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Life
after Yoga
 "Over
6,000 years ago the art and science of yoga took birth in India,
introducing a new value to the Indian lifestyle," says
yoga specialist, Dr Suman Seth, who was the Head of the
Department of Yoga at Nanavati Hospital, and also taught
yoga at the World Budo Federation in Tokyo, Japan in 1980.
She also wrote the book Practical Yoga. The physical
and mental disciplines of yoga make us healthy, alert and happy,
transforming our perception of the world and the way we live, she
adds.
It has been scientifically proved that most diseases take root
in the mind. Yoga plays a cleansing role on the mind eradicating
the root cause of health problems. "There is no age restriction
for practising yoga. Some of my students are in their eighties.
Only, difficult practices are best avoided by children under 12
years of age," says Dr Seth.
 Dr
Seth explains some of the do's and don'ts in yoga
1. Beginners should not strain themselves to practice asanas
to perfection. Unnecessary strain on the body will lead to muscle
pulls and tears. Beginners might find their body more flexible in
the evenings than in the mornings.
2. Patients who have undergone any major surgery, or those
who suffer from heart trouble or abnormal blood pressure should
meet a physician, or discuss case histories with a yoga specialist
before practising. Back problems can benefit tremendously from yoga,
but wrong practices will worsen them.
3. Women should avoid all yoga practices, expect for Shavasana
(corpse pose) and Nadi Shuddhi (alternate nostril breathing)
during their menstrual period.
 4.
Pregnant women should practice yoga only after consulting
their doctor. They should avoid strenuous abdominal exercises.
5. After child birth, depending upon the condition of the
body, women can resume yoga practice after the third or fourth month.
6. It is important to keep the bladder and intestines empty before
practising yoga . It is good to drink 2-3 glasses of salted warm
water if constipated.
7. Yoga should be practised in the early morning, when the
stomach is almost empty.
8. Asanas may also be practised 5 hours after lunch,
if only a glass of water has been drunk in between.
9. Practice yoga in an airy room or in the open, but not
under the hot sun.
10. Wear loose and light clothes and remove spectacles,
 wrist
watches and ornaments as they might get in the way.
11. Do not practise yoga just before or after any other strenuous
physical activities.
12. In between asanas, one should relax in the
Shavasana (corpse pose) posture.
13. It is always better to breathe through the nose and
not through the mouth expect for Sitali (cooling breath)
and Sitkari (wheezing breath), when inhalation has to be
through the mouth.
14. Do the asanas slowly and not in a vigourous manner
as the body has to be relaxed and not tense.
15. There is no specific diet to follow, except that strong
stimulants should be avoided.
For more on Yoga contact: Dr Suman Seth, Yoga Specialist
Address:
601, 6th Floor, Shailaja Apartments,
Pali Hill, Bandra West, Mumbai
Phone: 604 2932
Author: Mani D'Mello
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