The whole world is but one family - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

in restoring the balance in the energy patterns.
The accumulation of unwanted waste materials
(mala), or toxic materials introduced from outside
are recognised to be responsible for producing the
imbalance in the doshas and hence the disease.
Restoring the balance of energies, by cleansing,
replacements of the suitable materials as medicine
and food to restore the balance, forms the basis
of treatments in Ayurveda. It can be said that non
medicinal Ayurveda with use of energies in the five
basic elements (Panchamahabhootas) constitutes
the basis of naturopathic treatment, with specific
stress on the removal of accumulated waste matter.
“We can combine these
systems judiciously to
maintain health and
avoid disease by boosting
our immunity.”
Yoga
Yoga has fully acknowledged the two energy
projections of Atma (the balanced omnipotent
energy)—Prana and Mind. The total human
existence is said to be five layered as per the
Taittiriya Upanishad—the Panchakosha theory.
The grossification of prana and mind is the
‘Annamaya kosha’ or the body, and they form
the motivating forces in the human body. Their
presence and action is from seven main centres
called ‘Chakras’, which can be said to influence the
seven Autonomic plexuses, and the corresponding
hormonal glands in the body.
50 | Bhavan Australia | February 2012
1. Mooladhara chakra at the lowest level in the
spinal column is the densest place of Pranic energy,
which is said to gradually rise to:
2. Swadishthana - Lumbar plexus –
Reproductive glands
3. Manipura - Coeliac plexus –
Pancreas and digestive
hormones and enzymes
4. Anahata - Cardiac plexus –
Adrenal glands
5. Vishuddhi - Cervical plexus –
Thyroid and thymus glands
6. Agna - Hypothalamus and Limbic
system – Pituitary and
Pinal glands
7. Sahasrara - Cerebral hemispheres
To harness these two energies, prana and mind,
towards a balanced state of atmic activation,
preparing it to be in unison with the all pervasive
omnipotent energy—Paramatma—is the highest
aim of life as per Yoga. To control the negative
energy of the violent emotions and instincts, and
promote the positive emotions Yama and Niyama
have been described. Asanas constitute a series of
body postures of alternate stretching (expansion)
and relaxation (contraction) to balance the
physical energies. To balance the pranic energy are
the various types of Pranayama, and to harness the
mind the three phases of meditation of ‘Antaranga
yoga’—Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are advised.
‘Pratyahara’ is the bridging phase of in drawing of
the senses. Yoga is a way of life, which maintains
health, and also heals the body and mind when
disturbed by disease.