SPLENDOR OF YOGA -- IMPORTANT INFORMATION -- PART -- 1

Man is a harmonious blending of body and a spirit- a marvellous fusion as physical structure, life-force and mental faculties that have evolved during countless millennia to a very high level of perfection. The human being has come into this world with a purpose viz., to develop his conciousness to the fullest extent and achieve perfection and everlasting peace. This is the goal of the human, its realisation is possible only if the physical body is maintained in a healthy condition. For this, we must first of all know something about the structure and working of the humanbody.
In the functioning of the human system, it is the life-force that plays the main role; the physical structure serves only as a container. a closer study of the human being will reveal that it consisits of five layers corresponding to the five elements: solid, liquid, heat, air and ether. Solid is the physical structure, liquid is the blood, heat is electricity, air is oxygen and ether is the life-force. The subtle life-force and the gross solid body are linked together by three media,viz., liquid, heat and air. If the normal quantity and quality of these media and the pace of their circulation within the human system are adversly affected in any way, the life-force in its electrical function gets short-circuited and the molecular arrangement in the physical body is disturbed or punctured. As a result, the life-force gets obstructed, diverted or exhausted in proportion to the extent of the disturbance and the intensity of the short-circuit. Whenever there is such disturbance, it is called pain. If the disturbance is more,the pain is also more, as there is corresponding increase in the exhaustion of the life-force. If the disturbance is for a short period, it is known as pain. if it extends over a long period, it is known as disease. If the disturbance is of such magnitude that a major portion of the life-force is exhausted, the functioning of the physical body gets paralyzed and comes to a standstill; such condition is known as death.
From the above analysis it will be clear that for maintaining good health one should guard against disturbances in the physical body, the life-force and the three media. Distrubances occur in two ways: either through our own actions or through the fuctioning of natural forces. Neglect, improper or over indulgence in food, sleep,work,sex and use of thought-force are the factors by which the disturbances are caused by our own actions; climatic differences, hereditary imprints and changes in the intensity of radiation of planets due to variation of distances and their conjunctions are the factors by which disturbances are caused by natural forces. Nature has provided a certain amount of immunity in all human beings against such distrubances. But if this immunity level is crossed, health gets impaired. We can, to a large extent, avoid these actions that cause such disturbances. But, sometimes, we become victims to circumstances and act in such a way that we cross the immunity level. It is not possible to avoid the consequences of the functioning of the natural forces. Hence, the only course of action open to us is to rise our immunity level, so that our body will be able to to withstand not only our own erroneous actions, but also the unpredictable onslaught of natural forces.
Over the centuries, man has discovered that throgh suitable physical exercises, he can develop and increase his immunity level so that he may gaurd against ill health. In case he falls a victim to disease due to unavoidable causes, he can recoup his health quickly.
There are two aspects in physical exercises: Postures and movements. the three media which we have referred to earlier (blood,heat and air) are circulating in the hyman system one within the other according to their specific gravity and they are governed by the centripetal pull exercised by the Earth.When the normal position of the body is altered or when a part of the body is moved or turned towards the Earth or away from it, the location of the three media in that portion or part is also altered. When a part of the body is turned towards the Earth, a little more blood flows to that part and little more air goes to the otherside or part of the body which is upward. In addition to this, if a rhythmic movement is also given, all the three media are suitably regulated. Through such systematic and well-regulated movements, the various parts of the body get cleansed, strengthened and rejuvenated. Thus we can, through proper physical exercises, achieve a level of immunity against diseases which will enable us to maintain good health in spite of occasional erroneous actions or adverse natural forces.
From time immemorial, various types of physical exercises have been formulated in various countries according to the climatic conditions, the mode of life and various other factors prevailing in those climates. These exercises were, to large extent, formulated to suit an earlier age which was one of leisure when things moved slowly. Times have changed and we now live in an age of speed, stress and tension. Hence, our needs too are different and we cannot blindly adopt the exercises devised long ago that were found suitable for those times.
SOURCE: Thathuvagnani Vethathri Maharshi.