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Yoga and
Oriental Medicine
By Alex Berks
Yoga has been practiced in the Orient for over 5,000 years. Patanjali
compiled and reformulated the Yoga philosophy that was handed down from
India's most illustrious age. In his Sutras or "threads" he expounded
upon the many aspects of Yoga; spiritual discipline and meditation
techniques, which enable a person to achieve the highest state of human
Oneness with God and Everlasting joy. Spurned on by the propagation of
Buddhism in China, this "special knowledge" rapidly spread across the
Himalayas.
The Chinese
were greatly influenced by the knowledge from India, and they used the
knowledge to enhance their own native practices of Tai Qi, Qi Gong, and
Taoist Yoga. All of these disciplines are comprised of exercises
formatted to increase longevity and open the meridian system, thereby
preventing disease.
How do Yoga and the Meridian System work together?
The initial step in maintaining optimal health is releasing musculo-skeletal
holding patterns, which are intimately related to more internal physical
conditions and their accompanying mental symptoms. While Acupuncture is
primarily used for the treatment of specific diseases and disharmonies
by unblocking stagnation in the organs and meridians, Yoga is a general
exercise form that prevents disease from occurring in the first place.
By keeping
the meridians open and the Qi flowing, Yoga is like self-massage.
Specific Yoga postures invigorate certain meridians. One such meridian
acted upon by Yoga postures is associated with the kidneys. In Oriental
medicine the kidneys are the "root" of yin and yang. The motion of
bending over backwards energizes and stimulates the yang thus generating
heat and energy, while forward bends emphasize the yin or cooling, and
calming aspects. If you feel sluggish or cold, backbends will give you
energy by stimulating the kidneys. If you have insomnia or too much
energy, bending forward is more suitable as it has a soothing and
calming effect.
The
complementary nature of Yoga.
The complementary nature of Yoga along with other forms of alternative
health care, such as Acupuncture, share the common goal of releasing
stagnant energy in the meridian systems, their related organs, or in the
blood. While Yoga provides the format in which to release an energy
blockage, Acupuncture Meridian Theory provides the framework to
understand which poses are best for a particular condition. When paired
with Chinese herbal medicine, the benefits to these therapies can be
dramatic. The Chinese Pharmacopeia is the largest, most advanced
categorization of plants animals and minerals in the entire world.
It has
withstood the test of time. Our hectic fast-paced lifestyles, combined
with poor eating habits and a polluted environment can create
deficiencies that herbs can help to correct. Herbs can help tonify as
well as unblock static Qi. Together with Yoga and Acupuncture, herbs
help to balance the body and mind and create a greater consciousness
towards the body's internal processes.
Invariably the poses most disliked are the most advantageous. The areas
of decreased strength and flexibility are usually places of stagnation
in the meridian system. They are the most worthy of your attention and
offer the most rewards upon conditioning. For example, a person with
poor digestion will almost always have weak abdominal muscles. Thus,
properly performing asanas, which emphasize the belly, will move the
energy of the lower abdomen as well as strengthen the abdominal muscles,
thereby helping to alleviate the problem. Similarly, headaches and
stagnation in the meridians of the muscles of the neck and shoulders can
be alleviated by Yoga as certain postures circulate energy throughout
the meridian system.
There is a saying in Chinese Medicine said at the conclusion of every
Yoga class, that has been proven time and time again. "When the mind is
calm the Qi flows smoothly, and conversely when the Qi is made to flow
smoothly the mind is calm". Isn't this why we practice Yoga?
Alex Berks teaches Yoga at Forrest Yoga Circle in Santa Monica
California, USA and attends Emperor's College of Traditional Chinese
Medicine. In addition, he is a masseuse and herbalist at the Golden
Cabinet Herbs.
Vladimir Antonov
Spiritual
Practices
(Training Aid)
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