By: Dr Rita Khanna
Yoga & Naturopathy for Healthier Life
Yoga & Naturopathy are like two wheels of a cart. Naturopathy heals the diseases while Yoga maintains it thereafter. Both are Preventive, Curative and Educative and if practiced together, will keep the body healthy and in harmony. They both play a vital role in improving the quality of life and bring in total positive vibes in the human mind. The two in combination will ensure a blessed and disease free old age.
UNDERSTANDING NATUROPATHY & YOGA
Naturopathy & Yoga both are drugless and natural healing sciences, which correct the imbalance, caused by excessive indulgence and restore inner harmony with the aid of natural treatment modalities. There are five elements of human body – Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Ether. The element Earth stands for the solid structure like bones. Water is representative of the fluids like blood, lymph, etc. Air represents the breath of life, Fire symbolises the vitality and Ether or Space personifies the reflection of the human spirit – Soul – the unseen aspect of the human entity. In positive health, each of these elements are in equilibrium and well balanced. Any disturbance in this equilibrium due to any cause leads to accumulation of toxins and morbidity, which manifest in diseases.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF YOGA & NATUROPATHY
The philosophy of Yoga & Naturopathy is to heal the whole body by cleansing it of toxins and further strengthening it rather than curing a specific disease. It balances all the systems of the body with the help of proper diet, pure water, fresh air, sunlight, exercise and rest. Once that condition is met, anyone can maintain good health naturally without the aid of drugs, medication or other artificial stimulants. According to Yoga & Naturopathy, human body has the power to heal itself. In short, Nature Cure & Yoga increase immune power of the body & give total health & a long life without having any side effects.
WHAT IS DETOXIFICATION?
Definition: “When the obstruction in a gutter is removed, the water flows freely. Similarly, when the poisons and toxins in the body are eliminated, health and vitality flow freely.”
Swami Sivananda
Detoxification is the process of clearing toxins from the body and clearing excess mucus and congestion. Large amounts of toxins and morbid matter get accumulated in the body. There are many contributory causes of accumulation of waste products in the body such as eating improper dietary habits, wrong combinations of food, imbalanced food, over-eating, poor digestion & assimilation, impure water, lack of exercise, mental attitude, medicines and drugs taken for a prolonged period and ill-advised surgical operations. They inactivate the bone marrow (required for the formation of red blood cells) and weaken the vital force.
The vital force is capable of keeping the body free from illness because it is the storehouse of the physical strength. When the toxins accumulate beyond the normal limits in the body, harmful bacteria is germinated causing diseases. The body makes strenuous and violent efforts to eliminate them. It is a law of nature that toxins are expelled from body by oxygenisation in lungs, perspiration and urinary or excreta tract. Whenever the natural toxin throwing passages don’t work properly, various ailments such as headaches, low energy, overweight, constipation, depression, bloating, allergies, skin problems, bad breath, joints aches, hair fall etc start appearing. Nothing eliminates these waste products more effectively than detoxification method. To help the body to restore perfect health we need to detoxify to maintain the vital force at its full strength. The more toxic we are, the faster we age. Hence, everyone needs detoxification,
THE METHODS FOR CURE IN NATUROPATHY & YOGA
The intestinal tract and digestive system serve as a hub of the entire body – all organs, glands, and even our brain, heart and cells are totally dependent upon a well-functioning digestive system. Cleansing is an important part of maintaining health, slowing the aging process and preventing diseases, by allowing the body to rid itself of a build up of toxins. There are many ways of doing this.
The detoxification treatment consists of Yogaasana, Pranayama, Meditation, overhauling of the whole system with juice fasting for few days and enema. Soup and fruit / vegetable diet should follow this for few days. Other treatments are abdominal wet pack, hot footbath, massage, steam bath, hipbath, spinal bath etc. All these treatments support detox by increasing elimination from the body, reduce extra weight, cleansing the colon, enhancing circulation to clear toxic substances, eliminating foods from the diet that require detoxification or are allergenic, and providing nutrients to support and protect the liver which is the main organ involved in detox. Body becomes very light. One experiences a very blissful feeling because it also connects the body & mind together.
This drugless system guides the body to fight against the basic cause of diseases and thus attain a state of absolute health. People who want better health and do not want to rely on pills/drugs for their existence, must lead life according to the laws of nature. The main aim of this therapy is to heal & give rest to the body, calm the mind and create greater health and vitality.
GUIDELINES FOR HEALTHY DETOXIFICATION
FOOD
Eat more of raw food – sprouts, fresh green leafy vegetables, seasonal fruits, salads, juices, raw chutney, lemon-honey-water. Prefer buttermilk and curds to milk.
Take dried fruits after soaking them in water overnight.
Chew well and eat slowly and calmly. Avoid hurry, worry & curry.
Eat according to your hunger, but fill only three-fourths of your stomach.
Food eaten during illness feeds the disease, not the patient.
Do not eat if tired, in pain or in a tense state.
WATER
Drink water as much as possible during whole day other than at mealtime. After half an hour of completion of meals, certainly plain water can be taken. We can have soup or buttermilk along with the meals.
AVOID
White-flour (Maida), White sugar, polished rice, synthetic/artificial food.
Smoking, tea, coffee, alcohol, drugs, soft drinks, tobacco chewing, pan, zarda. (Tea and coffee may stimulate you for a short time, but can have derogatory effects in the long run).
Very hot and very cold food.
Eating while reading or watching T.V.
TIPS FOR GOOD HEALTH
Practice Yogasana, Pranayama & Meditation. Get into the habit of walking, jogging, gardening, swimming, playing games etc. for better physical fitness.
After having meal, sit in Vajrasana for 10 to 15 minutes.
Keep two-hour gap between your dinner and bedtime.
Sleep on a medium/hard bed with a thin pillow.
Forget your worries and be relaxed when you go to bed.
Spend some time in laughing daily.
Make sure you keep your digestive track cleansed.
Detoxifying the system completely with juices, fruits, salads for 2 to 4 days every three months is very good to stay fit permanently.
