Fertile soil yields good
crops. To make the soil fertile, the farmer works very hard by removing weed, ploughing
the field in the hot sun, watering, manuring and so on. Then only the land produces good
crops.
Human body is also like the land. We can control our body by weeding out unhealthy habits.
Good habits help the body in performing the righteously acts and lead a pious life. They
also streamline the body and mind to suit Yoga practice.
Everyone respects us if our habits are good. Good habits indirectly train a person in
inculcating discipline and socially appreciable characters. It is the responsibility of
parents to train the children in acquiring good habits from the childhood itself. Not only
young and elders, but also children are becoming prey to various attractions that lead to
the formation of bad habits. It is the responsibility of every one to strive to eradicate
this evil from the society. Yoga helps a lot in the formation of good habits and
eliminating the ills.
The success of Yoga practice depends upon the regular observation of daily activities,
food, water, sleep, bathing, fasting, urination, free pass of stool etc. One should have
detailed knowledge of these aspects and see that they are regular.
1. Daily Routine
A disciplined daily routine is necessary for a good health. Whatever duties we do, they
should be right and regular.
We should go to bed early and rise early everyday. As soon as we get up, whether we feel
thirst or not we should drink a tumbler full or glass full of water (about half to one
litre). After attending to the calls of nature we have to wash our face and after cleaning
the mouth we have to remove the dirt on the tongue with a tongue cleaner. Most people just
gargle and spit out which is not enough. We have to massage the roof of mouth (palate)
with the thumb twice or thrice and clean it also. Every morning, afternoon and night we
should clean our teeth after taking meals, so that the dirt on the teeth, gums, tongue and
in the mouth is removed. We should not use needles, pins and other things to remove the
dirt between the teeth. Whenever we eat anything, we have to gargle the mouth with water
two or three times.
It is better to have bath with normal water. In winter and in cold countries or whenever
we feel sick we may have a thorough warm water bath. The main purpose of bathing is to
completely remove the dirt of the body.
We should wear loose clothes and avoid tighter ones. We should wear clean washed clothes
everyday especially the inner garments including the socks etc. should be always clean.
Sleep is necessary for every one. If a person gets a sound sleep he may be deemed to be a
healthy person. Sleeplessness is a sign of ill health. The place where we sleep should be
clean and well ventilated. The cot, mat, bed and pillows should also be neat and clean.
We have to talk politely and melodiously with others. We should speak the truth, but it
should not be harsh. It should be modest and gentle. There is a saying
“Satyam Vada Priyam Vada“ – i.e. Say the truth politely. We should minimize
our requirements and make it a habit to help others specially helpless, weak, destitute,
sick, aged and handicaps.
We have to review the day’s activities and plan for the next day’s work before
we sleep. We have to take note of the day’s mistakes or wrongs that we did knowingly
or unknowingly. We have to note down the important events every day in a diary.
If everyone follows the daily routine regularly and is habituated for it, he will be
automatically disciplined and will be an asset to the nation.
2. Food
Food is necessary for us to live. Nature has blessed us with many things as food. If we
take limited food on time everyday, we can live happily without any diseases.
We should use vegetables, roots, pulses, food grains, dhaniya, ginger, onion, garlic,
lime, coconut etc. in required quantity.
Seasonal fruits are available in plenty. We can eat them, or we may drink their
juice…
We should have only two main meals a day. There should be at least four hours interval
between breakfast and lunch. Those who take their meals in the morning between 9 and 11 am
should not take any breakfast. They may have some fruits around 3 pm in the afternoon.
Fruit juice or a cup of coffee or tea if habituated, may be taken. Those who do physical
labour, should take food in sufficient quantity. Those who engage only in desk work
(without much physical movements) should consume minimum food.
“Eat liquids and drink solids” is a known saying. Saliva that secretes in the
mouth, mixes with the food and helps its digestion. So we must chew the food till it is
turned to liquid and then drink it like water. Water and other liquids should be slowly
eaten. This also gives very good exercise to the jaws, teeth and gums.
Note:
1. As soon as we wake up, four Yogasanas –
Supta-Pavanmuktasan, Tanasan,
Paschimottanasan and
Utkut-Pavan Muktasan should be done and then we should
compulsorily drink a tumbler
full of water.
2. We should not eat anything without attending to
the calls of nature. Those who
don’t feel attending to
their calls of nature in the morning, should drink two glasses
of warm water and make it a
habit to pass them in the morning itself.
3. We should try to avoid drinking water, during we
eat our meals.
4. Nothing should be eaten for some time, after any
physical exercise,
Yoga practice or walking.
5. We should not sleep immediately after supper.
There should be sufficient time
between the supper and going
to sleep.
6. Whenever we are on fast, we should not have too
many fruits or much liquids.
7. When we feel ill, we should eat minimum.
8. Staled, fermented or spoiled food should not be
taken.
9. Stained or over-ripen parts of the fruits are
generally removed and the rest is
eaten. We should avoid such
fruits totally.
10. We should wash our feet, hands, mouth and face
compulsorily before we have
our meals. This reduces
tension in the body and the food is easily digested.
11. We must pray God before we start our meals.
12. We should be at ease and peace while eating. We
should neither talk
unnecessarily nor
chit chat while we eat. We should also avoid talking on phone
while eating. One
should better stop eating and attend to phone if it is very urgent
or may ring back
to the caller after completing the meals. Laughing while eating /
drinking is
dangerous.
13. We must perform Niralambasan for at least 2
minutes before supper.
14. We must walk at least ten minutes after we have
our meals and sit for 5 to 10
minutes in
Vajrasan.
3. Fastings
Fastings are necessary for the cleanliness of the internal organs of the body. They also
contribute a lot for the spiritual development. Many people observe half a day fast or a
day’s fast once a week, others fast for eight days or 21 days or even a month
continuously. Some others fast even more than that.
It is better for every one to observe fast for a day in a week. It is a total rest for the
digestive system on that day. ‘Miss a meal once a week’ is a famous saying in
English. Fastings is a Tapsya in disguise. One may take lime juice, fruit juice, vegetable
soup or warm water at the beginning of the fasting. No tiffin should be taken during the
time of fasting. During fasting one should feel physically at ease and mentally calm.
Fastings are in practice from the time immemorial. All the religions give importance to
fastings. Man will be ever healthy if he eats minimum and observes fastings. He would be
leading a happy and peaceful life.
4. Drinking Water
The earth has three fourth of water and one fourth of land. So is human body. Three
fourths of our body consists water. If the water content in our body reduces than three
fourth, it leads to many abnormalities and dangers.
We should drink water whenever we feel thirsty. But whether we feel it or not we have to
drink at least a glassful of water every morning soon after we get up from the bed. This
is termed as ‘morning drink’. If we make ‘morning drink’ a habit, our
calls of nature are easy and free. If we drink a little water, just before taking meals,
it increases our appetite. If we drink more, it reduces our appetite. We must drink water
only after one hour of taking the meals. It digests the food easily. Water should not be
taken while we eat.
Saliva is required to digest the water that we drink. So water should be held in the mouth
for few seconds and slowly drunk. Filtered water is good for the health. We may boil and
filter the water. We should avoid drinking water in hotels and other public places as that
spreads bacterial diseases. Therefore we should be very careful about the purity of
drinking water.
One should drink at least 2 litres of water daily to maintain the internal cleanliness of
the body. |
