Homeopathy and Yoga.
I have begun learning and practicing Yoga specifically the Asanas or the postures since last year. I have found Yoga to be perfect in correcting disorders like Cervical spondylosis, Lumbar spondyloses, arthritis , carpel tunnel syndrome etc.
I am a 6 ft. 180Lbs weighing South Indian with a tendency to put on weight in the middle and began developing knee pains and back pain which came on after long mobike rides and sitting for long in the clinic. I tried to take up jogging but the knee pains became worse and I could not move especially in the mornings. I played Shuttle badminton and lost weight immediately but the knee and the joint pains could not allow me to continue.
I took up Yoga because a patient of mine who was a teacher suggested that I attend her classes. I did very reluctantly but soon began to enjoy the classes. The dynamic nature of the postures and the focus on breath while performing the postures soon made my very flexible and my knee and joint pains began to wane. My lung capacity increased and I was able to play the fast paced Shuttle Badminton for longer periods of time. This, I attributed to the concentration and holding of breath while performing the Yoga Asanas. I was told this would happen but I experienced this personally. The quality of my sleep improved and I got up more refreshed. I must say that my ability to concentrate on tasks at hand and also my appetite and digestion improved greatly.
I decided to learn yoga to teach my patients certain basic Asanas to help them with their joint disabilities.
Since a large part of my practice consists of patients with arthritis and joint disorders, I started to actively teach the basic Asanas and soon found that in conjunction with homeopathic medicines which act predominantly on joints and muscles like Rhus Tox, Bryonia, Kail carb, Guiacum, Bellis Per, Gaultheria, Arnica, Mag Phos, Colocynth, Actea racemosa etc. I was able to help alleviate joint and muscle disorders to a great extent. This is not to say that everyone with joint disorders must take up yoga and stick to it. The extent of the problem and the disability must first be ascertained and appropriate Homeopathic treatment begun. The Asanas can be slowly begun under supervision once there is a perceptible decrease in the pain and the discomfort with Homeopathic medication. It helps that I am a physician and can advise my patients when they can take up yoga and what Asanas need to be performed, again under supervision, to overcome discomfort and pain.
Yoga, it seems to me, helps the practitioner to increase the levels of flexibility, immunity, and surprisingly also increase the threshold for pain.
As I gradually began to learn more advanced Asanas and breathing techniques, called Pranayama, I began to read up on the literature and realized that yoga was a complete science and a “way of life”. It taught the rules of right living which included rules for diet, exercise, breathing, social responsibility etc. which if followed in letter and spirit made us reach godhood. This is the philosophical part of it.
If you do not have a sound body, you do not have a sound mind and if you do not have a sound mind, you cannot attain salvation seems to be the underlying theme in the yogic practices.
Leaving the philosophical part of Yoga aside and concentrating on just the physical or the Asana’s and Pranayama part of yoga will leave us more healthy.
It is my endeavor now to teach my other patients with chronic skin disorders, breathing difficulties, sleep disorders, digestive problems; mood swings different aspects of yoga because I am sure of the health giving benefits of this science.
Our modern life style disorders are a result of our changing work, family, emotional and professional needs and the disconnect between our needs, expectations and societal norms.