Abhyasa for Health

The mind of such a person stops running about, and becomes steady and still very easily. The process of steadying the mind is called abhyasa in yoga terminology. It is made of three stages respectively called dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Dharana is a state of mental concentration in which the mind, which has stopped running after the objects of enjoyment (due to vairagya) gets associated with a restricted area of operation, which may be an idol or a picture. or any symbol like a cross, or dot, and so on. This is a state of absorption of the mind in an engrossing topic. All thoughts are here concerned about a single topic. For example, one may fix the mind on some areas in the body, such as any one of the six chakras, the tip of the tongue or nose, the midpoint between the eyebrows, the heart, and so on, or on, an attractive idol of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, or a picture of the rising sun. No thought other than those that are in some way or the other related to the object of concentration, is allow to arise in the mind. This is not an easy thing to do because of the habit of mind to move continuously from one thought to another. But an individual from whose mind vasana or trishna has completel retired, can easily apply his mind to any limited topic (desha), just as a trained horse can be made to follow any specified path, by carefully controlling his actions.

As an individual proceeds deeper in the process of concentration, the mind becomes steadier, and, out of the limited set of thoughts concerning the same topic only one single thought starts arising in the mind time and again. This is the state of dhyana in which the mind becomes very stable like the flame of a lamp in a very calm atmosphere, and its contact with the object of experience becomes intense and complete. There are two varieties of dhyana as explained in the Shandilyopanishad, namely, sagwwdhyana and nirgunadhyana. The former involves stillness of the mind associated with an object of experience that can be grasped through the sense organs, e.g. it may either be seen with eyes, or touched with the hands or at least it can be thought of as having certain qualities. The latter variety implies complete absorption of the mind into itself. This is a state in which the mind is not associating with any object, external or internal, or perceptible through the senses. The mind becomes completely still in this state. It is supposed that such a still and silent mind becomes so sensitive as to be able to understand any event, past, present or future, that might have happened anywhere in the universe. We may quote, for example, an incident mentioned by Kalidasa in his Raghuvamsha. King Dilipa, as the story goes, was not having a child. He went to his guru Vasishtha for a remedy, and told him the reason of his sadness. The rise, on this, stood till for a few moments and came to know, through concentration of the mind, why king Dilioa was not getting a son.

Whether such a thing is possible through dhyana, is a question on which opinions may differ. Science, it may be said, has not yet succeeded in gathering sufficient information which may confirm this belief. But we may still come across many people in India who would defend such possibilities heart and soul.

Let us now see how dhyana is turned into what is called samadhi. This is a state that can be achieved only by a mind which is purified like a gem or crystal. When all the impurities of the mind are completely washed away through dhyana, the mind shows a capacity to grasp any object very clearly and vividly.

When a crystal (which is colourless in itself) is placed adjacent to a flower, it shows in itself the colour of that flower very completely, so much so that one feels as if that is its own colour. Similarly, a mind that is purified by dhyana, when cast on any object of thought, can establish such an intimate contact with the object that it becomes completely identified or one with it. This is known as tadatmya of the mind with the object. It indicates complete stillness and steadiness which is accompanied by silencing of the breath. In that state, the consciousness of one's own existence vanishes. This is called "sabija samadhi", because it always involves some object of experience or some thought on which the mind is concentrated.

Nirbija samadhi (also called "sahajavastha") is a state very different from this. It is lot a state of concentration but the state of liberation in bodily existence (jivan mukti).

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Yoga for Digestive Disorders

Yoga is an extremely very old form of exercise which has great abilities to give solutions to several health related problems even today. This is the basis why huge numbers of people have been practicing yoga on a regular basis for years and living a healthy life, not just healthy body but as well strong mind.

Yoga plans at working towards bringing stability in mind and body of an individual, 'yoga' the word itself means union, i.e. combination of body and mind for a healthy living. There is no organ in the body that yoga movements do not address. Yoga movements can offer relief almost from any ailment, connecting to any organ of the body.

This applies still to gastrointestinal troubles faced by us frequently. Yoga for digestive system has a set of workout or positions, 'asanas' that can give you complete relief, be it the irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, constipation, heartburns, etc.
Yoga and ayurveda in mix can not just offer you relief but as well provide you with ideal medication and absolute cure from several stomach and digestive order connected ailments.

Yoga for digestive disorders is a set of exercises; your yoga teacher will educate you. These 'asana' need to be done accurately as taught by the instructor so that you can get absolute relief from your problems, the instructor will educate you how long you necessitate to remain in a certain position, the inhalation during this position and the way to bring yourself to normal position.

Yoga exercises are not similar to allopathic medicines which usually give you short term but immediate relief, these exercises will take a week to become totally helpful, but you can be certain that you will be totally cured from your gastro-intestinal problems. As a novice you will have to work towards perfecting your asanas once that it done, you are permissible to practice yoga all by yourself at home.

Yoga treatment prescribes several asanas that might affect your digestion troubles, these range to deep breathing exercises to boost oxygen in blood as well as bring breathing in sync with the metabolic system (pranayam) also as several asanas that address stomach troubles directly similar to the 'Dhanurasana' which makes you put entire weight on your stomach, thus toning stomach muscles and making these stronger also as to digest food improved and cleanse system of left over food, etc. for basic there are asanas similar to the 'ardha dharnurasan' half of the dhanurasan where you necessitate to lift only the upper torso to rest its weight on stomach.

Approximately all gastro-intestinal ailments such as the ulcers, indigestion, GERD, digestive disorders, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, etc. all can be treated by yoga exercises. You can begin feeling the change within a day or two of initial the exercises.


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