Author: Dr Indrani Deka, Assistant Professor in Sanskrit, KKHSOU, Assam, India
The term “yoga” has been derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘unite’ or ‘join’. It is a method or practice through which one can get relief from various kinds of mental and physical faintness. Patanjali, the profounder of modern Yoga philosophy stated in his Yoga Sūtra that “yogaṡcittabᶉttinirodhaḥ-”. Since time immemorial, yoga has highlighted the comprehensive development or enhancement of human life by marking the practice of Yoga with a unique characteristic. According to Maharishi Patanjali, the purpose of yoga is to get rid of miseries even before it surfaces in one’s private and public life.
Mental health consists of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It focuses on how we think, feels, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood. A particular significance of the Yogic Lifestyle for Mental Illness is that the Person with mental illness can be healed through exploring and knowing one’s inner being.
One important principle in Yoga philosophy is Aṣţāngayoga (the eight limbs of yoga) which includes- Yama, Niyama, Ᾱsana, Prānāyāma, Pratyāhāra, Dhāranā, Dhyāna, and Samādhi. The eight limbs of Astanga Yoga provide the path and technique to attain “Kaivalya” (a state where man attains freedom from all misery). The first five limbs (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara) lead to perfection, strength, and toughness. While last three limbs Dharna, Dhyan and Samadhi lead to mind and psychological perfection. To reach “Kaivalya” physical and mental health is most important. The control of the mind is referred to as Chitta Vritti Nirodha. During meditation, one can witness how thoughts and memories arise from the depth of our Chitta and then subside into it.
In this modern world, frequent problems subsume people’s lives. Several problems like stress, anxiety, frustration, anger, conflicts, psychosomatic disorders, sleep disorders, lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, etc. have become part of everyone’s life. A good answer to problems of such is to practice of Yogāsana and meditation. Yogāsana offers more benefits than anyone can ask for. It could be said that the primary goal of Yoga is to gain balance and control of one’s life; to free oneself from confusion and distress; to provide a sense of calm that comes from the practice of Ᾱsana and Prānāyāma. Because of all these incomparable benefits, Yoga philosophy has spread all over the world. It has reached such fame and acceptance that it is now considered as a health-promoting tool in society. Both healthy people as well as patients can practice Yogāsana without any danger. If the information about Yoga philosophy brings about an interest in medical professionals and if they practice it, it can open new paths in bringing our traditional culture of Yoga and the present knowledge of modern medical science together. We can spread the knowledge of Yoga philosophy and practice of Yogāsana by conducting workshops, talks, seminars, webinars, etc. In Assam, there are some institutions, which are offering courses in this area. It has come to our notice that a good number of learners are benefited from these types of courses. We have to remember that with the help of professional yoga practitioners, we should practice yoga otherwise it can be dangerous. We should not make rigid and fast movements and keep our breath on the same track as our body movements.
While yoga is a great way to manage mental health, there are some limitations also. It may not be considered a solution for critical mental health issues. In some cases, we must use yoga as a supplement to therapy and if required take medication as one sees fit. Considering all this, we may have to consult our therapist for the best mental health treatment also in some cases.
According to Yoga Philosophy, there are five dimensions in the existence of human life– physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. Dr H. R. Nagendra, the President of Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (VYASA) has explained the five ways by which Yogic practices help individuals with mental illnesses. These are- Calming Effects, Increasing Awareness, Increasing Attention Span, Acceptance and Adaptability and a sense of Security. Yoga practice increases alertness of oneself and of one’s surroundings. By practicing Yoga, a patient may be able to maintain a state of focused attention with greater ease and for longer periods. One of the challenges for the rehabilitation of persons with mental illness is that even if they are adequately rehabilitated in their homes, the environment there is often so unhealthy that their growth tends to decline. Certain ideas of acceptance and adaptability, which are a part of Yoga counselling, help the subjects to make a remarkable transition from the therapy center to the world outside. Bhakti Yoga is indeed a form of devotion and surrenders to a supreme entity or a role model such as a person of a great source of strength. Very often, during the course of a long and difficult illness, a patient may lose contact with their family. For a patient undergoing recovery, this lack of support may trigger feelings of insecurity, reduce the chances of further improvement, and even bring about a wave of deterioration. This is where a sense of Bhakti or devotion and surrender to a supreme or ideal being may endow upon the person a sense of support and a feeling of reassurance and of security. That is why yoga is believed a positive experience in life.
