18/03/2022
“Chitta vritti nirodhana yogaha”
( when the mind becomes tranquil, one becomes a yogi)
In essence,Yoga is meant to make the practitioner's mind tranquil under all circumstances of sorrow and joy. Although it looks like a tall order,for one who practices real Yoga on a regular basis,this state of mind is not difficult to achieve. How does Yoga achieve its objective?
Let us have a scientific peep into its working in the light of modem science.
Yoga has eight limbs-A real practitioner will have to observe certain codes of con-
duct.Regular exercise,moderation in food habits,preferably a vegetarian sattvic diet,truthfulness in dealing with the world,overcoming desire for what does not belong to oneself,concentration and medita-
tion,praanaayaama,the breathing techniques of various kinds,and samadhi.The last simply connotes the state of mind that an authentic practitioner attains if he follows the other rules.Aasanaas,the various postures that are sold to the gullible public as the be-all and end-all of.
Yoga pose are only meant to help one to attain constant ease,which is just the prerequisite for practising the other seven limbs of Yoga.When
one equates the postures,the asanas(pose),to the whole science of Yoga, the result could even be counterproductive,although it is true that muscle stretching alone might produce mind-calming endorphins from the muscles.
The most important part of Yoga is the breathing technique(pranayama). This, in short, is simple belly button breathing.Deep
slow breaths make one fully use one's diaphragm, the muscular wall between the abdominal cavity and the chest.Normally,man uses only a small portion of the lung (say, 20%) in breathing. If one gets angry even that comes down to 10% and the rate of breathing becomes very fast with a faster heart rate as well to compensate for the lack of Oxygen inside.All these make the oxygen exchange in the lung,between the atmospheric air breathed in and the unoxygenated blood coming from the right heart,less efficient.Deep slow breathing,the essence of praanaayaama,would immediately bring more than 90%Of the lung area into action for oxygen exchange.
-Dr.BM Hegde.