Health & wellbeing: A dynamic continuum of human nature
Yoga is a spiritual science for the integrated and holistic development of our physical, mental and moral-spiritual aspects of being.
The philosophy of Yoga is practical and applicable in our day-to-day living.
Yoga has been documented to normalise physiological function and recent advances in the field of research have shown that it has sound scientific basis.
Yoga understands health and well being as a dynamic continuum of human nature and not a mere ‘state’ to be attained and maintained. The lowest point on the continuum with the lowest speed of vibration is that of death whereas the highest point with the highest vibration is that of immortality. In between these two extremes lie the states of normal health and disease.
For many, their state of health is defined as that ‘state’ in which they are able to function without hindrance whereas in reality, health is part of our evolutionary process towards Divinity. The lowest point on the dynamic health continuum with lowest speed of vibration may be equated with lowest forms of life and mineral matter while the highest point with highest speed of vibration may be equated with Divinity.
The process of human evolution passes through numerous forms on the journey from the lowest to the highest. This journey is very well brought out in a verse from the Shivapuranam of Dravidian culture that describes the evolutionary journey from the non-moving state of rocks, grass, small plants and trees to the moving state of worms, various animals, birds and snakes up to the human state and finally ending at the divine state of sages and celestial beings that describes the evolutionary journey from the non-moving state of rocks, grass, small plants and trees to the moving state of worms, various animals, birds and snakes up to the human state and finally ending at the divine state of sages and celestial beings.
pullaagip poodaay puzhuvaay maramaagip pal virugamagip paravaiyaayp paambaagik kallaay manidharaayp peyaayk kananggalaay val asuraragi munivaraayth thevaraayc cellaa nindra iththaavara sanggamaththul ellap pirappum pirandhu ilaiththen emberumaan -Sivapuranam verse 30.
This evolutionary journey was beautifully described by the Sufi Saint Rumi some hundreds of years ago. Rumi declared in ecstasy,
“I died as a mineral to become a plant, I died as a plant to become an animal, I died as an animal to become a man, I died as a man to become an angel, I died as an angel to become a God. When was I ever the less by dying”?
Yogi Swatmarama in the Hathayoga Pradipika, one of the classical Yoga texts gives us the assurance,
“One who tirelessly practises Yoga attains success irrespective of whether they are young, old decrepit, diseased or weak”.
He gives us the guarantee that Yoga improves health of all alike and wards off disease, provided we properly abide by the rules and regulations. (Yogi Swatmarama in the Hathayoga Pradipika, one of the classical Yoga texts gives us the assurance, “One who tirelessly practises Yoga attains success irrespective of whether they are young, old decrepit, diseased or weak”.
He gives us the guarantee that Yoga improves health of all alike and wards off disease, provided we properly abide by the rules and regulations.
yuvaa vrddho ativriddho vaa vyaadhito durbalo pi vaa abhyaasaat siddhimaapnoti sarvayogeshvatandritah-Hathayoga Pradipika I:64.
World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well being and not merely absence of disease or infirmity. WHO has also in recent times suggested a fourth dimension of spiritual health but has fallen short of defining it without confusing it with religion.
From a Yogic perspective it is heartening that the WHO definition gives importance to ‘well being’ that is a vital aspect of ‘being’ healthy as well as ‘feeling’ healthy.
There is no use in a doctor telling patients that all their investigations are ‘normal’ when the patients themselves are not feeling ‘well’.
This qualitative aspect of health is something that Yoga and Indian systems of medicine have considered important for thousands of years.
The definition of asana given in the given in the Yoga Sutra as as sthira sukham implies this state of steady well being at all levels of existence (sthira sukham asanam- Yoga Darshan II:46).
Maharishi Patanjali also tells us that through the practice of asana we can attain a state that is beyond dualities leading to a calm and serene state of well being ( we can attain a state that is beyond dualities leading to a calm and serene state of well being (tato dvandva anabhighata- Yoga Darshan II: 48).
Yoga aims at enabling the individual to attain and maintain a dynamic Yoga aims at enabling the individual to attain and maintain a dynamic sukha sthanam that may be defined as a dynamic sense of physical, mental and spiritual well being.
The Bhagavad Gita defines Yoga as that may be defined as a dynamic sense of physical, mental and spiritual well being. The Bhagavad Gita defines Yoga as samatvam meaning thereby that Yoga is equanimity at all levels. meaning thereby that Yoga is equanimity at all levels.
yogasthah kurukarmani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya siddiyasidhyoh samobutva samatvam yoga uchyate — Bhagavad Gita II: 48.
This may be also understood as a perfect state of health wherein physical homeostasis and mental equanimity occur in a balanced and healthy harmony.
One of the main lacunae of the WHO definition lies in the use of the term ‘state’ that implies health is something to be achieved ‘once and for all’ with no need for care about it thereafter! It is definitely not so. We need to keep working on our health with great vigour and dynamic enthusiasm for the entire span of our life.
If health is to be understood as a ‘state’, then it must be understood as a dynamic state that varies from day-to-day and often from minute-to-minute!
It is often actually more challenging to maintain this dynamic state of health than to even attain it in the first place.
Ask any World №1 sports champion and they will testify to this inherent truth that applies to sports as well as to life itself.
