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AHYMSIN Newsletter, Issue - November 2013

Effect of Yoga on Health

by Dr. Shirin Venkat

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
World Health Organization, 1948

The world of medicine today candidly admits that so far the underlying cause of disease has not been recognised in as much as we often treat only symptomatically or try to prevent complications rather than address the basic cause. For example, essential high blood pressure can to lead to kidney failure, heart failure and haemorrhage in the brain or a paralytic stroke. Drugs which bring down blood pressure do prevent these complications to a large degree, but at the cost of continued medication; their side effects and the disease is never actually cured.

Our sages knew the cause of disease and divided it into Aadhi (disease in the mental sheath) and Vyadhi (disease in the physical sheath). The basic understanding is that Vyadhi is the gross manifestation of Aadhi and as such cannot be routed out by simply treating the gross body. It therefore comprised of specific remedies and not a single drug which acted on all alike. As medical practitioners, we know that about 90% of diseases, and this includes cancer, are related to life style issues. A simple example is when the common cold virus is sprayed on the nasal mucosa of 10 people only 1 suffers which is explained on the basis of immunity - another catch word today for the cause of disease!

Thus we have no option but to turn to the ancient wisdom coming to us from the sages who were known to have lived at least 150 years full of health and vigour. How did they do this?

All human beings have the inner potential and skill to be completely healthy. One must understand his inner skills and resources and use them as much as possible in order to insure perfect health. (p. 4)

By simply studying one’s own capacity and learning how to regulate one’s dietary habits, external activities, and thinking process it is possible to gain control over his life and remain healthy.

— Swami Rama
A Practical Guided to Holistic Health

Swami Rama of the Himalayas, our beloved Guru, brought us the tradition from the ancient Rishis. We are so fortunate that even today we have a living teaching and training possible in this system which embraces holistic health.

The Hatha Yoga that we are taught takes care not only of the body but also the attitude of mind which if flexible sails through the vicissitudes of life smoothly. It is a fact that if the fetus’s head is flexed it passes through the most dangerous journey of its life the 6 inches of the birth canal without getting obstructed- so much for attitude! There are, however, some precautions one needs to take and hence it should be taught by skilled teachers.

Joints and Glands Exercises are simple and pleasurable and can be done at any age, lying down, sitting up or standing there are absolutely no contraindications! They also lead to greater Self awareness; one recognizes one has a body but is not the body.

Pranayama is our best ally for proper oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide. Swami Veda Bharati often says, “Do not ask the astrologer how long you will live, ask how many breaths do I have to live and then regulate your breath and live as long as you like!” Pranayama literally teaches one how to breathe something we wrongly take for granted.

Meditation is the ultimate key to total wellbeing.

Now to explain how yoga helps attain total wellbeing here are a few physiological changes that are brought about:

Physical stretches and the use of one s own body weight in yogic postures helps build muscle and keep the body supple.
Pranayama brings about vasodilatation that is improved blood supply thereby, lower blood pressure.
The release of endorphins in the brain (opioid like substances) gives a sense of well being without any side effects!
Diaphragmatic breathing results in stimulation of the Parasympathetic nervous system of the body brings about a lowering of the heart rate, better functioning of the bowel and elimination of waste as also digestion by appropriate secretion of acid.
Reduction of stress hormones such as prolactin, cortisone and better sleep patterns. Calming a hyperactive mind.
The immune system is boosted; one is less susceptible to infections.
Emotional trauma can be handled more easily without its deleterious effect on the nervous system.

This list is by no means exhaustive.

Studies and experiments conducted personally have all shown a positive effect of yoga on health. We are conducting specific safe pranayama exercises for mothers to be along with meditation. In women who sincerely practise, we find a tremendous capacity to go through even difficult labours with confidence, courage and calm which helps them to achieve fulfilling and healthy outcomes. We also find that the babies born to these mothers are actually happy, relaxed babies not at all hyperactive or cranky. Some babies even take their vaccines without a fuss and are not fretful at all.

Yet it would be imprudent if I did not sound a word of caution here. Please do not learn pranayama on mass scale; learn it personally from a qualified teacher. Please do not drop long term medications just because you feel better; kindly be under the supervision of an expert. We live in a world mesmerised into believing in materialism which even science has disproved today and yet we are unable to see through this delusion. Hence we will have to take the help of modern medicine to fix our physical diseases until we live the sattvic life of the sages although yoga alone is the key to good health.

Shirin Venkat. MD. FRCOG(UK) FICOG.

Editor’s Note:

Dr. Shirin Venkat is a practicing Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, a member of the AHYMSIN Executive Committee, and a center leader in Pune, India.

For more about the Pune center, we invite you to read “Bundles of Joy!” at http://www.ahymsin.org/docs2/News/1307Jul/09.html