YOGA THERAPY BOOKS BY GURUJI

Our joints are responsible for body motion. Pain in various joints of our body is termed as arthritis. It is minor in the beginnin g but gradually becomes severe and extremely painful. The movement of joints is gradua lly constrained and ultimately it becomes impossible to move even a little bit. Arthr itis thus hinders not only the patient’s walk but also sitting and standing become s difficult. So it is better to get treated in the initial stage. The initial stage is pain in the knees or waist; slowly all joints of the legs start experiencing pain and swel ling. Sometimes these areas become reddish. In the later stages the finger joints also get swollen and start aching. Pain- relievers give temporary relief but do not improve the condition of the joints.

Yoga can cure this disease completely in the initia l stage. In the latter stages yoga can help in reducing medical requirement thus reducing the side effects. It may also improve the movements of joints and prevent an increase in intensity of the disease. In the last stage of this disease the move ment of joints is completely obstructed and there is a permanent change in the s hape of joints. Not only yoga but other therapies too are incapable of treating the p atient in this stage.

We shall look into the structure of joints before s tudying their disorders. The bones are designed to support our body. These bones are joined to each other and they move except for the skull bones. These are termed a s ‘movable joints’. There is some movement constantly in these joints. They constitut e a specific structure to enable easy movements. There is a cartilage at the end of the bones that are joined to each other and it is joined to both bones with a network of tendons. There is a thin coating covering these cartilages and an oily fluid is secr eted from the cover. This fluid acts as lubricant and enables frictionless movements of joi nts. The cells in this part must be provided with sufficient blood supply for optimum p roduction of this fluid. Sufficient oxygen is also required with sufficient blood suppl y. If this supply is not enough there is a drop off in the production of this fluid creat ing friction in the joints resulting in pain. Moreover, the toxins and uric acid produced a re not carried away due to lack of blood supply. The rate of production of the lubrica ting fluid slows down even more due the toxins stored in the cells. The movement of joints is restricted as time passes and is ultimately completely stopped. It is not pos sible to treat this condition.

The causes of joint aches are the same in all cases . Yet some kinds can be differentiated on the basis of the causes. Here are some:

Restraint in joints

Sometimes there are temporary reasons for joint pains like cold, fever, and diarrhea. The toxins in the blood increase during these diseases. These toxins are stored in the fluid of joints or c ells producing fluid and consequently the production of fluid reduces resulting in joint pain. The amount of pain is directly proportionate to the amount of toxins present. Trea tment of the original disease reduces this joint pain automatically.

Gout

This joint pain occurs due to incorrect diet. Non - vegetarian or protein- rich diet increases the amount of protein in the bl ood. This in turn increases the amount of uric acid. It is not eliminated completel y through urine. The extra uric acid is then stored in the cells of the joints decreasin g the amount of lubricating fluid thus developing arthritis.

Arthritis

This is very troublesome disease. The pains are s imilar as in the above case but definite cause of the disease is not known. Many a time it may be 74 hereditary and may occur in young age too. It has b een observed that it may rise due to emotional factors. It is also developed due to h igh medicinal doses. The consequence is reduced production of fluid and ampl ified pains in the joints.

Osteoarthritis

This kind of arthritis is developed mostly in obe se people or in those persons whose joints have been injured long b efore. Later on, there occur some permanent changes and a defect may be formed due to insufficient blood supply and insufficient oxygen and joints start paining. Troub le arises despite increasing the amount of calcium in the body; i.e., again due to i nappropriate diet.

Causes of the disease

It is evident from the above description that inapp ropriate diet is one of the principal causes of this disease. Over-eating, non- vegetarian food, oily, refined substances, use of excess amount of milk, ghee, sug ar and salt are the substances contributing to this disease. Frequent indigestion too is the cause of rise in arthritis. Lack of exercise is also a major cause responsible for the growth of this disease along with inappropriate diet. Emotional imbalance and me ntal condition too contribute in the rise of this disease. A blast of suppressed emo tions may be a cause of emergence of this disease.

Prevalent Method of Treatment

The most common method of treatment is pain-relievi ng medicines like aspirin. These damage the digestion, and also the f unction of liver and of the kidneys of the patient. The original disease is not cured b ut keeps on growing and higher doses of medicines have to be taken. These give rise to m ore side effects. At last, corticosteroids have to be given. These give rise t o severe troubles. There is a decrease in the amount of calcium in the bones maki ng the bones brittle. The original disease has not been cured. Hence sometimes joints are replaced with artificial joints by surgery. But this is not the way to cure disease . On the contrary, yogic therapy works on improving the condition of the original di sease and is hence significant.

Yogic Therapy

It is important for the arthritis patient to carry out movements of his joints as these movements improve the blood circulation in th e joints and as a result the toxins stored there are carried away. But the problem with the arthritis patient is that his pains increase with increased movements. Hence he d oesn’t move and this further increases the pain. Rapid movements are not possibl e here but movements that are bearable, sustainable and won’t increase the troubl e must be carried out and those are possible only in yoga.

Beneficial Yogic Therapy

• Yoga Sanjeevan + Yoga Sopan
• Inhalation with right nostril and exhalation with Bhramaari (21 times).
• Rapid breathing types 1-6 (3 cycles)
• As joint pain goes on decreasing the patient can p erform the processes included in the courses of Yoga Pravesh and Yoga Parichay.

Warming and massage

Aching joints can be made warm and then massaged li ghtly and correctly with specific herbal oil (Sanjeevan Oil). This improves the condition of the patient and 75 makes movements comfortable for him. He can then pe rform yoga without difficulty.

Lifestyle Suitable to Yoga

It is necessary to lead a healthy life following th e self-restraints and fixed observances stated in Yoga. Leading a life with a d etached point of view and controlling the modifications of the mind are the w ays of life stated by yoga. They can be achieved with proper practice and will definitel y reduce illnesses in the body.

Household Therapy

• Drink water boiled with dry ginger throughout the day.
• Eat 2-3 teaspoons of raw coconut oil during meals.
• Massage painful joints with castor oil before bathing
• Have a combination of 2 teaspoons castor oil + 1 t easpoon honey + a cup hot water every night.

Naturopathy

• Steam bath- 15 -30 minutes daily.
• Warming the painful joints and massaging them with Sanjeevan oil twice a day.
• Enema of sesame oil every evening in between 5.30- 6.30 pm.
• Have lemon juice with lukewarm water on an empty s tomach every morning.
• Have a glass of juice made from wheat sapling (gro wn in a small earthen pot for a week) on an empty stomach.
• Sun bath daily for 10-15 minutes.

Beneficial Diet Tips

• Fresh, hot and light diet. Milk boiled with dry gi nger.
• Khichadi of split green gram, chapati with vegetab les, boiled vegetables, leafy vegetables.
• Fenugreek, garlic, spinach, dates.
• Fruits except banana.
• Meals before 12 noon and 7 pm.
• Fasting once a week, excluding substances like sag o, peanuts, potatoes, sweet potatoes.

Prohibited Diet

• Non-vegetarian food, high protein diet, hot, spicy , fried substances, bakery products.
• Pulses- pigeon peas, Bengal gram, black gram.
• Cold drinks and foods.
• Over-eating and fast food.

Yoga for Arthritis

Preparatory Practices

• Start the training with Shavasana Practice for 3 M inutes.
• Basic Movements with very slow speed, from Yoga So pan Book

Useful Practices

Asanas

• All asanas are to be practiced on Level 1
• Tadagasana, Shavasana and slow practice of all basic movements,
• Vajrasana series from Yoga Sopan book,
• Pavanmuktasana,
• Ardha Chakrasana, Anantasana, Shavasana (when needed)

Cleansing Practices

• Agnisar 100 strokes total in 3 to 4 rounds
• Uddiyana Bandha 5 rounds (each round 30 seconds)
• Kapalbhati 5 rounds (120 strokes per round)
• Vaman Dhouti (Once a week )
• Laghoo Shankhaprakashlana (once a week )

Pranayama

• Anulom Vilom Deep Breathing 15 minutes
• Purak with right nostrill followed by Bhramari Rechak (21rounds)
• Suryabhedan Pranayama with kumbhak for 10 minutes
• Bhastrika Pranayama with kumbhak for 10 minutes.

Meditation on Adnya Chakra with mantra “ OM “

Yoga Nidra for stress relief

Optional Practices

Asanas: Vakrasana, Uttanpadasana, Sulabh Ushtrasana . Ushtrasana, Marjarasana Sankatasana

Pranayama: Right nostril breathing, Bhramaari Prana yama without kumbhak

Cleansing Practices: Neti

Contraindications

• All movements & asanas which overstrain the joints
• Suryanamaskar, Sarvangasana, Halasana, Shirshasana & its variations.
• Left nostril breathing. Sheetali & Sitakari Pranayama

Food Habits

Suitable : Normal food with less fats, protines & ca rbohydrates but with high fibres. Best food is fruits & vegetables,

Avoid : Nonveg food, Spicy food, refined foods, Fast Food, Preserved Food.