Recent studies show that cancer is the cause of one in every four deaths in our Western communities.
Although many cases develop so quickly that immediate conventional medical intervention is necessary to attempt to halt the progress of the disease, there are many more instances that have a potential to be cured by adopting various health building programmes. Some people have successfully undertaken this responsibility for themselves and claim to have effected a cure by numerous methods. Amongst these are included the partaking of fresh juices or raw food diets, fasting, herbal and homoeopathic medicines, and other physical treatments.
But the most interesting methods are suggested by those doctors who encourage patients to reconsider their whole lives, to face their disappointments, frustrations and pain, and to rebuild the picture of health by constructing a fresh mental image of themselves-one of wholeness and good health.
The idea of positive thinking is not new-it just needs personal effort in recreating your own self-image to conform to how you really want to be. We have to ‘delete’ the image of ourselves in poor health and substitute a vibrant picture of health to which to aspire.
This sounds so easy, yet most of us find its application is generally very difficult. However, as such researchers as the renowned Australian psychiatrist Dr Ainslie Meares have discovered, the key to an effective and positive mental concept and change is lies in our ability to release stress. This is done by practising conscious relaxation which in turn helps us to regain our inner confidence in ourselves.
It may be considered easier to be directed through the suggestion of a therapist, or to relax your body and to ‘let go’ guided by the gentle voice of a Yoga teacher, but inevitably we must learn through auto-suggestion to release ourselves from strain and stress and to discover the pleasure of the immediate as well as long term benefits of relaxation which in the science of Yoga is called Yoga Nidra.
So begin by enjoying participation in relaxation time in Yoga class work, and applying what your learn at home so that you experience the wonderful new feelings of vitality and well-being and sense of wholeness which will always be the major defence against all disease.