YOGA - THE MAGICAL JOURNEY

Man has fabricated luxurious products, humongous machines, high tech gadgets and many more, still go on formulating new inventions day by day to make life better on the earth yet happiness has become a temporary phenomenon. On the other hand, Yoga being the oldest art and practical science, have everything in its storehouse to make wonders on the existence of mortal beings by engendering eternal and everlasting happiness. Yoga indeed board us into a magical journey from unreal to real, unwholesome to wholesome, imperfection to perfection, fallacy to truth, diversity to unity, impure to pure! 

HOLISTIC HEALTH
We do live in a society where every single day we come across new ailments and the physical as well as mental health has taken a toll due to changing life style habits. Yoga is a structured discipline where each and every dynamics has been carefully chiseled to promise the overall vigor and vitality of human being.  The beauty about yoga is that everybody in the world is eligible to practice it, no matter one is young, old, handicapped or diseased, as it is modifiable according to the needs of the individual. Yogic practices such as Yamas and Niyamas ensuring ethical values of human life, Yoga asanas for a sound corporeal body, Pranayama for a strong pranic energy field nourishing all the cells and Meditation for a powerful mind, together corroborate into the holistic health and wellbeing which is the magic, man has been aspiring for in all his life.

ACCEPTANCE
Man always carves an ideal and perfect image of himself filled with complete virtuousness and can never imagine himself of committing any kind of mistakes in life. Reality is a total contradictory of the portrayed ideal image which puts one in the extreme state of denial as well as discomfort and he starts running away from his flaws, constantly attempting to hide it.  A Yogic practitioner in turn witnesses this ideal image created by himself is getting demolished gradually through his persistent yogic sadhana and further develop the courage to face his own faults and accept it. This can verily set him off to analyze the nature of the thought process behind the wrong doing and find better solutions to resolve it thoroughly. Acceptance is definitely a prominent virtue enables one to appreciate each and every single thing around him making living, an enchanting and fascinating experience.

LETTING GO
Human mind is the repository of impressions comprising of desires, greed, anger, jealousy and pride which gives rise to the avalanche of thoughts similar to a very high speed movie running on the movie screen resulting in obsession and compulsion. Excessive contemplations encountered by the human beings fails him miserably to live in the present moment and they often tend to resemble like a machine exercising its daily chores without heart and soul into it. On the contrary, Yoga teaches mankind to let go of everything dumped in the mind through unfolding the manoeuvre of not responding to the postulations of mind, empowering one to go with the flow of life by immersing himself in the current action with full consciousness and live the life to the fullest.

SURRENDER
Man puts himself either accountable for everything possible happening around him or entirely deny it which keeps him in the state of anxiousness, stress and depression round the clock leaving behind survival on the universe painful, traumatic, torturous, unbearable and agony filled. Whereas the Yogic science systematically depletes the ‘I’ ness from the thought pattern of the mankind and let him surrender to the higher consciousness, enabling him to perform every action unaccompanied by expecting fruits of the same. The man of self-surrender experience pure magical silence and peace pervading through his entire being all the time, even if the world is bursting outside. This superior quality allows him not to involve in the hard and toilsome situations, rather take necessary action to come out of it.

ETERNAL HAPPINESS
Yoga takes us on a wonderful ride, paving the way for us to dive deeper and deeper inside, exploring the dynamics and nature of one’s own self. The deeper the journey becomes, one starts to unveil all the misconception and false notions, he has created about himself in all his life on the earth and discover himself as the mass lump of happiness, joy and pleasure. Even with all the advancement of technology, if the heaven is brought to the earth, it cannot at all match the indestructible contentment experienced in the self. Yoga is not an occult science, but can undeniably create the magical phenomenon of radiating everlasting happiness and unconditional love in mankind.

The taste of mango is known, only if one relishes it. Correspondingly, one cannot at any moment come across the miraculous expeditions of yoga just by reading the yogic philosophy, listening to discourses of spiritual leaders or boasting the wonders of yoga, unless one has the strong determination to perform yogic practices each and every single day.
Hari Om!

YOGA AND HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM

Yoga unfolds the right way of living and significantly strengthening us from inside and out which indeed let us withstand all the harmful situations of life. As we are going through the worst crisis situation of COVID 19 pandemic, the questions related to the efficiency of human immune system and ways to boost the body’s defense mechanism is revolving around the globe.
World Health Organization as well as Indian Ministry of Ayush does recommend the practice of Yoga to handle the current scenario with better efficacy. This article deals with a brief note on immune system and explores the contribution of Yogic science on enhancing Humanity to fight against the current battle.

HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM
Immunity is the ability of human body to combat foreign matter or any harmful microorganisms or toxins that tend to damage the tissues and organs. Lymphatic system is the dedicated and specialized immune system that form antibodies or activated lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells) that attack and destroy the specific invading organisms. Lymphatic system consist of lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, lymphoid tissues and organs.
Lymph is the clear white fluid made of white blood cells that attacks bacteria and a fluid from intestines called chyle, which contains proteins and fats. Unlike blood, lymph flows only in the upward direction towards the neck draining into the two subclavian veins and reenter into the blood circulation.
Lymph Vessels are the capillaries with larger permeability than arteries and veins, carrying lymph fluid to pick up protein, cell debris and any other abnormal material present in the body.
Lymph Nodes are situated in the strategic positions in the body counts up to 600 in number, into which all the small and medium sized lymph vessels opens. The lymph fluid is filtered by the reticular and lymphoid tissues in the lymph node to destroy the microbes, dead and live phagocytes containing ingested microbes, worn out and damaged tissue cells, inhaled particles through macrophages ( the specialized cells that attack bacteria and viruses) and antibodies produced by B-Lymphocytes in the nodes.
Lymphoid Tissues are present in a number of locations in the body in addition to lymph nodes. They are Palatine and Pharyngeal Tonsils, Lymphatic follicles in the wall of small intestine and Vermiform Appendix.
Spleen and Thymus are the two major lymphoid glands present in the body. Spleen destroys worn out red blood cells and other cellular materials such as leukocytes, platelets and microbes are phagocytosed. It further activates B-lymphocytes which is a type of white blood cells responsible for the synthesis of antibodies. Antibody also called as immunoglobulin, is a glycoprotein that neutralizes pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Thymus Gland is in charge of maturation and development of lymphocytes originating from the red bone marrow into activated T- Lymphocytes.  Activated T – Lymphocytes kills the target infected cells and activate macrophages. It is also accountable for stimulation of activated B-lymphocytes to synthesis antibodies.
In addition to the exclusive immune system, the general functions as well take part in protecting body against any detrimental species. To name a few, destruction of swallowed organisms by the acid secretions of the stomach and digestive enzymes, resistance of skin to the invasion of organisms, certain chemical compounds in the blood attach to foreign material or toxins and tear them down.

YOGIC PRACTICES AND HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM
Surya Namaskar and Asanas
Surya namaskar and asanas provoke a good amount of heat intensifying body’s internal temperature which in turn boosts the production of macrophages along with enhancing the functions of immune system making sure the yogic practitioner is less susceptible to catching any kind of infections. On contrary to a heart pump giving rise to blood circulation, the onward movement of lymph fluid is assisted by muscular contractions and negative pressure created in the thorax during inspiration. Asanas does stretch the majority of muscular group, practiced along with a proper breathing mechanism which indeed substantiates an uninterrupted flow of lymph fluid flushing out obstructions in lymph vessels and lymph nodes.
Forward bending asanas and twisting asanas invigorates the functions of the digestive and excretory system corroborating the absorption of vital nutrients and minerals for the synthesis of essential constituents in the body and provides energy to carry out all the necessary functions. As 80% of immune system is present in the gastrointestinal tract, forward and twisting asanas play a crucial role in curbing foreign matter. Backward bending asanas enhances the flexibility of intercostal muscles promoting enough space for the lungs to expand along with exciting the primary lymphoid organ thymus gland. Inversion asanas clears toxins from the tissues by facilitating the drainage of lymphatic system, as the lymph fluid moves only in the upward direction.
In both inversion and backward bending asanas, the head is in the direction against gravity which flushes out lymph towards the upper respiratory system which is the entry point for all the dreadful microbes. Sarvangasana, Trikonasana, Urdhva Dhanurasana and Mayurasana massages the lymphatic tissues of the spleen paving way for the maturation of specialized white blood cells to fight against antigens. The basic sequence of asanas advisable is given in the following chart.

Pranayama
Pranayama practice involves a series of puraka(inspiration), rechaka(expiration) and kumbhaka
(holding the breath inside/outside), moves the parts of the lungs which is left unused in our day to day life making sure there is maximum expansion of pleural cavity along with improved flexibility of areolar tissues which in turn outdo the overall vital capacity of lungs. Utmost efficiency of lungs ensures an adequate dose of oxygen which is very essential for normal functions of the human body. In addition to that, excess phlegm, dust, necrotic material and microbes in the lower lobes will be evacuated. Pranayama purifies the nadis promoting a healthy and unimpaired pranic energy field. An intact energy field is the most important defense mechanism boost the level of white blood cells assuring a superior magnitude of healing.  Kumbhaka (breath holding) in addition to establishing a good rush of oxygen, can significantly stop the activities of mind. This can gradually reduce the vent up emotions and further activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Kapalbhati, bhastrika, Eka Nadi Shuddhi and Sukapoorva Pranayama strengthens the overall vigour and vitality.
Meditation
Meditation inculcate the competency to observe the impulsive mental contemplation without much interference and further encourages not to run away from long held emotions and deep negative impressions rather journey deeper in to oneself reinforcing a strong determination to face them  and let it pass away. Meditators stay away from criticizing others instead always reside with self-contentment, peace, harmony and joy. The increasing number of corona victims and hiking death rate cultivates a sense of fear in the society. The humongous information about the pandemic and negative rumors available in the social media does additionally frighten up the public making them stressed and anxious. As the immune system is also named as floating brain owing to the fact that immune cells partake in the chemical changes sent by the brain, the spiking cortisol level due to acute stress and anxiety can cause inflammation in the lymph nodes engendering an increased vulnerability to infection. Meditation in turn induces generous theta brain waves fortifying a calm and composed mind. It also indoctrinate us when to respond and when not to which further reduces the stress and depression.

In addition to strong immune system, a tough mind is indispensable as well. Hence, right mixture of Yoga asanas, pranayama and meditation practice is recommended. As we are turning back and started walking in the footsteps of our ancestors by washing legs and hands before entering home, shun away from shaking hands alternatively joining both hands in namaskar to greet others, homemade ayurvedic concoctions, including our age old spices such as turmeric, cumin and coriander in cooking, it is time for us to get back to the oldest and the most phenomenal tradition of Yoga.
Hari Om!