Lifestyle Diseases and their Prevention through yoga Therapy

Understanding Lifestyle Diseases and Their Prevention through Yoga Therapy

While I was conducting a yoga session early in the morning, a student named Sahil interrupted with an important question, I saw he was curious to know about something, so I told him to wait till the class ended. And like an obedient student, he managed to be quiet till the end. And once the class ended, he came up to me and said “Ma’am, I want to know about something important. And I think you’re the right person to answer this. Will you help me?” I smiled and said, “Yes Sahil.” He wanted to know about Yoga Therapy and its importance in our lives. I told him before understanding that what Yoga Therapy is, you need to know why Yoga Therapy is needed. And for that, you need to know what lifestyle diseases are. So he curiously asked, “Please tell me, ma’am.” And I continued.

What Are Lifestyle Diseases?

Lifestyle diseases arise from factors like mental and physical stress, pollution, exposure to chemicals, and poor habits. These conditions are not contagious. According to Yoga, our body is composed of five layers, known as the Panch Kosha:

1. Annamaya Kosha: The physical layer.                            

2. Pranamaya Kosha: The life force layer

3. Manomaya Kosha: The mental layer

4. Vijnanamaya Kosha: The wisdom layer

5. Anandamaya Kosha: The bliss layer

The Origin of Lifestyle Diseases

Lifestyle diseases develop gradually, progressing from ‘Adi’ (the beginning) to ‘Vyadi’

(disease). Initially, they disturb the Manomaya Kosha, affecting our mental and spiritual well-being. This disturbance then affects the Pranamaya Kosha, disrupting our breathing patterns, and finally affects the Annamaya Kosha, influencing our physical health and nutrition.

Key Aspects for Preventing Lifestyle Diseases

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle involves nurturing four fundamental pillars: Ahar, Vihar, Achar, and Vichar. Let us explore each of these in detail:

1. Ahar (Diet): What we eat, how much we eat, and how we eat play a crucial role in

our health.

2. Vihar (Recreation and Rest): Our routines, including rest and recreation, are vital for maintaining balance.

3. Achar (Conduct): How we interact with the external world, guided by principles like Yamas (non-violence, truth, non-stealing, moderation, and non-possessiveness), shapes our overall well-being.

4. Vichar (Thoughts and Goals): Our life goals and the philosophical outlook we adopt influence our mental and emotional health.

To lead a healthy and fulfilling life, it is essential to balance all four pillars. Neglecting any one of them can result in pain, disease, and suffering. This holistic approach is emphasized in the Yoga Sutras and also in Ayurveda and the Bhagavad Gita.

Yoga Therapy: A Support System for Lifestyle Management

Yoga Therapy serves as a supportive system for managing lifestyle diseases. It offers complementary therapy for preventing issues at various levels of our existence, promoting overall health and well-being. By integrating Yoga Therapy into our daily routine, we can better manage stress, improve our physical health, and foster a balanced lifestyle.

By knowing all this, we understand the purpose of having Yoga Therapy in our lives. It is not an activity, it is a way of life. And I’m happy Sahil asked me about it and with his question, we all know about it with such deep understanding.

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