Rishi Patanjali did not design the Yog for health and fitness, but for achieving concentrations of the mental faculties on the object of thought, such as complex problems in any science or logic, etc. I have never practiced yoga and have been taking regular physical exercise since I was about eleven years of age, besides playing all types of field games for about an hour and a half every day. I am now 58. I have perfect digestion and except for having to wear spectacles for short sightedness and loss of hair I do not suffer from any diability, illness, etc. I do rigorous exercise for thorty five minutes every morning, Sundays and holidays included. I have varied my routine from time to time over the years from usual PT to weight training to stretching and dand and chest expander springs. Yog practitioners often refer to the sixth chapter of the bhagwad Geeta, but there is no reference to physical benefits derving from Yog in it. I take every care of my health besides the iron-rule of regular exercise, I rarely fall ill and am in full possession of all my senses. My heart rate is 62 per minute and BP is 120/80. Do your Yog, but you will beenfit greatly by troubling your bodies bit more, pushing your limits of endurance still more. It will give you a pleasnt glow of achievement and well being and make your more generous towards others. It will make you want to help others. Young people must spend time at Gym, choose running and other vigorous exercises with Yog
RE:Yoga for health?
by benicenow on Jul 19, 2008 07:59 PM Permalink
Yoga is not only for outer body , Its for inner growth also no gym exercise can give you tranquility and serenity ....... I doubt your name Suresh Bhave ....... Please write you exact name............ Otherwise countless people who invented GYM in west won't take Yoga a s daily life routine....... many good athletes have died with sudden heart attack......... GYM is nothing but icing on cake..........
RE:Yoga for health?
by A J on Aug 01, 2008 10:46 AM Permalink
Suresh, that sure was a good joke. If you are so gung-ho about your exercises, either you vist a Yogacharya or just read all of Shamim's articles. You'd know what effect does Yog have on the body and psyce. You talk about the "6th chapter of Bhagwatam"? Do you even know that there are 12 branches of you and the one you talk about it Bhakti Yog. How can someone so mature in age talk such dim-witted, half baked nonsense??
i am doing yoga and benifitted and lost weight and controlled hypertension.
it is god's gift to mankind,i do lot of brahmari pranayam and it is very destressing.
yoga is best exercise,and asanas r for novices to super atheletes...all....i love yoga.
yoga is for everyone irrespective of religion.
if taliban/osama did yoga they will find love in their heart and become better humans amd leave bloodshed.!!!! [ i hope saudi arabia dont disallow it or some mulla says yoga is unislamic !!! ]
RE:i do yoga and benifitted...why allah did not teach yoag in koran i wonder ?
by Sunil Kumar on Aug 27, 2008 01:22 PM Permalink
But if the yoga is true then why the part of the culture it is of is not digestable to Muslims??? Why the fundamentalists call the non-Muslims Kafirs?? Why they are trying to kill the people of this great country which has only given something or the other but has not desired anything in return??
If the golden ore is not true, it will not yeild gold. Similarly, if the culture of India were false, it would not have got so much to to give to the mankind.
My only appeal is people all religions is please practice your own religions and principles, but do not point to Hinduism, the main culture of this great country called India, from which you will only gain and not lose anything.
Hi shameem ji, everywhere I only see ads to lose weight, exercise to lose weight, medicine to lose weight, etc.. etc.. to lose weight. Again this yoga also for weight loss. Is not there exist anything to gain weight. Is there any particular asanas which can help me to gain weight, as I am under 50Kg and want to gain some weight also my waistline is only 26", so I don't find dresses suitable for me. Btw, I am 24.
RE:weight gain asans
by Shameem on Jul 15, 2008 11:05 AM Permalink
If you start yoga, your metabolism becomes quite efficient. More than weight, perhaps you need to focus on gaining muscle tone and stamina which yoga promises. Also, agnisara kriya increases appetite and is recommended for those who wish to gain weight. You will find instructions easily enough on the net on how to do it, though again it is best learnt with a yoga instructor. Also, the yogic injunction to focus on having a large breakfast as the biggest meal of the day will help you there. According to yoga, you must eat breakfast like a king, while dinner must be like a beggar. Try this also. Perhaps you are skipping breakfast. Also, if you know of good yoga instructor you may ask him/her to teach you chandra bhedana pranayam (cooling pranayama). This is an advanced pranayama and best taught by an instructor. Plus, you can drop in at Landmark bookshop (or other shops stocking Bihar School of Yoga books) and see this book Yoga for Perfect Digestion by the Bihar School. It has a list of practices that you may attempt from yoga for real and healthy weight gain.
om! shameem is an aredent yoga practioner and teacher. but i amy differ with her regarding props.will anyone like to carry a walking stick, if he is healthy. incase if he does, it is going to reduce the strength of muscles that help in standing as well as walking and also the balancing of the whole body comfortably while walking/ standing. a person who has an injury in the leg or an old person whose muscles cannot support the body comfortably while walking or standing may need a walking stick. so let us not make healthy persons to depend on crutches when he is healthy .YOGA I HOPE IS TO HELP PERSONS WHO ARE DEPENDENT ON CRUTCHES TO THROW IT AWAY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND BE ON YOUR OWN LEGS. AM I RIGHT Ms SHAMEEM?
RE:props in hath yoga
by Shameem on Jul 11, 2008 12:07 PM Permalink
NO:) A prop when used in therapeutically is a crutch. A prop when used to enhance the practice is a challenge. A crutch is different from a challenge. Since you have not tried these with the ball I cannot explain the difference. Theory and practice are two different things.
These are aerobic exercise trying to cash in on yoga fame. Other than cleansing routine like Jal neti etc. yoga does not use Ball or stick or any such tool. Stop corrupting yoga
RE:This is not YOGA !!!!!
by Shameem on Jul 08, 2008 08:46 PM Permalink
Please re-read Hatha Yoga Pradipika which says "that adherence to fixed rules' is one of the six blockages to progress in yoga.
RE:RE:This is not YOGA !!!!!
by Shameem on Jul 08, 2008 08:50 PM Permalink
As for that bit about the stick, clearly you have not even heard of yoga danda? Or have you seen mallakhamb (pole yoga) demos -- it is credited and traced back to Lord Hanuman.
RE:This is not YOGA !!!!!
by Shameem on Jul 08, 2008 09:42 PM Permalink
And maybe you have not even heard of the living legend B.K.S. Iyengar (Padmashri) who follows the classical, pure yoga yet has popularised the use of props.
RE:This is not YOGA !!!!!
by Anjali Sharma on Jul 09, 2008 11:53 AM Permalink
why are you so angry. theoretically kanu is right. but yes we must be practical and see that people must accept exercise. that is crucial. whats in a name. it must be correct method and done under supervision. yoga (actually yog) will remain pure just like God.
RE:This is not YOGA !!!!!
by Simplysaid on Jul 12, 2008 05:35 PM Permalink
How is K theoretically correct? Seems author has given enough examples why Kanu is not correct at all theoretically!
RE:This is not YOGA !!!!!
by Shameem on Jul 09, 2008 12:25 PM Permalink
I wonder what makes you think I am angry ? There seems to be a trend amongst some visitors here to use a lecturing /hectoring/ rude tone just because the author of the article is visible and they are not, since they enjoy/hide behind the anonymity of the net. Some others contribute a mish-mash `knowledge' without the basis of either wisdom or experience of the subject. Unfortunately, all of this is not only misleading but also discourages -- those who are genuinely interested in yoga -- from initiating any valid discussion on the topic at hand or share useful information or ask yoga-related queries.
RE:This is not YOGA !!!!!
by OP on Jul 09, 2008 01:18 PM Permalink
Anjali, Shameem is right! Yoga talks about your freedom from biased thinking process. So never limit yoga to a classical way only. Go an improve your health as you want and be happy.
RE:This is not YOGA !!!!!
by Calspadeaspade on Jul 17, 2008 05:04 PM Permalink
It is not yog . It is Yoga a sanskrit word. Because of Urdu influence north INdians have a habit of chopping Sanskrit words at the end.
RE:Reduces Freedom
by Shameem on Jul 08, 2008 08:48 PM Permalink
That statement that props restricts movements is simply incorrect, and clearly not based on any experience with yoga at all.
RE:Reduces Freedom
by Mohanakrishnan Balaram on Jul 09, 2008 12:10 PM Permalink
I have practised yoga with and without a fitness ball.I feel more comfortable performing the asanas without using props.There is nothing wrong in using props though.
RE:Reduces Freedom
by Sunder Raj on Jul 09, 2008 12:45 PM Permalink
Ya true there is no harm in using props ,If you have some form of disability or physical problems.Otherwise one must do it without using props.
BKS iyengar is also teaching Yoga and making use of some specially made chairs.It is for their what they called "Mediacal batch" to treat the physical problems.( As i am just 300 mts away from his house in modern colony Pune area , i know it better)
RE:Reduces Freedom
by Indian Fan on Jul 09, 2008 12:47 PM Permalink
I agree to what Mr.Mohanakrishnan says . Props are needed to assist those who have difficulty in doing some of the postures .But it is better if the individual is able to do Yoga without using props .Let us not go in to extremes in the debate for / against props .
RE:Reduces Freedom
by Shameem on Jul 11, 2008 12:09 PM Permalink
Props are used medically for those who have difficulty. Props are also used, as above, for those who have become too smug in their practice. In other words, it is a good work-out for armchair yogis.
