(continued from May issue)

4.1 Concept of Stress

CONCEPT OF STRESS AND ITS MANAGEMENT ACCORDING TO YOGA

Yogic Management of Stress – Principles

The yogic way of management of stress, is totally holistic, and is based on an understanding of the concept of stress, as presented earlier. It is not enough, if we work at the physical level (annamaya kosa) alone to reduce stress, but it is mandatory to bring a balance at all the other levels, Pranamaya, Manomaya and Vijnanamaya Kosas too. This is the total approach used in yoga.

The stress accumulated at the body level as stiffness of joints and spasms of muscles can be released by the practise of yogasanas which are congenial postures of the body to help in calming down the mind. Slow movements help in combating the rush from within. Rhythmic breathing and the breath-slowing process of Pranayama bring a balance at the pranic level. Retaining awareness and relaxation throughout the practice help to gain a great mastery over the mental processes and thus, eliminate imbalances at the Manomaya kosa level. Keeping our goal of achieving a happy, peaceful, healthy and efficient life and to promote harmony in the surroundings we prevent ourselves from getting into the rat race and mad rush of accumulating affluence and losing the very purpose of inner poise, tranquility and calmness. We then learn to work the right way, free of tension. Thus, a holistic approach of yoga will be the right answer to the challenges of stress.

By using the technique of yoga, we learn to expand our horizons, increase our capacities and manifest our dormant potentialities. As Bhagavad Gita portrays:

Ùaknotihaiva yah sodhum praksariravimoksanat,
Kamakrodhodbhavam vegam sa yuktah sa sukhi narah.

'He alone who is able to withstand, in this very life before casting off this body, the rush (speed) of lust and anger is the accomplished one and he alone is a happy man.'
The people who achieve this state enjoy serene peace and bliss from deep within. Attuned to the illumination of total knowledge within and actively engaging themselves for the good of all beings, they enjoy the very process of serving others, says the Gita. Further, the process for achieving this goal is to learn the three cardinal principles of yoga, “Relax the body, slow down the breath, calm down the mind”.

*Crystallising these principles and techniques which yoga offers VYASA has developed very effective programmes for the management of stress. These programmes are presented under the four heads:

1. Instant Relaxation Technique (IRT)
2. Quick Relaxation Technique (QRT)
3. Deep Relaxation Technique (DRT)
4. Self-Management of Executive Tension (SMET)

These courses have been conducted at various business houses, factories, industries, educational institutions, management development institutions in particular and for the common public in general, over the last 15 years.

The participants of the course have experienced great calmness of the mind and body as well as deep relaxation during the programme. Preliminary investigations have shown the efficacy of the course in handling stress effectively. We present in the following chapters the day to day introduction of these courses.

Each day’s session consists of:
Session 1 : 30 to 40 mts. Lecture and discussion,
Session 2 : 40 to 50 mts. Practice with guided instructions,
Session 3 : 10 mts. Exchange of experiences and hints for

further progress.
Various features of these programmes are discussed in the following chapters.

(to be continued in the next issue)