Yoga Is a Holistic Health Approach. It is Natural and Practical.

Loud and clear I say, yoga is a holistic health approach towards the ultimate fitness and wellbeing. I follow the original Hatha Yoga teachings of Swami Sivananda Saraswati, 1887 -1963, and Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati, 1926-1993, who were the founder and the pillar of Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy, the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center. The ultimate goal of Sivananda Yoga is to unite the body, mind, soul, with the environment. No discrimination such as religion, race, nationalities, status, sex, age, and disability. Everybody can practice and experience the benefits. At a very basic level, a regular practitioner will achieve a harmony with the body, mind, relationship, and environment.

I have witnessed these changes in my students throughout my teaching experiences. 100% of my students confirmed that they experienced positive changes in their bodies and minds. Aches, pains, and discomforts here and there either diminished or vanished. Best of all, they were more capable to control their emotions better and felt very good about themselves. For your self-check, I suggest that you record the physical health problems and discomforts as well as emotional disturbances you are encountering before starting your yoga with me, and compare with the results after one month practice. I am sure that if you seriously follow my teaching, positive changes will be obvious. One thing to remember is that yoga can cure “some” not “all” illnesses, still it could contribute to better recovery and/or maintenance of the conditions. If you have any serious illnesses or health pre-conditions, it is advised that you seek diagnoses and consultations with your physicians first.

My teaching follows the system of Sivananda Yoga which is composed of 5 key elements: proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet, and positive thinking & meditation. See the Pyramid of Fitness and Wellbeing below. You will see that they are fundamental, natural, and simple. No extravagance. The only things you need to invest a lot are effort and willpower. Here, I will give a short explanation for each element. More details will be provided in next articles.

Proper exercise (asana) acts as a lubricating routine to the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other parts of the body by increasing circulation and flexibility. Each asana or posture focuses at particular parts of the body. With breathing and sequencing techniques, it strengthens both the external and internal organs. Asana is also a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual exercises. It treats the body with loving compassion. No torture. No extremity. Concentration is required. Little pain can happen to the muscles which are stretched and strengthened. This is natural and will go away. One should experience the relaxed and light feeling at head, body, and mind, and no exhaustion after practice.

No food for the body cells is better than oxygen. Proper breathing (pranayama) brings in oxygen to feed all cells of the body, especially the brain, and expels carbon dioxide, toxins, as well as other undesirable particles. Benefits of proper breathing go beyond the physical level. Practice of breathing techniques aids the body in connecting to its battery - the solar plexus or the nerve center - which results in physical and mental rejuvenation. Body and mind are in harmony, tranquil, and peaceful.

Proper relaxation cools down the system, as does the radiator of a car. When the body and minds are continually overworked, their efficiency diminished. Relaxation is a nature’s way of recharging the body. Unfortunately somebody could not relax even they wish to do so. Sleeping becomes problematic. They “think” all the time either consciously or unconsciously. Thinking consumes lots of energy. The thinking mind stimulates the nerves. The nerves stimulate the body. The body works in line with the nerve instructions e.g. changes in blood pressure, heart beat, muscle tension, hormonal production and secretion, and illusion creation. Finally the system collapses and illnesses come in. This vicious circle is seriously detrimental to health and wellbeing and must be unwired.

Proper diet provides the correct fuel for the body. Optimum utilization of food, air, water, and sunlight is essential. Yogic diet support both physical and mental aspects of life. A pure and wholesome plant-based or vegetarian diet consumed with consciousness and moderation is recommended. It is very easy to digest and least disturbs the environment. There is a concern on protein deficiency for vegetarian diet. Seeds, nuts, whole grains, pulses, legumes and green vegetables provide sufficient proteins to the body. Remember “eat to live, not live to eat”.

Positive thinking and meditation puts you in control. Anger, anxiety, depression, fear, lust, greed, and other negative states of mind drain the energy and destroy the body. It is necessary to train the mind to be positive without illusion or self-deception. Positive thinking with ignorance is disastrous. It hurts everyone, including the one who does it with a good intention. Meditation stills the mind. When the mind is still, concentration comes in, clarity surfaces, and intellect is purified.