THE BASIS OF YOGA THERAPY
The approach of Yoga therapy is based on the Indian philosophy about human existence. In this philosophy, there are five sheaths to existence, of which the physical body is only the first. The second is the vital energy that is known as Prana, the life energy that flows through you in invisible channels known as nadis (energy channels). The third is the mind (your emotions and thoughts), the fourth is the higher intellect (perfect thought and knowledge), and the final sheath is the "abode of bliss". The bliss sheath consists of the positive energy that is associated with the soul. It is from this sheath that the inner peace essential to true happiness emanates.
Disease is seen to arise through imbalance in any of the three lower sheaths of existence. In the physical, pranic, and mind sheaths, ego-consciousness predominates, and therefore, harmony in these sheaths can be easily disturbed. The fourth (intellectual) and fifth (bliss) sheaths are permeated by the soul consciousness and cannot be perturbed. When you are truly healthy, the positive energy in the highest sheath percolates freely through the lower ones and brings total harmony and balance to all your faculties. But though the harmony of the higher sheaths is constant, the free movement of bliss can be blocked by imbalances in the lower sheaths.
The concept of the five sheaths is not entirely accepted by western science, but it is relevant from an experiential viewpoint. In time, it is possible to "feel" both Prana and bliss without knowing whether they are independent energies or simply the expression of complex physiological phenomena. And by "feeling" and manipulating Prana, Yogis achieve a remarkable control over their bodies that can readily be confirmed by scientific tests.
In Indian philosophy, there are two types of physical illness, and each requires a different approach. The first are the illnesses with a strong physical element, such as contagious diseases and accidental injuries. These are most effectively dealt with by conventional medicine, though Yoga can play a substantial supporting role. Yoga also helps prevent the occurrence of such ailments by improving your general health and making you less accident-prone.
The other type of illness arises through disturbances in the mind sheath and includes all the psychosomatic and degenerative ailments. In these disorders, psychological factors play a much greater role, and conventional treatment alone is not usually an effective cure. According to Indian beliefs, such ailments are thought to be caused by mental diseases called adhis. These arise when excessively strong feelings of like or dislike, anger, fear, jealousy, hatred, etc. become amplified and established, acting to distort personality and to obstruct the flow of positive energy to the lower sheaths. This causes imbalances that result in physical ailments and also makes you feel restless and discontent.
The inner peace that is your natural state is generated by the positive energy from the bliss sheath. When the flow of this energy is interrupted by adhis, your sense of wellbeing is diminished.
Yoga is fundamentally different from conventional medical practice in its approach to healthcare. Instead of trying to reduce the cause of disease to a single factor and to correct it using a specific cure, Yoga aims to treat illness by improving health on all levels simultaneously and by restoring inner harmony.
Ill health occurs when the total balance of perfect health is disturbed. And although the original disrupting influence may only affect one level at first, the disturbance soon spreads. All the five sheaths of existence interact, thus something that primarily affects the mind, say, can soon spread to the body and pranic sheaths. A bad day at work may make you irritable, for example, but it also increases stress reactions, it may make you tense your muscles, and often depletes your energy level, leading to chronic fatigue.
For this reason, Yoga contains elements that address problems at every level � asanas (Yoga poses) that relax and tone your muscles and massage your internal organs, Pranayama (breathing exercises) that slows breathing and regulates the flow of prana (vital energy), and relaxation and meditation that act to calm your mind. For just as negative influences spread disruption, positive action has repercussions as well. The different types of Yoga practice augment each other and are more effective when done together. When you do the asanas and stretch your muscles, muscular tension is released and you are more able to relax. Likewise, when you relax the mind and release suppressed emotions, you tend to become less tense on a physical level. Every element of Yoga brings benefits throughout, and also acts to amplify the effect of the other types of practices.
This is the essence of Yoga therapy � both as a preventive and as a curative. Daily practice of a complete Yoga session can restore your natural balance and harmony, bringing positive good health to all parts of your life � physical, mental, and spiritual.
Footnote: Extracted from the book "Yoga for Common Ailments" by Dr. Robin Monro, Dr. Nagarathna, and Dr. Nagendra � based on a system developed by the Vivekananda Yoga Therapy and Research Foundation, Bangalore, India.