Introduction To The World Of Yoga And Health
Meenu Gupta
14 May 2008, 16:18I recently came back from Delhi, India. As always I came back with a host of memories to cherish, but this time I got an introduction to the world of Yoga and health. Yoga is synoymous with good health, peaceful well-being; I had heard it before, but I had never practiced it. It so happened that one fine morning I met my neighbor Hanit Kaur. I had vague memories of a plump and sincere student of Literature at IGNOU from my last trip. So I was surprised to see a lanky girl this time, beaming with a pleasant smile on her face. Curious about the radical change whenever I questioned her, she started telling me about the wonders of yoga and insisted that I should meet the group. I’ve never been a keen early riser but for once I joined her to the nearby Japanese Park in Rohini, Delhi. The dawn was crisp and cool and dew was setting on the grass and leaves. The air smelled fresh and new. I got nostalgiac about my school days when I would rush to the bus stop at the crack of dawn in my black polished shoes and blue striped skirt. Students were waiting on the bus stop. Most of them had a textbook open as it was exam season last month in Delhi.
Hanit says,“I had become so bulky and stout that I took membership for gym which is quite in vogue these days, but soon my routine became torpid besides I was paying good amount for it.”
“I found it boring.” then her mom forced her to join her early to the nearby park. Now she among others practises yoga regularly. “I had watched Yoga programs performed by “Baba Ramdevji” on few religious channels. So when I saw a group of young ladies not above 35, performing the asanas in sync I got interested in knowing about the effects of the exercise.”
Mrs. Surinder Kaur adds, “This practice is free of cost and people are regular in taking their classes. The more they do, the more energetic and fresh they get.” The ambience is unparallel as the asanas are performed under the open sky in company of nature.
The class started with “Surya Namskar”, which in itself has 12 asanas. It is one of the major asana of yoga, where in the end of the asana the group says “OM BHASKARAI NAMAHA” “TAD ASANA” involves stretching oneself, concentrating on naval as the mid-point of the body. This asana improves blood circulation. It is recommended for growing children, it secretes hormone, which aids in increasing height. Another asana named “Bhujang Asana” is an excellent excercise for those who are suffering from back pain.Stretch your whole body and push the upper portion of the body upwards. “Padutan Asana” helps in preventing “ hernia” It also helps in naval placement or naval relocating.
In “Singh asana” as the name suggests the group takes a deep breath and then release the air roaring like a lion.
After a couple of days I joined the group and started trying the exercises. Though it takes practice and time to perform them gracefully, yet at the onset the mere effort of trying an asana coupled with fresh morning air infuses vitality in the body system.
In SHASHANK ASANA the group takes deep breath and stretch arms upwards. They then release the breath and bend down trying to touch the feet. This asana helps to reduce fat around waistline.
TAIRAKI Asana involves swimming (without water) lying on the stomach. It tones the arms, legs and also improves digestion.
“Pranayam” is the best method to control one’s breath.Take deep breath in and release it with a sound of “OM”.
“Agni Sur” is a pranayam which helped me in curing my acne problem, overweight.” Hanit says.
“Bhastrika Pranayam”- is a simple process of venting out one’s breath with an appropriate effort. This cures cold and helps in reducing extra tummy flesh.
Mrs. Sadhna is also a regular student of the group. She has been doing yoga for 2 yrs. “I have discovered loads of positive changes in my body by doing “Makarasana”. Earlier I was suffering from acute back pain, I got rid of it by doing “Tad asana”.”
The group then stretches their arms and legs for “Guptasana”. In this asana as both the feet are placed facing each other it puts accupressure on the nerves of the feet and tones the body, improving blood circulation.
In Veerasana asana the right knee touches the stomach and the other knee in the bend form touches the floor. The right knee relaxes and massages the stomach well, improves digestion, reducing fat around the waist. The left thigh and knee both remain in the form of Vajrasana and this process stretches the thighs and nerves well. This asana also relaxes and straightens up spinal cord that is why it is called Veerasana. Besides, it helps in increasing concentration power.
Laughter Therapy was the most contagious, besides releasing tension it improves blood circulation. In the end the class sings the prayer: “OM SHANTI ANTARIKSH, OM SHANTI PRITHVI.”
and thanks the Lord asking HIM for peace, love and beauty on earth and universe.
So Yoga is not always about stretching or inhaling and exhaling deep breaths it is about bringing your system in harmony and achieving balance with nature under the azure canopy.It is the best therapy to stay young and fit handed over to us as a heritage from our ancestors. I was lucky to see the tip of the iceberg and got an introduction to the natural way of maintaining good health rather than crash dieting and becoming anorexic.
Though I now look for such Yoga teaching groups in the bay area, yet I shall always remember my first group back home and would love to join them again.
