Four sessions of 2.30 hours each module.
After the inspiring seminars on “Wisdom of the Chakras”, a new series follows titled Yogic Tools for Total Health.
The science of yoga has always been dedicated to the physical, mental, and spiritual health of mankind. Since the advent of the current technological age, many great thinkers have begun to suspect that mankind is entering into another dimension of disease and suffering, one which belongs not so much to the physical body as to the mental and psychic bodies… most people have lost the capacity to understand, analyse or think about themselves, their minds and their inner problems. The focus of their attention has become completely materialistic. The structure of society and man’s day-to-day life has compelled him to think more about what is happening outside rather than what is happening within him. So, in the course of time, he has come to neglect the fundamental rules and signs of physical and mental health.
– Swami Satyananda Saraswati
The generally accepted definition of health, given by WHO, is that health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. That may well be, but real health requires not only that we look to keeping the body and the mind healthy, but that we also look to the spirit. As Sri Swami Satyananda has said, “In order to gain total health, it is necessary for the spiritual life to become the base of our ordinary life.”
The ancient Greeks, as did the ancient yogis, took a similar view to total health. Hygieia the goddess of health and hygiene, and the daughter of Asclepius, the god of medicine, was worshipped by the Greeks, and later the Romans, in many temples and sanctuaries. Although originally, she was the goddess of physical health and the prevention of sickness, Hygieia was also worshipped as the protectress of mental health. So important was this goddess that she is referred to in the Hippocratic oath and an orphic hymn was dedicated to her.
For maintaining total health, real health, we need not only to care for our physical body but supplement this care with right thinking, philosophy and psychology, principles and beliefs. The art of dhyana yoga also needs to be developed. This is when the mind expands and becomes more and more aware of the beauty and intelligence within and the infinite dimensions of beauty and intelligence around us.
Never in history have we been subjected to so many terrible diseases, and new viruses. Is there a way still to achieve the best possible health? Yoga is the answer.
Numerous studies show yoga’s benefits in all psychosomatic diseases, arthritis, osteopenia, oncology, women’s health, chronic pain relief, improves strength, balance, and flexibility. Yoga benefits heart health, relaxes you, and helps you sleep better. Yoga gives more energy and promotes positive states of mind. Yoga helps you manage stress and promotes better self-care through maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, positive attitudes, and emotions, and developing a positive relationship with the environment.
The first module on Health starts on the 4th December, where we shall begin to look into some of the yogic tools available to keep us healthy on physical, mental and emotional levels.