{"id":92064,"date":"2019-05-17T10:20:52","date_gmt":"2019-05-17T04:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vallamai.com\/?p=92064"},"modified":"2019-06-17T12:05:35","modified_gmt":"2019-06-17T06:35:35","slug":"peer-reviewed-simplified-kundalini-yoga-practices-for-senior-citizens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vallamai.com\/?p=92064","title":{"rendered":"(Peer Reviewed) Simplified\u00a0Kundalini\u00a0Yoga\u00a0Practices\u00a0for senior citizens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lalitha Ranganathan<\/strong>
\nResearch Scholar,
\nWorld Community Service Centre, affiliated to Bharathiar University,
\nCoimbatore, Tamil Nadu
\nEmail: lalithar6772@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Simplified\u00a0Kundalini\u00a0Yoga\u00a0Practices\u00a0for senior citizens<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMatha, Pitha, Guru and Theivam\u201d are holy words uttered by the intellectuals who realized the life and shown us a way to lead the life with joy and to attain the goal of fulfillment in life. Yoga has taken birth when the first man originated in the world was revealed as scriptures in the Sindhu civilization. The thoughts are recorded by them as Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana Vadas.\u00a0 After the formation of Vedas, Upanishads, Epics like Ramayana, Mahabharatha came to tell the facts that behind in human life how to face the challenges and to lead a successful life. Also, the Holy Bible, Quran, Granth Sahib, etc., given by the giants who realized the divinity.\u00a0 But the human in the world today suffering a lot without the spiritual knowledge by reluctant to follow these holy books and suffers by their ignorance, carelessness, and emotions.\u00a0\u00a0 Maharishi Vedathri told that once the knowledge of science and spiritual equal in the state of mind among the human, the world will get peace.<\/p>\n

Spiritual knowledge shows a path to lead a life without hurting anyone.\u00a0 Science must be used for advantages without any disadvantages may be realized by the individuals those having spiritual knowledge. \u00a0What is spiritual knowledge? The combination of Discipline, duty, and charity is spiritual knowledge.\u00a0 Discipline is \u201cShould not harm anyone either physically or mentally and help the needy as much as possible\u201d.\u00a0 Duty is \u201cDo the service to society by physically as much as possible\u201d.\u00a0 Charity is \u201cHelp to others either physically or financially as much as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n

In modern days, science attained a high place rather spiritual knowledge, if it balances in human life, then no sufferings, man is with full of happiness.<\/p>\n

SENIOR CITIZEN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018National Policy on Older Persons\u2019 was adopted by Government of India in January 1999.\u00a0\u00a0 This policy defines, \u201csenior citizen or elderly as a person at the age of 60 years or above\u201d.<\/p>\n

STATUS OF SENIOR CITIZEN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Integrated care for older people reports by the World Health Organization states that the population of older people has increased substantially in most of the regions around the world.\u00a0 It also states that increasing age brings risks of disease and dependency, the major burden of disability and death, age-related losses like moving, seeing, hearing, and conditions such as chronic respiratory disorder, diabetes, heart disease, dementia, stroke, musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis and back pain.\u00a0 It further recommended community-level approaches in preventing physical and mental capacities and to deliver interventions in support of caregivers.<\/p>\n

Help Age India, 2018 report says that according to 2011 census 8% of the population was 60 years and above and it might be around 12.5% and 20%\u00a0 by 2026\u00a0 and\u00a0 2050 respectively.\u00a0\u00a0 This increasing scenario alarms to take care of elders in health care, shelter, finance. Elders reported that due to the usage of phones\/computers attention towards them by the adult children\/grandchildren decreased.\u00a0 Thus, this study concluded that attention should be paid against the problems faced by elders for income generation and sensitization programmes for adult children\/grandchildren.\u00a0 (Help Age India, 2018).<\/p>\n

The legislation is enacted by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India in the year 2007 called \u201cMaintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007\u201d\u00a0 for the welfare of parents as well as senior citizens.\u00a0 This Act enables the senior citizens who are neglected by their children or heirs by providing maintenance allowance.\u00a0 Some States in India implemented this Act and other States are taking steps to implement except Jammu and Kashmir.\u00a0 Once upon a time, the joint family is a backbone of Indian society.\u00a0 Withering of its culture, the elders are forced to face many problems including physical, financial, social and emotional.\u00a0 This Act is a remedy to such an extent in relieving elderly problems.\u00a0 This Act also emphasizes the obligation of children to take care of their parents\/grandparents and also the relative of senior citizens to maintain such senior citizens. Also, this Act has provision for the setting of old age homes for needy senior citizens.\u00a0 If any children\/relative are not maintaining their parents\/senior citizens, then the senior citizens approach the Tribunal constituted under this Act to enforce the maintenance for the senior citizen. (Wikipedia)<\/p>\n

The publication \u201cElderly in India\u201d 2016 by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India delivered that according to population census 2011, the total elderly population in India is 104 million of which 53 million females and 51 million are males.\u00a0 The growth rate of elder population has shot up to 36% from 25% between 2001 to 2011.\u00a0 Population plays a vital role in the development of a country.\u00a0 Also, development depends on workforce potential.\u00a0 The transformation of social economic, political affects the human attitude.\u00a0 The reasons behind our rapid industrialization, urbanization, and migration resulted in the nuclear family.\u00a0 As a result, a part of the family, particularly, elder faces problems physically, mentally as well as financially.\u00a0 Hence, a holistic approach is needed to frame programmes for welfare to deal with aging.<\/p>\n

SENIOR\u00a0 CITIZEN AT OLD AGE HOME<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Generally, the reason behind the people who are residing at an old age home is because of their insecurity.\u00a0 In India, a deliberate outline is prevailing that son only should take care of their old age parents.\u00a0 Because of that reason, no one likes to spend their old age along with their daughters, even though they are willing to accompany and take care of them.\u00a0 Also due to the migration of the younger generation for their employment abroad, their older parents remain lonely without security which leads them to dwell at old age home.\u00a0 Another thing because of no support from relatives and society people like to live at an old age home.<\/p>\n

Affinity, tolerance, adjustment, and sacrifice were not taken into consideration in today\u2019s modern life.\u00a0 Many people like to lead their life mostly with privacy and in a short minded.\u00a0 Technology has developed tremendously but spiritual life consisting of moral, duty and charity have not developed that much when comparing to scientific modern life.\u00a0 Culture plays an important role in society\u2019s development.\u00a0 The government implemented many schemes for the welfare of old age people. It must also take appropriate steps by inculcating good moral and law of nature to the citizens then only old age people at home may be excused and live peacefully with their loved ones.<\/p>\n

In the above circumstances, yoga plays a predominant role in solving the old age problem both physically as well as mentally to some extent. Every one hearing the word yoga in the world today.\u00a0 What is the meaning of yoga?\u00a0 Doing exercises for the wellness of health is yoga.\u00a0 No.\u00a0 Yoga consists of physical exercises as well as meditation.\u00a0 The origin of yoga takes place in India through the immense efforts of saints by researching on the divine force.\u00a0 This study has taken into consideration of Simplified Kundalini Yoga framed by Vethathiri Maharishi.<\/p>\n

DEFINITION OF YOGA<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Improving the body to become healthy and the mind to be wealthy by regulating the activities accordingly clear in identifying our own mistakes and nullifying the same, eradicating the old imprints of mind, leading one\u2019s own life happily and getting the ability to help others to lead their life happily is called yoga. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0VETHATHIRI MAHARISHI<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

SIMPLIFIED KUNDALINI YOGA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vethathiri Maharishi has designed Simplified Kundalini Yoga through years of research and meticulous practice in such a manner that they don\u2019t take much strain to the body.\u00a0 It has four processes on the whole.\u00a0 They are Meditation, Introspection, Sublimation, and Perfection.\u00a0 Also, it consists of Simplified Physical Exercises and Kaya Kalpa.<\/p>\n

SIMPLIFIED PHYSICAL EXERCISES<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many kinds of physical exercises in the world.\u00a0 Vethathiri Maharishi has formulated simplified physical exercises after many years of research taking into consideration his medicinal experiences and their uses.\u00a0 Maharishi designed these exercises in a simple manner that they don\u2019t strain the physical body much.\u00a0 There are two stages in the physical exercise.\u00a0 One is posture and another is movement.<\/strong> There are nine types of physical exercises. By performing these exercises, all parts of our body from head to foot become healthy.\u00a0 Blood circulation, heat circulation, and air circulation will be regulated.\u00a0 All Endocrine glands will function well.\u00a0 Simply, physical exercises bring physical as well as mental health.<\/p>\n

KAYA KALPA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kaya means physical body, kalpa means strength. Therefore kayakalpa means strengthening our body for a healthy and long life as the name defines.\u00a0 Vethathiri Maharishi spent nearly forty years to formulate this practice for the welfare of humankind.\u00a0 Through this exercise, the energy could be raised.\u00a0 This is the feather in the crown of the system of Simplified Kundalini Yoga.\u00a0 There are a lot of benefits.\u00a0 The prominent one is it prevents the onset of diseases, retains youth, delays old and postpones death.<\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vethathiri Maharishi has through years of research and meticulous practice, being able to simplify the process of meditation and raising the Kundalini power, whereby it has become easy for everyone whether male or female, to practice.\u00a0 He has devised a method by which the Kundalini power of an aspirant can be raised from its original location and moved to the Agna Chakra, with the help of a person adept in the practice of Kundalini Yoga. During meditation, sensory perceptions and the working of the mind are halted, as a result of which biomagnetism is conserved.<\/p>\n

Introspection<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only when an individual examines himself and sincerely works to remove the impurities in his personality can he have good physical and mental health and lead a successful life. Such an examination is called \u2018introspection\u2019 or self-analysis.\u00a0 Introspection consists of an analysis of thought, the moralization of desire, neutralization of anger, eradication of worries and realization of self.<\/p>\n

Benefits of Introspection<\/strong><\/p>\n

One who introspects himself gets reformation in his character thereby possesses enlightenment ultimately results to lead life peacefully and happily.\u00a0 By constant practice, dissipate the imprints of sins occur. As a result, the aim of mankind to attain perfection happens.<\/p>\n

SUBLIMATION AND PERFECTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the realization of self, whoever practices introspection with full effort can be able to keep his body and mind well.\u00a0 If we are physically well, our mind can automatically think about our mental health.\u00a0 At the initial stage of meditation, we will be able to realize a bit of inner peace. By our continued effort to do meditation regularly gives inner peace for the whole of our life.\u00a0 In that state of affairs, anyone can practice introspection following meditation with awareness and planned action could achieve the fruit of sublimation.\u00a0 Perfection is the real consciousness and this transformation occurs in mankind ultimately at the end by one\u2019s continuous efforts.<\/p>\n

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Old age had never been a problem for a country like India where the culture respects elders whereas the disintegration of joint family and impact of economic change have brought peculiar problems which the old age people now face in our country.\u00a0 In the above circumstances, a senior citizen at old age home, as well as senior citizens in general, suffers both physically and mentally.\u00a0 Hence to find out a solution to the above problem arises as an essential need of the hour.\u00a0 There are so many researches on Simplified Kundalini Yoga practices shows much improvement in physical as well as mental health.<\/p>\n

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nowadays people started to understand the importance of yoga in the day to day affairs of life slightly.\u00a0 The significance of study based on the benefits of physiological and psychological variables, it is an immense tool to improve physical health and mental health.<\/p>\n

SIMPLIFIED \u00a0KUNDALINI YOGA PRACTICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Practices:<\/p>\n