Yogasanas : Rejuvenators of Body , Mind & Soul – The Cultural Heritage of India

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Yogasana ( popularly known as Yoga in the West ) is a timeless treasure of India and a great gift of ancient India to mankind for a healthy body, healthy mind and an enlightened soul, crossing all man-made artificial boundaries.

Says Gurudev Swami Sivananda Saraswathi of Rishikesh,

“A harmonious development of the body and mind alone can enable man to fulfill his ambitions, and live a fruitful and happy life here in this world. A sickly body acts as a dead-weight preventing the mind from soaring into the higher realms. An excellent, well-built body, strong and healthy, if it serves only to house an undeveloped or diseased mind, is capable of much harm and little good to anyone. A good body, and a keen mind, with the inner spirit entirely dormant is like a lovely mansion without foundation liable to topple over at any moment. A perfectly harmonious development of the body, mind and spirit makes one perfect. Yoga achieves this harmonious development.”

Definition of Yogasanas in the words of the great Yogi Swami Sivananda Saraswathi:

“Yogasanas are not mere physical exercises alone. They are something more than that. They have a spiritual basis. They help a long way in controlling the senses, mind and body. Body, nerves and muscles are purified by the regular practise of Yoga. Kundalini (Serpent power within the body ) is awakened which gives Bliss, Power and Yogic Samadhi to the aspirant. If you do Dand and Bhaitaks (native physical exercises of India) 500 times a day, or pumping marches on the parallel bars 50 times a day for 5 years, they will not in any way help in the awakening of this mysterious power, Kundalini. Do you see the difference now?”

Ordinary physical exercises develop the superficial muscles of the body only. One can become a Sandow with a beautiful physique. But Yogasanas are intended for the thorough exercise of the internal organs, viz., liver, spleen, pancreas, intestines, heart, lungs, brain and the important ductless glands of the body, which are called endocrine glands, viz., thyroid and parathyroid at the root of the neck, adrenals in spleen, pituitary and pineal glands in brain, which play a very important part in the economy of nature, in maintaining health in metabolism and in structure, growth and nutrition of different kinds of cells and tissues of the body.

India today is in need of a strong and healthy race of men & women. Various factors have brought about their terrible degeneration. Regular and judicious practice of these valuable exercises prescribed by our Rishis ( Ancient Indian Sages ) of yore, will doubtless pave a long way in regenerating the race, and in the production of such a strong and healthy race.

In olden days, these Yogasanas were practised in Gurukulas, and so the people were strong and healthy and had long life. In schools and colleges today, these Asanas should be introduced.

The postures are as many in numbers as there are numbers of species of living creatures in this Universe (84 lacs of bodies). There are 84 lacs of Asanas described by Lord Shiva, the great Yogee & the Hindu God of destruction. Among them 84 are the best and among these 84, 32 have been found very useful for mankind.

There are some Asanas, which can be practised while standing. They are Tadasana, Trikonasana, Garudasana, etc. There are some which can be practised sitting. They are Paschimottanasana, Janusirshasana, Padmasana, Lolasana, etc. Some are practised while lying down. These are Utthanapadasana, Pavanamuktasana. Weak and delicate persons can do Asanas while lying down. Some Asanas such as Sirshasana, Vrikshasana, Sarvangasana, Viparita Karani Mudra, etc., are done with head downwards and legs upwards.

Yogasanas should be practised in a well-ventilated, clean room where there is free movement of fresh air. The floor must be even. Asanas can be practiced on the sandy bed of rivers, open airy places, and by the sea-side also. If you practice them in a room, see that the room is not congested so as to allow free movement of hands, legs and of the body.

Asanas should be done on empty stomach in the morning, or at least three hours after food. Morning time is best for doing Asanas.”

Here are some images from the wold wide web of these life giving, invigorating, rejuvenating Yogasanas :

Dhanurasana : This Yogic posture gives good massage to the back muscles. It removes constipation and cures dyspepsia, rheumatism and gastro- intestinal disordes. It reduces fat, energizes digestion, invigorates appetite and relieves congestion of the blood in the abdominal viscera.

Dhanurasana

Gomukhasana :

Gomukhasana

Mayurasana : This is the best Yogic posture known for all stomach disorders. The liver, pancreas, stomach, kidneys are all toned up in this Asana. It’s a wonderful Asana for improving digestion. sluggishness of the liver disappears.

Mayurasana

Sarvangasana : This Yogic Posture keeps back the ravages of old age and keeps a man always young. It cures dyspepsia, constipation, apendicitis, other gasto- intestinal disorders and varicose- veins. This Asana supplies a large quantity of blood to the spinal roots of the nerves. It keeps the spine quite elastic, which is the secret of everlasting youth. It prevents the bones of early ossification.