Health is an important treasure of life. The joy, prosperity and activities of a human being depend on his or her health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely absence of disease and infirmity. It is a stage of balance in physical activities. Adopting the natural laws, health can be regained.
Yogic practice is being increasingly accepted as an effective tool to attain a holistic health, which includes the body, mind and spirit. The air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat must be pure and sufficient. Regular practice of yogic techniques with proper diet and lifestyle can bring back the physio-psychological resilience and vigour. There is a significant improvement in body flexibility, physical performance and also in mental and emotional aspects of our being. The psychological profile related with reduced anxiety level, improvement in concentration, memory, learning efficiency and psychomotor performance emphasises the role of yoga in our day-to-day life.
Yoga is not only curative but a preventative science of health and wellbeing. Removing the mental depressions, phobias, neuroses and all other negative aspects of mind, it brings about great happiness in life and removes many diseases. The practice of Yogasana activates the functions of different organs, muscles and nerves into perfect coordination so that they work for the overall good of the body. Researchers have found that by doing regular pranayama, the rhythm of breath slows down. Then, an improvement of the total health takes place with mental peace and calmness. Yoga Nidra is a method of psychic sleep, which dramatically reduces the physical and psychological stresses in a few minutes. It is a Pratyahara technique, in which there is withdrawal of sense perception from their respective sense objects and the mind is allowed to relax. Then, the mind is trained to become silent and sensitised of the inner psychic field of an everlasting peace. Hence, the science of yoga plays an important role to attain a complete health.
Today, during the corona pandemic, which has brought the whole world to a standstill, this age-old Indian science of yoga will help us improve our immunity power and mental wellbeing to fight against the upcoming situation.
(Dr Swain is Assistant Professor, Department of Yogic Science, Sri Sri University, Cuttack. Contact number: 7894424506)