Yoga and mental health
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-Nupur Tewari
Before we understand how yoga works on your mental health, we need to understand what yoga is? Yoga: Divine union, union between yourself and divine self. The word yoga derived From the Sanskrit root verb yuj (to yoke, join or unite.)
Yoga is a combination of art and science originated in India more than 5000 years ago before any belief systems were born, and Lord Shiva is the Adiyogi. Yoga is NOT a religion, rather it is a discipline, one that leads to ultimate freedom.
Yoga is now well known for its postures and poses, but these were not a main part of original yoga traditions in ancient India. Fitness of outside body was the goal but not the primary goal. Practitioners of yogic tradition focused instead on expanding spiritual energy using breathing methods and mental focus.
Today when we say yoga we imagine different form of postures of Hatha yoga but hatha yoga is just a branch of 6 kind of yoga have been widely practiced since the ancient times. And these are...
• Jnana yoga: This branch of yoga is about wisdom, the path of the scholar, and developing the intellect.
• Bhakti yoga: This is the the path of devotion, a positive way to channelize emotions and practice acceptance and tolerance.
• Karma yoga: This is a path of selflessness that aims to create a future free from negativity and selfishness.
• Hatha yoga: This is the physical and mental designed to prime the body and mind.
• Raja yoga: This branch emphasizes meditation and strict adherence to a series of disciplinary steps known as the “eight limbs” of yoga.
•Tantra yoga: This is the path of ritual, ceremony of a relationship.
Chakras
The word “chakra” means spinning wheel. Chakras are center points of energy, thoughts, feelings, and the physical body.
According to yogic sutras chakras determine the way people experience reality through emotional reactions, desires or aversions, levels of confidence or fear, and even physical symptoms and effects.
When your energy becomes blocked in a chakra, it can trigger physical, mental, or emotional imbalances that manifest in symptoms, like stress, anxiety lethargy even poor digestion.
These are seven major chakras and with their own focus:
• Sahasrara: The “crown” chakra determines the state of pure consciousness. This chakra is located at the crown of the head, and the color is white/violet.Sahasrara involves matters of inner wisdom and physical death.
• Ajna: The “third-eye chakra” is a meeting point between two important energetic streams in the body. traditional yoga practitioners describe it as white. The ajna chakra relates to the pituitary gland and it drives growth and development.
• Vishuddha: The color red or blue. this chakra is connected to our ability to communicate verbally. Voice and throat problems as well as any problems with everything surrounding that area, such as the teeth, gums, and mouth, can indicate a blockage. Blocks or misalignment can also cause problems, conversations, gossiping, speaking without thinking, and having trouble speaking your mind. When in alignment, you will speak and listen with compassion and feel confident when you speak.
•Anahata: The “heart” chakra relates to the colors green and pink. Blocks in our heart chakra can manifest in our physical health through heart problems, asthma, and weight issues. It’s the middle of the seven chakras, so it bridges the gap between our upper and lower chakras, and it determines ability to love.When out of alignment, it can make us feel lonely, insecure, and isolated.
•Manipura: The “navel” chakra. Practitioners connect this chakra with the digestive system, as well as personal power, fear, anxiety, developing opinions, and tendencies towards an introverted personality.
• Svadhishthana: The”pelvic” chakra is the home of the reproductive organs.Blockages in the third chakra experienced through digestive issues like ulcers, heartburn, eating disorders, and indigestion. It’s the chakra of our personal power. it’s related to our self-confidence.
• Muladhara: The “root chakra” is at the base of the spine in the coccygeal region. blocked root chakra can manifest as physical issues like arthritis, constipation, and bladder or colon problems, or emotionally through feeling insecure about finances or our basic needs and well-being. When it’s in alignment and open, we will feel grounded and secure, both physically and emotionally. They say it contains our natural urges relating to food, sleep and survival.
Yoga is a total lifestyle. A complete package of life which leads to liberations.
After You understand the meaning of the word Yoga a bit more or rather internalize it a bit deeper, You’ll realize Yoga is a state of being that you find after you take an amazing class, or after you have chanted, or after meditation, pranayama or even after you take a quiet walk in the woods and just look around and see the beauty.
Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati defines Yoga as “a state where nothing is missing.”
In my next article, we will know how these balance our mental health.
Have a holistically beautiful life.
(The author is transformation coach, spiritual healer, motivational speaker, yoga consultant and philanthropist.)