YOGA FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT

Week 02_ Module 05: Developmental processes: Western and Eastern perspectives

Stress according to the western perspectives that is, an imbalance at the body level as part of
stress reaction causing autonomic and endocrine imbalance, in turn affecting different organs
and systems in the body, and eventually may leads to various disorders or ailments. Here the
main focus is at the body and hence the material or physical level. Deeper understanding of
physiological process involved with the phenomenon of stress is now known to the scientific
community.

In the Indian or the eastern perspective, body is just one layer of existence, the Annamaya
kosha. It has more subtle layers also named as Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya and
Anandamaya kosha. So here human existence is understood in a multidimensional way,
thorough these five different sheaths.

The eastern wisdom is not in opposition to the modern scientific tradition. It’s outlook is bit
more broad and holistic. Eastern wisdom too considers that we all, including humans are
basically animal in nature. Development of higher intelligence and ethical systems (dharma-
adharma viveka) differentiate us from mere animals. A sloka in Hitopadesha text reveals this
aspect;

आहार-निद्रा-भय-मैथुिं च समािमेतत्पशुनभिनराणाम् ।
धमो नह तेषामनधको निशेषो धमेण हीिााः पशुनभाः समािााः ॥

āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṃ cha samānam_etat_pashubhir_narāṇām |

dharmo hi teṣhāmadhiko visheṣho dharmeṇa hīnāḥ pashubhiḥ samānāḥ

Food, sleep, fear and procreation, these acts of humans are similar to animals.
Of them (humans), dharma is the only special thing, without dharma humans are also animals.

Humans has the potential to refine themselves by living a ethical and spiritual life or can
downgrade themselves by living an unethical and very materialistic life. The former promotes
to cultivate daivi-sampath or divine qualities and latter cultivate aasuri-sampath or demonic
qualities. It is obvious that aasuri sampath like infatuation (kama), anger (krodha), greed
(lobha), moha (delusion), mada (arrogance), jealousy (matsarya) leads to the development of
stress in us while divine qualities helps us to attain purity and serenity in mind and discover
the divinity within ourselves. The path of ethical living reduces the chance of development of
stress within us. It also enable us to manage stress in a better way.
Bhagavad Gita, the famed philosophical text of India explains these aspects. It also gives us
insights into the attitude of karma undertaken by persons with different Guna composition
(Satva, Rajas, Tamas) and its implications.

Satvika karma – done with constancy and unattached to the results and for the benefit of
society. This helps maintain the purity (chittashuddhi) in the individual and hence the rise of
conflicts and stress will be minimal or nil in them. It also enables them to cope with any
stressful condition in an effective way.

Rajasika Karma: actions borne of desires, done with intention and expectations with lot of
energy can leads to stressful conditions. Though dynamic in nature, they are more susceptible
to stress from within and outside.

Tamasika Karma: done without proper understanding and borne out of ignorance and
delusion, not assessing one’s own ability, disregarding consequences, loss, and injury to
others can definitely leads to very stressful situations, internally and externally.

Hence the goal is to overcome Tamas, control Rajas and cultivate Satva in our thoughts and
actions for effective management of stress. Having the right understanding about the reality
and disciplined approach of various yoga practices helps us to achieve these goals, eventually
helping us to manage the stress in an effective way.