Good lifestyle

The way one lives is his or her lifestyle. Whether or not one is leading a good lifestyle is judged on the basis of the satisfaction it provides to one. Some other points generally considered in this connection are

whether the satisfaction and benefits provided by one’s lifestyle is worth calling good,
whether it establishes all-round harmony with forces that govern life,
whether the benefits are holistic i.e benefiting physical , mental, moral (social) and spiritual aspects of life or are one sided or non-holistic i.e benefiting only one or two aspects and neglecting some other important aspects,
whether satisfaction and benefits are long term or short term,
whether it may attract some injurious or harmful consequences subsequently at some point of time, to self or others at one or other aspect of life,
whether it is causing some sort of encroachment upon right of others and
Whether the lifestyle is at the cost of some other important aspect.
If some more aspects are required to be considered depending upon the subject’s condition, the same is also done. All the above considerations are done on Yogic principles (specially Yamas and Niyams) and in light of principles of life sciences and latest scientific knowledge available on the subject.

A good lifestyle gives maximum satisfaction to the person by establishing all round harmony with forces that govern life and living which in turn provides good physical, mental, moral and spiritual health, growth potential and joy of living.

When are lifestyle changes necessary?

f one is leading a good lifestyle no intervention is called for. However if one’s lifestyle is causing some sort of harm or not providing good satisfaction to him/her definitely some modifications are required to be considered. Generally lifestyle changes are necessary when one’s lifestyle is

not providing desired level of efficiency and satisfaction,
proving detrimental to achieving the goals of life and
Creating health problems and stress.
OR when

changed circumstances warrant for a change in lifestyle,
there is better choice which one could afford,
scientific findings suggest some new way of life,
one has developed some disease which can be cured or managed through lifestyle intervention either singly or as an add on therapy ,
it is needed to promote early recovery or prevent deterioration and fresh diseases etc and
When one’s lifestyle is encroaching upon the rights of others or harming self or others.
What is lifestyle intervention (L.I)?

L.I is a part of natural therapeutics

To reduce and cope with stress, discomfort, deficiencies & maladjustment;
Establish all round harmony; and
Improve physical, mental, moral (social) and spiritual aspects of health by way of making suitable modifications in the ways of living and thinking of an individual

L.I is a science of

Integrating everything in one’s ways of living and thinking which are good and
Discarding everything which are bad for life, for promotion of health, for prevention or cure of disease and for establishing all round harmony by way of making rational changes such as in eating, drinking, dressing, sexual behavior, spiritual conduct and alcohol or drug addictions etc.

The Three Fundamental Principles

Objectives of Lifestyle intervention (L.I)

L.I is done both in Health and Disease. The objectives of lifestyle intervention are different in different individuals and in different conditions

Objectives of L.I in Healthy individuals

To gain better physical, mental, moral (social) and spiritual health
To improve efficiency
To improve family, social and work place adjustments.
To improve personality
To gain will power and strength to achieve desired goals
To enjoy better life.

Objectives of L.I in disease conditions

To reduce stress and discomfort.
To hasten recovery
To treat and cure disease. (List of L.I amenable diseases are increasing.)
To restore faith and hope for recovery in chronic patients.
To help cope up with life situations in chronic invalids.
To make life in tune with nature till He Cures.
What students are required to learn to become a lifestyle interventionist?

It may be seen from the brief introduction of lifestyle intervention narrated above that lifestyle intervention is a vast field involving deep knowledge of a good number of subjects. For yogic lifestyle intervention the students are required to equip themselves not only with the knowledge of all the eight fold steps of Yoga but also with the basic principles of Nature Cure, Dietetics and General and Clinical Psychology. In the 1st year of M.A/M.Sc (Yoga) course the students will be equipping themselves with Indian Philosophy, Patanjali Yog Sutras and other Yoga texts, Human Anatomy & Physiology and Bahirang Yog. Therefore in this study material relating to Principles of Yogic Lifestyle Intervention material relating to Fundamentals of Yoga is not included as students will be studying the same in detail while preparing for other papers. However Basic Principles of Nature Cure are included in this study material as the same is not included elsewhere. In first year the students are to learn the lifestyle intervention for self i.e how some good changes can be cultivated in own self by making some modifications in his/her own ways of living and thinking. Some very interesting but simple step by step health improvement plan have been designed and 5 steps have been included in this study material. Students are advised to study them, adopt them for at least 3 weeks and then attempt the questionnaire and send back for evaluation.

Remember that Lifestyle Intervention helps to promote health, integrate good things in one’s way of living, discard everything that is bad, prevent and cure diseases; and establish all round harmony for which we need to make rational changes in eating, drinking , dressing, working , resting, reading, sleeping, sexual behavior, spiritual conduct and alcohol or drug intake.

Lifestyle intervention in others specially in patients will be part of Yogic Diagnosis & Holistic Treatments in 2nd year course when the students will be well equipping with subjects like Antarang Yog , Yogic, Naturopathic & Modern Dietetics; Psychology, Mental Health & Yog ; and Applied Yog in Different Fields.

Regarding Lifestyle intervention we generally advise as follows:-

Don’t be in hurry. Make one adopt a good lifestyle rightly suited to him/her and he/she will be a changed person all together very soon.

I hope students will learn the lessons seriously and remember the above advise while observing Step by step health improvement plan to transform themselves into better individuals.

Dr.S.N.Pandey

Professor & Head,

School of Oriental Medicine, TGOU