What does Yoga mean to me?

Yoga means a holistic approach towards the cause and treatment of disease. As I'm a student at ACNT and I'm just about to finish my Bachelor of Health science-Naturopathy, I believe that the knowledge and teaching of yoga will benefit my practice and overall health of my clients.

According to Yoga, most of the diseases Mental, Psychosomatic and Physical originate in mind through wrong way of thinking, living and eating which is caused by attachment. The basic approach of Yoga is to correct the life style by cultivating a rational positive and spiritual attitude towards all life situations. This philosophy will help my clients to prevent the disease and teach them how to maintain their healthy lifestyle.

Like Ayurveda and Naturopathy Yoga also takes up the cleansing of the body as the first measure to fight disease. While Naturopathy performs it's cleansing through the help of purgative herbs, Yoga performs them without the help of any drug or remedies, i.e. by developing full efficiency and control of eliminative systems of the body. Which no other system of health care can do.

All the systems of medicine at their best aim at curing the disease whereas Yoga aims at preventing the disease and promoting health by reconditioning the psycho-physiological mechanism of the individual.

What does yoga means to me?

Yoga means a lifestyle to me. Yoga improves posture, increases the intake of oxygen, and enhances the functioning of the respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and elimination systems. Its effects on the emotions are equally beneficial: calming the mind, attuning us to the environment, and diminishing insomnia caused by mental restlessness. Yoga is highly recommended for people in competitive, stressful working environments, for those who suffer from headaches, back and shoulder aches, allergies, and asthma; and much more. Yoga also works to unite the split between the mind and the body as mentioned before. Anyone with a compulsive behavioral disorder knows firsthand what agony this split can cause. The regular practice of yoga helps us to accept whatever physical or mental conditions we might be suffering from by increasing our immediate sense of well being, concentration, and calm. Much healing can be done, but it takes practice and consistency. This is why I would like to promote and maintain healing by being a yoga teacher (as well as a naturopath) and have my class or practice in the future. Also nothing prevents us from practicing yoga at home; there are many illustrated books on the subject. However, I believe that my clients will benefit far more, especially as a beginners, by joining a class.

We all have the capacity to self-destruct, particularly if things go wrong. The yogi mentality is that life is a tremendous gift and we have to take responsibility for it. Yoga gives you the capacity to face up to life's challenges. Similarly, when you respect your body, you tend to do things that will enhance its vitality. Many people who practice yoga become vegetarians and follow a macrobiotic diet (the theory of promoting health and longevity by means of diet, especially whole beans and grains).

There are so many facets of yoga; it can literally take a lifetime to learn and the process is slow. For the first couple of years, you'll repeat the same things over and over again. The poses, meditation and breathing are only a small part of the philosophy. It's a very profound subject and the exercises are hard work, but not grueling. It's gentle because your mind and heart are involved.