SIMPLE SAINT SWAMI RAMDEV BRINGS REVOLUTION  patanjali yoga REVOLUTION IN HEALTHY LIVING A SIMPLE SAINT SWAMI SLEEPING IN FLOOR BRINGS REVOLUTION Chiranjibi Paudyal Mahatma Gandhi abolished British empire in India, and now a simple saint Swami Ramdev, who sleeps in the floor and eats only fruits and vegetables, has brought revolution reinventing ancient Indian Patanjali Yoga. Mr Mulibir Rai was suffering from gout since 2004. It became severe and caused him pseudo arthritis. He had to take high doses of anti-inflammatory and other supplements to suppress acute pain which caused many side effects including unbearable headache and nausea. His condition worsened and he could not sit in squatting position and had to be in crouches. Speaking at a Patanjali Yoga class held in Aldershot, United Kingdom, recently Mr Rai said: "I couldn't fold my knees even quarter way down and I had to use crouches." He consulted many doctors and tried different medication but his health did not improve. But his condition improved significantly since he started practicing Pranayam (breathing exercise) of the Patanjali Yoga, reinvented by renowned Indian saint Ramdev, who conducts thousands of classes in India and around the globe every day. He has been practicing Pranayama for the last two and half years. He said: " I can't remember of a day that has passed undone. At best I have done up to two hours and at worst I had to fall out in 3 minutes particularly when I have to stay overnight as a visitor." With the result of regular Pranayama, his condition improved drastically. "I have not used crouches for two years now," said Rai jubilantly. "Since I've practiced Pranayama regularly, my gout came down from 10 to 1." He says: more importantly, Pranayama has been of great help for me to understand life and has kept me closer to the spiritualism. The Times of India newspaper reported that for 73-year journalist Ramashish, who has spent 46 years in Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital, 'yoga has given him a second chance in life'. "In 2004, I was diagnosed with 95 per cent arterial blockade and a valve had collapsed. The hospitals in India said I required surgery. But I took to pranayama and yoga and now I am fit," the veteran newsman said in Kathmandu. The newsman claimed that 'yoga has even helped him grow new hair on his bald pate.' They are not alone to tell such stories. There are tens of thousands of people across the world especially in India and Nepal, where millions of people are practicing Pranayama. Most of the people have started to practice Pranayama after they suffer from serious health problems. The Patanjali Yoga was started by saint Patanjali thousands of years ago in India, and it has been reinvented by saint Ramdev. According to Patanjai Yoga Peeth UK Trust "the outstanding treatise on Ashtang Yoga (Yoga with eight limbs of stages) is known for its Sutras that are simple but with abstruse and extensive content." Maharishi Patanjali wrote his treatise to impart practical knowledge of Samadhi (Repository) through eight fold path of Yoga to the world.
Pranayama, which is very popular in India and other parts of the world, is a breathing exercise- or controlled breathing that is said to help in all ailments and health problem. There are eight types of Pranayama ( breathing exercise): Bhastrika, Kapalbhati, Bahya, Ujjayi, Anulom Vilom, Bhramri, Udgeeth and Pranav. This exercise, according to the Patanjali Peeth, can contribute to create a toned, flexible and strong body, helps improve respiration, energy and vitality, can help to maintain balanced metabolism, contribute to promote cardio and circulatory health, and helps to relieve pain. It also helps people look and feel younger and improves athletic performance. Regular practice of Yoga asans ( postures) and Pranayama has in many cases provided relief in various ailments. Research and innumerable case studies shows that Yoga and Pranayama helps control Acidity, Allergy, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Backache, Blood Pressure, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cervical Sodalities, Constipation, Depression, Diabetes, Epilepsy, Fatigue, Gastric Disorders, Headaches, Heart Diseases, Obesity, Migraine, Sciatica Pain, Sinus, Weakness etc.
Analysis of medical parameters by the Trust shows pre and post Yoga Workshop participation have, for example, shown loss of between 8 to 16 lbs of weight in case of obese participants and a weight gain of 4 to 8 lbs by those clinically diagnosed as underweight. Asthmatic, Diabetic and High Blood Pressure patients have found significant relief in their symptoms. It is said patients with Migraine, Depression, Sinus, Allergy, Arthritis, Cervical Spondylitis, Sciatica Pain, Acidity, Constipation, Gastric Disorder, Backache, Weakness and many other disorders have benefited. Studies have revealed that regular practice of Yoga and Pranayama can lead to freedom from dependence on inhalers by Asthma patients, freedom from insulin injections for Diabetics, freedom from regular medication by High Blood Pressure patients and freedom from blockages in blood vessels. Pranayama purifies the vital life source the prana. It gives additional energy to the body. There are tens of thousands of Yoga classes run in India, Nepal and other parts of the globe. Millions of people watch Astha television channel where Swami Ramdev teaches people how to do Yoga and live a healthy life. In addition to participating in various camps, people also learn Yoga through CDs, DVDs, books, videos and various other media. Sunita Poddar, Trustee of the PYPT (UK) said within the UK and Worldwide, Trust has trained over 2500 teachers internationally. In UK alone we have over 1500 trained teachers conducting over 400 classes on a weekly basis, which is expected to grow vastly. Thousands of people specially of Nepal and India living in the UK regularly do Yoga almost every day and such camps are held in almost all the Hindu temples across the country every week. Its popularity has gone up in the recent years. More than 50 Nepalese including this reporter took part in the Assistant Yoga Instructor training held in Aldershot, where a large number of Nepalese Gurkhas live, recently. A Nepali Pran Yog Group was also formed under the chairmanship of Atmaram Dahal and such groups are expanded to various parts of the UK. The Yoga of Ramdev is very simple and anyone can do from any religious background and anywhere in the world. In a BBC interview, Ramdev said: "Earlier I also used to try the really difficult asans [postures]. But gradually I understood there is no need to push and punish oneself needlessly. So now I practise and teach simple breathing exercises which keep one healthy and stress-free," he says. "Life is not for doing yoga. Yoga is for making life better."
His simple healthy and happy living principle is the combination of Yoga, Ayurveda, Acupressure, Naturopathy and Balanced Living. His life style is very simple and he only eats boiled vegetables and fruits. He does not drink anything except water and cow's milk and only sleeps four hours on the floor. But he has completely revolutionised Yoga with the slogan of "good health is humanity's birth right." His millions of followers, who have directly benefited from his simple method of Yoga, have reasons to follow him. Like Mahatma Gandhi, who brought down the mighty British Empire through his non-violence movement, this simple saffron robes wearing Hindu ascetics Swami Ramdev is bringing positive revolution in India and other parts of the world. According to the PYPT UK Trust the following are the rules for Pranayama: • Select a clean and peaceful place for doing Pranayama. If possible, choose a place near a clean pond or river.
• As there is a lot of pollution in the cities, some kind of incense can be lit like Guggulu and purified butter, to create a clean environment at that place, igniting a lamp with purified butter only, can also serve the purpose.
• Sit either in any of the Asanas, viz. Padmasana, Sidhasana or Vajrasana, which ever you find convenient. The sheet or cloth (cotton or wool etc.) on which you sit must be a non-conductor of electricity.
• Breathe only through the nose, because by doing so the air which you take in, is filtered. During daytime when you are not sitting for the performance of Pranayama make it a habit to do respire only through nose and not through mouth. Nasal respiration keeps the temperature of the Nadis (Vessels) -'Ida',Pingala and 'susmana' even. It also prevents foreign and harmful objects from getting into lungs.
• Like 'Yoga', Pranayama should also be performed four or five hours after taking food. In the morning Pranayama should be done after finishing daily routine acts like cleansing mouth, emptying of bowels etc., it should also be done before Yogsana. In the beginning Pranayama should be done for five or ten minutes gradually the time may be increased up to about 1/2 or 1 hour. Maintain a specific number of repetitions and do not variate. Maintain a specific rhythm. If it is not possible to clean the bowels by morning, at night take some mild laxative like terminalia chebula (Indian Hardaya) or any other mild laxative (a non-habit forming medicinal herb having a laxative effect). Kapala- bhati Pranayama, if done regularly for a few days will help in curing constipation.
• Keep your mind calm and composed. However, Pranayama can also calm down the disturbed mind and keep one happy.
• Methods of Pranayama may be varied according to the seasons and your own physical make up and mental attitude. Keep this in mind and modulate the method accordingly. Some Pranayama increase the body temperature, whereas, some bring it down. Some Pranayama maintain the temperature at the normal level.
• If you feel fatigued in the course of doing Pranayama , rest for some time and then begin deep breathing, this will remove the fatigue.
• Pregnant women, hungry persons, persons suffering from fever and those who are lustful having no control on their passions should not do Pranayama . If you are sick, keep in mind the instructions to be followed by sick persons while during Pranayama.
• For prolonged exercises of Pranayama, observance of celibacy is necessary. Besides, food should be simple not containing irritating spices. It should be 'Sattvika' - (Plain and simple, non-spicy food). Use of cow's milk, ghee (clarified butter), fruits and green vegetables can be said to be ideal food. Moderation also is a good rule to observe.
• Do not strain yourself while doing 'Kumbhak' i.e. retaining the breathed air inside or keeping the air out after exhaling (Breathing in is called 'puraka', retaining the breathed air in is called 'Kumbhak' and exhaling the air is called 'Recak').
• Pranayama does not mean just breathing in, keeping the breathed air in and exhaling it. It also means establishing control on the entire breathing process, and maintaining mental equilibrium, and concentration of mind.
• It is beneficial to chant the mantra (a group of words that carry vibrations and energy) Om (the first cosmic soundless sound), aloud and repeat the same several times before doing Pranayama. Even recital of sacred songs in the praise of almighty God or recital of some sacred hymns may be beneficial. This will calm your mind and make you fit for Pranayama, because a peaceful mind is very essential while doing Pranayama . Mental or loud recitation of Gayatri Mantra (considered as one of the greatest mantra, used in meditation and also for chanting) or any other sacred hymn brings spiritual benefits to the Sadhaka.
• See that while doing Pranayama , none of your organs such as mouth, eyes, nose, etc. feels any strain and it should be done gradually without any undue stress or strain. All the organs of the body should be kept in normal condition. While doing Pranayama sit in an erect posture. Keep your spine and neck straight. This is essential for reaping the full benefit of Pranayama .
• If possible Pranayama should be done after your usual morning functions like cleansing of mouth, evacuation of bowels, bathing etc. However, if it becomes necessary for you to take bath after Pranayama , keep an interval of about 15 to 20 minutes between Pranayama and bathing. For acquiring proficiency in Pranayama do not depend on books or what is done and preached by others. Seek the guidance of an expert and do Pranayama under his direct supervision.
• Different treatise advocating or dealing with the subject of Pranayama describe several methods and each of them has its own importance. However, it is not possible for most people to do all these exercises daily. Hence, with the blessings of our teachers and in view of our experience, we have evolved seven methods of Pranayama , which incorporate into themselves, almost all the peculiarities of Pranayama rendering them scientific and useful from a spiritual point of view. All these seven types of Pranayama can be done, as a routine and in a time bound programme of about 20 minutes. The person who does these exercises daily and regularly can attain following benefits which are briefly described as under:
• All the three Doshas (Humors) - Vata , pitta and Kapha get adjusted in proper proportion and abnormalities in them are removed.
• Digestive system improves and diseases pertaining to digestive organs are cured.
• Diseases pertaining to lungs, heart and brain are also cured.
• Obesity, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Constipation, Flatulence, Acidity, Respiratory troubles, Allergy, Migraine, High blood pressure, diseases pertaining to kidneys, sexual disorders of males and females etc. are also cured.
• Resistance against diseases is stepped up. Immunity develops.
• Hereditary diseases like diabetes and heart disease are can be avoided.
• Falling of hair or its premature greying, appearance of wrinkles on face or other parts of the body at young age, diminution of eye sight, forgetfulness, etc. are relieved and process of aging is retarded.
• Face becomes bright, luminous and calm.
• Energy Chakra is cleansed and enables the practitioner to awaken the Kundalini.
• Mind becomes stable and tranquil. A sense of contentment and enthusiasm or zeal develops. Conditions like depression are relieved.
• Performance of yogic exercises like meditation will be easy.
• All the diseases of the physical and etheric bodies will be cured. Freedom from negative and harmful mental conditions like anger, lasciviousness, greed for money, arrogance etc. will be achieved.
• All the physical and mental disorders and abnormalities are cured and toxins eradicated from the body.
• Freedom from negative thinking is achieved and the mind develops the habit of positive and constructive thinking
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