How Yoga Can Be Of Help To You

Frankly speaking, I did not intend to write again on Yoga postures, since in my previous book, Forever Young, Forever Healthy,1 I have already described them and spoken at length on relaxation, breathing, diet, weight control and such common complaints as tension, nervousness, insomnia, colds, headaches, constipation, asthma, arthritis, etc. . . .

In fact, I did not think that another book on this subject would be necessary. However, as soon as letters from my readers started pouring in, I found that I was wrong. A great number of people here in the United States—and elsewhere— were anxious to be given an outlined program they could follow day by day. They believed that, as beginners, they would in this way have more confidence in what they were doing and also have a feeling of being guided and taught instead of being left to themselves.

Many were also afraid of falling into the hands of charlatans and self-appointed teachers when seeking advice, since there seems to be quite a number of unscrupulous and dishonest individuals who style themselves as real yogis, but who are only out to exploit the name of Yoga. This type of "teacher," whether homegrown or imported (even from India), usually has only one interest in mind: to take advantage of gullible followers and extract as much money from them as possible. "We are like little birds in the nest," one such unfortunate student complained to me, "who open our beaks wide, expecting to be fed, but instead have pebbles pushed into their mouths by cruel boys who imitate the cry of the mother bird."

The desire to give a clearer understanding of Yoga and the possibility of studying its health methods at home were what actually spurred me on in writing this book, especially after I had learned of the shocking state of the national health in the United States, where physical and mental illness statistics are ever increasing, and the number of alcoholics, narcotic addicts, delinquents and criminals is growing by leaps and bounds.

1 Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1953.

Something must have gone very wrong with us somewhere if, as official statistics indicate, one out of every three Americans (or one-third the total population) is doomed to develop cancer; if one out of every twelve children born in the United States will sooner or later become an inmate of a mental hospital; and if 52 per cent of our young men are rejected by the Army for physical or mental defects. Yet this is the general picture in the richest and most progressive country in the world. Not in India, nor in Japan, Hong Kong, Ceylon, Burma, Thailand or Cambodia (the six other Oriental countries I recently visited) did I find anything approximating this situation—in spite of all the epidemics, the unsanitary living conditions, the poverty and ignorance of hygiene.

Here at home we are successfully managing to fight infectious disease, but the number of people afflicted with degenerative disease has risen so high that, to quote from the "Report on the Health of the Nation" by Dr. W. Coda Martin, President of the American Academy of Nutrition, "This country of once strong, vigorous and adventurous people will become a nation of invalids, not only weak in body, but also weak in mind." Or to quote another doctor who had listened to that report, "We are in a mess and let's face it!"

It seems to me that, instead of trying to build rockets to reach the moon, it would be better to mobilize our resources to make sure that the number of able-bodied and mentally sound Americans shall not shrink to nothing here on earth.

Undoubtedly, there must be ways of preventing such a possible disaster if one earnestly decides to do something about it.

I feel very confident that if the study of Yoga were to be added to the curricula of our schools, colleges and training camps, it would help considerably in decreasing the menacing incidence of physical and mental disorders.

The science of Yoga has a separate division devoted to the most thorough care of the human body and all of its functions —from breathing to elimination. Its methods are entirely different from other methods of health education because Yoga aims, first of all, at removing the very causes of ill health which are brought about by insufficient oxygenation, poor nutrition, inadequate exercise and poor elimination of the waste products that poison the system. Secondly, through rhythmic breathing and concentration, as well as by influencing our glandular activity, Yoga can help to increase our mental capacities, sharpen our senses and widen our intellectual horizon. And finally, through meditation, it enables man to come closer to the realization of his own spiritual nature.

In short, Yoga can help solve the problems of any receptive individual, whether these problems be of a physical, mental, or spiritual nature and thereby, eventually, also help solve the problems of a group, society and even a nation.

The government of India, having realized the manifold advantages of Yoga, is beginning to encourage the practice of Asanas, or Yoga postures, on a nationwide scale. In Delhi, for example, Asanas are today being taught to people in all walks of life. Early in the morning open air instruction is offered in public places; special classes are even conducted for members of Parliament and foreign diplomats. The Prime Minister himself is a great Yoga enthusiast and attributes his energy and youthfulness to the daily practice of the Asanas, especially of the Headstand. He made a statement to that effect to newspaper reporters who interviewed him during his recent state visit to Japan, something which in turn prompted the Japanese publishers of my book, Forever Young, Forever Healthy—the first book on Yoga in Japanese, I am told—to print his picture and endorsement on the cover.

As a matter of fact even President Eisenhower, while recovering from his illness, was put on a routine of "deep breathing" exercises for ten minutes a day, according to newspaper reports. But this fact slipped by unnoticed, probably because no formal mention of Yoga was made in connection with it. A pity, as this might have started a vogue for deep breathing in America—for the public in general likes to copy the tastes and habits of their leaders and idols. Thus a great many people seem to have taken up the study of Yoga simply because Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo, Jennifer Jones, Marilyn Monroe, Olivia de Haviland, Mala Powers, Robert Ryan, and also the world-famous beautician Elizabeth Arden, are known to have been devotees. Imagine, then, how they might be influenced by the health routine of the President of the United States!

How great an influence advocacy by a known personality can have on the public is perfectly illustrated by my own experiences in this respect. After one of my lectures in which I mentioned Gloria Swanson, for instance, I was asked more questions about her than about Yoga itself. This was all to the good, for Gloria's enthusiasm helped a great deal in making Yoga popular in this country. And when she introduced my book—and me—to the audience attending my opening lecture at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, she stated unequivocally that Yoga was her health and beauty secret.

The great violinist Yehudi Menuhin considers Yoga—and sleep—to be even more important to his art than violin practice, according to an article in Life. His Yoga instructor in India, B. K. S. Iyengar of Poona, wears a wristwatch inscribed, "To my best violin teacher . . . from Yehudi Menuhin."
Yoga is o£ great value not only to artists engaged in creative work. It will help businessmen and sportsmen, public speakers, models and housewives, and also people employed in offices, factories and stores where they must either sit at a desk, stand on their feet for long hours at a time, or work under stresses and tensions. In an article entitled, "Deep Breathing Advised to Alleviate Heart Pain," Dr. George W. Crane, M.D., Ph.D., tells that the "deep breathing" technique is an excellent aid in every case of sudden heart attack, regardless of its type. "Simply lie flat, relax, breathe deeply, and let God carry on." 2

Yoga exercises are, incidentally, an invaluable aid to keeping the figure slim and youthful, and many women will also find them effective in helping to solve their particular problems.

The six-week course outlined in these pages is arranged in such a manner that even one who has never done any exercises or has never even heard of Yoga will have no difficulty in following it.

Yoga has a very illuminating and practical message for our restless, insecure, and spiritually forlorn world of today. I earnestly hope that these lessons will be at least of some small service to those who strive for a better, healthier, and happier life. This book goes out with the blessings of my guru and his good wishes to all students of Yoga.

INDRA DEVI
2 Glendale News Press, December 7, 1955.

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