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Be a Yoga Chikitsak, a Noble Yoga Therapist - Yogavani from Indian Yoga Association

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Celebrating World Meditation Day with the Indian Yoga Association 

On World Meditation Day, the Associate Centres and Member Institutes of the Indian Yoga Association came together to honour the profound practice of meditation. Across various locations, our community gathered to reflect, connect, and deepen their meditation journeys, fostering a sense of unity and inner…

Celebrating 6 Years of Excellence:Indian Yoga Association Gujarat Chapter Foundation Day 

The Indian Yoga Association, Gujarat Chapter, virtually celebrated its 6th Foundation Day on 29th December with the theme Yoga for Lifestyle Management. The program began with a prayer, followed by Mauli Baviskar introducing all dignitaries. The event emphasized yoga’s role in promoting holistic well-being, inspiring…

Geetham Institute of Alternative Medicine hosts transformative sessions 

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Indian ancient Siddhars and the science of longevity: A remarkable discovery byAttangaogam Peedam 

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Tamil Nadu SCC meets to discuss way forward 

The Tamil Nadu State Chapter Committee meeting was held in World Community Service Centre, Chennai on December 28, 2024, at 10:30am. The meeting commenced with a prayer and meditation session, creating a serene atmosphere for the discussions that followed. Shri Rajeshwari Prabhakaran, Senior Vice-Chairman of…

Enriching programs at Sri Aurobindo Society, Hyderabad 

Throughout December, the Sri Aurobindo Society, Hyderabad, hosted a series of insightful talks and satsangs, focusing on various elements of yoga and spiritual growth. The month began with Elements of Yoga 1 by Smt. Suneetha Sekhar on 1st December, followed by Smt. Harshitha’s session on…

Vedic Kaya Sadhana celebrates convocation ceremony 

The Vedic Kaya Sadhana, Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association, recently held its convocation ceremony, marking a significant milestone for its graduating students. The event celebrated the culmination of rigorous training and dedication, with graduates receiving certifications that recognize their comprehensive understanding and expertise…

SSIYRC Students Set World Record inArdha Matsyendrasana 

In a remarkable achievement, 105 students from the Sri Shankari Institute of Yoga and Research Center, Gummudipoondi (SSIYRC), Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association, sustained the Ardha Matsyendrasana pose for an impressive 10 minutes, earning them a place in the Worldwide Book of Records….

Sree Bala Yoga Studio reflects on a year of remarkable achievements in 2024 

Sree Bala Yoga Studio, Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association, celebrated a year of significant milestones in 2024, underscoring its commitment to yoga education and community wellness. The studio conducted two sessions of its 200-hour Certificate Course in Yoga and a 500-hour Advanced Certificate…

Ananda Chaitanya Meditation Center launches in Coimbatore 

The Ananda Chaitanya Meditation Center in Kurumbapalayam, Coimbatore, Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association was inaugurated with grandeur on December 20, 2024. The event began with the traditional lighting of the kuthuvilakku by renowned writer Jeyamohan, symbolizing the dispelling of ignorance and the illumination…



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13 Feb 2025

Yogavani

Be a Yoga Chikitsak, a Noble Yoga Therapist
Editorial

Be a Yoga Chikitsak, a Noble Yoga Therapist 

Yogacharya Dr Ananda
Balayogi Bhavanani, Editor

समदोष: समाग्निश्व समधातुमलक्रिया:
प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमना: स्वस्थ इत्यभिधियते।।

The best ever definition of health may be attributed to the father of surgery, Acharya Sushrut (~600 BC) who defined health as “a dynamic balance of the elements and humors, normal metabolic activity and efficient elimination coupled with a tranquil mind, senses and contented soul” (samadoshah samaagnishch samadhaatu–malakriyah, prasanna atmendriya manah swasth ityabhidheeyate. Sushrut Samhita, Sutrasthanam, 15:41).
Yoga to me is undoubtedly and truly the best means to achieve such a dynamic state of wholistic health.

As Yoga Chikitsa starts to be introduced into mainstream health care, we must not fall into the dangerous trap of claiming that Yoga is a miracle that can cure everything under the sun for that “puts off” the modern medical community more than anything. They then develop a stiff resistance to Yoga instead of becoming more open to this life giving and health restoring science.

As the use of Yoga Chikitsa in medical centers is still in its infancy we must be cautious about the after-effects we may produce by our conscious and unconscious thoughts, words and actions. Better to err on the side of caution than be true to the adage, “fools rush in where angels fear to tread”.

We must remember that, it is only when we begin to consciously understand our limitations that we can then grow and evolve multiplying our inherent strengths multifold.
I am not downplaying the potentiality of Yoga for it DOES have a role in virtually each and every condition affecting humankind. As stress is the main causative, precipitating and aggravating factor in every known disorder and disease, Yoga as the potent antidote to stress can for sure improve things for the better.

However, though Yoga can improve the condition of nearly every patient, it doesn’t necessarily translate into words such as cure.

Modern medicine doesn’t have a cure for most conditions and hence when Yoga therapists use such words, it creates a negative image and consequent reaction that does more harm than good.

We must remember that the wise “know” that they “know nothing”, the arrogant and ignorant fools “think” they “know everything”.
I would like to reiterate at this point the need of the modern age which is to have an integrated approach towards all forms of therapy. Integrative medicine is the future and we must try to integrate concepts of Yoga in coordination and collaboration with other systems of medicine such as Allopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy. Physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic practices may be also used with the Yoga Chikitsa as required.

Lifestyle modification is the keyword and we must not forget that advice on diet and adoption of a healthy natural lifestyle is very important irrespective of the mode of therapy employed for the patient.

I feel that it is apt to end with a Subhashita, one of many witty and epigrammatic verses in Sanskrit literature that that taunts those doctors and therapists who do not treat their patients in a proper way and who are more interested in making money, name and fame than in curing them.

वैद्यराज नमस्तुभ्यं यमराज सहोदरः
यमस्तु हरति प्राणान् वैद्यः प्राणान् धनानि च

vaidyaraaja namastubhyam yamaraaja sahodarah

yamastu harati praanaan vaidyah praanaan dhanaani cha

This may be translated as follows. “Salutations to you O doctor, for you are the brother of Yamaraja, the Lord of death. Whereas Lord Yama takes away only our life, you take both our life as well as our money too”!

May we not become such inhospitable humans and may we do our best for all those who come into contact with us.
A judicious blend is required with a personalized and mindful approach to each individual, rather than the disease. Attempting to heal the individual with the disease, and not merely focusing on the disease; is a good motto to keep in mind at all times.

May we improve their life by the best of our efforts and may we always strive to have a balance between heart and head, between empathy and intelligence thus living Yoga as skill in action (karmasu koushalam) at all times.

May we all be true therapists, ones who care for our human brethren who are in the throes of suffering (duhkha).

May we enable them to attain as best as possible a state of health and wellbeing (sukha) through the living giving and life transforming art and science of Yoga.

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