The Science Of Yoga & Omkar Sadhana

The Science of Yoga & Omkar Sadhana

Ulhas D Wadivkar Retired Vice President (Works), Graphite India Limited, 25.07.2009

YOGA

• Know YogaKnow Peace.

• Now YogaNow Peace.

• No YogaNo peace.

The science of YOGA• Yoga is for Sanyasies, is a wrong notion.

Yoga is for everybody and it is a way of life to improve the quality of life and to lead contended, a full life, without stress.

• There are extreme views about Yoga. Some think it is too complex and not for common man, where as some think it is too simple and take it casually. Both the views are faulty.

• Once we understand Yogshastra in its proper form and make it as a part of our daily routine, one will find his way to happiness & prosperity.

The science of YOGA• What do we understand by Happiness &

prosperity?• If we feel to be happy by materialistic gains,

we will also be sad because of lack of it. Secondly, same material which is pleasure for somebody is pain for someone else. A pleasure today may not be so handsome tomorrow. Materialism is never ending need. If you have one thing, you want tens to be happy and then you will need thousands to be happy and the obvious non fulfillment makes you unhappy.

The science of YOGA• In Bhagwadgeeta, Lord krishna says “karmani evam

Adhikar”. To do your assigned work is your duty. Your duty is your ‘Dharma’ and you should perform your duty without expecting fruits from it. They will eventually come as per your devotion. He says “Karmanyevadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachan”.

• The absence of expectation in deeds generates in man, an impartial view towards Joy & Sorrow. Lord Krishna further defines Yoga as “Samatvam Yoga Uchyate”. Therefore, Yoga in its true form can be defined as an experience-based attempt to go beyond the dualities of life.

• The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit verb ‘Yuj’ meaning joining two things together. The ultimate aim of ‘Yoga’ is to unite ‘Atma Tatva’ in you with ‘Parmtatva’ of Universe. This is a process of merging water drop in ocean.

YOGA• YOGA

IS

TOTAL CONTROL

of

REACTIONS

The science of YOGA• But we as common man engaged in common stream of life are

not interested in this union.• The science of Yoga was created for achieving a purified body,

which will be capable of achieving that level of concentration required for ‘Dharana’, ‘Dhyan’ & ‘Samadhi’. And precisely study of this part of ‘Yoga’ for purifying your body, is helpful for common man. Practicing even few yogic practices yield good results.

• ‘Yoga’ firmly believes that human body and mind are mutually inter-related & influence each other. ‘Yoga’ has equally thought of mind along with body. Therefore, Muni Patanjali has defined ‘Yoga’ as “Yogaschittvruttinirodh”. That is, control of the workings of mind restores the stability to highly volatile mind and health to the disease-prone body.

• Coming back to happiness, we could say that real happiness lies in having a controlled and stable mind and in a well tuned body. Therefore, ‘Yoga’ is defined as highway leading to happiness and prosperity. Though ultimate aim of ‘Yoga’ is to enable ‘Atmashakti’ to merge into ‘Paramshakti’.

YOGA

• YOGA is control over

THE BODY

EMOTIONS

&

MIND

The science of YOGA• We are discussing here ‘Ashtang Yoga’ as compiled

by Muni Patanjali. But the goal of uniting ‘Atamashakti’ into ‘Paramshakti’ can also be achieved in many other ways. If you take a path of ‘knowledge- Dnyana’, then it is ‘Dnyanayoga’ or ‘Bhaktiyoga’ if Bhakti (Prayer) is your way of devotion, or ‘Karmayoga’ if karma is your way of devotion. Simillrly, ‘Hathayoga’, ‘Rajyoga’, ‘Sahajyoga’, ‘Premyoga’ and so on, are the different ways to achieve ultimate goal ‘Yoga’.

• The science of ‘Yoga’ has distinctive features which separates it from many other sciences. ‘Yoga’ has thought all aspects of human life together and then has developed ‘yogic’ system. Each ‘yogic’ practice while designed for one part of human body has also good effects on all other parts of body and systematically provides their all round progress. This makes ‘Yogashastra’ so superior and therefore,best for us.

The science of YOGA• ‘Yoga’ brings health to the body, though ‘yogic’

practices were neither developed to cure some physical ailments nor are expected to do so. They were devised to keep body disease free, so that it can help body reaching ultimate aim of ‘Yoga’. However, we do observe, that ‘yogic’ practices can help in setting aside many a numbers of physical disorders. So, it is quite desirable to use to a considerable extent to treat certain physical and mental diseases.

• Human is a social being. It is imperative to think him as a part of social system. ‘Yogashastra’ has first shown the way how he should live in society. ‘Yoga’ is not only ‘Asanas’-postures or ‘Pranayam’-control over breathing, it is way of observing full, contended life. Muni Patanjali has described ‘Yoga’ as made of eight limbs – ‘The Ashtanga Yoga.’

YOGA• YOGA

cures the DISEASES

But

Yoga is not mere THERAPY

because

YOGA IS WAY OF LIFE

The science of YOGA• These eight limbs have equal importance. ‘Asanas’

is only a 1/8th part of ‘Yoga’. They are however arranged in a progressive way leading us to ultimate aim of ‘Yoga’.

• These eight limbs of ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ are:1. Yama.2. Niyama.3. Asanas.4. Pranayama.5. Pratyahara.6. Dhyana7. Dharana &8. Samadhi.

The science of YOGA• These eight limbs of ‘Ashtanga Yoga’ are:1. Yama : These are social rules to behave in society,

which also keep you, nature & society in harmony. They are five: Ahimsa-non violence, Satya-speak truth, Asteya- not to steal, Bramhacharya – celibacy & Aparigraha-not to hoard.

2. Niyama: These are rules for your personal life. They are also five: Shaucha, Santosha, Tapa, Swadhaya & Ishwar Pranidhana.

3. Asanas : The body postures for stability of mind and to tune your body to sustain further progress and have a disease free body.

4. Pranayama : is control over breathing to gain concentration which brings stability to the volatile mind. It has many advantages in ailments like BP, Heart diseases, Asthama and so on.

The science of YOGA5. Pratyahara : the practice which acquires firmness of

mind in the desired direction. Pratyahara is withdrawing yourself from worldly pleasures and involvement and getting away from in day to day activities.

6. Dharana : Concentration.

7. Dhyana : Meditation

8. Samadhi : The last step leading us to ultimate goal of merging ‘Atmashakti’ into ‘Paramshakti’ -‘The Moksha’.

YOGA• Yoga is

HERITAGE of Yesterday.

NEED of Today.

&

CULTURE of Tomorrow

- Paramhansa Satyanand Saraswati

The science of YOGA• The ‘Yoga’ is ‘kalpavruksha’. Anything you ask for and

get it. ‘Yogashatra’ is to bring normalcy in your life. If you are obese, then ‘Yoga’ will thin you down and if are thin, then yoga will add muscles to your body. ‘Yoga’ is a great muscle toner. It tunes your body for effective functioning. If you have high BP or low BP; same ‘yogic’ practices will bring you to normalcy. If you are hot-tempered and hyperactive; ‘Yoga’ will tone you down; if you are lazy and inactive; ‘Yoga’ will activate you. Simple breathing techniques such as ‘Deep Breathing’, Omkar Sadhana are great stress reliever. ‘Yoga’ is like a Battery Charger. A brief ‘Yoga’ routine will charge your body for whole day, keep you active, energetic and effective. Omkar sadhana is a separate science in itself for stress relief, achieving cool mind, improving concentration, blood circulation and so on. ‘Yoga’ is for all ages, earlier you start, more will you be benefited. But remember, ‘Yoga’ is science to be experienced. You will know about it, only if you practice. “ Piyo to jano”

The science of YOGAAny Questions?

The science of YOGA

The Omkar Sadhana

Ulhas D Wadivkar Retired Vice President (Works), Graphite India Limited, 25.07.2009

Omkar-Pranav-Adishabda

• The letter symbolically represents the force of the creator, ‘Bramha’. It also means whole or one that is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. The word is also known as ‘Pranava’, which means praise or prayer of the highest kind. is the primeval sound, or the ‘Adishabda’

Omkar – Sound Vibrations

• the sound contains of three letters, ‘A’, ‘U’ and ‘M’. There are two vowels and one consonant. The resonant vibrations one experiences by the chant of kar can be felt by even listening to it. These resonant vibrations have a soothing effect on the mind and the mind can be cajoled by this Japa into peak productivity.

Omkar as Described

• Shabda & Nad are the two wings on which mind takes off.

• Om is known as Beej Mantra. All Mantras begin with Omkar.

• Bhagwadgeeta calls Omkar as Ekakshari Bramha.• Mantric Powers of Omkar Purifies Nadis, Veins,

Arteries and sensory organs, enchants mind and eliminates diseases

• All languages start with “A” (Ka, Cha, ta, tha & Pa)

Omkar – Sound Vibrations• Omkar is origin of Sound. Sound has

power coupled with melody and scientific deliberations. Omkar can be recited with minimum alterations on original sound vibrations of vocal chords.

• The first letter “A” is pronounced with mouth just open. The second letter “U” is pronounced while closing the mouth and Third Letter “M” is pronounced with Mouth closed.

Omkra & Nadi Chakras in Body• When you are sounding “A”, you can feel

vibrations around your belly button. It is known as” Manipur ” Chakra”

• When you are sounding “U”, you can feel vibrations around your throat and back of neck. It is known as” Vishudhdha Chakra”

• When you are sounding “M”, you can feel vibrations at top of your head. It is known as” Sahastraar Chakra”

How to say • The three letters A,U & M follow one

after another without any break. It is like pouring oil, smooth and uninterrupted.

• It is also an exercise of deep breathing. You breath in one measure and release your breath in two measures. While releasing one measure shall be for “A” and one Measure for “M”.

• Joining bridge between “A” & “M” is “U” and is sounded while closing the mouth.

Effects of on Human Faculties• Reduction in laziness.•

• Feeling Energetic throughout the day

• Sound and Undisturbed Sleep.

• Better control of one’s faculties throughout the day.

• Improved Decision-Making Skill and Speed.

• Balanced Mind and mindset clarity.

Effects of on Human Faculties

• Peace of Mind• Eases out Headache, helps stabilising

mind, removes unrest in mind• Improves health of throat. (7paths)• Very effective on troubles of Tonsillitis.• Improves digestion and overcomes

acidity problems• Improves – Concentration, Memory,

Grasping power.

kar and Patanjal Yogsutras

• Pad – 27: Tasya Vachak: Pranava

It is remembering the almighty.• Pad – 28 : Tad Japatva Tadartham

bhavanam : It is remembering him with full intentions & with full faith.

• Pad – 29 : Tat Pratyek Chetana Api Antaraya Abhavach : You know all sensory system are obstacles and Omkar removes obstacles and in stabilises mind for further concentration

• Vyadhi, Styan, Sanshay, Pramad, Alasya, Avirati, Bhrantidarshan, Alabdhabhumikatva, Anavsthittva,

kar Japa & High Stress Jobs

• For mangers on a high-stress job, kar Japa will definitely prove useful in retaining his much needed vitality and resourcefulness.

Omkar Sadhana - A Case Study• The ‘Pranava-japa-anubhav’, or the ‘The

kar Japa and its Effect on Human Faculties’, was a project under taken by Yoga Vidya Dham, Nashik, Maharashtra.

• Approximately 250 individuals of different age groups have undergone this experiment. The results indicate a definite trend and the trend is increasingly positive.

• The various tests taken before and after the kar Japa, indicate noticeable increase in Memory, Retention, Concentration, Perseverance.

Tests Test Group Exposed to kar japa

Test Group Not Exposed to kar japa

1st Day Avg. Last Day Avg. 1st Day Avg. Last Day Avg.

Memory Test of remembering as much of 25 random Articles.

14.00 articles 19.14 articles 14.50 articles 15.50 articles

Improvement: - 26.85% - 6.89%

Concentration Test of simple Multiplications.Attempts & Accuracy

Attempts: 21.67Accuracy : 87.68%

Attempts: 24.29 Accuracy : 91.75%

Attempts: 22.00 Accuracy : 86.36%

Attempts: 23.50 Accuracy : 90.42%

Improvement :QuantityQuality

- 12.09%17.31%

- 6.81%11.84%

Perseverance Test, cancellation of particular alphabets from an random generated Alphabet Matrix

Attempt: 61Correct: 45

Attempt: 75Correct: 59

Attempt: 63Correct: 46

Attempt: 71Correct: 53

Improvement :Quantity

- 22.95% - 12.07%

Blood Pressure Test

Age 1st Day 1st Day Last Day Last Day

Before Japa After Japa Before Japa After Japa

65 130/90 130/88 130/85 125/80

46 120/80 118/80 120/82 122/90

43 130/90 130/85 110/76 120/82

42 130/85 125/80 110/76 114/78

34 130/85 120/80 118/86 106/80

19 130/80 125/80 122/70 110/76

Any Questions?