RATIONAL APPROACH TOWARDS YOGA PRACTICES FOR

BETTER LIFE AND HEALTH

Dr. Arpan A. Bhatt

* i/c. Principal, MPIYNER,
** Reader & Head, Dept. of Swasthavrutta, SGAM,
*** Prog. Director, ACYER,
Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar

Yoga is a Life Science, envisaged for the spiritual upliftment of the being,
where, benefit in the condition of health is a byproduct. Today, due to the
consistent efforts of various schools of Yoga and eminent masters, the utility
of this Oriental and traditional science has been recognized in the field of
healthy living and it is even harnessed for therapeutic purposes. This has, no
doubt, added to its popularity and propagation but, at the same time, it
becomes very essential for the people, specifically those related with the
health sector, to know about certain such aspects of this science so that its
deliverance could be more appropriate and faultless as far as its therapeutic
conditioning is concerned.

Generally, in some of the Yoga training classes, more focus is laid on the
variety of the practices to be done in a stipulated period of time and their
repetitions or at times the focus of Yoga practices is shifted merely to a
calorie burning concept or exercises with a difference. In reality, the
practices included in and for Yoga are for developing the level of awareness
and uplifting the consciousness along with managing the proper flow of vital
energy to the various parts of the body.

Very similar to the case of Ayurved and its applications, there is a common
but wrong impression about the science of Yoga and its practices also that it
is absolutely harmless to do whatever and how ever one may fantasize. The
bottom line to be understood here is that everything which can give a
benefit, is potent enough to harm too just because it is potent and can
effect. Same is the condition with the science and art of Yoga. Therefore,
depending upon their ideologies about the requirement of Yoga practices,
the classics have directed about specific conditionings, sequences, dos and
don’ts which, if followed, may lead towards the success in the practice i.e.

Page 1 of 2
achievement of the goal for which they are being utilized or else they remain
unfruitful or may even lead to some unwanted consequences.

Today, the tally of Life Style generated disorders is creeping up at an

alarming rate and stealthily, the faulty postural habits are providing a
platform to them as well as generating Postural Disorders on their own. Yoga
practices, if done in an improper manner and without caution can lead
towards the generation of such problems – sometimes instantly and
sometimes in a long run. People, owing to the justifications of their own, at
times, opt to imitate the practices watching them on a media or just by
hearing it from someone, where all the required information or instructions
as per the need for a given person are not completely available or at times
the person is not fully aware about one’s own body condition, strength and
stamina. This type of practice would not be of any help to promote a healthy
living or a better life but, on the contrary, will prove to be hazardous and
bringing an ill name to this wonderful science as a whole. Hence, it is always
advisable to learn these practices from a competent teacher and to
understand one’s own capacities and limitations. This becomes even more
important when Yoga practices are being or intended to be utilized for
therapeutic purposes.

Medical science also has introspection about the problems which are
generated by the utilization of the diagnostic procedures, faulty diagnosis,
medicaments etc. naming them as Iatrogenic Diseases. Days have come
when gradually the cases have started coming up complaining about getting
physical and psychological problems due to embezzlement of Yoga practices.
Therefore, it is high time, when this aspect of Yoga must be understood and
looked upon with a great care and caution to help the ailing humanity
properly and to save this science from being challenged any further.

Page 2 of 2