Endocrinology
of Ashtanga Yoga
In
this age of evolution of science, it is unfortunate to see many
people are still not able to understand the truths behind the
Yoga practices. The False Theories of heating of blood, thinning
of blood, sweat removing toxins etc are still taught in the
Asana classes by many famous teachers. Many people truthfully
follow this Wrong Explanations of Asanas. Ancient texts of yoga
do talk about various types of pranayama affecting inner body
temperature but which is a different practice than sweating
in asanas. Research is still going on for this interesting types
of pranayama.
We now know definitely that sweat produced after an exercise
( say cycling. jogging) and an asana (performed in an exhausting
way) are same in composition, there are no additional 'vinyasa
labile' or any other special yoga toxins in that sweat. So why
Yoga has different effects than simple form of exercise?
Its also proven beyond doubt that there is no heating of blood
in addition to any similar physical activity of equal magnitude.
In fact our body keeps blood temperature constant very meticulously.
In case it rises, its called fever!! which is not healthy condition
of body, and where we can't really do any exercise or yoga.
Is this sweat the only purpose of Yoga?
Is yoga just for body cleaning in this way?
It goes far beyond this limited perpective focused on physical
workouts with Asanas.
Yoga
is Bringing Harmony by Balancing Hormones-
Let
us understand Yoga & meditation. Meditation is paying attention,
and keep on focusing on one particular object, let it be the
breath, sound, movement or Asana (Body posture) and so on. This
relaxed focus of mind brings balance to the cortical activities,
nervous system and endocrine system, in turn stress hormones(Adrenaline,
Noradrenaline, cortisol etc.) are reduced & hormonized,
which results in calm and peaceful state of body and mind. In
fact the word Hormone comes from the word Harmony, so these
are the substances which keep body, mind in harmony with environment
and nature.
So
Yoga is a way to balancing the Hormones..
Asana
is Meditation -
Asana
is paying attention to your body, its graceful movements coupled
with awareness of breath, which gives us a target to concentrate
the mind. For the untrained mind, something easy like body movements,
body postures and breath becomes a simple act of concentration
of mind, which drives away all wasteful, annoying thoughts &
emotions from the mind. The mind starts to pay attention, becomes
peaceful and calm and doesn't get bogged down by the tiring,
continuous flow of disturbing thoughts & emotions.
Why
does it happen so? The reason is logical, our mind can take
only one thing at any given time, and we can't have emotions
or thoughts when we are concentrating on vital breath and the
beautiful body.
Untrained
mind -
What
is the cause of all our misery or pain? It's the untrained &
conditioned conscious mind, if this calms down, it will open
the gates of "the inner mind" or the soul. Once we
get the key to inner mind, we really transcend in life. No soul
who has tasted this inner peace remains unhappy or unfulfilled,
and that's the purpose of Yoga!!
Unfortunately,
we see the whole world twisted in perverted versions of different
postures which is called modern yoga. Then someone does hot
yoga, someone does cold yoga, someone does fast yoga, someone
does power yoga and someone gives some sequences of asanas taking
a patent for them.
Yoga
in India -
Yoga is all about personal experience, and is being taught in
its correct perspective in india for many thousands of years,
so in india these modified versions of yoga are not popular.
Yoga is viewed from holistic perspectives and is responsible
for overall development of human body, mind, emotions, intellect,
vital energy and soul.
The
good side is many medical professionals and yoga experts are
working together to evaluate the scientific effects and perspectives
of yoga practices. I hope the world soon will get up and go
beyond the physical yoga to a real form of it..
(The author working is on the subjects related to mind and yoga.
He is also researching on discovering untapped potentials of
mind and awakening the hidden and forgotten powers of the human
mind. He is now helping many international personalities, celebrities,
businessmen to awaken their hidden potentials with amazing results.)
--Dr. Sujit
Chandratreya
***********
