The great wealth of knowledge available within the ancient Vedic literature of India is indeed secretive, though not meant to be so.
Let us explore Yoga that is of great relevance today. The Bhagavad Gita describes it as “skill in actions.”
The Upanishad says: “It is said to be the oneness of breath, mind and senses”. Various troublesome factors like pollution and the changing lifestyles plague the modern world. Man is confronted by many ailments like strain, anxiety and hypertension that disrupt his normal life. Yoga is a system of exercises for both physical and mental upkeep. Apart from being a system of exercise, Yoga also inculcates self-discipline.
It was as early as the 2nd century B.C. that the fundamentals of Yoga were systematically presented. The person who is credited with having done this is Patanjali. According to Patanjali, within the human body there are channels called Nadi-s and centers called Chakra-s. If these are tapped, the hidden energy can be released. Though Yoga has been practised for countless generations, it is only during the last few years that scientists have begun to recognize its powers. Tests conducted on Yogis reveal that they do acquire extraordinary powers. For instance, they can survive without oxygen and remain without food for long periods.
Yoga was an integral part of the traditional education as imparted in Ashrama¬s and Gurukula-s. Though education in these Ashrama-s was open only to a few, the practice of Yoga, in its less strict versions, has been popular among the common people all through the ages. The field where the application of Yoga is being increasingly recognized is Physiotherapy. Yoga has also been used to treat disorders such as asthma, backache, depression, etc. and is being assessed for its potential in treating illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, cerebral palsy, etc. Such is the amazing power of Yoga!
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