Stretching for better health
WHETHER you are looking to align your spiritual, mental and physical well being or simply need to take 20 minutes to gain your composure, the practice of yoga is there to fit any lifestyle. And regular practice also comes with a slew of health benefits.
“Yoga exercise has greater benefits not only in the prevention of diseases but also in treating various muscular, musculoskeletal disorders, joint disorders and lifestyle disorders,” said uMhlangabased ayurvedic doctor, Kanada Narahari.
He said hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, coronary artery diseases and digestive disorders were some of the ailments that could be curbed by practising yoga.
“When one learns the basic principles of yoga and practises the yoga postures along with meditation under the guidance of a trained yoga guru, it’s not at all difficult to achieve the balanced state of health. And it’s not difficult to begin.”
Narahari said practising yoga for about 20 minutes in the morning and evening was enough to see health benefits.
“Simple and classic physical exercises like Soorya namaskaara (Sun salutation and Vinyasa) when practised everyday proves a lot of benefits to health.
“Along with simple breathing exercises (Nadishodhana Pranayama) and meditation sun salutation takes not more than 20 minutes and this much of workout is more than sufficient.”
Narahari said South Africa was quite conducive for budding yoga practitioners, since there are a number of trained professionals.
“It is always advised that (practising yoga) without a guru is almost impossible. So my suggestion is one must start yoga under the guidance of a trained yoga teacher.”
He added: “Yoga along with ayurveda when practised properly can contribute a lot towards the holistic health. Today we are living in a highly tensed and highly sensitive world. We have forgotten how to control our emotions and maintain the peace.
“I think this is the right time to understand the value of our roots and adopt the best of our roots and lead a life with a meaningful way where all of us can achieve physical, mental, social and spiritual health.”
And what about convincing naysayers?
“Yoga is not a hypothetical science. It is a completely established science with a lot of inputs into health and the values of life.
“I personally haven’t seen anyone opposing the practice of yoga. Seeking the knowledge from a guru when you have doubts will solve the issue without complications.”
He explained that practising only postures through yoga would give the body flexibility but when proper mediation was added, the body would attain the state of equilibrium where modern lifestyle disorders would hardly have an effect.