The Hindu Business Line : Freedom that yoga gives

The word yoga means union of the soul with the almighty. Or with the body and the mind. Or with understanding and reality. Whereas stress means separation from one's own natural blissful state, where issues become more important. Stress is basically a misunderstanding of the degree of one's involvement with a particular issue. Till this involvement revolves around one's basic needs, and doesn't touch the boundary of excessive desire or greed, you don't get stressed. One's needs are few enough, but an individual's desire, which the yogis called maya (illusion), is endless.

You could turn around and say I'm getting philosophical about explaining stress, but my dear friend, just ask yourself this question — you buy stress and then you fight to get rid of it. It is as if you pick up a stick lying on the ground, hit yourself with it and then say that particular spot is paining!

Yoga identifies stress in different dimensions. These dimensions may be physical, mental, emotional, psychological fear, dependency or sensation oriented. Or it could simply be the stress of becoming spiritual. That's why yoga doesn't give meditation techniques like religion. It tries to imbibe a system, a way of getting into the lifestyle of a human being. As man cannot be separated from day-to-day or other issues, , there needs to be a constant awareness about the stress this involvement brings and a regular remedy on a daily basis to fight it. Yoga works on both levels. Yoga also gives curative means, ways and techniques to get rid of stress that afflicts an individual. Also, yoga is more than just philosophy.

Asanas affect the deeper tissues of the body, unlock the blockages created in the blood vessels, nervous system, muscular system and digestive system. It directly hits the human physiology and changes the whole homeostasis (internal environment) of the body. Yoga can be taken as a tool to master the emotional, physical and spiritual body. So it generates a tremendous degree of understanding of the body, mind, soul and philosophy.

I would say it is the only solution to stress. Yes, music, walking, swimming, singing, playing, crying, screaming, shouting and even nagging are different ways to tackle one's own internal mental conflict. But by taking these routes you relax only for a very brief period — and the effect is no different from what a pill does to a headache. Yoga works as a cure to the headache.Yoga is nothing but an understanding of oneself — one's body, mind and one's soul. And to understand it, one does not need to read books. Yoga means starting an experiment with yourself. An experiment where you start with knowing nothing, but where you may end up knowing every mystery related to mankind. If an individual can understand himself, he can solve every problem that he is faced with, whether it is stress, depression, anger or fear. A man who knows himself knows the whole world around him. There is nothing that he does not know. There is nothing that he cannot know if he so desires.

Experts all over the world have come up with many solutions to dealing with stress. There are many techniques available — from breathing techniques, to meditation to relaxing techniques. But yoga is the only way to attack stress and get rid of it at the very roots. Yoga does not believe in mental games and trying to create an imaginary feeling of happiness. Any short-term method will only help to delay the problem. Yoga believes that one has to take a definite step towards freedom if one wants to be happy and stress-free.

Let us look at the three basic aspects of life that cause stress and see how we can use yogic techniques and philosophy to eliminate stress from our lives.

Stress from the body

A healthy body is the most essential way to beat stress. If you are overweight or have diseases, you cannot be happy or relaxed. The first step you need is to take control of your body, and bring it into the best condition which nature designed for you. Yoga is about breaking your habits and getting back to your instincts, which you have forgotten. Practise asanas regularly and start other forms of exercise such as walking, jogging, swimming or playing physical games like tennis. Bring freedom to your body. Freedom in the mind will follow.

Stress from work

It is not what you do that creates stress for you but how you do it, which makes life stressful. Yoga talks about constant awareness of your mind. Bring in this awareness and avoid the usual problems you face at work. Most of your problems are due to trying to control situations instead of responding to them. We tend to either control or avoid issues instead of simply facing them for what they are. Avoid judging people around you and try to make things work instead of being right. Arguments and power games will only lead to more stress. Be watchful, non-reactive, but don't become passive either. And it is common for us to go to extremes — a tendency to become aggressive or passive. Yoga says, just be in the middle. Don't fight with situations, and don't become a slave to them either. Just remain aware, and the right response will follow.

Stress from relationships

It is better to be lonely than unhappy in a relationship. But once you decide to be in a relationship, learn the art of giving. Instead of making a list of expectations, do everything in your power to make the other person happy. We forget that we enter into a relationship to give love, not get love. If you understand this line of thinking, you will understand relationships and be happy in them.

Yoga is the art of being alone and still enjoying yourself. If you cannot be alone then you cannot be in a relationship either. Learn the art of being with yourself, loving yourself, and being happy with yourself. Yoga teaches us to enjoy our own company before we can start to enjoy the company of others. Otherwise, this will only lead to dependency and frustration. Give freedom and take your freedom.

Yoga is an eight-fold path, which anybody can take up at any point in his/her life. Starting from the first, we can reach the eighth step — samadhi, if we decide to do so. Samadhi is nothing but a state of complete acceptance, understanding and total awareness where man is never in conflict with himself. Asanas (postures) and Pranayama (breath control) are beautiful ways to bring the body back into a state of harmony. By practising asanas, we can be disease-free in no time. By shifting the hormonal balance in the body, yoga teaches you to handle your ups and downs and various moods. By regulating your breathing, you can become totally aware of life around you. Yoga is not only for those seeking spiritual enlightenment. It is for everyone who wants to be easy, relaxed, stress-free, happy and still alert. A lazy person cannot become a yogi. Yoga is meant for those who actively decide to develop their inner strength and latent powers, something the ancient yogis of India discovered thousands of years ago. If you have the opportunity, start practising yoga, and feel the difference. This beautiful ancient science of India can indeed fill your life with happiness.

Picture by G.R.N. Somashekar

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