Yoga and Health

Abstract

Yoga is an ancient solution to modern problems. It has gained a lot of popularity around the world during the last century. Yoga, as many people often subscribe to, is not merely a method to attain mental peace, but also a powerful method to get rid of ignorance which causes various kinds of suffering in human life. ‘Education is the manifestation of the divinity already in man.’ It emphasizes on life-building, man-making, character-making, assimilation of ideas. The very essence of education is concentration of mind, not the collecting of facts. In ancient times, people used to go to sages to learn wisdom and to get answers to the fundamental questions of life. This was seen in all ancient civilizations – Greece, India, and China, in particular. However, over the centuries education has retreated from that position. We no longer claim to give wisdom, we give only information, our schools no longer give moral and spiritual values, only secular subjects are taught. The very much need of the education system is the education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet. Yoga is not simply Asanas and Pranayamas. It also involves certain ethical practices. These ethical practices are known as Yamas and Niyamas. No educational system is effective unless it incorporates into itself these ethical practices.