| Yoga - the oldest system of personal development | | | | considering the fact that many Indians suffer from |
| needs no introduction nowadays. Its popularity can | | | | hernia and heart problem. |
| be estimated by the fact that more than 15 million | | | | For example, according to the 'National Digestive |
| people practice yoga in USA alone. Almost every | | | | Disease Information Clearinghouse' (NDDIC), potential |
| health club in a country like UK has yoga classes. In | | | | causes for hernia include anything that creates |
| India where the yoga system was originated it was | | | | increased pressure in the abdomen. This includes: |
| not practiced on mass level until couple of years ago. | | | | coughing, vomiting, straining/constipation, etc. Now |
| Of course, yoga was taught as a free service for | | | | considering this information what about the forceful |
| years by organization like Bhartiya Yog Sansthan in | | | | exhalation which people do while practicing kapalabhati |
| public park but never before as an unquestionable | | | | or other pranayama exercises and how far these can |
| and unsafe mass hysteria. | | | | be dangerous for people having hernia? Perhaps |
| Recently with the help of TV channels the whole | | | | medical expert can better answer this question in |
| concept of Yoga has rejuvenated in India. Baba | | | | more details. |
| Ramdev Ji, the Indian 'yoga guru' has started | | | | Similarly there are number of other yoga postures |
| teaching yoga to the masses to the extent of | | | | which require great precautions. As we all have |
| millions of people. | | | | different body structures and different fitness level, |
| It is really good that now people in India are | | | | conducting same exercises (apart from very few |
| developing healthy habits by waking up early in the | | | | which are comparatively safe) for 30000 people in a |
| morning followed by energizing yoga practice, thanks | | | | camp without checking their medical conditions by |
| to TV channels and Baba Ramdev. As Yoga | | | | Baba Ramdev ji is quite questionable. |
| exercises have tremendous physical and medical | | | | Also 'Are the instructions about kapalabhati and other |
| benefits which help people to get rid of various | | | | yoga exercises safely delivered by Gurus?' 'Are they |
| diseases, it is good that those TV channels and Baba | | | | ensuring that people are following their practices |
| Ramdev and others are doing marvelous work to | | | | safely?' 'Is it really safe for the beginner to learn |
| help the nation to get rid of diseases. | | | | yoga only through the TV channels?' |
| However, like every other science, yoga is also a | | | | "Well, it is a serious question for the swami Ramdev |
| precise science. The question is: 'Are all yoga | | | | Ji and others who are teaching yoga to masses to |
| exercises safe to teach through the TV media and | | | | answer" said Subodh Gupta. |
| can the same exercise be taught to all people with | | | | If seems that in India there is no governing body |
| various health conditions?' | | | | which understands the fragility of adverse impact of |
| "This is the question which requires deeper digging | | | | yoga exercises if done in improper way. No doubt |
| into the subject of yoga itself otherwise the | | | | yoga is effective for treating various diseases and a |
| consequences of doing yoga practice could be more | | | | noble effort has been taken by Swami Ramdev and |
| dangerous than beneficial" said Subodh Gupta, Yoga | | | | organizations like Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana but |
| expert from India. | | | | unless these exercises are not done in a proper |
| Let us understand how: | | | | system and with supervision, the whole concept of |
| There are some breathing exercises like simple | | | | yoga teaching will become more of mockery or |
| alternate nostril breathing (without holding the | | | | maybe it has already become. Perhaps in near future |
| breath), which can be taught easily without much | | | | when the ill effect of unsafe yoga practice will come |
| complications and have various benefits. However, at | | | | to the limelight, the media will come up with great |
| the same time some of the exercises, for example: | | | | news stating that 50 or 100 million Indians are making |
| kapalabhati breathing technique which is taught to the | | | | fun with yoga everyday in front of TV and playing |
| masses is quite questionable. "This exercise even | | | | with their health. |
| though having tremendous benefits, can be equally | | | | Issued in public interest by Subodh Gupta, for all |
| dangerous if somebody has heart disease or problem | | | | those who are beginners and are learning yoga |
| related to hernia" said Subodh. 'Will it help or rather | | | | through TV, video cassette, DVD or in camps with |
| make the hernia and heart problem worse?' | | | | hundreds of other people. |