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YOGA: AN ANCIENT ART OF HEALTHY MENTAL LIVING

Asha Jain, Udaipur (Raj.) 1. INTRODUCTION

Yoga is the science of right living and, as such, is intended to be incorporated in daily life. it works on all aspects of the person; the physical, vital, mental, emotional, psychic and spiritual.The eight limbed path of yoga includes: Yama (moral codes), niyama (self-discipline), asana (postures), pranyama (breath practices promoting life force), pratyahara (sensory transcendence), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), samadhi (state of bliss).

2. YOGIC APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH

Yoga is term of Indian origin, while concept of mental health is western.

According to Ayurveda text Chark Samhita-Particular type of body goes with a particular type of mind and conversely a particular type of mind with a particular type of body.

According to Taittiriya Upnishad- The Panch Kosha principle indicates the holistic view of human wherein an interdependence of body, prana (Breath) mind, intellect and inner bliss has been mentioned.

According to Patanjal Yog Sutra- Chittavritiniorodh is yoga. Which means yoga is stilling the fluctuations of the mind.

Yoga therefore means integration at all levels of one’s existence. Yoga is state of psycho-physiological balance, complete personality integration.

3. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MIND AND BODY

What is going in our mind determines what is happening in our body. For decades maharshi /yogi and scientists have studies how stress affects the body, how thoughts and emotions relate to our experience and stress.

4. HOW YOGA HELPS FOR KEEPING MIND SOUND

Yoga system teaches how to reduce the mind substance into its simplest form by the method of suppression (nirodha),

which means to reduce the mind into consciousness (chaitanya).

Patanjali has said that the mind can be restrained by practice and sacrifice (Abhyasa and Vairagya). The practice (Abhyasa) means the repeated sustained efforts for achieving the steadiness and calmness, and when steadiness once attained, the mind goes back to its pure state, and it transformed one to pure consciousness.

The people practice Yoga may experience various factors which have found effect on the individual’s mental health like:-

1. Reduction of Tension- Most of the individuals who are practicing Yoga experience “steadying the mind”, “calming the spirit”, or

“freeing the mind from mental disturbances” and reduction of nervousness.

2. Mental Agility- The positive benefits from yogic exercises is called renewal of mental agility, thus willingness and attentiveness as well as capacity and mood for attentiveness and alertness to tackle difficulties.

3. Enriched Personal Values- a. Avoidance of fear– yoga helps in

curing various mental illnesses like ambiguous feelings, insecurity, anxiety and frustration etc.

b. Acceptance of faith in life- Confident living is the main objective of yoga one who practice yoga everyday he/she say that “I accept the universe”.

In short he/she go with the flow in every situation of life.

4. Harmonious Social Values- Yoga helps in reducing our frustration or annoyance with others, if we tend to irritate others less we become less irritable to ourselves

“Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind”. Positive mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her

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own abilities, can cope with the

normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

4.1 Prayer and meditation for mental health

Prayer is very important as it is most widely used in yoga, mental health concerns are weekend by poor self care and stress, studies show that 90% of patients with severe illness sometimes feel relief by prayer. Prayer is regarded as the most widely practiced healing or remedial among all types of alternative medicines.

1. Prayer elicits the relaxation

2. Prayer releases control to something greater than oneself 3. Prayer can help in bringing a

sense of loving or spiritual presence

4. Prayer can elicit our feelings of hope, forgiveness, compassion and gratitude, Prayer connect ourselves with mind-body-spirit 4.2 Prayer and Meditation are Beneficial on Mental Well-Being in Following Ways

1. Give intense relief 2. Provide internal peace

3. Aid in countering complications and increasing awareness

Asana can be considered as physical exercises, pranayamas as breathing exercises and meditation as a mental exercise.

5. VARIOUS YOGIC MUDRAS FOR CLAMING THE MIND

Mudras are done in connection with breathing exercises and help regulate the flow of energy throughout your body.

therefore, it can be well concluded that the following yoga takes care of all dimensions of health be it physical or mental. Yoga has significant positive and powerful beneficial effects on mental health apart from physical health like, calming and focusing the mind to develop greater awareness and diminish anxiety,

reduction of distress, improvement of mood, and so forth.

Meditation, breathing (pranayma) and Mudras can help improve a person's mental well-being in a very effective way. Regular practice creates mental clarity; relieves chronic stress patterns; relaxes the mind; centers

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attention; and sharpens concentration.

Yoga holistically integrates the mind, body and soul and has capacity to take one to the highest goal of human life.

REFERENCES

1. Asana, Pranayama, Mudra Bandha by Swami Sayananda Saraswati.

2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication /231176721_Effects_of_Yoga_on_Mental_a nd_Physical_Health_A_Short_Summary_of_

Reviews.

3. Yoga & Mental Health & beyond by Prin.R.S. Bhogal.

4. Certification of yoga professionals–Official Guidebook.

5. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.

6. Yoga; A healthy way of living, National Council of Education Research and Training.

7. Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar.

8. Yoga Wisdom & practice by B.K.S. Iyengar.