Yoga Day-21st June
Sham S. Misri
In the remote 14th century and in an obscure part of the
history of Kashmir there lived Lal Ded (Lalleshwari) during the period 1320 to
1390. In her lifetime she came to be recognized as a goddess, a seer, who had
descended upon this earth with a divine message for mankind. Her vakhs confirm
and establish that she engaged herself with the common yogic-practices to calm
her mind which was deeply agitated and extremely disturbed. In some vakhs she completely
refers to regular practice of yoga for concentration and purification of mind,
thus enabling herself to go over to other levels of Yoga.
One day I began feeling tired. I had trouble sleeping as my
thoughts would disturb me. My digestion was suffering. I always seemed to be bloated
after eating and generally felt uncomfortable.
Life carried on like this. I tried various other medicines, but these
only seemed temporary solutions. Finally, by chance my doctor recommended some
yoga practices which he had started himself some time earlier. I started
practising yoga early mornings without fail for the first month. I remember
waking up one morning and waiting for the deep sense of anxiety in my stomach
to begin as usual but something felt different. I got out of my bed and walked
around the house lawn, a different sensation had begun in my feelings. I sat
down on my couch my eyes started to fill up as I realised –perhaps the practice
of yoga was working. My health improved, my digestive problem disappeared, and
I started having more energy and feeling lighter. I always sleep peacefully and
wake up fresh and feeling calm with a clear mind.
People often question why yoga and why not other physical
exercise? The answer to this was found thousands of years ago by ancient yogis,
who had a deep understanding of man’s essential nature and what he needed to
live in harmony with himself and his environment. Yoga is complete science of
life- it unites the mind, body and the spirit.
Anybody can practice yoga. One does not need special
equipment or clothes. All one needs is a small quiet space and a yearning for a
healthier, quieter health. Regular practice of yoga gives a fit and beautiful
body, increases ones energy and vitality, reduces stress and increases ones
powers of concentration and discipline. Unlike other physical exercises, Yoga is
gentle. It does not involve use of rough, intense movements that could cause
injury and fatigue. The yoga poses or ‘asanas’ stretch and tone the muscles,
joints, the spine and the entire skeletal system. With regular practice, one
experiences improved mental power and deeper concentration. This is not so with
other forms of physical exercise.
It has been my honour to write this and hope whoever is reading
this now will take the next step for endless happiness.
