Paperback - Yoga Wellness to Wellbeing - A Practice Guide by Suchint Sodhi

Table of Contents

Page No.
1. Introduction v-viii
2. Yoga: Wellness to Wellbeing. 1– 5
3. What is Yoga with Patanjali’ s concepts, eight limbs of Yoga, 6 -17
Obstacles, symptoms of distracted state of mind, causes of
Suffering and how to control Chitta Vritties.
4. Role of Yoga practices in day-to-day life 18 - 27
5. Holistic health and lifestyles 28 - 32
6. Stress Management 33-39
7. Concept of food, balanced diet, and seasonal adaptation 40-45
8. Brief information about endocrine glands 46-48
9. Chakras (energy centers) 49- 50
10. Hindrances and helping factors according to Hatha Yoga 51 - 52
11. Brief about Human Body Systems (organs and functions) 53 – 56
12. Guide lines for all Yoga practices 57- 66
13. Twelve Yoga practice schedules & workshop 67-89
Combination of kriyas, asana, pranayama, mediation
- Schedules no 1 to 3 is given in three levels.
- Schedule no 4 is for meditation practice,
- Schedule no 5 is a one day Kriya Yoga course,
- Schedule to 10 (traditional combinations of all Yoga practices),
- Schedule no 11 is Physical exercises
- Schedule no 12 is on workshops
14. Mantras and surya namaskar
15. Pictures of all Yoga practices 92 - 132
(Very clearly and concisely hand drown by Mari Fuji Saki, Japan)
16. Messages and blessings 133-136

Suchint Sodhi

Dear Yoga practitioners,

I never intended to write a book; however I would like to share my experiences with you by presenting this small Practice-guide. Since 1982 I have been practicing and imparting my knowledge of Yoga. During my journeys through different parts of the world I have come across many people of different ages and backgrounds who approached me and asked; “Why am I not spreading all this useful information through writing”. Many times even my teachers have motivated me to write a book, but I was always hesitant and I was thinking that the students who are interested will go to the guru to ask for guidance. In those days, Yoga was just the ‘teacher’ giving the guidance and the ‘students’ following.
During these 35 years, we have all known that Yoga has become one market where people are selling Yoga under different names. Along with the different names Yoga has become a popular and commercial item. That is the reason why people have modified Hatha Yoga Asana with different techniques. This has created a lot of confusion and Yoga became limited to just a physical practice. This system forces people to change schools and institutions, looking for a better way of doing physical exercise. Here I realized, that I should contribute by giving a few concepts of Yoga and my experience, which can help the people to correctly practice Yoga. My intention is to assist people to experience the main aim of Yoga which leads to complete well-being.

When I started writing, it was again difficult for me to decide how I should present the concept of Yoga to you, because it is such a broad subject. When I started writing, first I explained what is ‘wellness’ and ‘well-being’ followed by traditional understanding of Yoga. So the journey begins with a few concepts of Maharishi Patanjali, the greatest psychologist of all time, who has compiled and explained Yoga systematically in the form of sutras. His approach is called Raja Yoga, which is known as mastering the mind. I have selected the following few aspects, namely “What is Yoga?”, “Eight limbs of Yoga”, “Nine obstacles”, “Causes of suffering”, “Symptoms of distracted state of mind”, and “How to control the ChittaVrittis”. Patanjali has taught us a method of how to master the mind and also during this process what kind of obstacles one might experience and how to control that. I have explained this aspect because the practitioner must always remember what the ultimate aim of Yoga is.
To attain the ultimate goal of Yoga, I further explained what the relevance of Yoga practice (Hatha Yoga) is to holistic health and lifestyle. These practices will bring a discipline to body and mind, which will lead to a complete state of health (physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing). Along with the practice one needs to develop a positive way of life by cultivating good habits.

Nowadays people expect that Yoga practices can be used to cure diseases. By reading various books they start implementing. Here I want to clarify that Yoga deals with causes, not with the symptoms. It cannot be used as a prescription. I want to emphasize that Yoga is not meant for therapy, but it can be considered as a preventive science. One of the very important causes of the many diseases which create the imbalance in the body systems is stress. I am giving a general understanding of how stress builds up and can be recognized, a yogic way of stress management (with a small practice schedule).

Further I am explaining the contribution of food to good health that will give you an understanding of a balanced diet, types and effects of food and seasonal adaptations.
As a practitioner, one should be aware of the glands which are responsible for the hormonal balance, and also the chakras which are known as the energy centers. Brief about human body systems.Hatha Yoga also explains about six Badhak (hindrances) and six Sadhak (helping factors) to the practitioner for the progress on the path of Yoga and life.
After the theoretical explanation I am giving guidelines for teacher and practioners with eleven different schedules to practice. Further selected patanjali Yoga sutras, few mantras and Surya Namaskar is given. In the end the pictures of Yoga Asana, cleansing practices, Pranayama, Bandhas and Mudras.
I hope this Practice-guide may help and inspire you to attain wellness!

Thanks to all …..
Let me first remember the divine force (Waheguru ji) who is prevailing in all of us.
My parents who have always been standing by me whenever I needed them.
My teachers at Kaivalyadham who gave me the foundation and knowledge of Yoga, to experience this journey that I am on.
People and students whom I met on this journey. Because of their motivation, encouragement and interest in this field, I kept on going enthusiastically on this path.