Reading Unit 2 includes VI The Nature of Health, VII Is Yoga Ideal for Women, VIII Three Milestones in a Women’s Life.
In this unit Geeta presents a comprehensive understanding of women’s health through multiple lenses, integrating traditional yogic philosophy with practical applications. She utilizes the framework of the five kośas (sheaths of existence) – annamayakośa (physical body), prāṇamayakośa (energy body), manomayakośa (emotional/mental body), vijñānamayakośa (intellectual body), and ānandamayakośa (bliss body) – to explain how yoga works simultaneously on multiple levels of a woman’s being. Geeta then provides an in-depth examination of three critical milestones in women’s lives, beginning with menstruation. She offers unprecedented detail for its time, addressing both biological processes and psychological impacts of puberty, suggesting that ages twelve to fourteen are ideal for beginning yoga while emphasizing that practice can begin at any age. The pregnancy section challenges common misconceptions, presenting pregnancy not as a time to avoid practice but as an opportunity for deeper body awareness. It provides specific guidance for different trimesters and post-natal care, including practices for recovery and lactation support. The menopause section addresses both physical and emotional aspects of this transition, explaining how hormonal changes affect multiple body systems and how yoga can help maintain balance during this significant life change.
In these pages Geeta bridges traditional Āyurvedic understanding of the body with modern medical knowledge. It begins with Sāṃkhya Yoga Philosophy’s twenty-five components of existence and Āyurvedic concepts of doṣas (humors), dhātus (tissues), and malas (waste products), then seamlessly integrates this with contemporary understanding of anatomical systems. This integration creates a holistic framework for understanding women’s health that honors both ancient wisdom and modern scientific knowledge. The text pays particular attention to the endocrine and reproductive systems, demonstrating how specific yoga practices can support hormonal balance and reproductive health throughout different life stages. Geeta’s practical guidance is consistently grounded in deep understanding of both women’s physiology and the subtle aspects of yoga practice, making it particularly valuable for women seeking to maintain health through different life stages.
Focus questions:
1. What are the specific benefits of yoga for women’s three major life transitions?
2. How does the text integrate traditional Ayurvedic and modern medical understanding of the body?
3. How does the text explain the relationship between the five koshas and women’s health?
