An ancient practice
YOGA Bringing harmony to the mind and body
The positive cases of COVID-19 in Fiji has shifted a thinking paradigm of the Fijians as soon as the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama confirmed Fiji’s first positive case, the anxiety level of the citizens almost crossing the borderline as people hit the panic button.
The same situation is happening around the globe because of the pandemic of the coronavirus.
Undoubtedly, the situation is very alarming, people panic and are worried.
This virus has not only broken the health system, but is also damaging the economic system of the world.
A few months ago, no one thought that this virus would take such a terrible form killing about 16,000 people all over the world.
World Health Organization is making every effort to keep people mentally strong by issuing advisories, but reading the news of daily deaths can be worrying. This situation is conducive to illness and negative impact on our immunity system.
The US-based Harvard Medical School has published its latest article “Coping with coronavirus anxiety” that recommended yoga, meditation and controlled breathing as the best ways to relax.
To understand the importance of yoga in the present time, on December 11, 2014, the 193 member UN General Assembly (UNGA) approved the proposal by consensus with a record 177 co-sponsoring countries a resolution to establish June 21 as “International Day of Yoga”.
In its resolution, the UNGA recognised that yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being and wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practicing yoga for the health of the world population
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India.
Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body.
It is an art and science of healthy living. The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj”, meaning “to join” or “to yoke” or “’to unite”.
As per yogic scriptures, the practice of yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the universal consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, man and nature.
Meditation is the only way to communicate with your soul to get answers to some unresolved questions. It is also a good way to do visualisation of future events.
With the growing cases of occupational stress, many service class people are now more inclined towards the meditation because it is considered to be medicine for mind and body, it can produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind.
It has been established via recent scientific research that meditation helps relieves anxiety and stress.
It does this by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system and reducing the fight-orflight response.
Anxiety, stress, depression, and tension are the worst enemies of a person because of which the possibility of disrupting daily routine increases.
So many scientific research studies have proven that the right practice of yoga and meditation is the best way to relax. It helps release any type of stress by reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and proper breathing.
Available reviews of a wide range of yoga practices suggest they can reduce the impact of exaggerated stress responses and may be helpful for both anxiety and depression.
Although yoga originated from spiritualisation, with the change of time and our habits and lifestyle, the importance of yoga is now well connected with psychological and medical issues.
In the field of medicine, yoga and meditation have now registered its specific presence in drug addiction centres, athletic centres and rehabilitation centres with great care, as well as from negative direction to positive direction in social reform initiatives.
For diversion, yoga is also considered as a compulsory subject in various types of corrective activities in the prison and reform houses.
Because the advisory is being given by the WHO and government many fitness freaks are refraining from social gatherings, outdoor physical workout and even not able to manage their gym sessions because with high levels of humidity and physical contact, sweaty gym mats and equipment which are good places for microbes, such as the coronavirus, to spread.
So to continue with the fitness regime, yoga is the best way to do some sort of physical workout and it is also required to attain mental peace.
Like all other outdoor fitness activities, yoga does not require a large space and types of equipment.
Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises are considered to be a holistic healing method to overcome anxiety and panic attacks, to be more particular about instant relief from anxiety and panic situations initially pranayama and breathing techniques can swiftly help to calm and relax a person.
Amid such incidents, we all have to pledge to remain positive while remaining alert.
To win the COVID-19 war, from today onwards, let’s take a pledge to adhere the preventive guidelines of government to remain safe and positive. We can also make yoga and meditation a part of our lifestyle to keep ourselves and other family members free from stress, anxiety, panic attacks and also strengthening the immunity system which is required to fight internally against infectious diseases such as the Coronavirus.
The affected person, who is been directed to stay in an isolated place, can also perform some activities of yoga and meditation to rejuvenate themselves.
Lots of online tutorials and videos of yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises are easily available on YouTube, by following the simple guidelines you can start your session but with carefulness.
As per yogic scriptures, the practice of yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the universal consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, man and nature. ~ AWADHESH KUMAR