Yoga therapy is a system of treatment of some specific diseases following the basic principles of Naturopathy.

It does not prefer to use chemical drugs as medicine to cure a disease. Rather, it emphasizes on the development of the strength of internal systems of the body to fight the factors responsible for the disease.

At the same time it recommends to take proper diet and develop proper attitude towards life and living. Thus yoga therapy considers the total well being of the individual and not the diseases in isolation.

Therapy is not the primary concern of yoga. It can be considered as the by-product of the system. Yoga deals with the mind and spirit. But its application has been proved to be very effective to avoid disease and maintain wellness.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Yoga therapy follows an integrated approach to cure a disease by creating a harmony among body, mind and spirit. Yoga, thus, does not divide the person into different water tight compartments but recognizes the close relationship among them.

Yoga believes that the well being of an individual is the result of a balanced and integrated functioning of total self in all the situations – normal as well as disturbed. Disease is caused by the psycho-physiological disintegration. Disease may be acute, semi acute or chronic.

Yoga, basically, is more effective in semi acute and chronic diseases. These diseases, according to yoga view point, consist of faulty circulation of blood leading to chronic congestion and stagnation of waste products in certain regions, and faulty system of neuro­muscular and neuro-glandular functions. Both of these groups of diseases are interdependent.

These may be due to bad postural habits, improper control in diet and psychological disturbances.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

In the treatment of disease, there are several ways of looking at things. First, the system can be left to recoup itself developing its specific immunity and a general capacity to resist factors responsible. Second, to identify the causal factors and help the body to eradicate them.

Yoga as a therapeutic process recommends the first. In the treatment of disease yoga emphasizes on the development of inner natural powers of the body and mind to maintain homeostasis.

In yoga therapy attention is paid to cultivate and improve the inherent powers of adaptation and adjustment in the internal environment of the person so as to help him enjoy positive health and not just freedom from diseases.

It does so through three integral steps: (1) cultivation of correct psychological attitude; (2) re-conditioning neuro-muscular and neuro-­glandular system and (3) emphasizing on health living diet and natural process of elimination. These are the three measures of yoga therapy

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Cultivation of Correct Psychological Attitude

Yoga believes that the attitude towards circumstances of life has an important influence on the development of not only the metabolic and other disorders but also of infectious ones.

A disturbed mind lowers the ability of general resistance of the body and creates disintegration among various organs. As a result the body becomes prone to attacks by external organism.

A negative psycho physiological disturbance alters the tonic rhythm of the muscle. This causes a chain reaction to alter the normal rate of circulation, respiration and metabolism. The process may affect the body as a whole.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Thus various internal organs such as intestine, heart, blood vessels, lungs, bronchioles may also be affected. All these changes may lead to the change in attitude and behavior of the individual. This process can be expressed as follows:

Psychological disturbance -> functional impairment-> cellular disease -> structural alteration

Yoga therapy emphasizes on the improvement of mental stability to counteract the possible negative aspects of behavior. The aim is tranquilization of mind. Astanga yoga prescribes YAMA AND NIYAMA for this purpose.

Yama has five elements such as (i) Ahimsa or a wish not to harm others; (ii) Satyam or truthfulness; (iii) Asteyam or Non-stealing; (iv) Brahmacharyam or control of sex activities, continence; and (v) Aparigraha or distant abstention from hoarding.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

All these factors are the opposite of the natural tendencies innate to the human beings. Ahimsa is the opposite of Himsa – a tendency to harm others or to be violent. This is an instinctive tendency and needs to be sublimated through controlled willingness.

The negative behaviour can thus be converted into the positive one. Satyam is opposite of Asatyam which is a very powerful negative attitude leading to corruption. Satyam makes an individual bold and it is considered as a positive character quality. Non-stealing is a very strong willingness to counteract the original animal behavioural aspect of stealing.

This attitude should be developed through value education. Brahmacharya has been considered as the important and essential moral quality for each individual to develop and maintain character, confidence and self esteem. Aparigraha is the attitude that helps the individual to be simple and satisfied with what is an available and not to be greedy.

The above mentioned qualities have been referred as Bratas or virtues. Human life is struggle between two conflicting tendencies – to emerge out of his animal form of existence – the progressive tendency and to return to it again – regressive tendency. The history of the human race is the history of this ever lasting conflict.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Niyama also has five factors. These are Saucha, Santosh, Tapa, Svadhyayah and Iswarpranidhana. All these are the qualities every individual should strive for. Such is cleanliness.

There should be cleanliness in all respects – physical, mental and environmental. Santosh is the happiness or contentment. One should be happy with his own status. Need in one’s life is varied and limitless. It is not possible to get everything for any individual. But this non-availability should not lead to dissatisfaction.

One should develop the attitude to be self-content with the things at his disposal. Tapa is austerity.

This makes a man self-disciplined, self-reliant, and self- dependent. Svadhyayah is activity that helps in self-realization. It involves study of literature and self-study. Isvarapranidhana is the mental proneness to surrender to almighty.