The Purpose of Yoga – Problems with Training the Mind for Success

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Each form of Yoga addresses your health in some way. If you take the time to learn something about Hatha, Raja, Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana Yoga, you will notice each style has a different approach toward mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual health. These are the planes of existence that people are most often familiar with.

Yet, some people will go out of their way to deny the existence of spiritual health. Worse yet, humans have violently killed each other throughout history over their diverse beliefs in spiritual health, God, and religion. Yoga, in every form, has no such conflicts with spiritual health.

Everyone is welcomed to practice Yoga, and that is why it has existed for so long. Let’s take a closer look at the problems, which hold each of us back from our true potential, and how Yoga can help us live a more fulfilling life.

Why is success discouraged?

Here is the theory: “The world is flat.” There was a time when the earth was believed to be flat. At the same time, there were educated people who were sure the earth was a globe, but they debated over the size of the earth.

At this time, we know the size, shape, and exact dimensions of the earth. However, we have the advantage of instant access to information and many people can read. Yet, with all of this instant information, and our reading skills, some people still inherently believe they are doomed to fail in life.

Envision success and it will come. This is not a thoughtful wish – you still have to take positive action toward your goals. Better than that, you must have real goals. Do you desire to discover a successful life? If so, you must educate yourself and move forward.

Why do some people wish you to be unsuccessful?

This is “Crabs in a Bucket” theory in practice. If only one crab was in an open bucket, it would have a much improved chance of success. When a number of crabs are together, they hold each other down inside the bucket.

Simply put, take the time to observe when a few people around you try to hold everyone else back from progress. Sometimes, it’s not even intentional, but a default mechanism, which directs one toward negative thinking. Many people do not believe they can succeed in life because someone told them so.

Why we believe that we do not deserve success and what can Yoga do to change it?

If you believe something strong enough, it will be your personal reality. Some people will tell you: “Good things don’t happen to our kind of people.” What is “our kind of people?” Do not let anyone tell you that you deserve less because of your pedigree. Past performance of your family tree is not an accurate indicator of your success.

What each form of Yoga can do is program your mind in a positive direction. You can change the present, by believing that you deserve to succeed, and by taking steps toward success.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Diabetes & Yoga

By Dr. Rita Khanna

Though Diabetes is a very vast topic, I have tried to give only relevant and important information in this Article. Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin or when cells stop responding to the insulin that is produced as a result glucose in the blood cannot be absorbed into the cells of the body. It is the most common endocrine disorder. Causes are heredity, pancreatic disease, alcoholism, malnutrition, food, obesity and stress. Symptoms include frequent urination, lethargy, excessive thirst and hunger. The treatment includes changes in diet, oral medications and in some cases daily injections of insulin.

Our Pancreas

Our pancreas is composed of two major types of tissues;

  • Exocrine tissue (acini), which secretes digestive enzymes via the pancreatic duct into the intestines to help digest (break down) the food we eat.
  • Endocrine tissue (islets of Langerhans), which produces and secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon directly into the blood.

Insulin & Pancreas

Endocrine tissue contains alpha, beta and delta cells. Beta cells produce insulin & allow body cells to use and store carbohydrate, fat and protein. Alpha cells produce glucagon & have anti-insulin action. Both in unison keep a constant glucose level in the blood.

Insulin, Food & Energy

As vehicle works on petrol and diesel, our body functions best at a certain level of sugar in the bloodstream. Digestive process converts carbohydrates from our food into glucose. As the proportion of glucose in the blood increases, immediately pancreas gland situated behind the stomach releases hormones known as insulin. It converts glucose in the form of power and stores the extra glucose in the cells of liver and muscles. Thus the quantum of glucose in the blood remains balanced.

Disease State Of Pancreas

The cells of the body are unable to take glucose out of the bloodstream when needed because they resist the insulin that you need to allow glucose to enter cells. On top of that, the liver continues to send a lot of glucose into the bloodstream even when it isn’t needed because the signals telling the liver to shut off aren’t working and leads to high blood sugar. The kidneys cannot bear too much sugar (glucose) in the blood and as a result it is filtered out with the urine. Body, therefore, utilizes fat instead of glucose. When glucose is converted to strength, the fuel is fully utilized but when fat is utilized as a fuel, poisonous gases like acetone are produced. A diabetic patient becomes comatose called as diabetic coma.

Two Major Types Of Diabetes Are

Type- I (Juvenile Diabetes) / insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (IDDM)

Type II (Maturity – onset Diabetes) / non- insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), Gestational Diabetes (GDM) It can develop during pregnancy and generally resolves after the baby is delivered.

Treatment

Freely Consumable Diet

  • First thing in the morning Take one to two teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methidana) with a glass of luke warm water.
  • Before breakfast – Take raw vegetable juices (karela / amla)
  • Breakfast Dalia with vegetables / finger millet (ragi) / two numbers of Khakhara.
  • Before Lunch Salad in any quantity (Onion, cucumber, tomatoes, sprouts, carrots, radish, cabbage) + Buttermilk.
  • Lunch Chapattis of Black Channa Flour 80%+ Wheat flour 20 % ) + seasonal vegetables (green leafy, methi, karalla, palak, cauliflower, carrot, cabbage, gourds of various varieties etc) + curd or buttermilk of skimmed milk.
  • Evening Take fruits / fruit juice
  • Dinner Khichadi / vegetables soups / steamed vegetables.
  • Before going to bed Take ½ glass of warm water.
  • Avoid Fried, fatty spices, starchy & sugar containing food, jackfruits, mangoes, bananas, sapotas, custard apples, tea, coffee, cocoa, alcohol, white flour, tinned fruit and refined cereals.

Yoga Routine

Asanas such as flexibility exercises, Trikonasana, Suryanamaskara, Sarvanga, Matsya, Hala, Paschimothana, Bhujang, Shalbha, Dhanur, Ardha-matsyendrasana, Yogmudra, Pranayama Bhramari, Shitali, Shitkari, Agnisaar, Kapalbhati, Nadi shodhan, Meditation, Walking, Yogic kriyas Uddiyana banda, Shat kriyas Neti, Kunjal, Enema will help balance the endocrine system, tone the abdominal organs, stimulate both the nervous & circulatory systems & reduce stress. Learn these from some qualified Yoga instructor.

Implement The Following Suggestions

  • Take 4 to 5 small meals a day rather than three large ones.
  • The evening meals should be taken at least two hours before going to bed. Light evening meals are recommended. Avoid the temptation of a second helping.
  • Take medicine in fixed quantity and at fixed time.
  • Be regular in exercise / Yoga-abhyasa.
  • Do not make any change in the medicine unless proper advice is taken.
  • Even though you notice no trouble, get your physical examination carried out periodically. In the beginning let this examination be monthly When you get a control over quantity of glucose in the blood you should get it done every three months.
  • Get blood examined for glucose as advised by your physician.
  • Get the examination carried out for glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb Aic). One can find out by this test whether diabetes was under control all throughout the past three months.
  • Get your blood pressure and blood lipids tested regularly.
  • Get the blood and urine examined annually to establish that there is no defect in the kidney.
  • Get fundoscopy of the eyes carried out annually and get teeth cleaned and examined annually.
  • Daily examine your feet and skin. If you have got hurt and if it has got septic, contact the doctor immediately.
  • Think positive & try to be cheerful always.

In case of any query, contact:
Dr Rita Khanna
Mobile: 09849772485 Ph:-040-65173344
Email: ritukhanna57@hotmail.com

Dr. Rita Khanna

Dr. Rita Khanna is a well-known name in the field of Yoga and Naturopathy. She was initiated into his discipline over two decades ago by world famous Swami Adyatmananda of Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh.

She believes firmly that Yoga is a scientific process, which helps us to lead a healthy and disease-free life. She is also actively involved in practicing alternative medicines like Naturopathy. Over the years, she has been successfully practicing these therapies and providing succour to several chronic and terminally ill patients.

At present, Dr. Rita Khanna is teaching Yoga in Secunderabad. She has been treating and curing various diseases and disorders through Yoga, Diet and Naturopathy and has been achieving tremendous satisfaction in disseminating this virtue.