Yoga
Therapeutic yoga : Therapeutic yoga is basically a system of self treatment. According to yogic view, diseases, disorders and ailments are the result of faulty ways of living, bad habits, lack of proper knowledge of things related to individual's life, and improper food. The diseases are thus the resultant state of a short or prolonged malfunctioning of the body system. This malfunctioning is caused by an imbalanced internal condition, created due to certain errors of the individuals.
Since the root cause of a disease lies in the mistakes of the individual, its cure also lies in correcting those mistakes by the same individual. Thus, it is the individual himself who is responsible in both the cases, that is, for causing as well as for curing the disease. This being the basic assumption in this system about the nature of the trouble and its remedy, there is total reliance on the effort of the patient himself. The yoga expert shows only the path and works no more than as a counselor to the patient.
The yogic process of treatment comprises three steps: Proper diet, Proper yoga practice, and Proper knowledge of things which concern the life of an individual.
Power Yoga : Power yoga is a general term used in the West to describe a vigorous, fitness-based approach to vinyasa-style yoga. Most power yoga is closely modeled on the Ashtanga style of practice. The term "power yoga" came into common usage in the mid 1990s, when several yoga teachers were looking for a way to make Ashtanga yoga more accessible to western students. Unlike Ashtanga, power yoga does not follow a set series of poses. Therefore, any power yoga class can vary widely from the next. What they have in common is an emphasis on strength and flexibility. The advent of power yoga heralded yoga's current popularity, as people began to see yoga as a way to work out. Power yoga brought yoga into the gyms of America.
Pranayam : Pranayama is control of Breath". "Prana" is Breath or bio energy in the body. On subtle levels prana represents the pranic energy responsible for life or life force, and "ayama" means control. So Pranayama is "Control of Breath". One can control the rhythms of pranic energy with pranayama and achieve healthy body and mind. Five types of prana are responsible for various pranic activities in the body, they are Prana, Apana, Vyan, Udana & Samana. Out of these Prana and Apana are most important. Prana is upward flowing and Apana is downward flowing. Practice of Pranayama achieves the balance in the activities of these pranas, which results in healthy body and mind.
Meditation : Meditation based on "Pantajali Yoga Sutra (Ashtanga Yoga)". In his sutras the "Sage Patanjali" has explained 8 limbs of yoga (Ashtanga Yoga). Those are :- Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyan Samadhi. The initial four stage are the basic stages which help the person to attain "Sthiram" (stability of mind) which is the prior necessity for practicing the further stages of meditation.
Ashtanga Yoga : In Sanskrit "Ashta + anga" is Ashtanga. "Ashta" means Eight and "Anga" is limbs so it means Eight Limb path, ashtanga yoga is based on Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali. The asanas, Pranayamas or the dharana which we have studied earlier or the yam and niyam are based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Hence, we will acquaint ourselves with the fundamentals as stated by Patanjali first.
Naturopathy-Treatment : An increased affinity towards the natural way of living & the traditional methods of treatment is observed now a day , especially from the educated group. The reason is a new awareness about the wonderful role of Mother Nature in the fields of promotion of health & prolongation of healthy life is gradually developing.
Naturopathy : Naturopathy is a system of healing science stimulating the body's inherent power to regain health with the help of five great elements of Nature-Earth, water, Air fire & Ether. Nature cure principle says that aii the diseases arise due to accumulation of morbid matter in the body & if the scope is given for removal of it, provides a cure of relief. It also believes that the human body possesses inherent self- constructing & self- healing powers.
Though the basic Nature Cure deals only with Pancha Mahabhoota's the recent developments advocates the practice of drugless therapies like Massage, Electrotherapy, Physiotherapy, Accupuncture & Accupressure, Magneto therapy etc. Diet plays a major role, above all.
Accu-Pressure : Acupressure is an ancient Chinese healing method that involves applying pressure to certain meridian points on the body to relieve pain. The human body has fourteen "meridians" that carry energy throughout the body. These meridians start at the fingertips, connect to the brain, and then connect to the organ associated with the specific meridian. Acupressure is the most effective method for self-treatment of tension-related ailments by using the power and sensitivity of the human hand. Acupressure deals with all the aspects of a person as a whole: body, emotions, mind, and spirit as one, not as separate parts. It relaxes muscular tension and balances the vital life forces of the body.
Ayurvedic-Treatment : Ayurvedic system of medicine is of great antiquity and dates back to about 5000 years B.C. Ayurveda is a branch of the Vedas. The Rigveda and the Atharv Veda are replace with information on various aspects of this system of medicine. Ayurveda is not only a system of medicine but also represents a way of healthy living. Ayurveda is formed by the combinations of words viz.'Ayur' means life and 'Veda' means knowledge. Thus Ayurveda means the "knowledge of life". It is holistic in approach.
The Universe, according to ancient Indian thought, is composed of five basic elements, the Pancha Mahabhootas. As the human body is similarly constituted there is a fundamental harmony between universe and man, a healthy balance between macrocosm and the theory , the Tridoshas remain in balanced states when the human body is in a healthy state. Dis -equilibrium causes disease.
Understand Yoga : Yoga, in its ultimate sense, represents to me the study, the path, the means to proceed, and the represents the absolute aim. How to achieve this is another matter and four main paths of Yoga are shown here. All other paths like - Hatha, Kundalini, Mantra, Laya, etc are either parts of these or permutations or combinations of them.
What Yoga path should we follow in this modern world? I feel that each one of us should draw from the different approaches that which suits our temperament and personal life situation. All paths offer legitimate methods to quieting the mind, opening the heart, and help us better able to serve others. To state the obvious, just as no two people are the identical, no two yogic paths are identical either.