AN ANCIENT PRACTICE
The origins of Yoga go back at least 6000 years. Yoga knowledge was
aquired orally to begin with. Even today, the student learns by sitting
with the teacher who has sat with his/her teacher before them.
The Rishis (researchers) of India withdrew to the forest where they
enquired into the truth of existence. They studied the whole of man's
being by experimenting and observing the effects of external and
internal forces on the body, mind and spirit. The Rishis' findings were
eventually written down in the Vedas.
THE STATE OF BEING
All Yoga involves uniting the mind, body and spirit with the Source of
Life - entering a state of Pure Being.
There are many ways or forms of Yoga practiced today. Practicioners
rarely confine themselves to a particular way, and this is part of the
fun! Exploring all the approaches is an enriching journey.
YOGA AND MENTAL
HEALTH MANAGEMENT
While Yoga was devised to
generate and maintain mental and physical health if practised as a
holistic
discipline, it is a useful practice as part of the recovery of good
mental
health. The mental health of service users is improved by additions to
their programme of Yoga classes. The practice improves mental health
and
provides skills for self management, these skills are
developed over a course of classes as it takes a number of classes
before the
person develops a feel for the postures. Once that process has been
achieved
there are a number of practices which may become part of the
enhancement of
quality of life through the protective maintenance of good mental
health.
INTRODUCTION
Mental
Health refers to the overall health of the individual and factors such
as
family life, social life and work life all contribute to the balance of
the
individual…….
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
CAN
YOGA
BE USED
IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT FOR MENTAL
DISORDERS?
The
answer is “YES”
balance is the foundation and essence of Mental Health in Yoga
Philosophy and a
way of bringing the body into harmony with its environment.
Balance has different levels for each
individual and Yoga can safely and gently bring the individual to a
place of calmness
at the level that is right for that individual at a particular time.
Yoga may
be practiced by all with mental disorders and there is minimal
risk as well as minimal equipment needed.
WHAT YOGA
TECHNIQUES ARE USED?
The
Yoga Practitioner will use Jihva dhauti
(tongue cleansing), Jala Neti
(nasal cleansing) Asana (body movement) which moves energy
,
Pranayama (breathing awareness – Nadi Shodhana) which are useful
tools to calm or invigorate . Relaxation
practiced systematically which enhances energy and reduces tiredness.
Concentration exercises are also used. Because
under stimulation pineal is recognised as a significant
contributor to seasonally affective
disorder Trataka (candle gazing) is a valuable and
pleasant practice. Different practices are taught in
varying combinations
for individual needs and include Bhandhas. Motivation
is one of the biggest hurdles for depressed persons to overcome. Hence,
practices that take little time but produce unmistakable improvement in
mood
are invaluable. Gradually, the enhanced mood leads the individual to
adopt a
more comprehensive yoga program, resulting in all-round improvement in
health
and well-being – and a cycle has been broken.
WHAT
ARE
SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF YOGA PRACTICE
AS PART OF MENTAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT ?
If
we follow the Yogic approach, we will not immediately look for the
causes of
depression but, instead look at the energetic of the person. Of course
it is
not so simple, but probably the person is thinking too much and not
doing
sufficient physical exercise. So, the first approach through Yoga is to
practice
hatha.
To regain some balance between the “ha”
and the “tha”; pingala and ida nadis.
We know that the aim of Yoga is to balance the flow of energy (prana)
in these two nadis, so
that neither the physical nor the mental faculty predominates. In the
Yogic
management of depression, this a central tenet. Strong
back bends are ideal practices because of their direct effect upon the
adrenal
glands, of course depending on the fitness of the person.
Pawanmucktasana
is a more gentle practice which forms a good introduction and will
enable more
powerful asana at a later date. It is having the practice skills and
confidence
of knowing when
to use them which contributes enormously to a person’s sense of well
being.
For
the
Individual
-
Provides
the individual with the tools to help themselves
- Provides regular routine
- Provides the individual with a sense of personal space
- Provides the individual with their own gentle
discipline
- Provides the individual with another viewpoint
through a different model or health development and maintainance.
For
the Service Providing Body
- Yoga is cost efficient and
very effective
- Very little equipment is
needed
- Yoga is a non-invasive
treatment
- There is minimal risk
attached
- Yoga is a Scientifically
based system
