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by Yogachariya Jnandev Giri (Author), Diana Skibniewski-Woods (Author), Yogachariya Ananda Bhavanani (Author)
This book on Swasthya and Yoga Chikitsha is a research work compilation for all the sincere Yoga, Health, Spiritual Seekers and Yoga Therapy professionals who wish to use fundamental yogic principles to support the yoga therapy Program. Yoga is path, a lifestyle that includes practices, principles, Kriyas and Prakriyas and their applications to help the yoga seekers to be free from all forms of suffering or Dukha. In a wholistic sense Yoga Chiktisa is part of yoga itself as Yogachariya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani mentions that "If we see Yoga as a big circle then yoga Chiktisha is small circle within it", which makes them inseparable. For me Yoga is one of the sincerest efforts of ancient yogis and life scientists to find the way to attain our wholesome potential.
The journey of this work began in 2019 when we started the first online yoga therapy course under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Ananda Ji. As I started to study, research and teach a lesson week by week I realise how much the in-depth teachings and practices yoga provide us with as human beings, to deal with our day-to-day sufferings and improve our health and wellness. In recent times yoga therapy has become very popular, as yoga is one of the best tools for the management of most of psycho-somatic problems as well pains and injuries, which has also led to the progression of yoga therapy into Yogopathy (symptomatic relief).
In this book we are following the fundamental principles of Gitananda Yoga as per our Guru Dr. Swamiji Gitananda Giri Ji Gurumaharaj Ji as well Yogic Life teachings of Yogacharini Ammaji Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani. Working under guidance of Dr. Ananda Ji who is a pioneer of yoga therapy with his in-depth knowledge of yoga, medical science, yoga therapy and yoga research has been an honour for me and I feel privileged to have been able to compile this work around the Gitananda Yoga Chiktisa principles.
As Per Ammaji Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani Ji "One of the unique features of the timeless wellness system of Yoga is that it provides a complete discipline of body, emotions, mind and spirit. Every aspect of the human being is refined by practices which have been proven through generations of the Rishiculture Yoga Parampara."
Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj Ji describes that
"Yoga as a life style has an answer to depression, stress, strain and anxiety. Engaging in the Asanas, Kriyas and Mudras along with the proper Pranayama goes a long way to aid in relieving the condition. Yoga practice is basically isometric, rather than isotonic. Therefore, it has an advantage for all types of depression. Isometric Yoga plays body movement against the breath, while isotonic activity is to be observed in heavy work sports and recreational play. Although the latter does give a false sense of relief from tension, only a personality change can relieve the condition totally. It is to be sadly noted that Western culture has advanced a long way in using relaxation techniques in every form of recreation, sport and medicine, while here in India, little or nothing is known about Hatha Yoga relaxation or Jnana Yoga counselling which are both fields producing dynamic recovery from depression and repression. It is to be hoped that leading Research Centres devote time to this valuable research field. More people are dying daily from conditions caused by anxiety, stress, and tension than by all other diseases put together. Yet, this is hardly recognized in the statistics of death from so-called "natural causes."
