YOGA AFTER RETIREMENT

AS PUBLISHED IN SUNDAY EDITION OF FREE PRESS DATED 20th Feb.2011

Retirement can be an ideal gateway for Yoga as the  work pressures and targets gets suddenly off the mind and  time available  is plenty . The need to maintain a good health had  never been so crucial than post- retirement.  In most of the cases due  to lack of activities and in absence of fix compulsive routine, a retired person descends into a sedentary life style, which often triggers a vicious circle  of ailments and other vulnerabilities. Therefore, the answer lies in age old and time tested practice of yoga.

Fortunately today, learning and practicing yog-aasan and pranayam  is not  very difficult. Swami Ramdevji  of Patanjali yogpeeth Haridwar has revolutionized the concept  and brought out a most simple and easily practice-able version of yoga which any one can follow through their regular TV broadcasts or can learn it from innumerable Yog-Shikshaks trained in his institution and spread across the country. Likewise there are number of other institutions available in the country, which offers numerous  yoga courses, so one can learn yoga from any of the convenient sources.

Yoga is not just about aasans or pranayams, it is a way of life. It is a complete code of conduct of life with its ultimate goal being self realization. Yoga means unification of  individual  soul-ar energy  with universal energy. According to maharshi Patanjali, there are eight elements  of Yoga “ Ashtang Yog” , which consist of  1) Yam 2) Niyama 3) Aasan 4) Pranayam 5) Pratyahar 6) Dharana 7) Dhyan  8) Samadhi. Yam (Principles or moral code) carries with it the  principles of Ahimsa ,satya, asteya , Bramhacharya, Aparigrah etc. and Niyam provides for personal disciplines like shouch (purity), santosh (contentment),  tapa(endurance), swadhyay (self study) and Eshwar pranidhan (dedication). The Aasan and Pranayam keep the body and mind  healthy,  stable and  balanced . It is these two elements of Yoga, which have become popular world wide to attain better health and mental peace. The Aasan and Pranayam  followed by Pratyahar (control over senses) and Dharana (concentration on object) prepares a Yogi to embark on the path of Dhyan (meditation ) and Samadhi  (Unification of atma with parmatma).

Having understood the complete scope and versatility of Yoga, we will now elaborate on its most sought after elements i.e., Asana and Pranayam. Unlike other form of exercises aasan and pranayam routines  are non-exhaustive and go beyond the physical aspect of exercises by relieving the stress and improving the concentration of mind. They  rejuvenates  our mind , body and soul simultaneously. As regards Aasan , Patanjali Yog Sutra says “ STHIR SUKHAM AASANAM” means any posture in which we are comfortable and stable is Aasan.  There are around 84 Aasans described in “Hath Yog Pradiptika” a  complete treatise on various types of postures recommended for maintaining good health,  flexibility and fitness of body.  Those who start young  can perform all the aasans with ease, comfort and stability, but those who decide to step  in later say after retirement should be very cautious of limitations of their body and existing ailments. It would be better if they consult their physician first for their dos and donts. As a general rule one should not attempt any pose/Aasan forcefully. Let it come gradually  with regular practice. For those , who can not attempt aasans for any reason should prefer walking for at least 30 minutes combined with Pranayam.

Now what is Pranayam ?.  The word Pranayam is a combination of ‘prana’ and ‘aayam’. Prana means the vital energy or life force and the Aayam means extension.  The most crucial element of life is pran or  vaayu  which is regulated through breathing. Pranayam is nothing but the “art of breathing” with an objective to optimize the vital energy. It works on two levels, one is at physical  level wherein breathed air interacts with blood and reaches up to each and every cell of the body , helping them to function at  their best . It removes all the toxins from the body cells and adds more life in them. Pranayam controls and regulate our breathing in such a way that the capacity of our lungs is  fully utilized . With Pranayam, we take longer, fuller but lesser number of breaths per minute  while improving the quality and the end use of same breathing pattern. The less number of breaths keep us cool and composed , help in reducing the level of stress, thus enhancing the vitality to another  level.

Another level at which pranayam works is our pranic body or soul-ar system. It is a sort of a virtual energy flowing throughout the body through nadis and chakras. Chakras can be visualized as junctions of energy flows. Pranayam activates these chakras and additional energy starts flowing through them. Kundalini jagaran is the advanced stage of this process.  It is for this reason that our spinal posture should be straight during pranayam so that our  virtual energy flow can be smooth.

There are eight kinds of Pranayaam that are commonly practiced.

1) Bhastrika               2) Kapalbhati             3) Anulom – vilom         4)  Bahya pranayam

5) Ujjaayee                 6) Bhramri                 4) Udgeeth- Omkar jap   8) Pranav.

The scientific and medical researches have also proved the therapeutic and disease-curing effect of YOG. Many doctors are now advising  yog-aasan and pranayam in their prescriptions to patients. So if you have not started taking yoga as part of your daily routine yet then waste no further time and ensure yourself with this Yogiclaim policy , with no reimbursement option. Wishing  you  more years of pension than years of service.