Yoga may affect the body, mind and breathing.
Silence has many faces. oing yoga for 10-30 minutes or more every day provides systematic and D varied training for the main groups of muscles in the body, along with The stillness lingering over the tendons and joints. Yoga loosens up some of the stiffness of the body in a slow and gentle way without pain or strain. Incrementally, the body becomes a lake at night. freer and more energetic; the risk of injuries is reduced. Well-being, vitality and strength are likely to increase. Yoga also improves the coordination be- The quiet spot at the centre of a storm. tween body, breath and mind.
The serenity of a loving gaze.
Special effects?
Silence may convey peace, calm and Many yoga books claim that each posture has specific effects on the in- clarity. It may bring us face to face with ner organs, nerve centres and hormonal glands. In this way, the postures who we are – for good and for bad. and the breathing are supposed to alleviate various illnesses and bodily ail- ments. With the exception of localized musculoskeletal problems, there is We may be longing for peace but may hardly any scientific evidence to support such claims. However, several reli- nevertheless keep letting opportunities able studies show that yoga in general has a beneficial effect on the health of body and mind. We therefore take the view that the most important effects for silence pass by unnoticed. of yoga are not related to specific postures, but rather come from practising well-composed yoga programmes.
To practise yoga and meditation is to get in touch with the silent undercurrents of life. Alternating between rest and activity Bodily training entails activation and exertion. The ability to change be- Fro M s T ill H e T ens psykologi [T H e p syc H ology o F s ilence] tween different levels of activation is an advantage, permitting a person to a book on a ce M Medi T a T ion switch easily and quickly from rest to activity and back to rest when the physical or psychological challenges have ceased. A person who is capable of such transitions at work, in leisure time and in various social contexts is less likely to suffer lasting stress than someone who activates rapidly but does not change to a lower gear when the challenge is over. Yoga involves developing the capacity to adapt swiftly to the demands of a situation, i.e., to make healthy transitions. Stressing down may reduce the risk of cardio- vascular disease and strengthen the immune system to combat infections and sporadic cellular malformations that sometimes turn into cancer. Yoga modifies the autonomous system which is responsible for stress levels in the body, brain and mind.
Joy of breathing Working with the breath trains the respiratory muscles. Some people habitu- ally hold their breath in stressful situations, while others tend to hyperven- tilate. Some tighten their abdomen; others notice a pressure in their chest which may even make it hard to breathe. Changing these habits comes as a great relief. Breathing becomes associated with joy and a feeling of freedom and well-being. In addition, working with both the breathing and the body movements may increase access to emotional and cognitive resources.
Body awareness Cultivating a free, open mental attitude significantly reduces unnecessary muscular exertions during yoga. This observant way of using the body is likely to translate into other areas of life as well, increasing one’s sensitivity to the signals of one’s body as well as other people’s. Gradually, alternative ways of being in the body are established, and stress residuals from the day are less likely to persist.
A human being is a bit like a guitar. The mind is the strings, the body is the sounding board that gives resonance. A fine-tuned body is more sensitive to emotion, cognition and sensation. This awareness may lessen any build-up of tension. Likewise, a body with a high capacity to relax is also likely to con- nect to the silent impulses which may otherwise remain hidden by stress and activity. Some yoga practitioners have discovered feelings that had previously been concealed by bodily tensions. Some report an improved capacity for in- terpersonal understanding and intimacy, or an increased responsiveness to art and nature.
Photo: Ole Gjems-Onstad Photo: Roland Nilsson