從瑜伽邁向身心靈整合－－健康促進的再詮釋

From Yoga to Body-mind-spirit Integration: A Reinterpretation of Health Promotion

瑜伽意涵「連結」與「合一」，且重視身心靈的整合、平衡、健康與協調；如果偏離了「身心靈整合」的目標，就背離了練習瑜伽的本義。本文試圖從身心靈整合的觀點來重新詮釋健康促進的意涵與時代趨勢。首先從相關的文獻進行整合，試圖釐清人類組成中「身、心、靈」三個層面的意涵，其次進一步論述身心靈整合的意涵；最後探討如何透過瑜伽中「體位法、呼吸法、靜心法」的修練，達成「身心靈整合」的終極目標。根據相關文獻的歸納與整合，執行體位法應以覺察為要，兼具穩定與放鬆的特質，體位法是身心靈整合的基礎。呼吸法是貫穿身心靈的橋梁，也是身心靈整合的重要觸媒，其在促成生理、心理兩個層面之健康具有輔助性功效。透過靜心進入靈性喜悅的狀態時，將能超越身心二分的世界，達到與宇宙神性合一的境界，其為身心靈整合的關鍵。瑜伽與身心靈整合關係密切，且提供了具體可行之修練步驟與方法，並可作為日後促進身心靈整體健康之參考。 The term “yoga” implies join and union. It emphasizes the integration, balance, health and coordination of body, mind and spirit. Any deviation from the goal of the integration of body-mind-spirit (IBMS for short) is a departure from the essence of practicing yoga. This paper attempts to re-interpret the meaning and trend of health promotion from the perspective of IBMS. Firstly, this paper integrates relevant literature in order to clarify the meaning of the three constituents of human being: body, mind and spirit. Finally, this paper investigates how to achieve the ultimate goal of IBMS through practicing three aspects of yoga: asana, meditation, pranayama. Based on the summarization and integration of relevant literature, asana consists of the following benefits: promoting physical fitness, increasing the quantity of respiration, enhancing blood circulation, improving blood pressure, concentrating the mind, promoting positive emotions, reducing stress, etc.Pranayama is the bridge connecting the body, mind and spirit and the important catalyst. It not only exerts an auxiliary function in promoting mental and health, but also plays an irreplaceable role in promoting prana toward spirituality, purifying the minds, and removing mental and physical barriers.Meditation directly influences on cranial nerve, endocrine and hormone. It regulates the mental and physical health. When one enters spiritual ecstasy through meditation, the mental and physical duality is transcended and the union with universal sacredness is achieved. Therefore, meditation is the key in achieving IBMS by enabling the withdraw of physical senses, the concentration of the mind, and the achievement of the state of Samadhi. As conclusion, yoga is closely related to IBMS. It not only provides concrete and feasible steps and methods of practice, and can be used as a reference to promote the health of the IBMS in the future.

The term “yoga” implies join and union. It emphasizes the integration, balance, health and coordination of body, mind and spirit. Any deviation from the goal of the integration of body-mind-spirit (IBMS for short) is a departure from the essence of practicing yoga. This paper attempts to re-interpret the meaning and trend of health promotion from the perspective of IBMS. Firstly, this paper integrates relevant literature in order to clarify the meaning of the three constituents of human being: body, mind and spirit. Finally, this paper investigates how to achieve the ultimate goal of IBMS through practicing three aspects of yoga: asana, meditation, pranayama. Based on the summarization and integration of relevant literature, asana consists of the following benefits: promoting physical fitness, increasing the quantity of respiration, enhancing blood circulation, improving blood pressure, concentrating the mind, promoting positive emotions, reducing stress, etc.Pranayama is the bridge connecting the body, mind and spirit and the important catalyst. It not only exerts an auxiliary function in promoting mental and health, but also plays an irreplaceable role in promoting prana toward spirituality, purifying the minds, and removing mental and physical barriers.Meditation directly influences on cranial nerve, endocrine and hormone. It regulates the mental and physical health. When one enters spiritual ecstasy through meditation, the mental and physical duality is transcended and the union with universal sacredness is achieved. Therefore, meditation is the key in achieving IBMS by enabling the withdraw of physical senses, the concentration of the mind, and the achievement of the state of Samadhi. As conclusion, yoga is closely related to IBMS. It not only provides concrete and feasible steps and methods of practice, and can be used as a reference to promote the health of the IBMS in the future.