UNDERSTANDING  OF  OUR  BODY FOR  YOGA  TEACHERS  

(by Dr. Mukund V.Bhole)

We have to study the books on anatomy, physiology and psychology in order to develop our understanding of the organisation of the human body and mind in respect of their structure and functions in order to enable us to teach yoga techniques and practices to our students and/or patients in an effective manner. 

Most of these books are originally and basically written for the use of medical profession such as medical students, physicians, surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists and other medical and disciplines. 

From these original source books,  experts working in different non-medical fields such as games, sports, atheletics, dance, cooking, painting etc. have written books highlighting those aspects of human body and mind which are most suitable for the understanding and teaching of their respective disciplines.

Yoga students and teachers are seen to use these books without being modified to suit the aims and objectives of yoga discipline.  Because of this, many times teachers and students fail to develop right understanding and comprehension of the subtlties of yoga techniques and practices.  Very often, we do not get the desired results and outcome of our teachings and/or practice as mentioned in ancient yogic texts.  Therefore a need is felt to develop suitable literature explaining the human body and mind for the use of yoga personnel.

What all that is described in medical books on anatomy and physiology in great details and with accuracy is based on the observational and analytical studies carried out on dead bodies for the understanding of the structural details (anatomy) and on anaesthetised and/or unconscious animals and human beings for the understanding of the functions of different cells, tissues, organs and systems of the body (physiology).

A conscious human being with avarage intelligence lacks the first hand experience of most of this knowledge and will not be able to experience it wihtout suitable external audio-visual aids in vogue to-day.  In spite of such a help, lot of knowledge will continue to remain as the informational knowledge beyond personal experiencing it in one’s own body.

SOME FACTS ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR OWN BODY

IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRESENT MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE

1. Out of various systems in the body, we can only work with the voluntary muscles i.e. skeletal muscles and are able to manipulate their working in an effective manner.   It is through this muscular working that the working of the other systems get influenced indirectly in our day-to-day life.  We can develop an understanding of this influence so as to sue it in an intelligent way. 

2. Even the skeletal muscles cannot work on their own in an intact living body.  They require nerve impulses to reach them in order to switch on or switch off their activity.

3.  The nerve impulses originate from the nerve cells present in the peripheral and the central nervous system right from the nerve ganglions, spinal cord, different areas of the brain such as the cerebellum, brain stem (medualla and the  pons), limbic system and the cortical areas and centres. 

4.  Thus most of our physical activities and actions are essentially neuro-muscular in nature.  This acitivity is measured in terms of electrical activity forming the basis of various medical investigations such as EMG, ECG, EEG, Audiotry and Visual Evoked Potentials from the brain, echographies and sonographies in relation to internal organs. 

5.  We do have other investigative techniques such as MRT, PET, Radilogical studies which are again based on electro-magnetic principles.

6.  If we ask the question, ‘How much of these different activities of the neuro-muscular system investigated by the medical profession is being or could be experienced by us because it is originating from our own body, brain and mind ?’  Even the professionals will have to answer in the negative.

7.  It is on this background that the yoga teachers will have to develop their teaching strategies keeping in view the aims and objectives of this disciplibne in the background all th time so as to reap maximum benifits from one of the ancient systems of ‘Self Realisation’ and ‘Self-Management’  available to us to-day.