The Role of Yoga in
Multidimensional
Detoxification
Yogacharya
Dr ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI
MBBS, MD (AM), ADY, DSM, DPC, PGDFH, PGDY, FIAY, C-IAYT
Director CYTER of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth & Chairman ICYER at Ananda
Ashram, Puducherry, South India. yognat@gmail.com
AB Bhavanani - STOX 2018
www.icyer.com
SRI BALAJI VIDYAPEETH
(Deemed University Accredited with “A” Grade by NAAC)
Ranked 72 in NIRF 2018
Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education
and Research (CYTER)
Salutogenesis, our focus!
Bridging the experiential wisdom of Yoga with
empirical modern medical science.
Yoga is usually found in Physical Edu
& Sports deptts of universities
We at CYTER, have it in a medical
institution since 2010
– quality of life enhancing benefits
for ~ 50,000 partiipants
– educating future Yoga therapists
(PGDYT, M.Phil, PhD),
– creating awareness amongst
medical, dental and nursing
students & professionals
– scientifically researching Yoga,
– 85 publications & 7 CMEs.
– IDY celebrations since 2015
Salutogenesis, our Focus
• Moving from pathogenesis, the focus on disease
towards salutogenesis, the focus on health!
Salutogenesis
Pathogenesis
• CYTER is striding forward on an innovative path of
promoting holistic health for one and all.
www.sbvu.ac.in
Definition of Health (WHO)
Physical well-being
Social well-being
Health is a
dynamic
state of
complete…
Mental well-being
Spiritual well-being
And not merely the absence of disease.
SWASTH: a dynamic
state of wholesome
wellness
Samadoshah samaagnishch
samadhaatu
malakriyah
prasanna atmendriya manah
swasth ityabhidheeyate.
- Sushrut Samhita (15:41)
• Acharya Sushrut (~600 BC)
defined health as “a dynamic
balance of the elements and
humors, normal metabolic
activity
and
efficient
elimination coupled with a
tranquil mind, senses and
contented soul”.
• Yoga is truly the best means
to achieve such a dynamic
state of wholesome health at
all levels of existence.
Sama (balanced equilibrium)
• Dosha (Vata, pitta, kapha)
• Agni (Jatharagni, Bhutagni, dhaatuagni)
• Dhatu (rasa-rakta-asti-mamasa-meda-majjasukra, navadushya, dwadasha krama)
Malakriya (dynamic elimination)
• Anava (asmita)
• Kannmam (klesha-karma bandha)
• Maayai (tasya hetu avidya)
Prasanna (tranquil contentment)
• Athma (from self to Self)
• Indriya (jnanedriya, karmendriya, et al)
• Mana (chitta-mana-bhuddhi-ahamkara)
“Yoga therapy is the process of
empowering individuals to
progress toward improved health
and wellbeing through the
application of the teachings and
practices of Yoga”. – IAYT
It doesn’t matter how many resources you have.
If you don’t know how to use them,
it will never be enough.
Yogic perspective of the human
• Yoga conceptualizes the human being as a
multi layered, conscious being, possessing
• Trisharira (gross, subtle and causal bodies), &
• Pancha kosha (five layered existence:
anatomical,
physiological,
psychological,
intellectual and universal existential layers.
• When the healthy alignment is lost, it is
termed Nara.
• Yoga aims to help regain our psychophysiological balance, by removing the root
cause of the dis-harmony.
• Disassociation from inherent tendencies to
identify with suffering, is Yoga!
duhkha samyoga viyogam yoga samjnithamBhagavad-Gita VI: 23.
From the Yogic viewpoint of disease, psychosomatic,
disorders progress through four phases.
1. Psychic Phase
 vijnanamaya & manomaya kosha
2. Psychosomatic Phase
 manomaya & pranamaya kosha
3. Somatic Phase
 pranamaya & annamaya kosha
4. Organic Phase
 annamaya kosha
• The Pancha Klesha model of Maharishi Patanjali
clearly states that the ‘root’ of all suffering (duhkha)
is AVIDYA (distorted perception of reality).
– tasya hetur avidya –PYS II:24
• Avidya as the root cause enables manifestation of
other kleshas in dormant, attenuated, manifest or
overpowering forms leading to suffering.
- avidya kshetram uttaresham prasupta tanu
vicchinna udaranam- Yoga Darshan II:4
Unless we treat the
individual’s underlying
psycho-somatic disassociation
(dwaitham) and misconceived
sense of self identify (avidya),
we are not practicing
Yoga Chikitsa.
• Thiruvalluvar, the Dravidian saint advises us to look
for the disease, trace its root cause, understand the
remedy and then mindfully apply it.
– Noinaadi noimudhal naadi athuthanikkum vaai naadi
vaippach cheyal -Tirukkural 948
• The Vyuha model based on PYS has similar approach.
– Heya : what are the challenges?
– Hethu : what are the causes?
– Hana : what are the goals?
– Upaya : what are the tools?
Yoga places great importance on a proper and healthy
lifestyle whose main components are:
ACHAR – healthy physical activities & exercise
VICHAR – right thoughts and right attitude towards
life that are vital for wellbeing.
AHAR – healthy, nourishing diet with adequate intake
of fresh water; balanced intake of fresh food, green
salads, sprouts, unrefined cereals & fresh fruits.
Sattwic diet, prepared & served with love & affection.
VIHAR – proper recreational activities to relax body
and mind are essential for good health.
VYAVAHAR – healthy relationships for social health
E=
2
mc
Power of the mind!
Navavidha shuddi
Nine multidimensional purification processes
occurring through Yoga.
1. Mala shuddhi - removal of toxins from
internal organs,
2. Deha shuddhi- physical hygiene,
3. Nadi shuddhi- purification of subtle energy
channels
4. Prana shuddhi- removal of blocks impeding
flow of life energy,
Navavidha shuddi
5. Indriya shuddhi - sensory purification,
6. Man/ chitta shuddhi - mental purification and
enhancement of clarity,
7. Jivana shuddhi - healthy and clean lifestyle,
8. Bhavana shuddhi - removal of improper
attitudes and clarity of perception, and
9. Ultimately purification of the “Self” itself
(Athma shuddhi).
Some final words…….
• The need of the hour is for a symbiotic relationship
between Yoga and modern science.
• Living, human bridges combining the best of both
worlds need to be cultivated.
• Iti iti………….. The way forward!
We need to focus on
wholesomeness
&
salutogenesis
and move consciously
from
duhkham to sukham….
May we all be blessed to do so!
Hari om tat sat
Thank You!