Yoga to Fight Fatigue

By Seema Sondhi

Fatigue, many a times simple, sometimes, chronic is an inevitable fact of our busy life. With Yoga to Fight Fatigue, you can learn the secrets of rejuvenating your body and nourishing your soul, without changing your lifestyle. All you need to do is spare a few minutes everyday to do the extremely simple but amazingly effective asanas mentioned in this book. These carefully chosen asanas will work wonders for you to take on life's challenges with confidence and renewed vigour.
Let's fight fatigue and usher in dynamic energy into out life!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wisdom Tree Publishers
• Release date: Feb 4, 2011
• ISBN: 9788183282352

Seema Sondhi

Seema Sondhi is a well-known yoga expert. She has been practising yoga for more than a decade. She has done various TV shows and has appeared on channels like CNN & CNBC.

Book preview

Copyright © Seema Sondhi, 2006

ISBN 81-8328-027-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise — without the prior permission of the publisher.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages, if any, resulting from the use of information contained herein.

Published by

Wisdom Tree

4779/23, Ansari Road

Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002

Ph. 23247966/67/68

Printed at

Print Perfect

New Delhi-110 064

YOGA

to fight Fatigue

Seema Sondhi

Contents

1.   Yoga                                               1

2.   Symptoms of Fatigue                                  3

3.   First Steps to Healing                                5

4.   Yoga for Health and Vitality                           7

5.   Philosophy of Yoga                                   9

6.   The Energy Points in the Body                          13

7.   Let Us get Started!                                  17

8.   Asanas                                            21

9.   Relaxation                                        75 10.   Pranayama                                         83 11.   Simple Yogic Breathing                              87 12.   Meditation                                        93 13.   Get a Grip on Life                                    99 14.   Diet                                             101 15.   Alternative Therapy or Holistic Medicine             105 16.   Yoga — Discovery of the Self                          109

1

Yoga

Y     oga is excellent for fighting fatigue. The gentle stretching exercises

in yoga do not consume too much energy and make one feel refreshed after every session. A daily routine that combines 10 minutes of breathing exercises, 10 to 20 minutes of meditation and certain asanas or yoga postures is recommended. These asanas or postures help to push in more oxygen through the body system and release muscle tension. Meditation teaches how to conserve energy and build self-confidence. Unlike other exercise programmes, yoga does not remove or deplete energy from the system; on the contrary, it restores energy to the system. And unlike most exercise regimens that leave you exhausted, yoga leaves you refreshed and renewed. When yoga exercises are combined with breathing and meditation techniques, a daily support system is built up that make for a normal, productive life.

1

2

Symptoms of Fatigue

S   tress is common to both the young and the old. The body has the

capacity to cope with stress and this is called the ‘fight and flight’ syndrome. Whenever our body is faced with a situation that it perceives to be stressful, the nervous system responds by producing changes in the body — the endocrine system releases stress hormones, the heart speeds up and we breathe more rapidly. In case of an emergency, the body responds quickly and once the emergency is over, the body returns to its normal state. Problems normally arise with stress that continues for a long period of time or when the body is forced to stay alert beyond its capacity, weakening the person both physically and mentally.

Stress causes an imbalance in the secretion of various hormones, disturbing the body’s metabolism and making it vulnerable to disease. If the stress level in the body goes unnoticed, the body tends to suffer and enters into a state of collapse. That is when a person feels perpetually tired and this tiredness affects the internal body as well. Thus stress is the most common factor that leads to fatigue; actually both stress and fatigue work hand in hand. Other major and minor                        3

symptoms that are triggered off by stress and later develop into

chronic fatigue are muscle pain — body aches all the time and this

pain is accompanied by severe headaches, joint pains, sore throat, flu-

like symptoms, loss in short-term memory or problems of concentration.

Digestive problems like constipation, ulcers and indigestion may

occur. The immune system weakens, making the body susceptible to

infections. Even small tasks or chores become difficult to complete.

4

3

First Steps to Healing

T

he symptoms may last from six months to almost as long as it takes the body to heal and come on track.

• The first step towards healing is to get a grip on your problem.

A doctor should be consulted to gauge whether there is a

medical cause for fatigue. A physical examination might be