Stress Causes Sickness, Yoga - A solution By Sri N.V. Raghuram

Stress is a global phenomenon with alarming numbers of work hours lost in corporate world due to it. Modern stress pundits are coming out with several work place and ergonomic changes to cope with it; but these reforms are inadequate to lessen its effects. Stress can cause several problems, both at individual and society level. Several, psychological, psychosomatic and emotional disorders can be traced to stress at individual levels.

It is said in the texts of yoga (the term yoga includes meditation as a part along with yogic postures and special breathing techniques called Pranayama, for control of inner life-force) that the same practices when done understanding the underlying principle will give several fold benefits compared to mechanically following the yogic techniques. Therefore, an attempt is made to explain the concepts of human levels of existence and about the stress according to Indian wisdom.

PANCHA KOSHA: This is the most convincing form of looking at human being at various personality levels ranging from gross to subtle levels. It is not only important to divide the personality but to use this paradigm of understanding for dealing with the human being at all levels of existence.

At the gross level we are the physical personality. Deeper that that, we are the life force personality called Pranayama personality. Much subtler than that we are mental personality or the manomaya personality. This personality is guided by and controlled by the subtler level called the intellectual personality. At the last all our activities are guided by the bliss personality. At all these personality levels, as long as we are natural and spontaneous self, we are healthy and blissful. The moment we come out of this, we are into sickness.

The natural state of us at all these personalities and the way we come out are indicated as follows.

As we have seen earlier the column disturbances develop into disease as it becomes chronic, deep rooted and pathological. Since yoga is a technique of coming back to our nature by conscious methodology, yoga is a remedy for such ailments.

STRESS: According to Indian philosophy all the stress is not due to outside. There is a major part of stress already accumulated in us. This, the scriptures call as Anadi avidya, or mula avidya, or the basic stress level. Restlessness and boredom is the way this basic stress manifests in us. This property of restlessness is the cause for the hyperactivity and violence. Deep-rooted restlessness is also the cause of inner disharmony and manifestation of this at the physiological level results in various stress-related disorders such as bronchial asthma, hypertension etc. On top of basic stress the external disturbances and stress causing the total stress. The contribution of basic stress in total stress is far higher compared to the external stresses. So yoga suggests removing the basic stress.

The purpose of yoga is to reduce the basic stress level to a safe limit so that the contribution of stress due to external agents does not raise the stress level to the episodic level and cause problems. Regular practice of yoga also gives us a tool that can help us to consciously bring down the stress level to the safe limits. Stress is useful in limited sense beyond which it is detrimental.

Stress results in increased Blood Pressure, Heart palpitations, and bronchial dilatation. Gastric activity becomes chronic and pathological. Therefore, stressful situation can cause altered state of being. Being in natural self means health and being away from ones natural self according to yogic philosophy is sickness.

Yoga techniques suggest us remedy at twin levels, at one level consciously practice on daily basis the relaxation at physical level, slow down at pranic and calm down consciously at mental level. T another level, practice necessary awareness in normal routine activity to check us from those situations which prove emotionally upsetting such as greed, anger, depression or tensions and uncertainties. Use the inner freedom not to be driven by emotions into all those states, which are going to disturb inner equipoise state.

YOGA ASANAS: A few breathing and loosening exercises such as front and back bending, twisting, followed by some spinal exercises such as lumbar stretch, shashankasana, sun postures will prepare the body for practice of yogasanas.

A set of practices such as Ardhakati Chakrasana Pada hastanasana, Pascimatanasana, Ustrasans, Ardha matsyendrasana, Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana, Dhanurasana, halasana, Padmasana, followed by shavasana are wholesome practices which can be easily covered in half hour every day.

PRANAYAMA: Simple pranayama techniques such as Kapalabhati sectional breathing (Vibhaga Pranayama). Nadisuddhi, Bhramari, Sheitali, sheekari without Kumbhaka practice are suggested for everyday practice for 15min before gong to bed.

MEDITATION: A ten to fifteen minute practice of meditation after Pranayama with gentle soft chanting of OHM interspersed with silent spells of mind will percolate the relaxation and calmness deep into cell level. Think of your istadevata to get a comforting visual form for the mind.

Other techniques: Occasional practice of Jalaneti, Vaman Dhauti, Mulabandha, Udiyana bandha, Uajjayi, Agenisara Kriya can also help the body to maintain a state of well-being.