The term ‘Health’ is an abstract concept which is hard to grasp. A fundamental question arises, “Can an individual who does not suffer from any disease be called healthy?”
In 1948, The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Health consists of physical, mental, social, vocational, moral, emotional and spiritual dimensions.
From this definition, it is evident that health is a dynamic and multi-dimensional state. And therefore, the achievement of optimum health is only possible by the use of a holistic approach which caters to every one of its dimensions. Yoga emerges as the perfect candidate for this purpose.
· Asanas (postures) and shat kriyas (cleansing procedures) improve the physical component of health.
· Dhyana (meditation) and dharana (concentration) improve mental health.
· Yama (discipline) and niyama (observance) are universal rules of morality and social conduct laid down by sage Patanjali. They are similar to modern principles of public health and community medicine.
· The practices of pranayama (breath regulation) and pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) improve emotional health.
· Yoga also strongly advocates the importance of surrender to the almighty or ishvara pranidhana. This encourages the development of spiritual health in an individual.
Therefore, the conventional concept of optimum health can be achieved by the practice of yoga.
The Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita defines yoga as follows:
समत्वं योग उच्यते (2.48)
Samatvam yoga ucyate
The statement says that equanimity is yoga. This indicates that yoga enables a state of both physical homeostasis and mental equanimity. Yoga is a state of harmony where the body’s physiological functions are maintained and the mind remains in moderation, not overly reacting to either aversion or desire.
The Bhagavad Gita also enumerates mental health in great detail. A mentally sound and healthy individual is referred to as a sthitaprajna, which means a man of steady wisdom. The qualities of a sthitaprajna are elaborated in depth throughout the second chapter called as the Sankhya yoga. They include tranquility, situational stability, emotional stability, free from desires, complete self-control and oneness with brahman or knowledge of the ultimate.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika
The physical characteristics of a healthy practioner of hatha yoga are explained in the second chapter of this classical text of hatha yoga. This text was authored by Swatmarama, who calls these characteristics as the ‘Hatha Yoga Lakshana’, said to appear after the practice of hatha yoga.
वपुः कृशत्वं वदने प्रसन्नता
नादस्फुटत्वं नयने सुनिर्मले ।
अरोगता बिन्दुजयोऽग्निदीपनं
नाडीविशुद्धिर् हठसिद्धिलक्षणम् (2.78)
vapuh krishatvam vadane prasannata
nada sphutatvam nayane sunirmale |
arogata bindu jayo’gni dipanam
nadi vishuddhir hatha siddhi lakshanam ||
Slimness of body, luster on the face, clarity of voice, brightness of eyes, freedom from disease, control over seminal ejaculation, stimulation of gastric fire and purification of nadis are marks of success in hatha yoga.
The Patanjali Yoga Sutras
A description of bodily perfection (kaya sampat) can be found in the Vibhuti pada of the Patanjali yoga sutras.
रूपलावण्यबलवज्रसंहननत्वानि कायसंपत् (4.46)
rūpa-lāvaṇya-bala-vajra-saṁhananatvāni kāyasaṁpat
The perfection of the body includes beauty, gracefulness, strength, and adamantine hardness.
These qualities described are attributed to optimum physical health.
The Yoga sutras are an exposition on the skillful control of the mind. The concepts in the sutras are applied in the management of mental illnesses. The characteristics and steps to attain optimum mental health are also explained in great depth.
Panchakosha - The 5 koshas
One of the fundamental concepts of yoga is the idea of the "koshas," which are five layers or sheaths that make up the human experience. These koshas are often visualized as concentric circles, with each layer encompassing and influencing the layers within it.
The five koshas, in order from outermost to innermost, are:
Annamaya Kosha: The Physical Body The annamaya kosha refers to the physical body and all of its functions. This layer is responsible for our senses, movement, and overall health. In yoga, physical asanas or postures are used to help keep this layer healthy and balanced.
Pranamaya Kosha: The Energy Body The pranamaya kosha is the energy body, which includes the breath and the flow of prana, or life force energy, throughout the body. Practices such as pranayama or breathwork are used to help balance and strengthen this layer.
Manomaya Kosha: The Mental Body The manomaya kosha is the mental body, which includes our thoughts, emotions, and overall mental state. This layer is influenced by our experiences and perceptions, and yoga practices such as meditation can help us gain greater awareness and control over our mental state.
Vijnanamaya Kosha: The Wisdom Body The vijnanamaya kosha is the wisdom body, which encompasses our intuition, inner knowing, and higher consciousness. Practices such as self-inquiry and introspection can help us connect with this layer and access greater wisdom and insight.
Anandamaya Kosha: The Bliss Body The anandamaya kosha is the bliss body, which represents our connection to the universal consciousness or divine. This layer is accessed through practices such as meditation and can help us experience a sense of deep inner peace and connection to something greater than ourselves.
Yogic perspective on disease
According to yoga, there are 2 causes of disease or vyadhi :-
Adhija - Stress born or that which originates from mental distress
Anadhija - external factors that are not from mental distress like infections, injuries, toxins etc
Adhija Vyadhi
When there is a disturbance in the Manomaya as uncontrolled surge of emotions (Bhavana), it results in mental disturbances such as anxiety, tension, depression, stress and worry which are psychological responses to situations that are either real or imagined. What causes this emotional turmoil is the 6 enemies of man that are : Kama-intense desire, Krodha - anger, Lobha - miserliness or selfishness, Moha - infatuation, Mada - arrogance, Matsarya - jealousy. In all of this there is one common factor, when any of these emotions arise, there is an excessive flow of uncontrolled thoughts that are known as racing thoughts that accompany these emotions.
The disease originates in the mind, either the mental or emotional body, disturbances in this Manomaya kosha percolates into the physical body and shows up as symptoms or disease in the physical body. Hence to deal with the disease we should address the root cause or the origin of the disease.
It is described as Kama krodhobhavam vegam - intense desires and anger lead to excessive speed of thoughts. These racing thoughts carry enormous power or energy by gathering momentum by the recycling of thoughts unceasingly. We can get lost in these uncontrolled thoughts that starts clouding the faculties and disturbs the balance of the 5 koshas. Over time this becoming our new way of living. We are tensed all day, sleep disturbed, worry all day and depressed. All our energy is expended in these thoughts and emotions.
How a disease manifests:
The progression of symptoms in these psychosomatic disorders are said to occur in the following four phases:
1. Psychic phase:
Mild persistent psychological and behavioral symptoms.
Eg: irritability, disturbed sleep
2. Psychosomatic phase:
Appearance of generalized physiological symptoms.
Eg: hypertension, tremors
3. Somatic phase:
Disturbed function of organs, especially the weaker organs.
Eg: pre-diabetes, overweight
4. Organic phase:
Full manifestation of the disease accompanied by pathological changes. The organs may sometimes be irreversibly damaged.
Eg: peptic ulcer, cancer
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is evident that the holistic approach of yoga therapy targets total integrated treatment or management of an individual at all levels of being. It is therefore, the best way to achieve optimal health at a multi-dimensional level. In order to achieve the perfect harmonious state of the mind and body, yoga must not only be used as a therapy, rather it must be adopted as a way of life.