Yoga and Meditation for Health
Yoga is the oldest known health practices in the world. Research into yoga has had a strong impact on the field of mind, body and energy medicine. The physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation practices of yoga have proven to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, regulate the heart and even hold back the ageing process.
Yoga is a system of psycho-physical exercises that are designed to integrate, mind, body and spiritual energies that improve our wellbeing. Yoga is commonly practiced throughout the world and holds an important place in the mind/body branch of medicine.
Yoga teaches a basic principle of mind and body unity: if the mind is restless and agitated, the health of the body will be compromised; and if this is the case, mental strength and clarity will be affected. The practice of yoga can counteract these ill effects.
How does it Work?There is an eightfold path of yoga and it represents a complete system towards complete wellbeing. The first four limbs serve to bring the mind and body into harmony through specific postures and breathing exercises. Strong emphasis is placed on the purification of the body through detoxifying.
This is similar to many of the lifestyle changes recommended by other therapies including nutritional therapy and is invaluable to maintain wellbeing. The remaining four limbs of yoga deal with stages of meditation.
The most widely known practice is asana. It includes a variety of physical postures and exercises that create immediate changes in the body. There are two main types of asana, meditative and therapeutic.
Yoga PosturesThe meditative type of asana improves the alignment of the spine and head and improves blood flow through the body. This posture also a gives a sense of relaxation and stillness that increases concentration during meditation. They also help keep the glands, lungs, and heart energized.
The therapeutic asana such as the spinal twist and shoulder stand, are geared towards improving physical wellbeing. They have been prescribed for patients with back, neck and joint pain.
Although yoga postures involve very little movement, the mind is involved with the performance of every asana. This gives discipline and awareness, to help maintain the posture and a relaxed openness to stimulate the circulation of life energy (called prana)
According to the yogic teachings, a proper posture creates balance between movement and stillness – which is the state of a healthy body. When a person practices yoga, you learn to regulate heartbeat and breath, while physical tensions fade into relaxation.
Breath ControlBreath control focuses on controlled breathing in order to improve the flow of energy throughout the body. Yoga teaches that prana circulates through a system of 72,000 subtle nerves or nadis. When the flow of prana is interrupted by stress, a bad diet or toxins, physical, emotional and mental health is affected.
Chronic blockage of the flow of prana can eventually lead to illness. Regulation of life energy (Pranyama) exercises are designed to help prevent or remove these blockages. These exercises improve digestion, heart rate and other physical ailments. One study carried out in Nottingham (England) was found to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks.
The connection between the breath and the mind is a basic principle of yoga. If the mind is calm and focused, the breathing will be steady and rhythmic. If the mind is restless and agitated, breathing will follow suit. Yoga instructs that breathing should be smooth and flowing. This is to calm the mind and create clear thinking and heightened energy.
MeditationMeditation is a state of focused concentration that may result in a heightened sense of peace and awareness. Meditation is so effective at relieving stress and tension that it has been recommended in place of drugs for as the first treatment for mild hypertension.
Meditation has also been shown to have a beneficial effect on the immune system and strengthens the body against infectious disease. Herbert Benson, M.D, of the Mind-Body Institute at Harvard University has documented how practicing meditation can stimulate certain areas of the hypothalamus, which affects breathing rate, use of oxygen, brain wave rhythm and blood flow.
The final stage of yoga is Samadhi, or spiritual realization, the end result of long, disciplined and dedicated practice. In Samadhi one is said to enter a state of awareness separate from, and beyond the ordinary states of waking, dream and sleep.
Health conditions that benefit from Yoga and MeditationThe potential benefits of yoga – health, vitality and peace of mind – are limited only by one’s commitment to its practice. Since the early 1970s, there have been more than 1,000 well-designed studies of meditation and yoga, and demonstrates that yoga is effective in:
Relieving stress and anxiety
The therapeutic results of yoga are starting to influence doctors as more and more of them are prescribing yoga therapy as part of their patient’s treatment. While some specific asanas can help a particular health problem, the safest and most reliable way is to follow a program of postures to achieve the best results.
A structured class of instruction is therefore recommended as a starting point. A simple program of basic postures is best for the beginner and is performed in about 30 minutes.
This practical eBook gives you the instructions and techniques in easy lessons to get the most benefits from Yoga.
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