Dukkha (suffering) is an innate characteristic of existence in the realm of samsara. From the day a human is born, pain becomes an inevitable part of reality you can’t escape! This dukkha encapsulates all the illnesses of the body and mind that are discussed in various therapeutic treatments. Every therapy strives for one main goal- to remove suffering from an individual’s life.
Yoga is a therapy combining both physical movements and mindfulness for an overall sense of peace.
This Chat on the Mat with Dr. Ganesh N Rao is going to be the most enlightening talk on how yoga is one of the best holistic approaches to dealing with physical and mental ailments.
Dr. N Ganesh Rao is the founder of ACT Yoga, Mumbai with profound wisdom about yoga and philosophy. He has been enlightening the yoga community while holding several dignified positions in nationally and internationally recognized institutions.
Importance of Yoga for Physical and Mental Health
hellomyyoga: What makes yoga a holistic therapy and not just a therapy?
Dr. N Ganesh Rao:Â Â The Holism in Yoga and Yoga therapy comes from the fact that Yoga views
a. the human being as one irreducible whole comprising of body, mind and consciousness
b. the human as an integral part of society and universe
c. itself relevant to the whole day of the individual / all aspects of life and not only when on the mat doing yogic practices. In other words, Yoga is a lifestyle and not merely a style of life.
hellomyyoga: What are the fundamental elements that make Yoga a holistic approach to improving one’s overall wellbeing?
Dr. N Ganesh Rao: The social, physical & physiological, mental & psychological, intuitive and spiritual dimensions of the human being are all inter-related – none of them can be dealt with exclusively. In considering the well-being of the individual, each of these dimensions have to be taken care of. Conflicts / issues in any dimension will necessarily have adverse effects on other dimensions. The total / holistic individual is more important than only his problem. Set the individual in right perspective and his / her problem is not only understood but also sorted out.
Also, when the approach is holistic, the causes of issues are eliminated with rather than only the symptoms. This ensures a permanent / long-lasting state of well-being.
hellomyyoga: Do you think that these elements when combined are stepping stones for evolving human consciousness?
Dr. N Ganesh Rao: In the various dimensions of human beings listed above, there seems to be a hierarchy – the grossest dimension being the social (external-most) and the subtlest being the spiritual (the innermost). The evolution of consciousness is definitely a movement from the external-most to the inner-most.
hellomyyoga: What is the key to maintaining this approach?
Dr. N Ganesh Rao: The key to maintaining the Holistic approach is
a. the ever-present realization of our holistic nature
b. not to expect short-cut and quick fix remedies for our issues
c. to remember that well-being is a means and not an end-in-itself
d. to keep the goal of human life always in the fore-front of our consciousness and activities.
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