Yogic Management of Common Illnesses

Man today is sick because he thinks he is sick. Sickness and disease have not place in the life of a man who does not accept and tolerate the self -limiting thoughts which are the real seeds of our myriad ailments. We stand hypnotized by the belief that disease and illness are our fate and destiny, rather health and bliss, which are truly our birthright and heritage. In order to emerge from mass hypnosis and collective hysteria and to experience health, joy and creative fulfillment, we must make a systematic application of Yoga in our daily lives.

Pramahansa Satyananda (www.satyananda.net)

Benefits of Yoga

While Yoga's central theme remains to attain the highest goal of the spiritual path in life to "be one with the God" or to "be united with the Cosmic Self", Yogic practice give direct and tangible benefits to everyone, regardless of their spiritual aims.

Physical and mental therapy is one of Yoga's most important achievements, what makes it so powerful and effective is the fact that it works on the holistic principals of harmony and unification. Yoga has succeeded as an alternative form of therapy in diseases such as Asthma, Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Arthritis, Digestive Disorders and other ailments of chronic and constitutional nature where modern science has not.

Health Benefits of Yoga

This health benefits of Yoga are grouped into three categories-physiological benefits, psychological benefits, biochemical effects-and is based on the regular practice of traditional asana, pranayama, and meditation.

Physiological Benefits of Yoga

• Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium
• Pulse rate decreases
• Respiratory rate decreases
• Blood pressure decreases (of special significance for hypo reactors)
• Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases
• EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)
• EMG activity decreases
• Cardiovascular efficiency increases
• Respiratory efficiency increases
• Gastrointestinal function normalizes
• Endocrine function normalizes
• Excretory functions improve
• Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase
• Posture improves
• Strength and resiliency increase
• Endurance increases
• Energy level increases
• Weight normalizes
• Sleep improves
• Immunity increases
• Pain decreases

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

• Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
• Mood improves and subjective well-being increases
• Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase
• Social adjustment increases
• Anxiety and depression decrease
• Hostility decreases
• Psychomotor functions improve:
  • Grip strength increases
  • Dexterity and fine skills improve
  • Eye-hand coordination improves
  • Choice reaction time improves
  • Steadiness improves
  • Depth perception improves
  • Balance improves
  • Integrated functioning of body parts improves
• Cognitive function improves with Yoga
  • Attention improves
  • Concentration improves
  • Memory improves
  • Learning efficiency improves
  • Symbol coding improves
  • Depth perception improves
  • Flicker fusion frequency improves

The biochemical profile improves, indicating an anti-stress and antioxidant effect, important in the prevention of degenerative diseases.

• Glucose decreases
• Sodium decreases
• Total cholesterol decreases
• Triglycerides decrease
• HDL cholesterol increases
• LDL cholesterol decreases
• VLDL cholesterol decreases
• Cholinesterase increases
• Catecholamine decrease
• ATPase increases
• Hematocrit increases
• Hemoglobin increases
• Lymphocyte count increases
• Total white blood cell count decreases
• Thyroxin increases
• Vitamin C increases
• Total serum protein increases