Hansaji on ‘Yoga a Medical Therapy’

“Yoga was not created as a medical therapy. It was created for self development – mainly for control and management of the mind, uplifting oneself to the level of self consciousness. Yoga also teaches us how to live. Yoga methodology like the Asanas, Pranayamas, Kriyas are all very natural. Yoga has simply organised the natural and correct way of life into a systematic manner… do whatever you are doing correctly, the way it is supposed to be done… and add minor changes to your lifestyle as per the present environment.

I’d like to explain with the help of an example. About 35 years back, it was reported that Chembur, a suburb in Mumbai, due to the presence of the Atomic Research facility close by, had high air pollution levels due to which 86% of the residents had some form of respiratory troubles. They had been advised by their doctors to preferably move out of the area for a healthier life. We conducted a 2 day respiratory camp for 30 Chembur residents in our Institute and taught them basics like Jalneti, Kapalarandhradhouti and Karnarandradhouti.

Since they had ENT troubles, they were encouraged to form habits of constantly massaging their foreheads and the area around the ears, to drink warm water post meals to clean the food pipes, etc. After 3 months, the majority of the campers had improved to such an extent that they had overcome their symptoms and asthma attacks except 4 campers who required more work, due to their tobacco chewing and smoking habits or tensions at home/office. These 4 campers were encouraged to visit the institute more regularly to continue to work on themselves and improve. Each one of us has some form of tension / stress in our lives, the intensity and effects of which may vary. We have to learn to deal with these irritants so that they don’t affect us harmfully. None of the campers moved out of Chembur and are peacefully leading a healthy life in Chembur.

Each one of us has to understand the link between the cause and effect of what happens to us, for ourselves. This is something only we can do. A third person cannot do so. I have to become aware of what am I doing that is causing positive / harmful symptoms in myself. If I am experiencing pain in my stomach, then what did I eat or how much did I eat that could have caused this. Always remember that medicines do not benefit 100% of the people and also that the medicines may be beneficial for one organ of our body but will negatively affect some other organ at the same time. All medicines affect our liver and kidneys.

Yoga advises to be independent of external factors like medicines to lead a healthy life. Become aware of yourself and learn to live independently. If you have health troubles often then I’d advise you to maintain a dairy and note down your intake on a daily basis to understand yourself better. As per Ayurveda, root cause of all troubles lies in the food we eat. And as per Yoga, root cause of all trouble lies in the mind. As the food, so the mind. Therefore both of them needs to be constantly watched to correct and avoid troubles. In addition, check and note down your routines – lack or excess of any any activity could be a cause for trouble. Listen to your body signals every day instead of waiting for something big to happen. A sneeze due to a strong fragrance / while cooking is natural but when it is not so then it is very clear that the sinuses may be disturbed and need tending to avoid more trouble. Therefore one needs to make an effort to watch and become aware of self to understand self better… also note down how your mind is feeling… happy or sad or neutral.

Yoga is the science of how to live. It is not a therapy. Therapy is temporary and as per requirements. Yoga is to be practiced every moment of our lives. In terms of therapy, my general observation is that Allopathy works well in deficiencies and infections, Homeopathy is good for skin and hormone troubles and Ayurveda helps with general and orthopedic troubles. If yoga is practiced daily then no other therapy is required. Start working on yourself and we can then remain healthy and happy.”