Yoga: the key to wellness

Dr Glenville Ashby, Contributor

The word 'yoga' has always conjured a multiplicity of images and meanings. Is it a philosophy, a religion, or simply a system of movements and breathing aimed at improving health? Is it all of the above?

An evening with master yogi, Bhairavi Andrea Downes, a woman of Bajan and Guyanese stock, and one well-grounded in Caribbean culture, beamed light on this intriguing subject. Downes holds several certifications in this ancient practice that originated in the East but is now adopted by Westerners as an authentic path to wellness.

Unassuming and the paragon of humility, Downes' credentials are impressive. Teacher certifications in raja yoga, yin yoga, hatha yoga, and other aspects of this art, has sealed her place as one of the most sought-after instructors at the famous Integral Yoga Institute in downtown Manhattan, New York.

But the road to what she calls "self-realisation" wasn't without hiccups. "I was a bit antisocial," she says, "content to sit in the corner and observe rather than mingle with others," said Downes, as she described a period in her life that was overly stressful and rudderless.

Corporate confusion

"At one point, I worked at IBM but hated the corporate world." All that changed when she walked pass the Yoga Institute in 1997, picking up a brochure in the process. It proved to be her "eureka moment".

"I looked at a picture of the founder, Sri Swami Satchidananda, and smiled. There was something about that experience that I can't describe." At a time when Downes was emotionally drained and unhappy, that feeling was decisively magical.

"I soon began volunteering, and my personality quickly changed because of the welcoming and uplifting atmosphere." She embarked on a structured yoga regimen, and after three months of intensive work, she earned the credentials to teach the fundamentals of the discipline.

Today, she discusses her vocation with a discerning intellect. She describes yin yoga as "most beneficial to the joints and connecting tissues such as the tendons, the ligaments and fascia".

It is a form of yoga that appears challenging even to some experienced practitioners. "Unlike other forms of yoga, you are required to be very still as you hold the position for an extended period of time," she counsels, while demonstrating a signature asana (position).

"It is based on traditional Chinese medicine because it stimulates the meridians and energy centres of the body. This revitalises your system and prevents illness."

As a self-proclaimed "rasta" and member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, she takes issue with criticism that yoga is inconsistent with Christian teachings.

"Yoga only enhances your relationship with God and your religion, whatever that might be. It should make you a person of stronger faith because it gives you a feeling of peace and tranquillity," contended Downes. "In fact, churchgoers indulge in bhakti yoga, which implies devotion."

She described mantra yoga as "a practice that emphasises the repetition of a holy word", and reasoned that whenever the name of Jesus is called repeatedly in church, this form of yoga is being performed.

Downes added that when one volunteers to help others, one is engaged in karma yoga. "People are oftentimes critical of things they fear or don't understand, and yoga is one those things."

Importance of guidance

However, she conceded that more rigorous and ascetic yogic practices that involve advanced breathing and meditation should be performed under sound guidance and with the right attitude and intention.

Without proper caution, they can inadvertently unleash the kundalini or the vortex of energy that is rooted at the base of the spine, causing a host of emotional and physiological difficulties.

Conversely, when this energy is ignited and flows throw the proper "nadis" or channels, a wondrous feeling of bliss or "samadhi" is experienced, not unlike the ecstatic and enlightened states of saints and sages.

Over the last decade, Downes has seen a marked spike in yoga initiates. She attributes this to the stress-filled life of modern societies.

"We are living in a stiff society. We need to be supple in order to better process information and avoid emotional blockages," she notes.

"Quite frankly, people are realising that many injuries and illnesses can be avoided if they understand how the body functions. Just basic stretching and breathing, the very fundamentals of yoga, can bring lasting mental and physiological rewards. New Yorkers and the rest of the world are now appreciating the importance of good health."

Dr Glenville Ashby is the president of the Global Interfaith Council, NYC. Email feedback to glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @glenvilleashby.