A’sana & as medicine
Namaskar,
There are thousands of yoga asanas. A natural question that arises amongst folks is whether one should learn and practice all of them. What should be the guiding principles in accordance with Ananda Marga philosophy for selecting yoga asanas amongst the myriad of them available?
Not for show but treating diseases
We should consider yoga asanas as medicines. There are certain specific yoga asanas that are difficult to practice like kukkutasana and kacchapasana and many learn them to show off to others and receive praise without understanding the benefits of the a’sanas. If a medicine tastes sweet then should one go to the pharmacy and buy a big bag and devour all of them to enjoy the sweetness? The proper use of a medicine is for curing one’s disease and not as a candy. Thus, the mentality of using a’sanas as a stunt to garner praise is not wise. People need to be taught about the deep science behind yoga asanas and their pressurizing and depressurizing effects on the glands. People need to be educated that there are specific asanas for each disease. By providing such an education about yoga asanas, we can give a soft turn to the mentality of superficial display and stunts towards the more scientific and spiritual approach.
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Ásanas: profound effect on glands
Ananda Marga philosophy guides us, “By performing ásanas [postures for physico-psychic well-being] regularly, human beings can control the propensities attached to each cakra, and hence the thoughts which arise in their minds and their behaviour. This is because ásanas have a profound effect on the glands and sub-glands. How? All ásanas have either a pressurizing or depressurizing effect on the glands and sub-glands. For example, mayúrásana [peacock posture] has a pressurizing effect on the mańipura cakra. The secretions of the glands and sub-glands of the mańipura cakra and the propensities associated with them will become more balanced if this ásana is practised regularly. If someone has a great fear of public speaking, it means his or her mańipura cakra is weak. Through the regular practice of mayúrásana, this propensity will be controlled and fear will be eliminated. Other ásanas may have a depressurizing effect on the mańipura cakra, and if these ásanas are performed regularly the glands and sub-glands associated with the cakra will become less active. Increased glandular secretions generally make the propensities more active and vice versa. By practising ásanas regularly, one can control the propensities and either increase or decrease their activity. So spiritual aspirants should select the ásanas they perform very carefully. This effect of ásanas on glands and sub-glands has never been revealed before.” (1)
Link between body & mind
There is a direct relationship between asanas, glands, hormones, and mind and this should be made clear to students of yogic practice. For example, people do not like to be angry, but due to one’s propensity one often loses control. Likewise, a leader may get embroiled in sexual misconduct due to lack of control over his propensity and ruin his career. Most crimes can be traced to uncontrolled propensities. Propensities depend on yogasanas, food, and thinking but asanas play an important role. Thus, one should carefully select asanas based on which propensities need to be controlled rather than the ones for impressing others.
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Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “The relation between the physical body and the mind is very close. Mental expression is brought about through the vrttis, and the predominance of the vrttis depends on different glands of the body. There are many glands in the body and from each there is a secretion of a particular hormone. If there is any defect in the secretion of hormones or any defect in a gland, certain vrttis become excited. For this reason, we find that in spite of having a sincere desire to follow the moral code, many persons cannot do so; they understand that they should do meditation, but they cannot concentrate their minds because their minds become extroverted due to the external excitement of this or that propensity. If a person wants to control the excitement of these propensities, he or she must rectify the defects of the glands. Ásanas help the sádhaka to a large extent in this task, so ásanas are an important part of sádhaná.” (2)
How to make asanas one’s nature
Often, some people experience difficulty in adopting regularity in practicing asanas. If one practices asanas for a few days then one gets into a habit. After one develops a habit of practicing asanas, one may feel that something is amiss if one skips asanas for any reason such as sickness or travel. Gradually, practicing asanas becomes one’s nature. Then one’s body will provide signals at the regular times of asana practice. Baba says that the rules of Ananda Marga are natural and simple. Those who fast regularly get it in their nature and may automatically feel a need to fast as the fasting day approaches. Those who do not fast do not get such feeling as fasting has not become their nature. Similarly, those who do proper asanas systematically will feel that asanas are natural while asanas may seem unnatural to those who practice random asanas.
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Regimen instead of haphazard practice
The effect of practicing specific asanas on a target disease can be experienced by the practitioner. However, if asanas are practiced haphazardly then such effects cannot be experienced. It is just like if one eats many herbs without any system one may not experience any benefit while one may be cured of diseases if one eats herbs systematically. By reading Baba’s book “Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies”, one will get a general understanding of various asanas and their effects on diseases. Often one may hesitate to talk about one’s disease openly but if one knows which asanas should be practiced for various diseases then one may cure oneself. Based on one’s own condition one can customize a regimen of asanas with the help of a capable acarya, to treat one’s own specific disease.
Take free guidance of an experienced ácárya
Baba guides us in the preface to the book “Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies”,
“My purpose is to let people cure themselves by practising the ásanas and mudrás described in this book. People are requested not to take the risk of practising ásanas and mudrás by themselves, but rather to do so under the guidance of an experienced ácárya [spiritual teacher]. Ananda Marga ácáryas will always be ready to help without any remuneration. Detailed instructions for practising the ásanas and mudrás, for bathing, etc. have been given in Part Three of Ananda Marga Caryácarya (Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti, Caryácarya Part III [Ánandanagar: Ánanda Márga Pracáraka Saḿgha, 1979]). If necessary, the reader may consult that book.” (3)
Summary
No one actually follows all the injunctions in any given religion, as many of these injunctions are contradictory. One rule may say idol worship is bad while the other will instruct the method to perform idol worship, etc. Take the case of religious scriptures which provide hundreds of dos and don’ts. If an ordinary person tries to read all such rules then out of boredom they will feel drowsy as that person cannot figure out where to begin. So at the end, the person will do a namaskar to the book and put that back in the cupboard. Those who consider themselves intellectuals read the book and discuss it with others.
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Although the knowledge of yoga asanas and their therapeutic value existed a long time ago it became extinct due to lack of its practice in the general society. Some fringe group of hatha yogiis practiced difficult asanas and these asanas were often thought to be inaccessible for the general people and hence were useless. Later, such asanas got reintroduced purely as a physical exercise in the general society and that too was useless. Baba introduced the theory and practice of yoga asanas via Ananda Marga for the progress of general people in physical, psychic, and spiritual spheres. It is our bounden duty to propagate Baba’s teachings lest the knowledge graciously given by Ta’raka Brahma Baba will again become extinct. Although books on Baba’s teachings have been written they have to be propagated in the world and brought into the sphere of practical use.
Conclusion
Yoga asanas are medicines for various diseases. People should be sensitized about asanas and the diseases that they cure by providing them with Baba’s guidelines from His book “Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies”, and accordingly everyone should make their own customized asana regimen with the help of their acarya. It is our bounden duty to propagate the teachings on asanas graciously given by Baba lest the teachings become extinct.
In Him,
Samvit
Diseases cured
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, ““Ásana” means “a position in which one feels comfortable” – “Sthirasukhamásanam.” Ásanas are a kind of exercise by regular practice of which the body stays healthy and hardy and many diseases are cured ... only those diseases which create trouble in the path of meditation may be cured by the help of specific ásanas, so that sádhaná may more easily be done.” (4)
Guideline for teaching children
Baba guides us that under usual circumstances one should not teach asanas to children below the age of sixteen. The reason being that at that age the glands are still under development and hence asanas should not be practiced. However, under unusual circumstances when a boy or a girl is very weak and emaciated due to certain disease then certain asanas can be taught to such children. Baba has provided a list of asanas in “Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies” that may be practiced by children under such unusual circumstances.
It should be mentioned that there is no harm in children playfully trying to imitate their parents who are practicing asanas. A fixed regimen of asanas for children, however, should not be followed but rather they should be encouraged to practice Kaoshikii for as long as they like. Based on the observations from competitions, it is found to be very difficult to practice Kaoshikii for more than 20-25 minutes if done properly. Kaoshikii is very beneficial, especially for sisters. It is nevertheless good for brothers too. And importantly, children should be encouraged to play which helps them in their growth. Playing is the basic nature of children. Even infants make noise and move hands and feet for playing which in turn helps in their growth.
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Guideline for teaching sisters
Baba has provided a special chapter related to the medical problems of girls and women. To help them one can provide them with a scan or photocopy of that chapter if it is not accessible to them. The reading material can help those sisters/mothers who may have some health issue themselves or even it can enable them to help others who they know. Dissemination of such valuable information is very important as a lack of information in this regard may lead to a proliferation of such diseases.
Yoga teachers
As regards the classes taught by our yoga teachers, a soft turn in the mentality can take place via the following approach. First, a training about the specific diseases of males and females and corresponding asanas and mudras for their treatment should be provided. Gradually, the students will begin to understand that the asanas are actually medicines for treating diseases. After this, for several weeks individual diseases and their treatment should be taken up and taught. In this way, in several weeks the students will learn about various diseases and their treatments. After this, students should be taught that all asanas need not be practiced every day. One should make a daily regimen of 4 - 5 common asanas. Whenever a disease occurs, corresponding treatment asanas should be included in the regimen on an as needed basis.
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References
(1) Yoga Psychology, Glands and Sub-Glands
(2) Ananda Marga Caryácarya Part 3, Asanas
(3) Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, Preface
(4) Ananda Marga Caryácarya Part 3, Asanas
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
My spiritual journey
"Ámi, tomáre bhúliyá chinu kata din...” (Prabhat Samgiita #4091)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, I remained forgetful and oblivious of You for such a long span of time. Unmindful about Your presence, I traveled on the rugged, jagged path of dogma, groupism, and materialism; as a result, I got swept away in the ocean current. My Golden Lotus, that time You were unknown to me.
My Supreme Entity, my days were full of stains. Barraged by insults, my life lost its charm and became shrouded in hopelessness, without any spirituality. So many lonely, lifeless, isolated silent nights passed in Your longing, i.e. crying in utter despair, without any hope. My spiritual journey got hit by the cold, northern breeze. Sadhana was poor and my mind just became more and more dry. There was no flow. That drained me of all my optimism, inspiration, and bhakti. I became drowned in staticity and degradation, fully under the control of animal vrttis.
Baba, now You are here. Today, spring has come; it is so blissful. The whole environment is filled with colourful flowers and a sweet aroma. The dark night has changed into glittering moonlight, shining in the sky. Peacocks are dancing in happiness and expressing their joy by extending their feathers. By Your grace, the sweet breeze is blowing softly. This grand scene is thrilling and exhilarating for my whole existence; it is making me quiver in the subtle vibration. That lovely air is giving me the hint and telling me, "Listen! Whose divine flute is resonating; Baba is calling you..."
"Ámi, tomáre bhúliyá chinu kata din...” (Prabhat Samgiita #4091)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, I remained forgetful and oblivious of You for such a long span of time. Unmindful about Your presence, I traveled on the rugged, jagged path of dogma, groupism, and materialism; as a result, I got swept away in the ocean current. My Golden Lotus, that time You were unknown to me.
My Supreme Entity, my days were full of stains. Barraged by insults, my life lost its charm and became shrouded in hopelessness, without any spirituality. So many lonely, lifeless, isolated silent nights passed in Your longing, i.e. crying in utter despair, without any hope. My spiritual journey got hit by the cold, northern breeze. Sadhana was poor and my mind just became more and more dry. There was no flow. That drained me of all my optimism, inspiration, and bhakti. I became drowned in staticity and degradation, fully under the control of animal vrttis.
Baba, now You are here. Today, spring has come; it is so blissful. The whole environment is filled with colourful flowers and a sweet aroma. The dark night has changed into glittering moonlight, shining in the sky. Peacocks are dancing in happiness and expressing their joy by extending their feathers. By Your grace, the sweet breeze is blowing softly. This grand scene is thrilling and exhilarating for my whole existence; it is making me quiver in the subtle vibration. That lovely air is giving me the hint and telling me, "Listen! Whose divine flute is resonating; Baba is calling you..."
== Section 3: Links ==
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