PSYCHO-PHYSICAL WELL BEING OF DIFFERENTLY ABLED STUDENTS THROUGH YOGIC PRACTICES

Yoga is a process that changes the physiology of the body through respiratory awareness and manipulation, postures and cognitive control. The concept of Yoga originated in India between 3000 and 5000 years ago (Eliade, 1973) as both a philosophy and ‘science'. The meaning of this Sanskrit word is to ‘yoke or join together or unite' (Taylor, 2004). There are several branches of Yoga all of which are said to assist in the development of self-realization. These include Kama Yoga (selfless service), Bhakti Yoga (devotional love), Hatha Yoga (mental and physical purity and balance), Jnana Yoga (knowledge and wisdom), Raja Yoga (mental mastery), Mantra Yoga (voice and sound), Yantra Yoga (vision and form), Laya and Kundalini Yoga (arousal of latent psychic nerve force) and Tantra Yoga (physiological discipline) (Hewitt, 1983).