Yoga Therapy as an Alternate to Medicine

Author: prolificrandy

Yoga is believed to be in existence for several thousand years. The mysticism surrounding it has left most people awestruck. This amazing system of physical and mental conditioning is believed to be several thousand years old. Though it has to be learnt and then practiced painstakingly, its benefits outweigh the patience and perseverance that goes into mastering it. However, it is a fact that no person would be able to master it completely as it is too vast.



It is believed that this system of postures, positions and exercises was devised by one Patanjali in the 2nd Century. It is a combination of meditation, including contemplating more on the self a kind of introspection that would ultimately lead to emancipation. Based on the principle that a healthy mind would definitely lead to a healthy body, equal emphasis was laid on both. Believing in a tradition of Guru and sishya, or the teacher and the taught, it was imparted with great care and attention. This in turn ensured that the desired effect was achieved. There was never a commercial angle attached to this divine practice and it was handed down from generation to generation with the sole aim of spreading knowledge which in turn ensured the betterment of entire mankind.



Consisting of various levels, it took years of patient practice to learn what could be termed even a smattering of this vast ocean of a subject. Comprising of over 900 asanas or postures, it was very rare for a person to master all in a lifetime. It is said that mastering even a dozen of the most important postures would produce the desired results. The essence of it lay in the fact that yoga was a system of training and never straining. Some of the complicated postures would best be left unattempted as incorrect practice could lead to disastrous results, leaving the learner with permanent damages.



Simple techniques like pranayama or rhythmic breathing is believed to have enormous benefits. It consists of 3 parts, namely breathing in, retention, and breathing out, there was also proportionate time allotted to each part. Breathing in commenced through the left nostril and exhalation (after retention) through the right, and inhalation again from the right nostril and after retention exhalation through the left added up to one count. It is believed to take in the vital force from the atmosphere (namely prana) basically oxygen, and assist in transporting it to every cell in the body by virtue of holding the breath for several seconds. The exercise also ensured that the lungs got expanded to the extent possible, thereby forcing out the stale air from the bottom of the lungs. Continued practice is believed to have incredible results as far as good health is concerned.



The other postures which were more to do with bending and stretching and holding retaining a particular position for several minutes resulted in toning the muscles, which in turn endowed a practitioner with a perfectly sculpted body bearing perfect proportions. It is believed to enhance the basic immunity system in the body and prevent illnesses rather than cure. There are particular postures that focused on activating the various glands in the body and by ensuring their proper functioning, namely secretions that were essential for maintaining the balance. Proper practice of meditation is believed to help in maintaining the blood pressure and adrenaline at normal levels at all times and helps a person to remain calm in the most distressing of situations. Scientific tests and experiments have proved that every posture seemed to have a specific purpose and resultant beneficial effect. Programs offering step by step guides to this simple yet effective system can be accessed on TV through any of the service providers like Verizon FiOS TV.
Article Source: http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Yoga-Therapy-as-an-Alternate-to-Medicine/1957880

About the Author:


Randy Collins is a freelance writer and a yoga enthusiast who follows health programs on TV powered by Verizon FiOS TVTV.