Lifestyle Management
13 Jul 2019 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy
Lifestyle Management : The Most Important Aspect of Life
The daily work schedules on the base of a 24-hour biological clock throughout the natural cycle of human beings is called lifestyle. This is the style or rule of life. In getting the targets in modern life, mostly health issue of modern people was affected. According to Swastha Vritta, health is the balance of the body’s humor, digestive fires, wastes, and a pleasant mind. It encompasses physical, mental, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. Health is the backbone for all the development and improvement in every step of life. Health is our primary right as also wealth without this we cannot achieve success and a better career.
We are now in the 21st century and well-equipped with modern technology and features. Our lifestyle is gradually changing toward modernity, becoming more stressful and technology-driven. We’ve reached unmatched technological success, where tasks once needing manpower are now done in seconds with a button. This shift highlights the efficiency and power of modern technology. These lifestyles have good as well as adverse effects on personnel, communities along the country & continent.
Adverse effects of modernization
The modern lifestyle offers benefits in daily activities but also makes us slaves to material possessions. This creates numerous obstacles at the physical, mental, and psychological levels. We are too prone to the various lifestyle disorders affecting our health and personal problem-solving ability. Despite advanced technology in hospitals and emerging research centers, new and deadly diseases continue to evolve. These diseases often lack quick and reliable recovery techniques. Despite advanced technology and more infrastructure, patient numbers are growing faster than progress. This leads to deteriorating health and more advanced complications. Natural mechanisms are becoming dead, and becoming totally like parasites.
- Physical aspect
Physically various food-borne diseases have been observed like malnutrition, over-nutritional diseases, psychosomatic diseases, and many lifestyle disorder abnormalities. These all are due to the sedentary lifestyle creating numerous burdens. We lack proper awareness of our body’s movements while sitting, standing, or performing daily activities. This ignorance, coupled with the modern lifestyle, is increasing physical diseases.
2. Mental Aspect
Lifestyle disorder creates various mental, physiological, and psychosomatic diseases. Currently, most people suffer from mental illnesses, primarily psychological and psychosomatic disorders. Through various communications, we see a rise in suicides, poisonings, acid attacks, and violence as people struggle to reach their perceived peak in life. This is a result of the imbalance between the body, mind, and soul. The yogic further means helps to manage as well as eliminate the root cause of the fortunes.
3. Social aspect
In society, we can observe very unequal relationships between modern and other people. There is always hatred relation even among family members. Always youngsters seem to be with gadgets leaving their precious time about the activities they need to perform. The feeling of doubt, dullness, carelessness, laziness, a sense of indulgence, false perception, and instability in a single matter as well as too many tasks at the same time are hovering in the modern that’s why there is no time for a single way of realization. We can see initially there used to be gathering of people for the discussion for the activities carried out during with the positive as well as negative so special rules and regulations were active but with this life, we have no time for personal activities then how could be for society? Hence social violence is seen more in the present context deteriorating the social norms and values.
4. Spiritual aspect
In the field of spiritual awareness, we seldom find people interested in modern times. Rather if we get people interested also need a shortcut method to operate all the levels quickly to get the benefits. All are rushing for only their pleasure and also at the extreme level so we can definitely say that in comparison to the ancient time modern people are too primitive in this matter. We are becoming more selfish, senseless, lonely, egoistic, ambitious, angry, etc. We have a lack of honesty, a sense of humor, love & kindness, moral values, humor collaboration, etc.
Causes and effects theory
Several causes affect the modern lifestyle. The cause used to be similar in the earlier ages also but it was among the minor people so used to cover. Similarly in the present condition, the ratio is very opposite we cannot find the people with confirmation within himself/herself. Rather moving restlessly every second with tension and problems with various disorders. Some of the causes of such deteriorating stages in modern life are as follows.
- Pleasure and pain
- Higher demand and meet targets
- Unconsciousness
- Darkness and Ignorance
- Pleasure and pain
Pain, Pressure, and tension are commonly suffered in the body. We humans by nature are greedy and egoistic in our behaviors. We want everything that is in our visibility. We desire all the pleasure-giving materials of the materialistic world. Not for sometimes but forever so we are very unsuccessful in our activity and pleasure is hindered for longevity. Just we can take an example, we don’t have a transport vehicle then ultimately we got the vary we desired. Then we want a much more advanced latest model likely in the very condition if we saw very model in our neighbor. We become jealous and unhappy further, we forget the earlier desire being success. According to the yogic text of Maharshi Patanjali in his text ‘Patanjali Yoga Sutra’ the pain is within us we are born with pain to cure the pre-historic deposition so we need to satisfy the matter we have. We are indulged in the sensual pleasure of the pre-historic deposits and the pros and cons effect of the gunas e.g. sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic.
2. Higher demand and meet targets
In the competitive tech-driven world, we’re constantly overwhelmed by new technologies and the pressure to meet ever-increasing demands. We are so focused on external goals that we neglect our personal, social, and spiritual growth. There is no proper time to eat, sleep, rest, or focus on other areas due to dependence on external factors. Hence he/she is always with various psychosomatic and lifestyle diseases. The wrong way of eating, playing and acting is leading to an adverse condition with own self, family and the connected society where the proper co-ordination is blocked. The hidden effects of modern technology on personal life highlight the need for a balanced lifestyle.
3. Unconsciousness
We are always in motion doing this and that but lack the time to manage everything and the success we seek. The main reason behind this is the unconsciousness. We often perform tasks unconsciously, eating hurriedly without considering hygiene or the quality of our food. In our rush, we multitask by reading, watching TV, or playing games while eating or doing other chores. We aren’t gaining proper physical and mental health benefits, such as rushing through defecation without giving it enough time. This leads to issues like constipation, piles, and various colon and rectal problems. The hurries and activities are causing serious problems in health.
4. Darkness and Ignorance
“Om Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya” means supreme power that leads us from darkness to lightness. Due to lack of awareness, knowledge, schooling, cultural values, traditional issues, religious issues, and social and personal issues sometimes bring darkness and make us ignorant which is the cause of suffering and pain. So we are misguided and innocently suffered.
Yogic model of lifestyle
The yogic model of lifestyle involves using various yogic practices for disease treatment, promotion, preservation, rejuvenation, rehabilitation, and healing. It also emphasizes spiritual awakening as a key aspect of life. We try to manage the three regimens of life Dinacharya (Day Regimen), Ratricharya (Night Regimen), and Ritucharya (Seasonal Regimen).
1. Shatakarma (Six Cleansing Acts)
- Jalaneti: The kriyas are jal neti, rubber neti, clean, or sutra neti these kriyas cleans the nostrils as well as balance the swara for the further practice of pranayama. It also minimizes the phlegm remaining in the nasal tract.
- Basti: The kriya is the enema or colon therapy. It is the process of passing the mild hot water through the nozzle of the catheter kept in the pot at the height of 2-3 feet in the anus. It then moves into the large intestine, where it is expelled, clearing the excretion channels.
- Dhauti: Dhauti is the process of swallowing a 6-foot cotton muslin cloth with warm water, allowing it to pass through the food pipe to the stomach. It cleans the phlegm residing in the track as well as some portion of stomach wastes striking in cloth. The other types are as follows:
- Nauli: Nauli is the process of moving the stomach rectal muscle at the center side so that the digestive fire increases as well as massaging the related internal organelles’ of the the abdominal cavity like stomach and intestine.
- Trataka: Trataka is the process of focusing the concentration of eyes so it removes pitta doshas as well as a concentration in work. It is of two types external and internal. The process of focusing on a single external object like the sun, moon, or gurus feet, the interest with opening eyes is called external Trataka. Whereas focusing on internal body parts like the Aanja chakra forehead and other chakras are internal Trataka.
- Kapalbhati: Kapalbhati is also an important Shatkarma phase that helps to clean the airway channels by carrying the wastes to the excretory channels with the proper functioning of the respiratory system, circulatory along the nervous system with the smooth functioning of bodily activities.
2. Asana:
The posture of sitting in such a position our body will be straight aligned along giving pleasure to the body is called asana. We practice the shukshma vayayama for proper movement and exercise to the small joints along with the further practice of yoga asana according to the available time and efficiency. These sorts of exercises initially activate the muscles, nerves, and joints along the bone that makes easiness in performing further asana. We can select some of the asanas of our types to cure our abnormalities or make us fit and healthy they are- The yogic practitioners have found some asanas in the main where “Maharshi Gherand” explains 32 asanas as the main for curing and maintaining the body. ‘Hatha Pradipika’ explained by “Swami Swatmaram” explains 15 asanas major along with “Maharshi Patanjali” doesn’t give the amount of asana but explains that the asana that gives us pleasure and tolerance for sitting for a long duration.
3. Pranayama:
We need to practice pranayama after the yogasana, so we can practice pranayama for a long time. The pranayama is composed of two words prana and ayama. Prana means the vital things in our body circulating throughout the body and ayama means the expansion of prana and remains long the duration.
- Bhastrika pranayama: Exhalation and inhalation forcefully for a certain count and holding breath outside and inhalation through the right nostril retention and exhalation through the left nostril with the ratio of 1:4:2. This pranayama helps to balance the three doshas of body (vatta, pitta and kaph doshas).
- Shitali pranayama: Making the tongue fold like a pipe and inhaling the air and exhaling while holding it for a certain time from the nostrils is shitali pranayama. This pranayama is done in the summer season to lose body temperature by pacifying the pitta doshas /bile doshas.
- Brahmari pranayama: We press the ear with the thumb and place the first finger on the forehead, then the second in the eyes base, and the other on the lips with inhalation and exhalation producing the sound of a bee is brahmari pranayama. This pranayama helps to calm down the mental concentration stress. It is beneficial for students to concentrate on their studies and for workers to improve efficiency in their tasks. It has calming and soothing effect on the body, clears and invigorates the mind, and uplifts the spirit.
4. Bandha and Mudra:
These are the various locks in the body as well as the hands so that our consciousness resides with us focusing on and curing the abnormality. There is the moola bandha holding air in the rectal part from escaping, the uddhiyana bandha holding breath in the chest, and the jalandhara bandha holding in the neck from inhaling and exhaling. The combination of all three bandha is called mahabandha.
5. Yoga Nidra or Meditation
Yoga Nidra is called yogic sleep or conscious sleep for body and mind relaxation. It is an art of physical and mental relaxation. This is the practice of hearing and feeling. Meditation is the best technique for balancing the various physical, mental, psychological, social, and spiritual disturbances. Normally we don’t manage time for ourselves for self-realization and recovery so through meditation we can see our behaviors and thinking and have great successful life periods. Initially, we simply see the incoming air and outgoing air for some time then move to see the internal parts with sensitizing and relaxing. Then finally focusing on the external music of chanting ohm sound leading to focusing on the single objects must be done. There are various types of steps applied in meditation they are Yog Nidra, preshya, Bharatiya, Swas dhyan, Brahmanada dhyan, and Mantra dhyan. Meditation is the main step carried out in the model life of yogic intervention for focusing on curing the various disorders of modern life.
6. Clothes:
Clothes are important for life as they help to protect from the external stimulus. We must wear dress for comfort according to the season, if we wear unseasonable clothes in prolong we may be prone to various abnormalities. In modern life, we wear clothes that exactly don’t seem appropriate for the body’s humor. Too tight and too loose are rather not suit for the appearance and body. Our customs show our behaviors as well.
7. Food ( Anna Brahma) :
Food is divine. Jasto Anna Usto Mana means whatever the food, same as mind. We are what we eat and our behavior also is our food. For example, if we eat a non-vegetarian diet then we are too aggressive and show exaggerated behaviors as have no consciousness that things rise to diseases. Everything shows its characteristics though it doesn’t seem in the material so we must be conscious in taking as well as selecting the type of food. Basically, according to the Vedas and the philosophy there are three types of food they are Tamasic, Rajasik, and Sattvik. Out of these Sattvic food is called yogic food.
- Tamasic food: Foods containing highly spicy, fried, and oily along with refined food come under this category as well as meat and meat products, re-cooked, reheated food that makes us lazy due to much calorie food at a time. This sort of food also contain stale, tasteless, putrefied, and over-ripen food or maybe canned, tinned, frozen, or processed preserved food. The main thing is that we become lazy and restless in performing our activity so no effective for becoming healthy as leading with the diseases.
- Rajasic food: The stimulating food is called rajasic food which contains refined flour products, spicy, oily, fried, bitter, sour, salty, pungent, and too odorous, onions, garlic, and many more foods. This food activates and stimulates various organelles so we become restless and moving here and there with more desires 7 targets that overstimulate don’t show remarkable achievement in life. We overstimulate the endocrinal and nervous with wasting efficiency of the body.
- Sattvic food: These are fresh foods like fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds beans, wholesome grains, honey dairy, and dairy products. This sort of food has a high amount of essential nutrients that are essential for proper functioning of the body. Having this sort of food we eat balances energy with higher consciousness in the work with higher success in performances. For curing various lifestyle diseases along the metabolic can be simply cured by these food once we become conscious of our eating. Hence we can directly say that our food must be medicine and the very medicine must be our food. Hence yogic model of life requires sattvic food daily with a balanced state of all the nutrients.
Some rules and regulations for taking food are as follows:
- We should take food in sequences as sweet food first to balance the vatta doshas of hunger, salty and sour food for digestion followed by other taste with bitter at the end for minimizing the phlegm doshas.
- We should not take the slow poison food as known as polish rice, salt, sugar, refined flours, and vanaspati ghee.
- Eat slowly and chew properly not too fast.
- No water before half an hour, after 1 hour after meal and also in between meals.
- We should take solid food in surya swara and liquid food in Chandra swara so can be digested properly with effective nourishing. We should take seasonal food free from chemical during production as well as during preserving.
- No physical and mental hard task after food.
- No late-night food as well as early sleep after food.
- Food time 5 to 7 pm and after 2 hours at least after food, no sleep.
- We should take food in a conscious state so the proper secretions of juices happen for digestion with proper satisfaction intake food.
8. Sleep– The most important factor for lifestyle managment:
Sleep is also one action under lifestyle. We should have good quality of sleep for the quality of life. We should sleep after 1 to 2 hours of Meal around 9 to 10 pm and wake up around 4 to 6 am. Normally adults need 6 to 8 hours of sleep. The main objective of the study was to present the model lifestyle that can clear all sorts of lifestyle disorders at all levels starting from the physical, social, psychological, and spiritual level. After the study, we came to know that a yogic model lifestyle is the only solution for curing all sorts of lifestyle disorders prominently. We are indeed at the extreme level of advancement of technology but in the case of personal awareness in the field of health, education, service, and most of the social arena we are in the initial stage. Though new advanced technology tools and techniques are used in the diagnosis of diseases in hospitals with effective means of treatment higher the ratio of patient attendants, the main reason behind this result is that medicines control the symptoms not the root cause of the abnormality.