Sanskrit, literally, yoking, from yunakti he yokes; akin to Latin jungere to join — more at yoke
Yoga does much the same as “fasting” as a spiritual cleansing exercise. It serves to stimulate our unresolved issues in our souls and to bring them into conscious awareness for resolution. The relaxation of the muscles, caused by the stretching exercises, decreases our physiological and psychological defense mechanisms.
Fasting works in a similar manner in that it decreases serotonin produced in the enterochromaffin cells and thus decreases the amount available to block cell signaling in the synaptic cleft, which allows unresolved emotional issues to surface.
“Fasting works in a similar manner in that it decreases serotonin produced in the enterochromaffin cells and thus decreases the amount available to block cell signaling in the synaptic cleft, which allows unresolved emotional issues to surface.”
Yeah you don’t eat you get crabby and your defense mechanisms drop...torturers and interrogators right back to the first person who ever beat another with a stick knew about that one!
Now the dark side of Yoga. Satan and the third of angels which fell with him just love, love this vain and foolhardy quest for self enrichment. Satan delights in us pondering our navels and searching for self enlightenment. I advice you read Hostage to the Devil by Malachi Martin. He has a nice segment in his book about a college professor who arrogantly stumbled forth in the world of Hindu occultism, and Yoga and wound up tormented by demonic forces. All serious followers of Yoga will after a while be buffeted by these malevolent spirits. You stumble around, in the dark, with your incoherent mutterings , mantras and sweaty poses and you are on your own. Like the mouse playing with the cat. I have been to India and the whole country is under a dark cloud, it;s about as evil a place as I have experienced. Not talking Iran type in the street evil, but a land empty of G*ds grace where Satanic Paganism is the norm. If you want truth and meaning in your life, get down on your knees and ask Christ into you heart and with the gift of the Holy Spirit read and meditate on his Word. All you need to know in there, the blueprint for life, why we are here, how to cope, find meaning, find purpose. More productive that sitting around, sweating like a pig, ultimately worshipping a fallen angel who can't wait to destroy you.
Thank you for that explanation, and it gives more interpretation to the experience of fasting.
On a more simple level, I would say that fasting teaches patience - one has to dwell in time differently - and also makes us aware how much our shifting moods rely upon our bodily experiences.