“Swastha Manas: Mental Health and Well-being through Yoga”

MENTAL HEALTH AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

THROUGH YOGA
Yogachemmal Dayanidy G111& Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani212
In Ayurveda, the term for health is “swasth”, i.e. one who is established and
comfortable in his own being, a state of being whole and feeling whole. Acharya
Sushrut (~ 600 BC) has given poetically beautiful and philosophically holistic
definition of health thus: “Health is a state of balance of elements, optimum digestion
and elimination and happy senses, mind and soul” (Samadoshahsamagnishcha.
SushrutSamhita, Sutrasthanam, 15:41). Healthy balance between worldly enjoyment
(bhog) and detachment (tyag) is good for mental health. This point is beautifully
taught in a Vedic verse, “This whole universe is pervaded by Ishwar. Enjoy this
world with a sense of detachment and do not covet the wealth of others”
(Ishavasyamidamsarvam. Yajurved, 40: 1).
Mental health and better personality can be achieved by following a yogic lifestyle.
Personality came from the Latin word “Persona” - “the Mask”; which means the
covering. Personality Development quintessentially means enhancing and grooming
one’s outer and inner self to bring about a positive change to your life. Each
individual has a distinct persona that can be developed, polished and refined. This
process includes boosting one’s confidence, improving communication and language
speaking abilities, widening ones scope of knowledge, developing certain hobbies or
skills, learning fine etiquettes and manners, adding style and grace to the way one
looks, talks and walks and overall imbibing oneself with positivity, liveliness and
peace.
This is well brought out in the HathaYogaPradipika when Yogi Svatmarama says,
“Slimness of body, lustre on face, clarity of voice, brightness of eyes, freedom from
disease, control over seminal ejaculation, stimulation of gastric heat and purification
of subtle energy channels are marks of success in HathaYoga”
(vapuhkrsatvamvadaneprasannataanaadasputatvamnayanesunirmalearogataabinduj
ayognidiipanamnaadiivishuddhir hatha siddhi lakshanam- HathaYogaPradipika II-
78). The various Hatha Yoga practices help in reconditioning of neuro-muscular and
neuro-glandular system – in fact, the whole body – enabling it to withstand stress and
strain better.
Personality Development is not only an external mask and not only specific built of
the body. It has a specific identity. It is adynamic organization of psychophysical
properties.Dynamic organization within the person of those psychophysical systems.
It was determined by his characteristic behaviour and thought.Psycho-physical
techniques of Yoga such as asana, pranayama, mudra, dharana and dhyana enable
attainment of physical, mental and emotional fitness.
It is a multi-dimensional process that consists of evolution of personality on several
dimensions. Physical dimension, Intellectual/cognitive dimension, Emotional
dimension, Social dimension& Spiritual dimension.

1Lecturer, Center for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry.
2 Director & Professor of Yoga Therapy, CYTER, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry.
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Physical dimension is mainly concerned with the development of body from

anatomical and physiological point of view. Changes in height, weight, and motor
skills,development of brain, hormonal changes, cardiovascular changes etc. – all are
parts oraspects of the physical development.
Cognitive or intellectual development is related to mental abilities and mental
processes, such as perception, learning, memory, thinking, language, concept-
formation, reasoning, decision making, problem solving, creative activities etc.
The emotional dimension involves development of skills for management ofemotions
including feelings and attitudes.Emotions may be positive such as state of
happiness,joy, contentment, love, kindness, compassion etc. They may be negative
also, such as state of hate, anger, fear, sadness, jealousy etc. It is important that
positive emotions aredeveloped to the maximum; and negative emotions are
controlled and expressed in a proper way. It is equally important that a person is
emotionally stable.
The social dimension of personality is concerned with social skills. This dimension
includes inter-dependence, harmony with others, behaving according to rules and
norms of the society, developing healthy and caring relationships with those around
us etc.
Spiritual dimension of personality includes knowing the ‘self’ or more appropriately
realizing the ‘self’, having a sense of right and wrong (moral values) and
understanding meaning and purpose of life. It also includes integration of values with
actions. The actions of spiritually developed person would match with her/his beliefs
and values (respect for human life, honesty, equality, integrity, simplicity etc.).
Panchakosha (5 sheaths or layers) view of personality. AnnamayaKosha (Conscious
physical sheath),PranamayaKosha (Sub-conscious physical and energy sheath),
ManomayaKosha (Mental sheath), Vigyanamaya Kosha (Intellectual sheath),
AnandamayaKosha (Blissful sheath).
If we observe carefully we will realize that each sheath affects certain parts of our
personality. Accordingly they are classified as
The conscious physical personality – this not only include the walking and talking
but also the body and the musculoskeletal system, our posture, the flexibility and the
ease with which we perform our tasks and the confidence with which we carry
ourselves – that includes ‘ standing tall and looking at the opponent straight in the
eye’
The subconscious energy sheath deals with the subconscious activities of our body
dealing with all the organs and their functions. When we change the way we breathe
from just breathing to stay alive to consciously deepen our breathing to take in more
oxygen, we thereby start energizing our organs.
The mental sheath enhances the mental personality through pranayama and
concentration. When our mind remains focused on what we do at work, and at home,
it enables us to do things with full dedication and interest. It naturally results in better
personal and professional gain.

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 “Swastha Manas: Mental Health and Well-being through Yoga”

Next the intellectual personality of the VigyanamayaKosha is enriched through

meditation. Your mind becomes calm and clear. You can think with more ease and
with affection for others and also take correct decisions in your life.
Finally deep meditation or Samadhi brings you the ultimate bliss. The joy that is
impossible to achieve through worldly enjoyments. This is the final aim of any yogi.
All aspects of our human personality are cultured through the process of Yoga
helping us to evolve towards perfection.
Yoga enables us to attain and maintain a dynamic sukhasthanam - a dynamic sense of
physical, mental and spiritual well-being.Yoga helps cultivation of positive health
through three integral steps: (i) Cultivation of correct psychological attitudes,
(ii) Reconditioning of neuro-muscular and neuro-glandular system – in fact, the whole
body – enabling it to withstand stress and strain better, (iii) Laying great emphasis on
appropriate diet conducive to such a peak state of health, and encouraging natural
processes of elimination through various processes of shuddhi.
According to Maharishi Patanjali, the role of Yoga is to facilitate removal of impurities
resulting in attainment of a higher discerning intellect.(yoganganusthanat
asuddhiksaye jnanadiptih avivekakhyteh - PYS II-28).
Yoga not only considers the importance of attaining a dynamic state physical health
but also more importantly mental health. Qualities of a mentally healthy person
(stithaprajna) are enumerated in the Bhagavad Gita as follows:
 Beyond passion, fear and anger (veeta raga bhayakrodhah-BG II.56)
 Devoid of possessiveness and egoism (nirmamonirahamkarah- BG -II.7)
 Firm in understanding and unbewildered (sthirabuddhirasammudhah-BG -
V.20)
 Engaged in doing good to all creatures (sarvabhutahiteratah- BG V.25)
 Friendly and compassionate to all ( maitrahkarunaevaca- BG XII.13)
 Pure hearted and skilful without expectation (anapekshahsucirdaksah- BG
XII.16)
In Bhagavad Gita,Lord Krishna tells that the one who has attained to the state of Yoga
(Yogarudda) as “the one who is unaffected by the senses, not attached to the fruits of
action and has renounced all desires”
(yadahinendriyartheshunakarmasuanushajateysarvasankalpasamniyasiYogaroodhtad
auchyate – Bhagavad Gita :VI-4). This manifests in a detached external attitude
towards the impermanent material world and a development of the ability to go
within oneself in order to find the ultimate eternal reality.
Yoga helps destroy the kleshas, the psychological afflictions that warp our vision, as
well as it eradicates the karma bandha that prevents us from realizing our potential
Divinity.
Yoga is a “Way of Life” that places great importance on a proper and healthy life-style
whose main components are:
• Achar – Yoga stresses the importance of healthy activities such as exercise and
recommends asana, pranayama and kriyas on a regular basis.

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• Vichar– Right thoughts and right attitude towards life is vital for well-being. A
balanced state of mind is obtained by following the moral restraints and ethical
observances (yama-niyama).
• Ahar– Yoga emphasises need for a healthy, nourishing diet that has an adequate
intake of fresh water along with a well-balanced intake of fresh food, green salads,
sprouts, unrefined cereals and fresh fruits. It is important to be aware of the need
for a satwic diet, prepared and served with love and affection.
• Vihar– Proper recreational activities to relax body and mind are essential for good
health. This includes proper relaxation, maintaining quietude of action-speech-
thoughts and group activities wherein one loses the sense of individuality. Karma
Yoga is an excellent method for losing the sense of individuality and gaining a
sense of universality.
• Vyavahar– Healthy inter-personal relationships essential for good social health.
Bahiranga practices such as yama, niyama, asana and pranayama help produce
physical health while antaranga practices of dharana and dhyana work on producing
mental health along with pratyahara.
The science of Yoga has numerous practical techniques as well as advice for proper
life style in order to attain and maintain mental health, personality and well-being.
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