Yoga for Eternal Youth (An Old and Rare Book)

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The definitive illustrated guide to the practice of Yoga - by a highly acclaimed yoga teacher

Around the world increasing number of people are turning to yoga as a means of keeping fit and reducing stress. This book is a comprehensive guide, by an acclaimed teacher, sharing the unique and holistic approach to a health life.

Yoga for Mind, Body and Spirit

Yoga is more than just a form of exercise; it is a holistic experience that benefits the body, mind, and spirit. It is the perfect way of countering the stresses of modern living. Designed for every level of ability, age, and physical condition, there are detailed and easy-to-follow instructions for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students.

1. A holistic approach to yoga, to enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

2. Easy-to-follow and clear instructions

3. Suitable for every age and level of ability - from complete beginners to advanced students

4. A handy companion manual for yoga practice.

5. Illustrated

I HAVE had the pleasure of going over the entire volume with the author and I can truthfully say that it has been a source of keen interest for me. We of the West pride ourselves upon the advances we have made but the men of the East may pride themselves upon the heritage of knowledge which they possess. Only a few hundred years ago we discovered the circulation of blood, while Yoga recorded it thousands of years ago.

It is, as I understand, the purpose of the author to give a comprehensive presentation of this ancient system of hygiene and physical prophylaxis, to give it in a scholarly, scientific, and also popular way, and to incorporate beside it the modern conceptions of personal hygiene. He has left no source untouched as far as it was humanly possible to explore. He is versed in Sanskrit and other ancient languages and is well able to do the task to which he has assigned himself.

Inasmuch as the work is a research into the past— about 3000 years—and also a résumé of the modern thot on the subject, it commends itself to those who are interested in this branch of knowledge. Altho I am a Western man and trained in the science of the West, I have found this volume quite instructive and I look forward with anticipa- tion to the coming of the succeeding volumes.

Among the points which especially held my interest are the following: (1) emphasis on cleanliness within and without, (2) the urge towards poise and control of body and mind, (3) the non-violent, non-fatiguing type of physical gymnastics and exercises advocated, (4) the theories concerning the benefits of alternate breathing, (5) the use of the diaphragm, and (6) the exceptional care taken by the author to give complete references both to the ancient and the modern. literature for all points upon which authority might be desired, and also (7) a consistent effort to avoid being dogmatic.

It is this careful method of presentation of this subject by the author, and the historical: aspect of the material presented that has commended itself to me. As a surgeon and physician I cannot subscribe to some of the practices of these ancient investigators, but my academic interest in their theories, beliefs, and methods is not lessened thereby. It is upon this basis that I feel that this work fills a unique blace in the literature on the history of personal hygiene. Since I am personally acquainted with the author, and am convinced that he is the man pre-eminently fitted to do this kind of research work (not only because of his extensive intimate association with the ancient writings but also because of his study in England and the Continent and his four years’ work in America in 1919-1922 when he was associated with many of the members of the medical profession) I do not hesitate to commend this work to those who are interested in this type of research.

This volume of the Scientific Yoga Series proposes to ‘deal with the subject of personal hygiene as practised by the ancient yogins. It offers, more or less, a comprehensive review of the entire subject from the yoga point of view in respect of the care of the body, comparing very favourably with the most modern developments in science.

The yoga hygiene, however. deserves special attention and admiration for two distinct reasons, viz., (1) its antiquity in civilization, which can hardly be doubted, representing the: earliest attempts at personal prophylaxis which secures for it the topmost place in the history of preventive medicine and hygiene ; and (ii) its exceptionally wholesome, practical and scientific outlook upon the subject of individual hygiene surpassing in certain details, e.g., the processes of internal purification and self-treatment, even our present knowledge and investigations in these matters. The object of this course of conduct is to guide natural living by rational measures promoting longevity—such measures having been safeguarded by centuries of experience and personal experimentations.

Unfortunately, the practical yogin is grossly misrepresented by a large number of ill-informed, misguided and irresponsible authors like Barnett, Macnicol, Basu, Rowlinson, Abbé Dubois and others as a wild and nauseating human being. Their mischievous statements only go to Prove the extent of their ignorance, as will become evident from the contents of this work. There is really, to be sure, no man in India or, for a matter of that, even outside who folows religiously a Strict code of personal hygiene, both Physical and mental, as does a Scientific yogin.

There are, no doubt, numerous elaborate and authoritative treatises on the subject of personal hygiene by the modern medical Students but none that Presents the yoga method of right living Upon a physiological basis which embraces a very large field of hygiene hitherto investigated by these authorities. The object, therefore, in introducing the yoga personal hygiene is to Present the entire code of living as adopted by a yogin for such Scientific investigations and criticisms as this subject may deserve.

With an object to avoid unnecessary bulk, the anatomical and Physiological description of the various organs of the body (with their illustrations etc.) has been Purposely avoided, as this may be properly studied through many. authoritative texts edited by competent medical students, The importance of Maintaining these Organs in their healthy state has also been taken for granted, on the strength of its being an acknowledged fact ; and thus the yoga health practices and suggestions have been offered with this definite understanding. Only those issues which need to be emphasized Clearly or pointed out Specifically from the yoga point of view have been made the subject of casual discussions.

As to the system of Sanskrit transliteration, glossary, bibliography, index and other general items of introductory the same remarks as contained in the first volume of this series, namely, A History of Yoga, prevail excepting the fact that references from the Yoga Upanisads have been intentionally omitted in this work to avoid mis-emphasis and re- petition. The Sanskrit manuscripts which I have referred to are (in original) at Bohar and Tillah Mathas of the yogins from which casual notes have been jotted down by the author during his visit to these yoga monasteries (1926).

The medical reports and personal testimonials included in this work are of those patients who were treated by the author in his Yoga Institutes both in India (Bombay, 1918-19 under the medical supervision of Dr. Ghasawalla) and in America (New York, 1919-22 under the medical supervision of Dr. C. W. Hack of the Life Extension Institute ; and New Jersey, 1921-22 under instructions of Dr. McSutton and Dr. Rice of California and often in consultation with Dr. Amsden of the Bloomingdale Hospital).

It may be also observed that the practices recommended in this volume were acquired at first hand by me from a practical teacher of distinction, His Holiness Paramahamsa Madhavadasaji, whom I frequented near the Narmada (Malsar, 1916-18). Before his mahasamadhi (final trance) , Yogisvara Paramahamsa Madhavadasaji, after having imparted all the traditional secrets, finally entrusted the author. with the Herculean task of practical Yoga Renaissance.

**Contents and Sample Pages**