Sociology & Psychology of Ashtanga Yoga

The modern age is known as age of competition. It includes not only academic field, sports field but also every sphere of life. In the field of sports we see that every player is trying to reach his maximum capacity. In international competition, take the example of running in which competitors are having the difference of fraction of seconds. Everyone wants to get medal. So competitors are acquired fraction of second with the help of psychology biomechanics nutrition, sports medicine and all other. All these science help us to develop maximum performance through the minimum expenditure of energy. Maximum sports performance are developedof the players through the yoga and pranayam.

The most of the people eat and drink(too much tea or coffee, which creates toxicity in his blood and brain) this chaotic life style makes him prone to disease both somatic and psychic such as acidity, asthma, headache, hypertension, common cold, diabetes, thyroid, postural defects and give stress etc. Which are not directly amenable to conventional (allopathic medicine). Now a days yoga and pranayam therapy have been mostly used for the treatment of both somatic and psychic diseases. Yoga and pranayam are one of the ancient Indian principles which are used in the mind-body connection.

Yoga refers to the types of exercises based on controlled the respiratory system, blood circulatory system, endocrine system, digestive system, nervous system, urinary system and muscular system etc.

The great saint Patanjali considered “Ashtanga yoga” i.e. eight fold of yoga. These are given below:

1. Yama (forbearance)
2. Niyama (religious observance)
3. Asana (posture)
4. Pranayama (suppression of the breath or breathing in a peculiar way)
5. Pratyahara (restraint of the senses) 6. Dharana (steading of the mind)
6. Dhyana (contemplation)
7. Samadhi (trance

The first five make external yoga while other three are internal yoga. All of these elements have further sub divisions. According to Patanjali there are five yamas such as:

• Ahinsa
• Satya
• Asteya
• Aparigraha.
• Brahamcharya

Niyam are also five in number such as

• Shauch
• Santosh
• Tapas
• Swadhyay
• Ishavar paridhan

1. Asanas are incalculable in number. For physical vigour mental poise are spiritual upliftment all these asanas, advisably done with pranayama and significantly important.
2. Pranayam is in fact, a part of upasana or devotion. It has three phrases i.c. Purak. Rechak, Kumbhak. After the adoptation of the correct posture, one aims at synchronizing. inhalation, exhalation process to such an extent that there is natural and automatic suppression of the health. This state is called Pranayama.
3. Pratyahar is restraining the senses which are gateways of knowledge. In fact, pratyahar simply means back from the sensual pleasures. When senses have been controlled through it is an attempt to steady one’s mind. To this yogis call ‘Dharana’ which means steadying and concentrating ones mind in particularly ‘nothing’. After the mind has been steadied, the real contemplation (Dhayan) starts. At this stage, there is smooth flow of deep thinking neither hampered nor distorted. The state of body and mind can be compared to the smooth flow of water in a stream which never disturbed. The state of mind which originates in dhayan, now culminated in “Samadhi” or profound meditation; the highest state of yoga where there is neither aught nor naught, neither dark nor light, neither pleasure nor pain etc. Dhayan, Dharana and Samadhi, all the three together make sanyam(restraint or control). We have see that yoga is not something an ordinary physical exercise or a way of worship. It is a means through which we enjoy the blessing of this life processing good health but also mitigates the pains and suffering of death.

BENEFITS OF YOGA ARE GIVEN BELLOW:

1) Yoga and pranayam are use for cure and a prevention of many diseases, such as acidity, asthma, arthritis, indigestion, diabetes, thyroid, hypertension etc.

2) Yoga is the simplest form of relaxation. It reduces obesity.

3) Yoga has a hygienic effect. Exercises like, Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana, Dhanurasana, sarvangasana, paschimotanasana and chakrasana etc. are meant for cleaning various internal and external vital organs of the body.

4) Yoga is most necessary for mental disorder of a people.

5) Yoga helps us to a great extent, which stimulates our brain.

6) Yoga helps in regularizing he breathing process(inhalation and exhalation).

7) It is the most economical activity.

Yoga is becoming popular everyday. Centers are being opened everywhere to attract people to the practice yoga. Yoga as a therapy is useful in every sphere of modern life whether it is social, professional or spiritual.