This document discusses the benefits of yoga for positive health. It summarizes yoga as the union of body, emotions, and mind, and describes the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga. Yoga is presented as an integrated approach involving physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual therapies. The physiological, psychological, psychomotor, cognitive, and biochemical benefits of yoga are outlined. Yoga therapy is proposed as an effective approach for many disorders and as a complement to other medical systems when used judiciously. The foundational principles of yoga therapy are self-awareness, lifestyle changes, relaxation, and focusing healing energy within.

1. POSITIVE HEALTH
THROUGH YOGA
Director CYTER, SBV and Chairman ICYER,
Puducherry, India.
Yogacharya
Dr ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI
MBBS, ADY, DSM, DPC, PGDFH, PGDY, FIAY, MD (AM), C-
IAYT

2. The science and art of Yoga, has
for millennia guided human beings
in their search for truth.
Even in our personal and social life,
Yoga has provided tools and
techniques with which we can find
health, happiness, spiritual
realization and social harmony.

3. WHAT IS YOGA ?WHAT IS YOGA ?
 Union (Yuj) of
Body, Emotions and Mind
Jivatma With Paramatma
 Skill in Action
 Stilling the Whirlpools of the Mind
 Unity of Thought,word and Deed
 Four (Five) Fold Awareness
 Equanimity of Mind
 A Way of Life
 Conscious Evolution

4. ASHTANGA YOGAASHTANGA YOGA
Yama - morality for daily living
Niyama - ethics for the self
Asana - firm & comfortable posture
Pranayama - control of the vital energy
Pratyahara - withdrawal from the senses
Dharana - one pointed concentration
Dhyana - state of meditation
Samadhi - absolute oneness

5. YOGA AND YOGA THERAPYYOGA AND YOGA THERAPY
 YOGAYOGA
-integration-integration
(mind-body --- spirit-universe)(mind-body --- spirit-universe)
 YOGA THERAPYYOGA THERAPY
- tools to attain the integration- tools to attain the integration

6. CAUSE OF DISEASE
ACCORDING TO YOGA
 Primary causePrimary cause
–– Dwaitam – duality - dichotomyDwaitam – duality - dichotomy
 Disease =Disease = dis + easedis + ease
(Asana-(Asana-stira sukamstira sukam andand tado dwandwa anabigatatado dwandwa anabigata))
 Tri DoshasTri Doshas and their imbalanceand their imbalance
 Yoga VashisthaYoga Vashistha
- psychosomatic and non psychosomatic disorders- psychosomatic and non psychosomatic disorders
 Somato-psychic disordersSomato-psychic disorders

7. PANCHA KOSHAS AND
TRISHARIRA
STHULA SHARIRA
 Annamaya Kosha - Anatomical Existence
SUKSHMA SHARIRA
 Pranamaya Kosha - Physiological Existence
 Manomaya Kosha - Psychological Existence
 Vignanamaya Kosha - Intellectual Existence
KARANA SHARIRA
 Anandamaya Kosha - Universal Existence

8. PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITSPHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS
 Improved general health, posture, muscleImproved general health, posture, muscle
tone, sleep, immunity and pain tolerancetone, sleep, immunity and pain tolerance
 Weight normalizesWeight normalizes
 Stable autonomic nervous systemStable autonomic nervous system
 Increased cardio-respiratory efficiency,Increased cardio-respiratory efficiency,
musculo-skeletal flexibility, range of jointmusculo-skeletal flexibility, range of joint
movement, physical endurance, strength andmovement, physical endurance, strength and
energy levelsenergy levels
 Decreased HR,BP,RR and EMG activityDecreased HR,BP,RR and EMG activity
 Normalizes GIT and endocrine functionNormalizes GIT and endocrine function

9. PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITSPSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS
 Improved MoodImproved Mood
 IncreasedIncreased
Somatic Awareness,KinestheticSomatic Awareness,Kinesthetic
Awareness, Subjective Well-being,Awareness, Subjective Well-being,
Self-acceptanceSelf-acceptance
Self-actualization ,Social AdjustmentSelf-actualization ,Social Adjustment
 DecreasedDecreased
Hostility, Anxiety, DepressionHostility, Anxiety, Depression

10. PSYCHOMOTOR BENEFITSPSYCHOMOTOR BENEFITS
 IncreasedIncreased
Grip Strength, Dexterity, Fine SkillsGrip Strength, Dexterity, Fine Skills
 ImprovedImproved
Eye-hand CoordinationEye-hand Coordination
Reaction TimeReaction Time
Depth PerceptionDepth Perception
Steadiness and BalanceSteadiness and Balance
Integrated Functioning of Body PartsIntegrated Functioning of Body Parts

11. COGNITIVE FUNCTIONCOGNITIVE FUNCTION
IMPROVED
ATTENTION
LEARNING EFFICIENCY
DEPTH PERCEPTION
CONCENTRATION
MEMORY

12. BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS
THE BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE IMPROVES,
INDICATING AN
ANTI STRESS & ANTI OXIDANT
EFFECT,
IMPORTANT IN THE PREVENTION OF
DEGENERATIVE DISORDERS.

13. Biochemical Changes after Yoga
 DecreasedDecreased
GlucoseGlucose
SodiumSodium
CholesterolCholesterol
TriglyceridesTriglycerides
LDLLDL
VLDLVLDL
CatecolaminesCatecolamines
WBCWBC
 IncreasedIncreased
HDLHDL
ATP aseATP ase
Hematocrit
HbHb
Lymphocytes
Thyroxin
SrSr Protein

14. Some Disorders amiable to
Yoga Therapy
 C.V.SC.V.S : Essential HT,CAD: Essential HT,CAD
 RespiratoryRespiratory : Asthma,COAD: Asthma,COAD
 StressStress : Tension headache: Tension headache
 M.SM.S : Backache,RA,Spondilitis: Backache,RA,Spondilitis
 MetabolicMetabolic : DM,Thyroid Disorders,Obesity: DM,Thyroid Disorders,Obesity
 G.I.TG.I.T : IBS,Dyspepsia,Ulcerative colitis: IBS,Dyspepsia,Ulcerative colitis
 PsychiatricPsychiatric : Anxiety,Depression,Phobias: Anxiety,Depression,Phobias
 C.N.SC.N.S : Mental Retardation, Epilepsy,: Mental Retardation, Epilepsy,
Migraine and other HeadachesMigraine and other Headaches

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

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

17. YOGA THERAPY MODALITIES
 PHYSICAL THERAPIESPHYSICAL THERAPIES
 Asanas, Kriyas, Mudras and BandhasAsanas, Kriyas, Mudras and Bandhas
 EMOTIONAL THERAPIESEMOTIONAL THERAPIES
 Swadyaya, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana,Swadyaya, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana,
Dhyana and BhajansDhyana and Bhajans
 Development of +ve psychological attitudesDevelopment of +ve psychological attitudes
 VairagyaVairagya
 Chitta PrasadanChitta Prasadan
 Maitri Karuna Mudita and Upekshanam etcMaitri Karuna Mudita and Upekshanam etc
 MENTAL THERAPIESMENTAL THERAPIES
 Relaxation and visualization practices, Trataka,Relaxation and visualization practices, Trataka,
Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana as well asPranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana as well as
DhyanaDhyana

18. YOGA THERAPY MODALITIES (Contd…)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
 Preventing disability and improving quality of life
 PAIN RELIEF THERAPIES
 Increases pain tolerance - improved quality of life

19. Limitations of Yoga Therapy
Not a miracle cure for all problems
Use discernment (Viveka)
Not for emergencies
Consult a doctor where in doubt
Each patient is different
Different approaches of different traditions

20. 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

21. YOGA ONLY NEEDS
 YOUYOU !........., and
Your
- Dedication
- Discipline and
- Determination
A small and clean space
A positive attitude
Fresh air, light and water

22. YOGA IS NOT !YOGA IS NOT !
A cult
A religion
A cure all
A physical exercise
An escape route
Some mumbo-jumbo magic
A way to easy money

23. 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

24. "Om, loka samasta sukhino
bhavanthu
sarve janaha sukhino bhavanthu
Om shanti, shanti, shanti Om"

25. THANKTHANK
YOUYOU
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