Why Is Yoga Good For Mind
Yoga is good for the body, mind, heart and soul. To understand the reasons behind the benefits and the manner of execution, you should know and understand what exactly yoga is. Yoga is an age old science and art of living, a spiritual art of living, aimed at bringing about balance and harmony; first between the different systems of the body such as the respiratory system, the digestive system, the musculo-skeletal system, secondly, it endeavors to bring about harmony between the body, the mind (thoughts) and heart (emotions).
For this, the founding father, the sage Patanjali had laid down the eight-fold path a few thousand years ago. They consist of:
1. Yamas (restraints)
2. Niyamas (observances)
3. Asanas (yogic exercises and poses)
4. Pranayama (breathing exercises)
5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses with inward)
6. Dharana (concentration)
7. Dhyana (meditation) and
8. Samadhi (a super conscious state)
The last is supposed more a derived state rather than an exercise in itself, and is one that comes about through diligently and devotedly practicing the previous seven. While steps 3 & 4 are aimed almost solely at the body, steps 4, 5, 6 and 7 attempt to calm the mind and heart, finally resulting in attainment of the eighth step. But, yoga advocates the observances of Yamas and Niyamas, a code of conduct consisting of ethical and moral behavior, all along the way, if one is to be at peace with oneself and with the world at large. To this extent, yoga is an experiential science that believes in the concept of mind over matter.
In the ultimate analysis, even mind is considered matter, but only subtly so. The protracted practice of Yoga, with all the above mentioned 7 steps – is supposed to result in a fit, healthy body, one in which all the organs and systems function harmoniously and are not at loggerheads with each other. In such a system the para-sympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems are in balance, warding off the possibility of all psychosomatic illnesses stemming largely from mental and emotional stress. These include diabetes, blood pressure (low or high), heart conditions, sinusitis, asthma, ulcerative colitis, chronic constipation and eczema, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) so on and so forth. By calming the turbulent mind through the practice of a Yogic diet, pranayamas or breathing exercises and meditation or dhyana, yoga helps ward of myriad diseases.
In the process the practices also make you stronger, thus raising your immunity level. As a result you find yourself able to withstand not just strong stress situations, but a host of physical ailments as well. But these benefits are to be experienced, rather than described, through the practice of yoga.
