This document discusses yoga as a way of life and method for reducing stress and treating psychosomatic disorders. It defines yoga as a five-fold awareness of the body, emotions, mind, awareness itself, and our lack of awareness. Various yoga practices are described that can help reduce stress, including breathing techniques, visualization, awareness, and asana (yoga poses). The document outlines four phases of psychosomatic disorders and how yoga can be an effective therapy, especially in the early psychic and psychosomatic phases. Basic yoga warm up practices like twists and rotations are explained. Pranayama techniques including Om Pranayama and Pranava Pranayama are also summarized.

1. SVMCH&RC
Coordinator & Yoga TherapistCoordinator & Yoga Therapist
CYTER,MGMCRI
Under the able guidance of Dr.Ananda Balayogi
Bhavanani
Meena RamanathanMeena Ramanathan

2. Swami Gitananda Giri
Swamiji defines Yoga as,
• “A way of life
Four (five) fold awareness.
• Awareness of body
• Awareness of emotions
• Awareness of mind
• Awareness of awareness itself
• Awareness of how unaware we are
•"Yoga is the science and art of
right-use-ness of body, emotions
and mind".

5. Ways to Reduce Stress
•Breathing
•Attitude
•Visualization
•Auto-suggestion
•Breathing
•Attitude
•Visualization
•Auto-suggestion
•Awareness
•Movement (tea)
•Yoga
•Hobby
•Awareness
•Movement (tea)
•Yoga
•Hobby
Epitetus said “Men are not disturbed by
things ; but by the views they take of them”
Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj
“you don’t have problems -you are the
problem”
Epitetus said “Men are not disturbed by
things ; but by the views they take of them”
Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj
“you don’t have problems -you are the
problem”

6. Yogic view-point of disease
Psychosomatic, stress related disorders progress through
4 phases.
1.Psychic Phase: Correlated with vijnanamaya and
manomaya koshas. Yoga as a mind body therapy is very
effective in this phase.
2. Psychosomatic Phase: Correlated with manomaya and
pranamaya koshas. Yoga is very effective in this
phase.
3.Somatic Phase: Correlated with pranamaya and
annamaya koshas. Yoga as therapy is less effective & is
conjunction with other treatment.
4. Organic Phase: Correlated with the annamaya kosha as
disease is fixed in physical body. Yoga has palliative &
life improving effect in this phase.

8. Basic warming up practices
Jathis are
• basic body movements
• help to release pent up tensions
• increase circulation and flow of Pranic energy
A few of these practices will be described now.
– Pada jathis
– Hip rotation
– Twisting torso
– Toe touching
– Shoulder rotation
– Hand rotation
– Shirsha jathis
– Hastha jathis ( Bhastrika)

9. ArunaAruna
SuryaSurya
NamaskarNamaskar

14. Yogic relaxationYogic relaxation
•Kaya KriyaKaya Kriya
•Marmanasthanam KriyaMarmanasthanam Kriya

16. Om Pranayama
Increase awareness of the energies at the
different Chakric levels.

17. Pranava Pranayama

18. Chakra Meditation

19. Conclusion
Yoga as a way of life
• Is remedy for
psychosomatic, stress
related problems
• Helps us regain the ease
from dis-ease & wellness
from illness
• Elevates us from animal
to human to Divine Nature
• Helps regain health and
happiness – our
“BIRTHRIGHT”
Swami Gitananda Giri
says,
“If you want to
be healthy , do
healthy things; if
you want to be
happy do happy
things”
Swami Gitananda Giri
says,
“If you want to
be healthy , do
healthy things; if
you want to be
happy do happy
things”
Choice
is
yours