into the society and regular living conditions. Yoga’s age has not been a determinant in people’s relationship towards it; it has stayed strange and unknown for most.

Works Cited

Anderson, Sandra. Yoga: Mastering the Basics. Honesdale, United States: Himalayan Institute Press, 2000. Print.

Behanan, Kovoor. Yoga: Its Scientific Basis. Toronto, Canada: Courier Dover Publications, 1937. Print.

Patanjali. Yoga: Discipline of Freedom. Los Angeles, United States: University of California Press, 1996. Print.

Rajarshi. Awakening the Life Force. St. Paul, United States: Llewellyn Worldwide, 2001. Print.

Rosen, Richard. Original Yoga: Rediscovering Traditional Practices of Hatha Yoga. Boston, United States: Shambhala Publications, 2012. Print.

“But difficulties were made to be overcome and if the supreme will is there, they will overcome” (Esposito, Fasching and Lewis 88). This is Sri Aurobindo’s famous quote on spirituality and Human soul conversion. Sri Aurobindo suggests that regardless of one’s religion, philosophy, stand point or creeds, there is a universal unity that supports all our diverse views and methods of understanding.

He is of the opinion that all our personal experiences are different viewpoints looking at a single reality. These varieties of philosophies and religions all have a clue of the truth in them, or an aspect of the truth (Esposito, Fasching and Lewis 45). He explained that religion played an important role in the evolution of human consciousness.

Humans find it difficult to believe in something they have not seen themselves, but it’s easy for them to believe in something they see as extraneous to themselves and the spirituality of most people needs external support of an object of faith. Therefore, all religions are formed by the internal need to climb towards this object of faith.

These needs are then shaped into rites, rituals and creeds that differ with time and the society in which they are formed. Religion can then be said to be formed on the external and temporal/ internal aspect (Sri Aurobindo). The external aspect represents the universal truth while the temporal aspects represent the frameworks of the individual which are mostly based on personal experiences.

Aurobindo views fits with the Hindu culture and beliefs, where there is a widespread reliance on personal experience in understanding foreign religions, making them very receptive to these religions. They believe that religion is based majorly on personal insights and experiences and not outer constructs. In Hinduism, the concept of a single divine power is expressed in personal experiences not mental constructs.

They believe that god can be experienced in many ways, hence many opposing rituals in the religion. Hinduism distinguishes itself from other religions and even some of its cults and ritual practices are not beliefs (Sri Aurobindo). The diversity in India also contributes to these differences in religion.

Sri uses the Hindu religion as an example of different beliefs and experiences that point to a single universal truth, the existence of a supreme being.

Sri Aurobindo suggests that a human soul can be converted into a divine soul through what he called integral yoga. He claimed that other yoga was aimed at reaching the spiritual level and away from normal human life. Integral yoga was aimed at getting to the spiritual level and coming back to live a normal human life to transform it (Kvassay n. p.). He believed that:

there was a possibility of divine manifestation in every human being, where one could open oneself to higher divine consciousness which could then reveal to them their true self, remain in that divine state constantly and bring down a higher force which would then transform one’s mind, life and soul (Esposito, Fasching and Lewis 28).

This transformation from a human soul to a divine soul is what Sri said was the purpose of integral yoga.

He further pointed out that man was born with many limitations which prevented him from knowing the true nature of reality. He therefore must go through a process of discovering them to realize his divine nature. He came up with the triple transformation process which is a 3- step process to help one discover oneself (Satprem 67).

The first stage is psychic transformation and it involves the discovery of the psychic being or the evolving soul. This leads to spiritual transformation, whereby the mind expands and there is a change of perception from the initial perception.

Sacramental transformation is the last and most radical as it involves a complete transformation of the emotions, soul, mind and the body. This resulted in a change from a human soul to a divine soul (Sri Aurobindo).

Works Cited

Esposito, John L, Darrell J Fasching and Todd Lewis. Religions of Asia Today. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.

Kvassay, Marcel. Sri Aurobindo’s “Universal Realism” and the Doctrine of Cosmic Illusion. Web.

Satprem. Sri Aurobindo, or the Adventure of Consciousness. Manchester: Oxford publishers, 2008. Print.

Sri Aurobindo. Institute for Wholistic Education Sri Aurobindo Information Page. Web.

The 8 limbs give a system to profound practise that assists people with moving from the outside to the inside degrees of cognizance. The excursion of Lent is likewise a chance to move from our occupied, regularly remotely engaged lives into a more profound inner attention to and relationship with God. In our speedy, innovative society our psyches face consistent incitement and are pulled in numerous ways. In this manner, we need consciousness of the condition of the psyche to move into a more profound association with the Source of life. Jesus welcomes us to slacken our hold on the common concerns and to arrange ourselves to what in particular is generally fundamental: to cherish each other, to focus on the entirety of creation, and to be in fellowship with God.

The text suggests that “with the movements of body in yoga and the quieting of breathing, one must learn to extend this long moment, holding it in place before returning to our ordinary, more fragmentary consciousness,” (Valkenberg, 2017, p.54). This strongly correlates with my personal experience of body exercises and slow breathing techniques which I happen to use whenever my body is in stress, and I have a lot of thoughts in my mind because of external issues. I agree with the statement that “the impressive movements are of a piece, the mundane, and the lofty are interconnected,” since our body, material needs, personal relationships, and emotions are all interconnected and dependent on each other (Valkenberg, 2017, p.38).

The new concept I learned from the chapter is brahmacharya, the practice of stripping away propensities, wants, and different deterrents that hold us back from drawing nearer to illumination, or association with the Divine (Valkenberg, 2017). As Cubans, my family always taught me that to pursue happiness and satisfaction it is important to balance all aspects of life and ensure that fulfillment of both external and internal needs.

For Christians, Lent is generally a chance to quick and apologize. It’s a chance to put forth a cognizant attempt to set to the side deterrents to our relationship with God. In case you’re Christian, or on the other hand if you know Christians, you might connect Lent with surrendering chocolate or liquor, for instance. For yogis who are additionally Christian, there are unquestionably associations among Lent and yoga. It is interesting how the practice defines death as “putting down and taking up,” meaning this is not something to be scared of but rather a way to become closer to God (Valkenberg, 2017, p.55).

The reading infers that there is a direct correlation between yoga goals and means of Christianity by stating both offer “the inner states of contemplation” (Valkenberg, 2017, p.50). I can relate to the notion of Lent not only as a Cuban Christian but as a modern world human being who finds piece in self-searching and meditations. I often listen to relaxational music and used to meditate early in the mornings to set a productive day. They helped me to stay positive about the events for the rest of the day.

I find the word samadhi a new useful term for spiritual practices. It is the most noteworthy condition of mental fixation that individuals can accomplish while still bound to the body and which joins them with the most noteworthy reality (Valkenberg, 2017). I like the idea that “mindfulness that is first of all moral” because I understand that it is crucial to make sure the person knows his or her aim and does everything with meaning (Valkenberg, 2017, p.50). The belief touches the themes of life, death, meaning, soul, and mind, creating a full circle of truly being human.

Reference

Valkenberg, P. (2017). World religions in dialogue, enhanced edition: A comparative theological approach (Enhanced ed.). Anselm Academic.

Bhagavad Gītā is commonly referred to as Gita. It is a Hindu scripture that was originally written in Sanskrit. It was part of the Mahabharata, a Hindu epic. It has 700 verses in total. The Gita was set in form of a narrative. It is in the form of a dialogue. On one side is Arjuna. He is the prince of Pandava. The other party is Krishna. He is the prince’s guide and companion (Besant, 2009). At the time the exchange was taking place, the prince had resolved to fight a religious war between Pandavas and Kauravas. As usual, Arjuna is seeking the counsel of Krishna. The guide advises him to fulfill his duty as a warrior.

In Bhagavad Gītā, Krishna highlights the possibilities of salvation by means of Yoga. He describes yoga as one type of spiritual connectivity. To this end, he analyzes how people take actions without taking into consideration their outcomes and consequences. According to Krishna, this brings about purification of the mind. Only a mind that is free from desire (or which is purified) is capable of engaging in constant meditation.

To support these claims, Krishna states that desire often results in imagination (Mukerji, 2009). As a result, the soul will be driven to the field of action. For this reason, no one is capable of achieving permanent tranquility and freedom without first having to denounce their desires. According to Krishna, the higher self must control its lower counterpart (Mukerji, 2009). In this case, one must be in control of their senses, body, and mind. Krishna refers to those people who have achieved this form of purity as Sannyasins or Yogis.

It is noted that a Yogi is united with God. As such, they see God in all beings and objects around them. Such a person sees no differences between gold and stone, the righteous and the unrighteous, as well as friends and enemies. Krishna’s sermon to Arjuna suits the larger context of Mahabharata. According to Flood (2006), Mahabharata places a lot of emphasis on the four goals of life. The objectives are often referred to as purusharthas.

The four are Dharma, Artha, Kāma, and Mokṣa. The first, Dharma, refers to righteousness. It is mainly associated with adherence to moral values. Artha, on the other hand, revolves around economic prosperity. The goal of Kāma touches on love and other pleasures of life. As a goal in life, Mokṣa holds that people should seek liberation and spiritual values (Besant, 2009). In Mahabharata, Mokṣa is considered to be the most important value for humans. It is the same value that is pursued through meditation and Yoga.

At the time Krishna was preaching to Arjuna, war had broken out between kinsmen. The war is between two groups of cousins originating from Kuru, an Indo-Aryan kingdom. The Kauravas and Pandavas are fighting for control over the Hastinapura throne. Arjuna is the prince of Pandava (Mukerji, 2009). After the sermon given by Krishna, he finds himself in a dilemma. He is confused on whether to fight the war or seek for peace between the two rival groups. In Mahabharata, Dharma is considered to be the most important goal in life during conflicts (Mukerji, 2009). As a result of Krishna’s sermon, the two parties explore the option of peace.

References

Besant, A. (2009). An introduction to yoga. Waiheke Island: Floating Press.

Eknath, E. (2007). The Upanishads (2nd ed.). Tomales, CA: Nilgiri Press.

Flood, G. (2006). The tantric body: The secret tradition of Hindu religion. London: I.B. Tauris.

Ludden, D. (2005). Making India Hindu: Religion, community, and the politics of democracy in India (2nd ed.). Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Mukerji, A. (2009). The doctrine and practice of yoga. New York: Floating Press.

The Upanishads. (2011). Auckland: Floating Press.

Yoga has an origin in the Indian philosophy and is practiced in the modern-day, with each type of discipline having unique techniques. The main application of yoga is a therapeutic intervention that has psychological and physiological effects. However, a medical benefit to the exercise has not been scientifically proven. Most studies on the topic were conducted in India and prove to be inconsistent or inconclusive. The article seeks to encompass current evidence on the clinical effects of yoga.

The most studied effect of yoga is its influence on mental health. As a treatment for depression, there was no consistent evidence. However, fatigue and anxiety disorder studies showed that yoga has a potential benefit to be used as treatment; however, further comprehensive studies should be done. Yoga has proven to be beneficial and as efficient as other methods in lowering stress and PTSD symptoms. The AHRQ reports similar conclusions that yoga helps to reduce stress.

Studies were done to study the effects of yoga on the fitness levels of the elderly. They showed a moderate effect on balance and body strength. Cardiovascular endurance in studies showed improvement along with increased fitness. More conclusive studies need to be done on sympathetic/parasympathetic activation as well as yoga helping older adults retain function and self-autonomy through physical fitness. Yoga has shown inconsistent or insignificant benefits to the cardiopulmonary system.

Yoga is an intervention method for glucose regulation. Results were varied but showing a small improvement in fasting glucose, as cited by the AHRQ. Meanwhile, there was no noticeable effect on menopausal systems. When dealing with specific diseases like cancer or epilepsy, yoga helped deal with psychological pressure and stress but showed no physiological impact. Due to the physical aspect of yoga, there was a clinically meaningful improvement when dealing with musculoskeletal functioning and pain for relieving pressure and therapeutic relaxation, sometimes more helpful than other interventions.

The collective review established the benefits of yoga to some extent in all areas of health. However, further studies and analyses are needed for conclusive evidence. The experiments are few and are often poorly developed and not scientifically acceptable. Since yoga has the plausibility of impacting the psychophysiological well-being, it is important to investigate the discipline. A major concern for these studies is intensity and motivation. It is highly unlikely that a normal person in Western culture would practice yoga as often as in the studies.

Meanwhile, people with mental health problems may lack the motivation to participate. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the effect of yoga outside of controlled studies. However, social support for the patients and the discipline may present solutions. Studies on a larger and more scientifically reliable scale should be conducted to identify the type of patients, and which aspects of yoga would be most compatible. Yoga helps improve physical fitness and self-competence, but due to methodological limitations of the conducted research, it is not proven as an effective clinical treatment (Büssing et al. 1-7).

Work Cited

Büssing, Arndt, et al. “Effects of Yoga on Mental and Physical Health: A Short Summary of Reviews.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2012, 2012, pp. 1-7.

This article provides information about the type of patients who opt for yoga in improving their health. Additionally, it gives the general characteristics of people who practice yoga as well as their view on the importance of the practice to their health. It also provides data on the number of people in America who inform their doctors about their involvement in the yoga practice. The research results are that most of the individuals who practice yoga are patients with asthma, severe sprains, musculoskeletal conditions as well as those with mental health problems. Others include chronic obstructive lung disease and hypertension patients. In this study, 61% were of the opinion that yoga is essential in improving as well as maintaining the well-being of the body. This article contributes to the CAM field in that it provides information on some of the diseases, which can be addressed using an alternative method-yoga other than the conventional method of treatment.

It provides most of the theory that patients need to understand as far as effective practice is concerned. In line with this, it gives the guidelines of the several yoga postures that patient(s) need to assume during yoga sessions. Additionally, it provides the history of the practice as well as the changes that it has undergone over time. The article is important in CAM field as it acts as a guideline to not only the patients but also medical practitioners during yoga sessions. It also increases one’s appreciation of the practice as far as its history is concerned.

It explains the three different disciplines of yoga in treating eating disorders, which include neuroscience, sociology and the spiritual texts on the practice. It also explains the healing effect of some conditions associated with eating disorders such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and OCD brought about by yogic practices. It gives a detailed explanation of ‘mindful’ yoga. It also explains the primary role of ‘mindful’ yoga practices: improving one’s awareness on the different patterns of his/her mind. Additionally, it explains the psychological processes that result to the alleviation of eating disorders. It explains the biological processes associated with yoga in the clinical field. The fact that this article details information about yoga practice in addressing eating disorders contributes a lot to the CAM field.

It investigates both the positive and negative effects of Yoga Therapy Program (YTP) on the symptoms and quality of life in adults with schizophrenia. The study was carried out on a state facility that dealt with huge numbers of schizophrenic patients. It included eighteen patients who went through an eight-week YTP, which entailed most of the yoga postures, breathing exercises as well as relaxation that form a major part of yoga practice. The patients portrayed significant improvements not only on the positive but also on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Other improvements were portrayed in the psychopathology and the quality of life of the patients who went through the program as opposed to those who did not. The study also focuses on the effect of yoga practice on certain disorders associated with schizophrenia such as insulin resistance syndrome and cardiovascular disorders. The outcome is that yoga practice significantly improved the clinical outcomes of such disorders as well as their management. This article proves that yoga is an alternative form of medication patients with schizophrenia thus of great importance to the CAM field.

It incorporates the results of the findings of an online research carried out to establish the therapeutic effects of yoga practice on different types of ailments and conditions. The research entailed the used of peer reviewed journals published between 1990 and 2009 as the source of information. Results show that yogic practices have a positive impact on the health of patients. It increases muscular strength thus enhancing proper body flexibility. Yogic practices not only promote but also improve both the respiratory and cardiovascular functions of the body. Furthermore, yoga promotes recovery from and treatment of addiction. Other beneficial attributes of yogic practices, according to this article, are that they enhance the reduction of chronic pain, stress, depression and anxiety. It also provides information about the origin of the practice. Following the description of the article, it is evident that it contributes a lot to the CAM field.

References

Birdee, G.S., Legedza, A.T., Saper, R.B., Bertisch, S.M., Eisenberg, D.M., & Phillips, R.S. (2008). Characteristics of Yoga Users: Results of a National Survey. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 23(10), 1653-1658.

Buhnamann, G. (2011). The Saradatilakatandra on Yoga: A New Edition and Translation of Chapter 25. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 74(2), 205-235.

Douglas, L. (2011). Thinking through the Body: The Conceptualization of Yoga As Therapy for Individuals with Eating Disorders. Eating Disorders, 19(1), 83-96.

Visceglia, E., & Lewis, S. (2011). Yoga Therapy as an Adjunctive Treatment for Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17(7), 601-607.

Woodyard, C. (2010). Exploring the Therapeutic Effects of Yoga and its Ability the Increase the Quality of life. International Journal of Yoga, 4(2), 49.

Introduction

Meditation is a yoga practice utilized for achieving control over the mind and emotions by focusing on a particular object. Usually, an individual is advised to focus on one’s breath, but it is also possible to concentrate on repeating a prayer or imagining some shape or color. It is a general opinion that meditation helps to calm down and improve health, as well as achieve happiness and relaxation.

Main body

To practice meditation, I decided that it is better to use my room. I locked the door to guarantee that no one interrupts me in the middle of the session. I also tried to use headphones to listen to some sounds of nature during meditation. Although it was difficult for me to find some free time, I found it beneficial to dedicate ten minutes to relaxation in the evening. The first experience of meditation felt rather strange and awkward, especially when I tried to sit in a lotus posture.

This posture proved to be too complicated to master. Still, yoga provides some variations, which are easier for a beginner. Once I selected a comfortable posture, there came another complication because it was almost impossible to concentrate on something without thinking. When I tried to focus on my breathing, thoughts kept appearing in my mind no matter how hard I tried not to think about anything. Soon I found that my mind is distracted from the meditation by the reflections of past events and future tasks. Moreover, I realized that the time for meditation was out.

My second experience of meditation was more pleasant. I was sitting in the selected posture and knew what difficulties to expect during the meditation session. Surprisingly, it was easier to concentrate on breathing. I noticed that the harder I tried, the fewer thoughts appeared in my head. It is possible to say that this practice helps to relax and slow down the mind to some extent. It is impossible to relax if you keep thinking about something. In fact, you will not be able even to sleep. I realized that if I were tired after a hectic day full of events, the meditation would help me to normalize emotional and mental activity. I felt relaxed after the meditation even though it lasted only ten minutes.

I was looking forward to the third session of meditation as it had to be a relaxation after the difficult day. It was the first time when I noticed that meditation became a habit. It was also convenient as it did not require effort and helped to remove stress. I noticed that it became easier to focus on a particular object and realized that this practice is indispensable to control my thoughts and emotions.

Once the mind is clear from any thoughts, it is easier to pick up the subject which is the most important for reflection after the meditation is over. I also noticed that when the mind was clear, some interesting ideas came, and they were worth remembering. Meditation is also beneficial to obtain control over emotions and eliminate all negative and unproductive thoughts. I noticed that even during the day I tried to focus on my breath if something annoying and frustrating happened. It helped me to make the right decisions that were not influenced by emotions.

Conclusion

After three sessions of meditation, it is possible to say that it has positive results such as reducing stress level, controlling the mind, and achieving relaxation faster. The experience was interesting and not boring at all. It was also noticed that some interesting ideas come during meditation. The progress achieved during each session is noticeable and inspires me to continue the attempts.