Yoga for Healing

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Health is a prerequisite for all attainments in life- spiritual and material. And physical exercise is essential to good health. Among various systems of physical culture, the system of yoga is the most perfect and stands unrivalled. Ordinary physical exercises develop the superficial muscles of the body. Yogic practices are intended for a thorough exercising of the internal organs which play a very important role in maintaining health in metabolism and in the growth and nutrition of different kinds of cells and tissues of the body. Asanas and yogic kriyas help in building a strong nervous system.

The methods of treatment of diseases by yogasanas lie scattered in many works. This book, which was declared as the second best book on yoga by the Indian Yoga Society in 1982, is a systematic compilation of all these methods for easy and quick reference. It gives in alphabetical order the diseases, the organs affected by them appropriate asanas and a few important mudras, bandhas and kriyas which will help cure them.

The book ‘Yoga for Healing’ is compiled from authoritative sources such as the works of the late H.H. Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, late Swami Kuvalayananda of Yoga Institute, Lonavia. Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Assam etc. The major portion of the material compiled in the book is available in the works of late H. H. Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh lying scattered here and three. The other sources have been indicated against material compiled in the book, which was not directly available or easily traceable in late Sivanandaji’s works. The original sources on this subject in Sanskrit have also been gone through. No direct refer to these primary sources has been made except in the introduction (See item 4 in the next para below).

The compilation gives in alphabetical order names of diseases with the corresponding asanas, very important mudras, bandhas and some kriyas that cure these diseases listed against each in alphabetical order. In addition, the compilation contains further information such as

1. Limitations and cautions necessary while performing some asanas.
2. Special instructions necessary to be complied with during yoga practices.
3. The technique of performing the asanas, their benefits, cautions etc. Benefits are grouped under different parts of the body such as General, Mind, Face, Chest, Abdomen, Rectum, Genitalia, Extremities, etc.
4. An introduction giving the significance of yoga in genera and physical culture in particular.
5 The diet recommended for certain diseases.
6. A glossary containing explanation of names of diseases used in the compilation so that the book can be of use to any layman and not necessarily a qualified physician or an expert alone.

A systematic compilation on these lines for easy and quick reference has not been attempted or published so far. This will prove to be the only exhaustive but a concise reference book for practical application of yoga therapy.

Health is an essential primary prerequisite for all attainments in life—spiritual and material. The methods of treatment of diseases by Yogasanas lie scattered here and there in many works I felt the necessity of a systematic compilation on the subject for easy and quick reference and this booklet is the result. This is merely a compilation, in alphabetical order, of diseases, under the headings general, mental and the particular organ affected, with appropriate asanas and a few important mudras, bandhas and kriyas which will help cure them. The works of the late His Holiness Swami Sivananda Saraswati of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, were mainly consulted for the purpose. Wherever I have not been able to locate clearly and easily the information gathered in this manual in any of the works of Swami Sivananda, necessary indications have been made against them as follows:

1. Works of late Swami Kuvalayananda, Yoga Institute, Lonavala.
2. Child Birth without Fear by Grantly Dick Read, M.D.
3. Yogic Therapy by Srimad Swami Shivananda Saraswati, Umachal Yogashrama, Kamakya, Gauhati 10, Assam.

The authorities have been consulted in the order given above and as such the information available in the authority quoted earlier, may also be available in the one quoted subsequently. No attempt has been made to quote all the authorities in respect of each and every item of material included in this book.

Certain precautions are necessary in performing some asanas. These are indicated briefly wherever necessary, in the repertory against the disease concerned. They are given in detail in Section 1.8. This should be consulted before anyone starts practising the asanas. The sequence recommended for performing asanas, mudras, bandhas and kriyas and the sequence for the important sets of asanas are given in Section 1.9.

All suggestions for improving the usefulness of this manual would be carefully considered and gratefully accepted. Mistakes that have accidentally crept n may kindly be pointed out for rectification.

May all be free from disease to utilize their energy for spiritual or real inner development.