The most common yoga therapy methods, as#nbsp;a#nbsp;rule, are limited to#nbsp;their impact on#nbsp;the human body as#nbsp;an#nbsp;organism, i.e. a#nbsp;biological form of#nbsp;material organization. This idea correlates with the western medicine approach, and therefore is "scientific" and undeniable. The most respected explanations of#nbsp;Hatha Yoga mechanisms are based on#nbsp;the logic of#nbsp;material component functioning of#nbsp;the human body.
For example, you can often read or#nbsp;hear about hemodynamic and reflectory methods of#nbsp;yoga therapy, about different therapeutic aspects of#nbsp;Shatkarma, asana and pranayama through the prism of#nbsp;their influence on#nbsp;human body. However, all these methods point at#nbsp;the reductive and mechanistic model of#nbsp;therapy, at#nbsp;the left-hemispheric thinking. Strictly speaking, it#nbsp;ignores "Psycho" (= "soul", if#nbsp;you remember Greek ;)) part of#nbsp;the person and, consequently, it#nbsp;discredits the idea of "yoga".
This article, as#nbsp;its name implies, is#nbsp;dedicated to#nbsp;the method the effect of#nbsp;which cannot be#nbsp;explained in#nbsp;terms of#nbsp;physiology. However, stating its essence, we#nbsp;are seeking to#nbsp;unite these two seemingly very different coordinate systems, in#nbsp;other words to#nbsp;achieve a#nbsp;state of "yoga" between science and spirituality. In#nbsp;scientific terminology awareness method can be#nbsp;called as#nbsp;an#nbsp;informative-field method. This method is#nbsp;about influence on#nbsp;the so#nbsp;called information field, arranging the particles of#nbsp;matter. But first things first. Let us#nbsp;start with… the most complicated ones.
Overcoming suffering#nbsp;— overcoming negative thinking Everyone knows that one of#nbsp;the translations of#nbsp;the word "yoga" is a "unity" or, in#nbsp;scientific words, "integration, synthesis." What is#nbsp;integrated? It#nbsp;is a#nbsp;rather individual question. You can often find the following definition: "unity with the Divine." According to#nbsp;Desikachar, yoga is "all that brings to#nbsp;the perception of#nbsp;a#nbsp;certain Power which is#nbsp;higher and more powerful than us." Developing this idea, perception ourselves as#nbsp;part of#nbsp;this Power, going beyond duality of#nbsp;mind ("overcoming paired opposites", according to#nbsp;Yoga Sutras), overcoming wrong perception ourselves being separate from the whole world.
If#nbsp;mentality is#nbsp;based on#nbsp;the opposition of "I#nbsp;— You" and "Bad#nbsp;— Good", negativity arises; the rejection of#nbsp;what is "bad" and "not mine." In#nbsp;neglected case ;) it#nbsp;leads to#nbsp;inability to#nbsp;enjoy the good, fail to#nbsp;see#nbsp;it. For example, you can equally enjoy whether you have a#nbsp;car (to#nbsp;drive it#nbsp;when you need or#nbsp;desire) or#nbsp;not (no#nbsp;need to#nbsp;service it). But usually all of#nbsp;us, except saints,#nbsp;— choose contrarily. Between war and peace for some reason we#nbsp;choose war.
We choose. That is#nbsp;the first and most important thing to#nbsp;understand. No#nbsp;animal has a#nbsp;free will, only a#nbsp;human being. Animals choose instinctively; that does not mean consciously and free. They follow the "program." And it#nbsp;should be#nbsp;noted, that carrion for a#nbsp;jackal#nbsp;— is "good", while for the lion it#nbsp;is "bad." But this does not mean that the carrion is#nbsp;objectively good or#nbsp;bad. This is#nbsp;just a#nbsp;point of#nbsp;view. In#nbsp;this sense, yoga can be#nbsp;interpreted as#nbsp;a#nbsp;union of#nbsp;diverse points of#nbsp;view, "binding threads of#nbsp;the mind." (Yoga Sutras)
So, to#nbsp;get rid of#nbsp;pain, the first thing to#nbsp;do#nbsp;— is#nbsp;to#nbsp;stop willing to#nbsp;get rid of#nbsp;it. Stop fighting for peace. Once we#nbsp;cease to#nbsp;see the bad, in#nbsp;other words, label things so, this is#nbsp;no#nbsp;longer bad.
Face the truth To#nbsp;stop seeing the bad#nbsp;— does not mean to#nbsp;dismiss it#nbsp;or#nbsp;bite the bullet. Unwillingly nothing constructive can be#nbsp;done. Progress (new achievements) is (are) only possible with an#nbsp;open heart. And it#nbsp;is#nbsp;neither a#nbsp;figure of#nbsp;speech nor even spirituality.
To#nbsp;open heart is#nbsp;like to#nbsp;open arms. This is#nbsp;an#nbsp;expression of#nbsp;acceptance. Even our body reflexes prove#nbsp;it. Considering myotatic reflex, it#nbsp;is#nbsp;evident that while the body is "worried" about unusual way of#nbsp;muscle stretching, this muscle reacts in#nbsp;the opposite way#nbsp;— it#nbsp;contracts. If#nbsp;we#nbsp;do not make any sudden and quick movements, i.e. do#nbsp;not change the posture too quickly, the body accepts it, and the muscle relaxes. The body seems to#nbsp;understand the need to#nbsp;change its attitude to#nbsp;the situation, which can not be#nbsp;changed.
To#nbsp;be#nbsp;aware of#nbsp;a#nbsp;problem, to#nbsp;accept its existence is#nbsp;half the solution. The second half, perhaps, is#nbsp;to#nbsp;take over the responsibility. If#nbsp;I#nbsp;have got a#nbsp;problem, then there is#nbsp;a#nbsp;reason for#nbsp;it. For somebody else the same situation is#nbsp;not a#nbsp;problem at#nbsp;all. The only problem is#nbsp;my#nbsp;point of#nbsp;view. Swamiji Satchidananda used to#nbsp;state that if#nbsp;a#nbsp;person points his finger, accusing someone or#nbsp;something in#nbsp;his problem, the other three fingers point him. Therefore, the responsibility is#nbsp;the acceptance of#nbsp;the need to#nbsp;change ourselves, to#nbsp;search for the "right" point of#nbsp;view.
Can a#nbsp;microscope help to#nbsp;find the right point of#nbsp;view? Since Einstein’s times physics unconditionally accepted the paradigm of#nbsp;energy field primacy, which organizes the matter. In#nbsp;medicine, this idea never fully took hold, limited to#nbsp;the acceptance of#nbsp;psychosomatic nature of#nbsp;most diseases and existence of#nbsp;the placebo effect. If#nbsp;the first concept has got a#nbsp;proper application, then behind the last is#nbsp;the "Iron Curtain."
Western medicine does not gain from going beyond the limits of#nbsp;the terms "psychosomatic" or "placebo effect." What is#nbsp;beyond them? Besides severe potential losses for pharmaceutical industry (and not only!), beyond these terms there is#nbsp;a#nbsp;recognition of#nbsp;matter secondariness. Plain and simple. It#nbsp;is#nbsp;difficult for any person, because we#nbsp;got used to#nbsp;trust only what can be#nbsp;experienced. We’ve got used to#nbsp;rely on#nbsp;knowledge, not faith.
However, knowledge comes not only from analysis, but also as#nbsp;a#nbsp;result of#nbsp;synthesis or#nbsp;integration. Going too much into details has already led to#nbsp;the fact that a#nbsp;disease is#nbsp;treated, not a#nbsp;person, contrary to#nbsp;popular slogan. This also runs counter to#nbsp;the modern knowledge proving that thoughts are things. However, we#nbsp;prefer to#nbsp;depend on#nbsp;some external circumstances, whether it#nbsp;is a#nbsp;doctor or#nbsp;a#nbsp;medication, or#nbsp;even a#nbsp;complex of#nbsp;yoga therapy practice. Thus we#nbsp;become perpetuated about mistaken belief that each of#nbsp;us#nbsp;is a#nbsp;kind of "self-standing unit", and what is#nbsp;the most destructive#nbsp;— that our health and happiness are external. Thus, we#nbsp;simply shift the responsibility for our lives.
All the answers lie within us Let’s go#nbsp;back to#nbsp;the issue of#nbsp;integration as#nbsp;the only constructive approach, in#nbsp;particular, to#nbsp;therapy. It#nbsp;is#nbsp;indisputable that a#nbsp;large part of#nbsp;healing is#nbsp;the result of#nbsp;the placebo effect. In#nbsp;fact, placebo effect#nbsp;— the phenomenon when mental set prevails over biological and chemical processes. This is#nbsp;a#nbsp;key point to#nbsp;the holistic treatment, which deals with the causes rather than with consequences of#nbsp;various pathologies. It#nbsp;can also be#nbsp;called the impact on#nbsp;the level of#nbsp;information or, as#nbsp;scientists call it, human morphogenetic field.
We#nbsp;have already mentioned that hatha yoga practice is#nbsp;a#nbsp;nonspecific psychosomatic therapy. However, the term "psychosomatic" here means not only a#nbsp;key role of#nbsp;nervous system, but also acceptance of#nbsp;soul primacy with respect to#nbsp;the human body. Without doubt, there are those who want to#nbsp;put the soul under a#nbsp;microscope and will go#nbsp;on#nbsp;replacing it#nbsp;by#nbsp;the term nervous system, because the work of#nbsp;neurons and neurotransmitters can be#nbsp;investigated by#nbsp;scientific methods#nbsp;— but not the soul.
Nevertheless, the scientists involved in#nbsp;quantum physics, do#nbsp;not deny its existence. According to#nbsp;Einstein "field is#nbsp;the only thing that subordinates particles" and, therefore, the matter is#nbsp;not primal. All material particles of#nbsp;our bodies are subject to#nbsp;the field. This field contains information. Where does this information come from? The field is#nbsp;unlimited. It#nbsp;is#nbsp;everywhere. We#nbsp;are field and we#nbsp;are part of#nbsp;the field. Thus, there is#nbsp;a#nbsp;constant information exchange between different parts of#nbsp;the field. For example, we#nbsp;send some information to#nbsp;the field, and we#nbsp;reap the fruits of#nbsp;the field changes. Therefore, we#nbsp;need to#nbsp;recognize and accept ourselves being integrated into this field.
Strictly speaking, this is#nbsp;the path of#nbsp;overcoming selfishness. This is#nbsp;the path of#nbsp;recognizing yourself as#nbsp;a#nbsp;part of#nbsp;the whole river of#nbsp;life. A#nbsp;part of#nbsp;the stream. As#nbsp;a#nbsp;consequence#nbsp;— to#nbsp;take over responsibility for our actions and for thoughts. If#nbsp;we#nbsp;are a#nbsp;part of#nbsp;a#nbsp;stream or#nbsp;river, then we#nbsp;bring into this river the sum of#nbsp;all our thoughts, and so#nbsp;often they are similar to#nbsp;poisons or#nbsp;sewage…
"All health problems come from nervousness…" This phrase has a#nbsp;continuation, making us#nbsp;think in#nbsp;religious or#nbsp;moralistic way: "… only syphilis from pleasure." Humanity was given the laws of#nbsp;Universal ethics, which have diverse names in#nbsp;different traditions. In#nbsp;yoga these are "yama" and "niyama", different religions have commandments. Failure to#nbsp;comply with these laws comes back to#nbsp;bite later not only the offender, since the consciousness field is#nbsp;unique. It#nbsp;is a#nbsp;scientific fact. All the changes in#nbsp;real world are made by#nbsp;the noosphere, according to#nbsp;Vernadsky, or#nbsp;by#nbsp;consciousness. Therefore, compliance with ethical laws, as#nbsp;the first small step towards awareness, will definitely give all of#nbsp;us#nbsp;more joy and health.
Let’s get back to#nbsp;the psychosomatic, or#nbsp;rather to#nbsp;the problem of "Psycho." Even holistic approach of#nbsp;yoga-therapists, including the author of#nbsp;this article, is#nbsp;often limited to "the considering psychosomatic nature" of#nbsp;diseases, which results in#nbsp;integrating of#nbsp;calming and relaxation techniques into the therapeutic set "for neurotony normalizing." There is#nbsp;a#nbsp;limited understanding of "psycho" only as#nbsp;human nervous system, and that points at#nbsp;thinking within the limits of#nbsp;Newtonian paradigm#nbsp;— "matter is#nbsp;primal."
If#nbsp;we#nbsp;readily substitute notion of#nbsp;the soul to#nbsp;the notion of#nbsp;the nervous system, then in#nbsp;theory, we#nbsp;would have to#nbsp;explain clearly and logically, why it#nbsp;is#nbsp;formed during ontogeny. But no#nbsp;one knows exactly. There is#nbsp;no "official" explanation why embryonic cells begin to#nbsp;differentiate forming three layers, and epiblast becomes nervous system afterwards. Many questions "why?" or "under the influence of#nbsp;what?" have no#nbsp;answers in#nbsp;medicine. Alternatively, it#nbsp;explains "how" and "what" to#nbsp;the smallest details, losing integral picture.
How did it#nbsp;happen that yoga therapy has, in#nbsp;general, nothing to#nbsp;do#nbsp;with yoga? Yoga means overcoming the separation. As#nbsp;it#nbsp;turns out, "scientific" yoga therapy tries to#nbsp;delve into the analysis, digging into the details of#nbsp;biochemical processes and laws. And that is#nbsp;not our "Western" thinking. First scientific studies on#nbsp;hatha yoga mechanisms were conducted in#nbsp;the yoga homeland, Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute of#nbsp;Swami Kuvalayananda. And there is#nbsp;nothing reprehensible in#nbsp;analytical rational approach to#nbsp;yoga. Bhagavad Gita says: "with the sword of#nbsp;knowledge cut asunder the doubt of#nbsp;the Self born of#nbsp;ignorance, residing in#nbsp;the heart and take refuge in#nbsp;Yoga." We#nbsp;have just got carried away with "cut asunder". However, everything should be#nbsp;balanced.
The Middle Way Jesus said "If you have faith as#nbsp;small as#nbsp;a#nbsp;mustard seed, you can say to#nbsp;this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in#nbsp;the sea,' and it#nbsp;will obey you."" (Luke 17: 6). Who of#nbsp;us#nbsp;has this faith?
This question reveals one of#nbsp;the sticking points in#nbsp;the application of#nbsp;informative field method in#nbsp;yoga therapy. You must admit that it#nbsp;would not be#nbsp;humanly to#nbsp;recommend the patient with arthrosis to "open chakras" or "clean energy channel." So#nbsp;how should we#nbsp;choose an#nbsp;appropriate informative field method for a#nbsp;stranger? How can we#nbsp;help him to#nbsp;cultivate his mustard seed? After all, we#nbsp;all are different: someone seeks answers in#nbsp;religion or#nbsp;his tradition, someone finds answers in#nbsp;Louise Hay’s and Luule Viilma’s books, someone needs detailed explanation of#nbsp;Hatha Yoga effects, and someone should be#nbsp;given a#nbsp;glucose tablet under the guise of#nbsp;a#nbsp;drug for self-healing.
"The Middle" of#nbsp;yoga therapy way is#nbsp;about helping people to#nbsp;cope with a#nbsp;particular disease, under the guidance of#nbsp;yoga itself#nbsp;— to#nbsp;strive for bringing awareness to#nbsp;the patient’s life. Awareness, in#nbsp;turn, is a "middle way" itself, it#nbsp;means an#nbsp;opportunity to#nbsp;control the matter through the intentions, and the understanding that we#nbsp;are just a#nbsp;part of#nbsp;a#nbsp;unique universal field, and can control, at#nbsp;best, only ourselves.
Freedom of#nbsp;the Will We#nbsp;can change nobody in#nbsp;the world except ourselves. It#nbsp;is#nbsp;an indefeasible law. However, it#nbsp;cannot go#nbsp;unnoticed that the world alters as#nbsp;we#nbsp;have changed ourselves. This is#nbsp;just because we#nbsp;are an#nbsp;integral part of#nbsp;the Whole, the One. Therefore, we#nbsp;are co-creators. Each moment we#nbsp;create our "own" reality, "our" life, because we#nbsp;are "made in#nbsp;the image and likeness" of#nbsp;God Himself.
The creativity has one "but" - the result does not belong to#nbsp;us. This is#nbsp;the forbidden fruit. As#nbsp;soon as#nbsp;we#nbsp;cling to#nbsp;the result, we#nbsp;are "expelled from paradise," we#nbsp;doom ourselves to#nbsp;suffering. Not because we#nbsp;are "trembling creatures" but because it#nbsp;is#nbsp;the law of#nbsp;life. Universe exists under the law of#nbsp;sacrifice, a#nbsp;selfless service, "the all-pervading Brahman Is#nbsp;eternally established in#nbsp;sacrifice" (Bhagavad Gita). This is#nbsp;precisely why the Creator gave us#nbsp;free will. Instead of#nbsp;using it#nbsp;for intended purpose, for self-development and helping others to#nbsp;develop, we#nbsp;limit it#nbsp;with our own delusions. We#nbsp;close on#nbsp;ourselves, make much of#nbsp;our problems…
When we#nbsp;concentrate on#nbsp;the problem rather than on#nbsp;its solution, where do#nbsp;we#nbsp;direct our energy to? When we#nbsp;condemn, lose our temper, or#nbsp;despair we#nbsp;just throw the gold on#nbsp;the scrapheap. It’s a#nbsp;known fact that some of#nbsp;saints and monks got stigmas and Christ’s wounds because of#nbsp;concentration on#nbsp;Passions. It#nbsp;is#nbsp;also known that some saints and other people (!) healed people simply by#nbsp;touching, or#nbsp;at a#nbsp;glance. Christ’s words "according to#nbsp;your faith be#nbsp;it#nbsp;done to#nbsp;you" are very practical.
Both science and spirituality concur in#nbsp;the following: it#nbsp;is#nbsp;time to#nbsp;give freedom to#nbsp;our will, giving it#nbsp;a#nbsp;peaceful course, to#nbsp;create a#nbsp;space of#nbsp;joy and love. It#nbsp;is#nbsp;in our hands, it#nbsp;is#nbsp;just necessary to#nbsp;realize that we#nbsp;are connected to#nbsp;this channel of#nbsp;Love and Joy, the only condition of#nbsp;participation in#nbsp;which is#nbsp;selflessness.
The one who does not fight is#nbsp;invincible To#nbsp;explain sophisticated mechanism of#nbsp;information field method in#nbsp;yoga therapy, we#nbsp;have appealed to#nbsp;quantum physics, proceeding from the primacy of#nbsp;mind over matter. This allowed us#nbsp;to#nbsp;bring the scientific basis for the difficult, but the most effective and universal method of#nbsp;self-improvement.
It#nbsp;is#nbsp;worth emphasizing that a#nbsp;health problem must be#nbsp;dealt in#nbsp;two directions: inside and outside. Physical aspect of#nbsp;life should not be#nbsp;neglected, it#nbsp;is#nbsp;like being ungrateful for the chance to#nbsp;live and to#nbsp;understand something in#nbsp;this world. Limiting just to "tapping in#nbsp;the pipe outside when it#nbsp;chocked" is#nbsp;neither reasonable nor effective. The most important thing#nbsp;— remember that the point is#nbsp;not just to#nbsp;unclog, but not to#nbsp;let the clog make us#nbsp;gloomy, and let us#nbsp;understand why it#nbsp;came.
Awareness#nbsp;— it#nbsp;is#nbsp;not even a#nbsp;method. It#nbsp;is a#nbsp;way of#nbsp;life. This is#nbsp;the only way of#nbsp;life that justifies confidence given by#nbsp;life.