How Yoga heals

We all know that stress is the root cause of most of our diseases, ailments and psychological problems. We also know that most of the modern medicines can reduce stress but can't eliminate stress. This is where Yoga has its value. It eliminates stress through physical exercises, known as 'asanas' and through meditation. However, to understand how Yoga heals you first need to understand how stress works.

Stress is basically a defense mechanism that comes into play when an individual overreaches himself. This situation could manifest itself in a business meeting, at an emotionally charged social gathering, during tiresome and excessive traveling or at home on account of uncontrollable emotions.

When the mind feels stressed, it automatically produces a 'flight or fight reaction'. Some individuals prefer the easy solution - they try to run away; the others fight back. The individuals who fight back benefit more in the short term because their body learns to cope with stress.

However, in the long run, continual exposure to stress and anxiety, starts impacting on their immune system. A great amount of pressure is exerted on the internal organs; the heart rate surges, blood pressure goes up, there is excessive sweating and tensing of muscles. Even the digestion process gets affected, and the body becomes more susceptible to illness and disease.

Fortunately the human body has yet another in-built savior — the parasympathetic nervous system or the "relaxation response." And this is where the great healing art of Yoga comes in. Through Yoga, especially through deep breathing and meditation, an individual can relax the skeletal muscles, which in turn activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This then lowers the blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate, and calms the body and mind.

Since deep breathing is at the core of Yoga, continuous practice of the same restores and revitalizes the energy reserves of the body. The individuals feel stronger, and their minds and body accept stress as another challenge that needs to be met.

This is why Yoga is considered so useful. It does not depend on medicines that may produce harmful side-effects or without which an individual may feel helpless in dealing with day-to-day problems. Instead, it strengthens the body's natural stress fighting mechanism. It also makes an individual more calm and composed. His reactions become measured, in keeping with the needs of the situation.

The pressure on body's organs, both mind and heart, are reduced; the body can function normally; and the individual can live from crisis to crisis without straining his physical or mental resources.