By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
The power of belief can be the difference between success and failure. What do people believe in? Belief and faith are often based upon religion, dogma, or science. At this time, popular belief in medical science is unshakable; yet, medicine continues to change and evolve. Medical procedures can change in a century, a decade, or less.
For example: At the end of the 19th century, the great solution for mental illness was asylums. Later, in the early 20th century, the lobotomy seemed to be an option for certain types of mental illness; and after that, came psychiatric medications. At this point in time, there are a number of options for mental illnesses, and we can be guaranteed that there will be many more in the future.
With regard to Yoga – The therapeutic application of Yogic techniques is holistic. For example: Bhakti (devotion) has a medicinal benefit for one’s mental, emotional, and spiritual states of well being, even though it can be classified as a non-physical form of Yoga. How is this possible? The power of prayer and worship has helped many who suffer from a variety of ailments.
Yoga is a way of life, which makes it uniquely different from any exercise, therapy, or self-improvement system. The most popular form of Yoga, outside of India, is Hatha. There is a firm belief in the ability of Hatha Yoga to heal the physical body. Despite this age of skepticism, Hatha Yoga has continued to grow in fame because of its success rate in relieving ailments.
This is a surprising turn of events for the world, when you consider the number of people, who have made Yoga practice part of their lives, on a daily basis. A practitioner’s belief is based upon results from regular practice. Logical and conclusive evidence, of Yoga’s ability to heal people, has created a following of believers.
In some ways, you could say that pharmaceutical drugs also created a faithful following. The point being: Positive results create the overriding belief in any healing method. If we are able to heal ourselves successfully, why do we condemn different methods? Whether we believe in a holistic, or pharmaceutical approach to healing, it should be based upon the results.
The therapeutic application of Yoga is nothing new, but it may take some time before Yogic techniques are “officially” recognized and accepted. There was a time when each healing method was subject to impartial tests, studies, and trials. In the near future, Yoga will be completely recognized for its healing benefits.
© Copyright 2010 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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