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Initial Impression of Yoga Therapy Course

Dr. Venkatesh, MB, BS, Jamshedpur

A Yoga Therapy Course was held under the auspices of the Rotary Club Jamshedpur. It was conducted by Swami Shankardevananda Saraswati of Bihar School of Yoga, Munger. This was the first time this town has been blessed by the presence of a Doctor Swami presenting yoga as a scientific process rather than a mystic experience.

The camp was organised with an aim to promote a better understanding of yoga with particular emphasis on therapy. The participants were divided into three groups :

1. Diabetics
2. Hypertensives
3. Asthmatics

During the ten day course, the participants were taught asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation and yoga nidra (yogic relaxation). All medicines were stopped.

With the kind co-operation of the doctors of TISCO, the Medical College, and Blood Bank, the various clinical data were recorded.

The asthma group

At the beginning of the course, it was observed that the hall was echoing with the coughing, wheezing and sneezing of the participants. What was amazing was that by about the fourth or filth day, the hall gave an atmosphere of silence and serenity. No more cough, sneeze or wheeze.

Lung function tests were performed at the M.G.M. Medical College. Tests were done before and after the course and 25% improvement was noticed in almost all the cases. It was seen that the younger the subject, the better the result. Different data are being computed.

The diabetic group

Fasting and post-prandial (after meals) readings of the blood sugar were taken before and after the course. A marked fall in the blood sugar was seen in a majority of the cases.

The high blood pressure group

Recordings of blood pressure were taken before and after the course. Here also an appreciable fall was noted. In a few cases there was no difference.

Seeing these results in such a short time, one is naturally led to the conclusion that these practices really help. It is needless to say that those who have been benefited by this camp would definitely continue the practice with the co-operation of the doctors and local yoga teachers, so that their progress can be followed and they can gain the necessary assistance essential to yoga practice.

In summing up, it is important to realise that it is the doctors themselves who must devote part of their precious time for the follow up of these cases and that they should learn to treat the patient as a whole, body and mind. Too often, in treating disease, we forget to treat the patient, and yoga can go a long way in helping to remedy this situation.

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