Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani's presentation on Yoga Chikitsa at the Rishikesh International Yoga festival 2018 organised by Govt of Uttarakhand.

1. YOGA CHIKITSA
Application of Yoga as Therapy
Yogacharya
Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI
MBBS, ADY, DSM, DPC, PGDFH, PGDY, MD (Alt Med), FIAY, C-IAYT
Director and Professor Yoga Therapy
Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research
(CYTER), Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry.
www. sbvu.ac.in

2. SWASTH: a dynamic
state of wholesome
wellness
Samadoshah samaagnishch
samadhaatu malakriyah
prasanna atmendriya manah
swasth ityabhidheeyate.
- Sushrut Samhita (15:41)
• Acharya Sushrut (~600 BC)
defined health as “a dynamic
balance of the elements and
humors, normal metabolic
activity and efficient
elimination coupled with a
tranquil mind, senses and
contented soul”.
• Yoga is truly the best means
to achieve such a dynamic
state of wholesome health at
all levels of existence.

3. YOGA AND YOGA THERAPY
YOGA
-process and state of integration
(mind-body --- spirit-universe)
YOGA THERAPY
- tools to attain integration at all
levels

4. MechanismsofYoga
MechanismsofYoga

5. Yoga Practices
Postures, Breathing, Relaxation, Meditation
Fitness
↑Flexibility
↑Strength
↑Coordination/Balance
↑Respiratory Function
↑Self-Efficacy
Global Human Functionality
↑Physical & Mental Health, ↑Physical, Mental, Emotional Performance,
↑Positive Behavior Change, ↑Social Responsibility, Values,
Relationships, ↑Quality of Life, ↑Life Purpose & Meaning, ↑Spirituality
Self-Regulation
↑Emotion Regulation
↑Stress Regulation
↑Resilience
↑Equanimity
↑Self-Efficacy
Awareness
↑Attention
↑Mindfulness
↑Concentration
↑Cognition
↑Meta-cognition
Spirituality
↑Transcendence
↑Unitive State
↑Flow
↑Transformation
↑Life Meaning/Purpose
* Concept and image courtesy of Sat Bir S Khalsa, PhD USA

6. DEFINITIONS OF YOGA
 Kathopanishad: State of mastery over senses & mind
 Bhagavad Gita
 Equanimity of mind
 Disassociation from the union with suffering
 Yoga Vashistha: A skillful & subtle process to calm
down the mind
 Maitri Upanishad: Oneness of breath, mind & senses,
and the abandonment of all states of existence
 Swami Gitananda Giri:
 Science & art of mastering the mind
 The path of moderation
 Four (five) fold awareness

7. CAUSE OF DISEASE
ACCORDING TO YOGA
 Primary cause
– Dwaitam – duality - dichotomy
 Disease = dis + ease
(Asana-stira sukam and tado dwandwa anabigata)
 Tri Doshas and their imbalance
 Pranas and their imbalance
 Yoga Vashistha
- psychosomatic and non psychosomatic disorders
 Somato-psychic disorders

8. LAGHU YOGA VASHISHTA
 Adhija Vyadhi - the psychosomatic disorders
 Anadhija Vyadhi - non psychosomatic disorders
ADHIJA VYADHI
 Samanya diseases are the ones that affect man
physically and may be destroyed by the
correction of the mind-body disharmony.
 However only Atma Jnana can destroy the Sara
or essential disorder of rebirth.

9. The
yogic
concept
of
origin
of
disease
-
Yoga
Vashishta

10. THE YOGIC STRUCTURAL
SYSTEMS
Sapta Dhatu
Nava Dhushya
Dwadasha Krama
Tri Dosha
Tri Guna
Pancha Kosha
Tri Sharira

12. Pancha Koshas and
Trisharira
Gross embodiment
Sthula Sharira
• Annamaya Kosha -
Physical existence
Subtle embodiment
Sukshma Sharira
• Pranamaya Kosha-
Functional existence
• Manomaya Kosha-
Psychological existence
• Vignanamaya Kosha-
Intellectual existence
Causal embodiment
Karana Sharira
• Anandamaya Kosha-
Universal existence

14. Sapta Dhatus
Seven structural
components

15. Nava Dhushyas
(Nine Physical Structural Systems)

16. Dwadasha Krama
= Nava Dhushya + ......

17. Dwadasha Kramas
= Nava Dhushyas + ......
 PRANA - the cosmic catalyst associated with
emotions and its sub units :
 Prana Vayus (nerve currents),
 Prana Nadis (channels of Pranic flow),
 Prana Vahaka (nerve impulses),
 Prana Vahana (nerve fluids),
 Prana Vana (psychic vortexes of Chakra energy),
 Prana Granthis (nodes of Prana) and
 Prana Bindus (foci of higher mental energy).

18. Dwadasha Kramas = Nava Dhushyas
+ ......
 MANAS - subconscious, conscious and super-
conscious mind including the
Buddhi (intellect),
Bindu (foci of consciousness),
Loka (planes of consciousness),
Mandala (etheric mental and energy patterns
and fields)

19. Dwadasha Kramas = Nava Dhushyas
+ ......
 CHAKRA : Vortices of cosmic energy located along the
pathway of Sushumna Nadi.
 Located in psychic /energy body.
 According to Gitananda teachings there are 6 lower
and 6 higher Chakras making a total of 12 Chakras.
 Minor Chakras situated at vital junctions of body.
 Related to major nerve plexi and endocrine glands
present in the physical body (Annamaya Kosha).
 Connected to a network of psychic channels (Nadis).

23. PRINCIPLES OF YOGA THERAPY
 Become aware of your body, emotions and mind
 Improve your dietary habits
 Relax yourself completely
 Slow down your breath -quiet and deep
 Calm down your mind and focus it inwardly
 Improve the flow of Healing Pranic Life Energy to
all parts of your body, especially to those
diseased parts, thus relaxing, regenerating and
reinvigorating yourself
 Decrease your stress level by fortifying yourself
against various omnipresent stressors

24. PRINCIPLES OF YOGA THERAPY-2
 Increase your self reliance and self confidence
 Facilitate the natural emanation of waste from
your body by the practice of Yoga Shuddi
Kriyas such as Dhauti, Basti and Neti.
 Remember that ultimately it is “YOU” who are
responsible for your health and well being and
must take the initiative to develop positive
health to tide you over challenging times of ill
health.
 Health and happiness are your birthright, claim
them and develop them to your maximum
potential.

25. YOGA THERAPY MODELS
 Yoga Vasishta (Pancha Kosha) model
 Chaturvyuha model: heya-hetu-hana-upaya
 Klesha / Vayu / Chakra models
 Kaivalyadhama model
 Cultivation of correct psychological attitudes
 Reconditioning of the neuro-muscular and
neuro-glandular system
 Appropriate diet and encouraging the natural
processes of elimination

26. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS
 ANNAMAYA KOSHA INTERVENTIONS:
Jattis (Shitileekarana Vyayama), Kriyas
(structured movements), Asanas and dietary
modifications and control.
 PRANAMAYA KOSHA INTERVENTIONS:
Shat Karmas, Pranayamas, Prananusandhana,
breath awareness, breath-movement
coordination and the energizing and balancing of
the Pranic energy.
 MANOMAYA KOSHA INTERVENTIONS:
Trataka, Concentration (Dharana), meditation
(Dhyana) and Japa

27. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS (Contd..)
 VIGNANAMAYA KOSHA INTERVENTIONS:
Analysis (Swadhyaya), lectures, spiritually
uplifting exchange (Satsangha) & experience
(Anubhava)
 ANANDAMAYA KOSHA INTERVENTIONS:
Learning to implement principles of Karma Yoga
(Yoga is skilled action without expectation).
Following the principle of action in relaxation
brings about joy in all activities. A realization that
we live in a blissful universe & that all life is joy is
to be brought about through use of Bhakti Yoga,
Karma Yoga and elements such as Bhajans,
counseling and Satsanghas.

28. YOGA THERAPY MODALITIES
 PHYSICAL THERAPIES
 Asanas, Kriyas, Mudras and Bandhas
 EMOTIONAL THERAPIES
 Swadyaya, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana,
Dhyana and Bhajans
 Development of +ve psychological attitudes
 Vairagya
 Chitta Prasadan
 Maitri Karuna Mudita and Upekshanam etc
 MENTAL THERAPIES
 Relaxation and visualization practices, Trataka,
Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana as well as
Dhyana

29. YOGA THERAPY MODALITIES (Contd…)
 SPIRITUAL THERAPIES
 Swadyaya, Satsangha, Bhajans and Yogic
counseling
 PREVENTIVE THERAPIES
 Start early in childhood
 Prevention of accidents
 Improved immunity
 Knows the technique so that can do it if needed
 REHABILITATIVE THERAPIES
 Prevention of disability and improving quality of
life
 PAIN RELIEF THERAPIES
 Increases pain tolerance - improved quality of life

30. Yogic 12-Point System of
Diagnosis and Health Evaluation

31. LIMITATIONS OF
YOGA THERAPY
Not a miracle cure for all problems
Use discrimination (Viveka)
Not for emergencies
Consult a doctor where in doubt
Each patient is different
Different approaches of different traditions
Don’t be a quack

32. A modern integrated approach
 The need of the modern age is to have an
integrated approach towards therapy and to
utilize Yoga therapy with coordination and
collaboration with other systems of medicine
such as Allopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha and
Naturopathy
 Physiotherapy and chiropractic practices may be
used with the Yoga if needed
 Advise on diet and life style is very important

33. IN CONCLUSION
Yoga is an integrated way of life
Awareness and consciousness play a
great part in guiding our spiritual evolution
through life in the social system itself and
not in some remote cave in the mountains
or hut in the forest.
"Yoga is the science and art of right-
useness of body, emotions and mind”
- Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda
Giri

34. “Health and happiness are your birthright. Do not
forsake your golden culture for the plastic
playthings of the modern world. Learn and live
Yoga for then you will know true health and
happiness”
Yogamaharishi
Dr Swami Gitananda Giri
Guru Maharaj
(1907-1993)
Founder
ICYER at Ananda Ashram,
Pondicherry

35. Thank You

36. Accredited with ‘AA’ grade by NAAC