June 2009 Edition
"The only thing I have ever found that will
cut through the fog and get an alcoholic's attention
is pain. Deep, pervasive and unrelenting
spiritual pain. Over time it only gets worse, it
never gets better on its own. Never deny an alcoholic
the opportunity to suffer; it may be their
only hope. There is always hope."
--An anonymous alcoholic
MILLIONS of people around the world suffer the aftermath of alcohol. There are many ways of overcoming this disease. The first and foremost is the desire to stop. This feeling can come only with a determination from within. As the saying goes, "You can take a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink." Once this hurdle is crossed, the next step will automatically lead to an inner self enquiry. Ask yourself why you consume alcohol and then see what the root cause is. You will realise that drinking is merely the symptom, not the problem.
Alcohol gives you a transitory high. A yogic way of life is essentially about a sense of balance between the body, mind and soul, and discovering a place within yourself where you can attain this. This inner focus aids in creating an awareness of where you stand with yourself and your levels of determination. Such awareness can be carried through your entire existence by analyzing situations in your life that need attention. This pattern is not solely related to drinking but to other aspects of being as well. More emotional equilibrium along with less time for drinking by virtue of yoga practice can help to steadily repair nearly any addiction. It's a matter of discipline, compliance and commitment. These ideas are very much part of the philosophy of yoga.
A genuine yoga practitioner does not consume alcohol. A significant reason is that alcohol is considered to lower the vibrations of the subtle body. The aim of a yogic lifestyle is to increase the vibrational level to unfold the higher self and alcohol consumption does exactly the opposite by taking a person away from his real self, by retarding and slowing down these vibrational levels. Yoga also considers alcohol to have an adverse effect on the central nervous system, and in particular, the brain. The integrity of the central nervous system is considered very important by a yoga practitioner, since one of the goals of yoga is to improve the health of this system. Much of the growth of yoga is achieved through this fundamental communication system.
As we mentioned earlier, the first and foremost step is stopping alcohol consumption followed by detoxification. Stopping is the easy part. It is the after effects that need a lot of grit, spirit and muscle. Yoga can definitely be a catalyst here. A balanced diet with adequate exercise like walking, asanas, deep breathing, relaxation and quality sleep play an important part in restoring the body's balance. There are certain asanas that can strengthen weak organs but such asanas can be prescribed only after checking the person thoroughly.The person leaving alcohol should be physically in a position to practice the asanas which will happen over a period of time as strength is regained. Physical over stimulation during this period should be avoided. The person needs to be essentially bundled with love, empathy and understanding from the surrounding family.
Alcohol produces a feeling of lightness in the beginning. Later it can impair vision and lead to coordination problems. Human cell membranes have a high absorption capacity in relation to alcohol. As a result, once alcohol enters the blood stream, it has a tendency to get into each and every biological cell, tissue and organ of the body system.
Alcohol is known to first stimulate and then shortly afterwards depress the central nervous system, with a range of side effects. This is capable of damaging every organ and system in the body. Regularly consuming alcohol is correlated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, liver damage, depression, anxiety and several other illnesses.
It's worth having an open mind and giving it some serious consideration. What is the real reason for consuming alcohol? Maybe there is an answer, maybe there isn't. You're not going to know for sure till you give it a shot!
samitarathor@gmail.com
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