Good breathing is a major component of good health, yet many of us spend our lives taking too-shallow breaths that can increase our stress levels. Nowadays flawed breathing and stress are the principal reasons for most of the psychosomatic problems. Probably, this is why many doctors suggest ‘Pranayama’ to deal with their psychological as well as medical issues (i.e. mostly triggered by lifestyle). For most of us, breathing is nothing more than an automatic function that keeps us alive, a steady flow that brings in vital oxygen and expels carbon dioxide. But unlike heartbeat or digestion, breath is a bodily function, we can consciously control. If you’ve ever taken a deep breath to keep a panic attack at bay, then you already know the wonders breathing can have on your well-being. Not only paying regular attention to your breath, it will give you a good reading on your mental and emotional state. You’ll also tap into an easy and effective way to manage stress and anxiety. Once you understand the way you breathe, you can start to modify it. Role of carbon dioxide in dead air spaces Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an unwelcome gas. If you breath short, you will be inhaling carbon dioxide you have just released on your previous exhale. We don’t want this to happen and always say “breathe slow and steady”. Our brains always check our CO2 level to give the “breath command”. When we breathe too much CO2, our brain commands us to breathe more and more to exhale the excess CO2 and reduce the level of it to an acceptable level. If you go on short breathing, your heartbeat is going to increase, trying to pump more oxygen to your tissues. As a result, you will try to breathe more in a short time and you will get tired. How to breathe properly? The first step toward using your breath more effectively is to pay attention to it. Yogic Gurus say that, “Notice what your breath is doing when you’re stressed, when you’re happy, during intercourse and while doing exercise”. Breathing is integral to most forms of yoga and is ultimately a more important part of the practice than the physical postures. The Sanskrit word for breath, prana, also means energy, and it’s a vital indicator of our overall well-being. That’s why practices that incorporate the breath, like yoga, tai chi and qi gong are good places to start in learning how to use yours more effectively. Find out how to breathe the right way and get some breathing techniques to try. Pranayama helps optimally manage the Central Nervous System (CNS) and also the Sympathetic and the Parasympathetic systems, the branches of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) which are closely intertwined with breath. Traditional yogic scriptures claim that one’s life span is decided by the number of breaths one has taken in one’s lifetime. Hence, higher the number of breaths shorter the life and lesser the number of breathe longer the life. Thus, it is imperative to be aware of the flow and the rhythm of your breath as ‘right breathing’ will allow you to lead a fulfilling and stress-free life. Since breathing is something we can control and regulate, it is a useful tool for achieving a relaxed and clear state of mind. Yogic Breathing does it all. Yogic Breathing, involving Sectional Breathing, emphasizes on the components – “Deep”, “Slow”, “Long” and “Full”. This breathing when done in unison can prove a panacea to mankind. It distinctly involves your abdomen, intercostal muscles and clavicle during respiration. Sectional Breathing The key to good technique is learning how to breathe with your diaphragm. That’s the muscle beneath your rib cage, the same one you use for singing or laughing. If you’re breathing properly, you can feel your diaphragm pushing down into your belly and through that it isn’t crucial for the abdomen to go in and out while you’re breathing. Due to figure consciousness, if you’re guilty of holding in your stomach so that it looks flat and then definitely you are not using your diaphragm properly. Utilizing the diaphragm is the key to letting go of stress. It sends a message to the nervous system that you’re relaxed. A. Diaphragmatic (Abdominal / Belly) Breathing In this breathing, the whole focus is on your abdominal region. As you inhale, your abdomen expands out, in a rhythm, allowing the navel to reach the farthest point from the spine. As you exhale, your abdomen moves in slowly, bringing your navel closest to the spine (Figure 1). Abdominal Breathing draws the greatest amount of air into your lungs for the least amount of muscular effort. Figure 1 Note: The respiration is happening with the rhythmic pushing of the abdomen, within your comfort zone. Beginner: One hand on the chest and the other on the belly, take a deep breath in through the nose, ensuring the diaphragm (not the chest) inflates with enough air to create a stretch in the lungs. The goal: Six to 10 deep, slow breaths per minute for 10 minutes each day to experience immediate reductions in heart rate and blood pressure. B. Intercostal (Middle / Thoracic) Breathing As the name indicates, the focus area is the rib cage. Before you start this breathing, slightly contract your abdomen without holding your breath. This will ‘sort of’ lock the abdomen in its place and allow complete involvement of your ribcage. Inhale slowly by expanding your rib cage outwards and upwards. You can visualize the expansion of the chest, with the stretch of the intercostal muscles during the movement. Then slowly exhale by contracting the chest downwards and inwards (Figure 2). Thoracic Breathing requires slightly more muscular effort than abdominal breathing. Figure 2 Note: Only your thoracic region is completely active. The rest of the upper body is in passive mode. C. Clavicular (Upper) Breathing You may need a little practice to figure out and involve the right part of the body for this breathing. Figure 3 In this breathing, your abdomen and rib cage are constant; holding your abdomen and chest constant, fix your attention in between your collar bone. As you slowly inhale, feel the movement of the breath moving outwards in both the directions from the centre of the collar bone towards the end of the collar bone, expanding the collar bone to its fullest. Your shoulders get lifted up towards the end of your breath. Lifting up of the shoulders would be a subtle movement and mostly as an effect of expanding collar bone and it may not be directly visible. As you exhale, release your shoulders and the breath enters from the end points of your collar bone to reach the centre of your collar bone as you complete the exhalation.
Clavicular breathing is the most ignored breathing compared to other two breathings and this requires the maximum involvement of your muscles. As you master this breathing, you will feel as if some ‘stored up heavy tension’ is getting dissipated from your mind, making you light and completely relaxed. Note: In this process of respiration, you will feel your collar bone going up to the chin and coming back to its original place. If still difficult to figure out the complete movement of clavicular breathing, get into sniffing action and you will know the exact movement of the muscles involved. Yogic Breathing It is the combination of all these three kinds of breathings (A, B, and C), known as, “Yogic Breathing”. This allows the optimum intake of air into the lungs and expels the maximum amount of carbon dioxide during exhalation. As you inhale, let your abdomen expand completely, followed by your rib cage and clavicle. These three areas should be completely involved in a rhythm and without any jerks or breaks. Similarly, as you exhale, let your shoulders and collar bones relax, then allow your rib cage to go down and inward & finally your abdomen into your spine. The inhalation and exhalation should happen in a sequence in a motion and without exerting any force. You might find it difficult at the beginning to combine all these areas to their optima as one may be more dominant than the other. A good idea will be to start with sectional breathing separately and then go on to combine all three together. With regular practice, this will become second nature to you. Shallow respiration starves our body of oxygen nourishment and at the same time, fails to eliminate optimal carbon dioxide causing an imbalance in the body & the mind, thereby an imbalance in your ‘universe’. The general public living in urban areas are exposed to polluted air much more than the rural areas, without being aware of the fact. This is because of the elevated levels of pollutants like construction pollutants, vehicular pollutants, etc. Yogic science emphasizes on breathing through the nose instead of the mouth. There is logic to this. Air passes through three layers of filtration while breathing through the nose, ensuring that it reaches lungs in a more purified form. Breathing through the mouth fails to do filtration at such an advanced level and may cause damage to lungs. Regular practice of jala neti will keep your nasal passage clear. It can optimize one’s oxygen intake and running efficiency and the person will not fall easy prey to different allergies. “Practicing regular, mindful breathing exercise can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders” ~Andrew Weil, M.D~ The book, “The Tao of Natural Breathing” shares the following Taoist belief: "To breathe fully is to live fully, to manifest the full range of power of our inborn potential for vitality in everything that we sense, feel, think, and do" ~ Lewis ~ Whether you are suffering from asthma, bronchitis, chronic sinus, migraine, sleep apnea, functional cold and cough, allergy or any such respiratory problems, by regular practice of jala neti can bring about amazing results if it is done correctly. Cleansing and Nourishing is the Secret of a Healthy Body and Mind! The ancient yoga manuscripts, approach the human body from two different perspectives; cleansing and nourishing. Organs like kidneys, lungs, bowels, etc. are continuously involved in the cleansing process, thus ensuring it’s optimal functionality. Without this process, the body remains undernourished and sluggish. While working on a weak foundation, we can only have a weak outcome. Hatha Yoga Pradeepika, the ancient book on Yoga speaks about six kriyas with subdivisions in some of them; - Neti - Dhauti - Nauli - Basti & Chanka prakshalana - Kapalabhati - Trataka Each of these kriyas works on cleansing a particular system of the human body. In yoga, these kriyas (the cleansing process) are called “Shatkarmas or Shatkriyas”, and are designed to keep our systems rejuvenated, healthy and hearty. These are greatly valuable in healing internal disorders and are used widely as a part of Yoga Therapy. Neti, cleansing of the nasal passages using water or a string The first line of nasal defence are the tiny hairs called “cilia” which should trap larger particles entering the nose. These cilia are usually cleansed by the act of normal breathing and by blowing the nose, but sometimes, due to a gradual build up of dirt, they can become clogged and may require washing out. The whole of the nasal passages from nose tip to throat (and beyond) are covered with a layer of mucus. This mucus is secreted from within the mucous lining, and its' function is to trap smaller foreign particles and bacteria. The dirty mucus is normally blown out, snorted and coughed out or swallowed. The sinus passages are an even finer mechanism of filtering, which, if infected, secrete a runny mucus to evict the germs. This is generally called sinusitis and can be a short term symptom or a chronic condition. It is all about nasal hygiene just like brushing teeth is about dental hygiene. “Jala neti”, is one of the subdivisions of neti (i.e. jala neti, sutra neti, dugdha neti, vyutkrama kapalbhati and sheetkrama kapalbhati) “Jala” is water (as the medium) and “Neti” is nasal cleaning (means transportation or to conduct). “Jala neti” means to carry out the cleansing of surya (right nostril) and chandra (left nostril) nadis by using lukewarm saline/ salted water and a specially designed neti pot. Materials required 1. Neti pots are available in plastic, ceramic, brass, steel, etc. It can be of brass or any other material, which does not contaminate the water. Make sure to clean the pot with hot water to sterilize the equipment before using it. 2. Lukewarm saline water is when the water temperature is same as our body temperature (i.e. 98.4 oF or 37 oC). It is important to use saline/ salt-water instead plain water, as it does not get easily absorbed in the delicate blood vessels & membranes due to osmotic pressure.
Frequency of Practice You can do it safely almost every day and one round per a day is enough. The best time is to wash your nose is in the early morning on an empty stomach. However, it can be done at other times as well, but definitely do not perform this after a heavy meal. Drying up the Nasal Passage This is the most critical factor in practicing Jala Neti. It is very important to dry up the moisture in the nasal passage as otherwise you may end up with more problems than actually benefitting from it. Note:
Benefits The very simple result of performing jala neti on a regular basis is a cleansed nasal passage that ensures that the air reaching the lungs are pure especially in today’s world where pollution has become a part of our life. Respiratory System Improves the function of the respiratory system, thus it solves the problems associated with the system such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis etc. It helps to improve the breathing pattern.
Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT): It helps remove the ailment of eyes, nose and throat.
Chakra
Contraindications
5/4/2017
Full Moon MeditationThe moon is an integral part of our lives. Whether it is celebrating a festival or starting an auspicious task, or meditating, we consider the movements of the moon. Few examples for such festivals are Ramazan, Guru Purnima and Holi, which are celebrated according to the movements of the moon.
Each month the sun enters a different constellation and as the time of the full moon approaches the energies become more intense. At the exact moment of the full moon there is an alignment that takes place. The earth is right between the sun and the moon, with all three in a line. An electromagnetic ray of golden light links the sun, moon, the earth and the constellation. Our mind energy is centred on the pineal gland from which vital hormones get secreted. It is believed that the rays of the moon enters our pineal gland and takes control of our activities. This is the reason why the full moon is thought to bring emotional swings to some people and hence the term “lunatic.” The full moon affects the movement and flow of water and we are aware that seas are rough during full moon. Our bodies are made of 70% water which explains the effect the full moon has on both our mind and body. However, the rays of the moon do not only affect human beings but also animals, plants, water and etc. On the nights of the full moon, the energy is at its peak and it is one of the most potent times to go deep in meditation. So if you meditate on this night, your meditation experience will be much deeper than any other day. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves during the day by not doing things which are too exciting like watching movies or television, etc. but be in a more calm state of mind to receive the positive effect, which will help to amplify our emotional and spiritual growth. How do we use these positive energies to meditate? Since the full moon pours down so much energy, meditating during this time creates mindfulness and stillness. You can do it by yourself in a sacred space in your home or in a group with like-minded people who enjoy meditating and it’s very powerful to meditate in a group. Sit in a comfortable sitting posture; Sukhasana, Vajirasana or Padmasana preferably on the ground as you are in contact with the earth, however, this is not a must, one could sit on a chair and keep your spine erect. After taking a few breaths to calm yourself down, focus on your breath. When your mind is at a more calmer, still and focused level, you could start being gratitude to the God Almighty you believe in and the Universe for all that you have. For every single minute blessing in your life, start feeling a deep sense of gratitude. Count all your blessings and feel thankful for everything in your life. Next, you can start sending healing energy, forgiveness, loving-kindness to friends, family, colleagues, and strangers. In addition, send peaceful energy to the places in the world experiencing strife, hardship, poverty and war. It has huge benefits for them and as a bonus, you create loads of good karma. Meditation is a passive way to witness our thoughts, feelings and actions. Meditation is the science to transform our energies and full moon night is very conducive for emotional and spiritual growth. So make use of full moon night to go deep in your meditation. There are no hard and fast rules if you should practice yoga on the first day or the entire four to five days of your menstruation. It is best to discover it yourself as to what best suits your body. You are a better judge of it than anyone else.
If you do choose to do yoga, it is always best to skip inversions. During the cycle, our body’s energy is naturally trending downward. A woman's body goes through a lot of changes and it is works hard to eliminate toxins. Nothing helps this process along more than simply taking it easy. Health entails keeping Vata (Vaathaya), Pitta (Pitha) and Kapha (Sema) in the right balance. In regard to the menstrual cycle, Vata needs special attention. Vata is the natural force that governs movement. For the monthly cycle to be comfortable, healthy and even beneficial, Vata must be in balance. Then there can be a smooth downward flow. Avoiding over-stimulation is always helpful to soothe and balance Vata, which is why there's an emphasis on getting rest during menstruation. It is said that practice of inversions during menstruation will reverse that movement leading to a cessation of flow and possibly heavier bleeding later on which may lead to endometriosis, a painful condition in which small clusters of uterine cells grow in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, if you are tired and achy, your body is telling you to take it easy, it is best to refrain from all strong asanas, inversions and favour more of a restorative practice like forward bends, gentle twists, supported backbends and more of meditation and savasana (relaxation) to stimulate and facilitate a smooth outflow. Sometimes the “real yoga” is being able to listen to your body and knowing when to back off! :) Leg cramping is extremely painful.
Leg cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions of the calf muscles during the night or periods of rest. Apart from the calves, contractions can also occur in the soles of the feet or other muscles in the body. At the location of the cramp, you may feel a hard lump of muscle tissue. The duration of these cramps can be anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Although the intense pain may go away, muscle soreness may remain for some time. Anyone can get these types of cramps, but they are more common in people who are middle-aged or older. They may also occur quite frequently in teenagers and in people who exercise at night. The precise cause of leg cramps at night is unclear. However, there are many contributing factors that can cause this painful problem. Here are some of the reasons why you have leg cramping at night. Dehydration Proper hydration contributes to a healthier body and mind. It also impacts the performance of your muscles. Water comprises 75 percent of muscle tissue and helps them contract and relax easily. So, not maintaining proper levels of hydration during the day may be one of the big causes of leg cramps at night. Water is also important for proper circulation of nutrients in the body. Without water, muscles will be deprived of important nutrients, which can lead to imbalances of electrolytes (mainly sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium). In fact, even small amounts of dehydration may hinder athletic performance and increase the chance of cramps at night. Nutritional Deficiency Any kind of imbalance of mineral electrolytes—sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium—in the body can contribute to night-time and exercise-associated cramps. These minerals are responsible for both nerve impulses and muscle contractions, and keep your muscles working smoothly.
Additionally, certain B vitamins impact muscle function, particularly vitamin B12. Overexertion or Prolonged Standing Standing on a hard surface for a long time as well as standing while wearing high heels or poorly fitting shoes can contribute to muscle fatigue or overexertion. This in turn can cause leg cramps at night. Also, sitting improperly or putting your legs in awkward and uncomfortable positions when sleeping can contribute to night-time leg cramps. Pregnancy Pregnant women often experience leg cramps at night, usually starting in the second trimester and lasting through the third trimester. These cramps may vary in intensity, from mild to extremely painful. Leg cramps during pregnancy may be due to the increasing pressure of the uterus on certain nerves, fatigue, or reduced circulation in the legs from the pressure of the baby on blood vessels. During pregnancy, if you frequently suffer from leg cramps either during the day or at night, it is important to discuss this problem with your doctor. Hypothyroidism A low level of thyroid hormones can indirectly contribute to muscle weakness as well as calf cramps at night. The thyroid hormones can affect calcium absorption and utilization. Calcium deficiency is associated with muscle weakness, numbness, pain and cramps. Also, low thyroid hormones lead to low metabolism. High metabolism is important for energy as well as how your muscles feel after doing your regular exercises. A low level of thyroid hormones also often increases inflammation that may be contributing to your muscle cramping and pain. Uncontrolled Diabetes Diabetes can also contribute to leg muscle cramping. In fact, it is a symptom of a form of nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy, one of the complications of uncontrolled diabetes. Besides the sharp pain in the leg muscle, diabetes patients may also experience tingling and numbness. Elevated blood sugar also causes excessive urination and subsequent dehydration, which contributes to night leg cramps. If you’re experiencing muscle cramps related to diabetes, consult your doctor immediately. Catching nerve damage early is important in preventing further complications. Alcohol Abuse Excess alcohol intake is not good to your health. Peripheral nerves can become damaged due to too much alcohol use, causing alcoholic neuropathy. Leg pain and muscle cramps are common symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy. Excessive drinking causes dehydration due to the diuretic effect of alcohol. Plus, it can cause a magnesium deficiency. Another important point to note is that excess alcohol intake increases the content of lactic acid in your body. Excessive lactic acid can lead to cramps or pain in your muscles. Certain Medications Another cause of night-time cramps is a side effect of medications. Certain medicines, especially cholesterol-lowering agents (statins) and diuretics, contribute to the loss of water and electrolytes from the body. This in turn makes you more prone to having cramps. Other medicines, such as antipsychotics, birth control pills and steroids, can also cause cramps. If cramps start suddenly after you begin taking a new medication, consult your doctor. Tips to fix and prevent leg cramping at night
References http://www.bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2012/december/docs/bpj_49_legcramps_pages_24-28.pdf https://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/pdfs/fitfacts/itemid_173.pdf Sinus can be cured or controlled by yoga through pranayama and certain yoga poses, especially through inversions as it helps to get things loosened up and moving. These yoga poses will intensify the pressure in your head, but when you come back to your normal posture, you will feel some relief. This is one of the reasons why your sinuses starts clearing off during and after yoga practice. Allow yourself to relax into the pose and try to keep your breath as normal and steady as possible.
Yoga asanas for sinusitis These asana will help in clearing the air passage and make way for proper flow of liquids from nose and the eyes.
Pranayama for sinusitis A consistent breathing practice can alleviate your sinus discomfort. Try the following practices focusing on keeping your prana/breath. You may wish to blow your nose, or better yet, use a jala neti pot before practicing these exercises.
9/13/2016
Ujjayi PranayamaCouple of weeks ago we learnt 'Ujjayi Pranayama' also known as the ‘victorious breath’ in class, and ever since have been contemplating on blogging some information about it and never got down to it until now.
What is ujjayi breathing and what does it do? Ujjayi is a sanskrit term which means “loud breathing”. The anatomical explanation to ujjayi breathing is that it is a type of pranayama which develops awareness while the “glottis” is partially closed. Ujjayi breathing (activating the glottis) has been used in ashtanga yoga for thousands of years. It generates heat and by doing so, releases built-up toxins from both the body and mind. How to do Ujjayi breathing? · sit in a comfortable meditative posture. Keep your spine elongated to help your “prana” or your breath, run down your spine smoothly. · take deep inhalations and deeper exhalations few times, until you attain a steady rhythm. · keeping your mouth closed, gently constrict the glottis muscles in the back of your throat (the muscles you use when you whisper) and continue your inhalations and exhalations and you will hear an ocean-like sound. Continue the practice for around 10 rounds. How does Ujjayi breathing benefit ones’ yoga practice? The ujjayi breath consists of inhaling and exhaling through the nose. While exhaling, there’s a noise that accompanies with it like the sound of the ocean. Breathing through the nose invigorates the nostrils. By purposely slowing down the breath, we calm our circulation, heart rate, and emotional response. We become more relaxed, aware, and centered in the moment. Ujjayii offers extra benefits through our constriction of the glottis. This constriction permits less air to get through (both inhalations and exhalations), which in turn force our breath to last longer. This slow breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which sends relaxation signals to our body. What are the benefits of Ujjayi breathing? · when our vocal cords restrict the flow of air, our breathing muscles also become firmer and thereby making us stronger. · the whispering sound of Ujjayii draws our attention to the breath, which helps us bring our mind inwards. · with the glottis partially closed, your inhales last longer, which permits the air to seep deeper into the lower lungs than regular breathing permits, which is where our richest blood supply is. So basically, you’re nourishing your lung tissues. · your abdominal organs get massaged, as the diaphragm extends downward in response to the chest expanding and the pelvic floor muscles relaxing. On a deep inhalation, your organs sink deeper into the pelvis, and this is reversed on exhalations, resulting in a gentle massage of your internal organs. · it opens up our chest, which triggers a mind-body connection that translates into an emotional response of confidence, power and invigoration of our practice. So as the name suggest, it is pretty victorious to be able to relax and invigorate at the same time. Happy practicing! Most suffer from severe sinus infection these days. Apart from Kabhalapathi and Jala Neti (Nasal wash) to control sinusitis, here's another remedy to get some relief in 20 seconds! The first results come almost immediately, followed by sinus drainage. - Push your tongue against the roof of your mouth and place the thumb in between your eyebrows. - Now you need to pressure the area you are holding with your thumb for 20 seconds. The nasal cavity holds a bone, also known as the Vomer bone, which is placed vertically in the cavity. By pressing and holding the thumb while pushing your tongue against the roof of your mouth, it allows the Vomer bone to move back and forth and helping to relieve the congestion and draining the sinuses. Consuming apple cider vinegar also has been found to bring relief to your sinus infection in no time! Viruses are usually responsible for causing sinus infection, and those viruses tend to stick inside the organism even after the lungs are cleared.Basically, the sinuses lining becomes inflamed, and this occurrence leads to chronic headaches, discomfort and pain. Here is how to do it: Ingredients:
Preparation: First boil water (let it cool down for a while as the goodness of raw honey will get destroyed if added while water is still boiling hot) and then combine it with apple cider vinegar in a glass. Throw in honey, cayenne pepper and stir well. Finally, add lemon juice. Consume it warm 3 times a day.
6/28/2016
Yoga and IslamLet me start off by saying that this article is a compilation of what I have read and learnt from researches, logically thought through and correlated yoga with Islamic prayer postures for the benefit of most of us and must reiterate that this is by no means published to question or challenge any beliefs.
The Islamic form of prayer has provided Muslims with some of the same benefits as yoga. The prayer offers physical, mental, and spiritual benefits five times a day as Muslims assume certain positions while reciting Quran and athkar. Each of the five prayer positions has a corresponding yoga position, and the positions together “activate” all seven “chakras” also known as energy fields in the body. Eastern healers believe that each of the chakras correlate to major nerve ganglia that branch out from the spinal chord. Hence, the concept of activating these nerve centers is similar to installing a medical stimulating device on the spine to correct corresponding bodily malfunctions. The Takbir and Al Qiyyam together are very similar to the ‘Mountain Pose’ in yoga, which has been found to improve posture, balance, and self-awareness. This position also normalizes blood pressure and breathing, providing many benefits to asthma and heart patients. The placement of the hands on the chest during the Qiyyam position are said to activate the 'solar plexus chakra,' or nerve pathway, which directs awareness of self in the world and controls the health of the muscular system, skin, intestines, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and eyes. When the hands are held open for du’a, they activate the 'heart chakra,' said to be the center of the feelings of love, harmony, and peace, and to control love and compassion. It also governs the health of the heart, lungs, thymus, immune system, and circulatory system. Muslim researchers have shown that when Muslims recite the Quran, blood pressure and stress levels are reduced. Virtually all of the sounds of the Arabic language are uttered while reciting Quran, creating a balance in all affected areas of the body. This is very much similar to vibrations made when pronouncing the long vowels, 'A', 'U' and 'M' while relaxing in yoga. It stimulates the heart, lungs, and the thyroid, pineal, pituitary, and adrenal glands. The position of Ruku is very similar to the ‘Forward Bend’ Position in yoga. Ruku stretches the muscles of the lower back, thighs, legs and calves, and allows blood to be pumped down into the upper torso. It tones the muscles of the stomach, abdomen, and kidneys. Forming a right angle allows the stomach muscles to develop, and prevents flabbiness in the mid-section. This position also promotes a greater flow of blood into the upper regions of body – particularly to the head, eyes, ears, nose, brain, and lungs – allowing mental toxins to be released. Over time, this improves brain function and ones personality, and is an excellent stance to maintain the proper position of the fetus in pregnant women. The Sujud is said to activate the “crown chakra,” which is related to a person’s spiritual connection with the universe around them and their enthusiasm for spiritual pursuits. This nerve pathway is also correlated to the health of the brain, nervous system, and pineal gland. Its healthy function balances ones interior and exterior energies. In Sujud, the bend activates the “base chakra,” which controls basic human survival instincts and provides essential grounding. This helps to develop levelheaded and positive thinking along with a highly motivated view of life, and maintains the health of the lymph and skeletal systems, the prostate, bladder, and the adrenal glands. The “sacral chakra” also gets bent, benefiting and toning the reproductive organs. The position of Al Qaadah, (or Julus) is similar to the ‘Thunderbolt Pose’ in yoga, which firms the toes, knees, thighs, and legs. It is said to be good for those prone to excessive sleep, and those who like to keep long hours. Furthermore, this position assists in speedy digestion, aids the detoxification of the liver, and stimulates peristaltic action in the large intestine. Last, but not least, the “throat chakra” is activated by turning the head towards first the right and then the left shoulder in the closing of the prayer. This nerve path is linked to the throat, neck, arms, hands, bronchials, and hearing – effecting individual creativity and communication. It is believed that a person who activates all seven nerve pathways at least once a day can remain well balanced emotionally, physically and spiritually. Since this is the goal of all Muslims, it is best to strive to attain the perfect stance, recitation, and breathing recommended in the Hadith while performing the prayers – the very same techniques of perfection taught in popular yoga, Tai Chi, and many other exercise classes.
11/24/2015
The healing power of your handsMudra is a Sanskrit word which means ‘to lock’ or ‘to seal’. The word ‘mudra’ signifies hand gestures. Mudras are an integral part of a yoga practice in that they enable you to control the flow of prana, or the life force, thereby making you more energetic and full of vitality. In addition to this mudras help you lock energy inside your body so that you can utilize it, rather than letting it dissipate. “In this respect, Kundalini Yoga assumes that every area of the hand forms a reflex zone for an associated part of the body and the brain. In this way, we can consider the hands to be a mirror for our body and our mind.” ~ Lothar Rüdiger Lütge ~ The subtle hand and finger movements make important connections in the nervous system and stimulate specific energy pathways or nadis. Human body is an amalgamation of 5 elements of nature – Earth, Air, Water, Space and Fire & each finger acts as a representative of one element. These are:
Jnana Mudra: The gesture of knowledge or gesture of wisdom, activates the pineal gland, relaxes the mind and improves concentration. It increases concentration, memory, reduces sleep disorders, helps to release stress and anger, eases depression, headache and even high blood pressure. Vayu Mudra: The gesture of air is best for the Vata body types and reduces any constrictions in the body due to excess air in the body. It eliminates excess gas/air related problems like gout, flatulence, constipation. It helps in diseases like arthritis, neck pain, trembling in Parkinson’s disease, paralysis and cervical spondilytis. Prithvi Mudra: This mudra amplifies the earth element of the body. Earth elements are a vital component of bones, cartilage, skin, hair, nails, muscles, tendons, internal organs, etc. Practice of Prithvi mudra builds and invigorates these tissues and strengthens the bones. It produces stability, confidence and strength. It reduces stress, weakness, helps in weight gain, increases blood circulation & Kapha, boosts self esteem & confidence. It improves digestive power, develops vitality and removes deficiency of vitamins. Agni Mudra: The fire hand gesture, is a powerful mudra with significant healing capacity. It increases the fire element in the body and reduces the earth element. The element Agni (fire) is associated with body-temperature and metabolism. Practice of agni mudra helps to maintain the body-temperature and keeps the metabolism going. Dissolves excess fat in the body, reduce cholesterol, quickens digestion, boosts metabolism & immune system, controls low BP and regulates the thyroid gland. Jal Mudra: Works on the biggest element of the body, water, by increasing it to an optimum level. It prevents all diseases which come due to the lack of water or any kind of dryness. Helps to rehydrate cells, tissues, muscles, skin, joint-cartilage, etc. This mudra can be used to overcome disorders like loss of taste-sense, dryness of mouth, etc. Jal mudra nourishes the skin, making it glow. Eliminates skin diseases, increases blood flow, and reduces muscle |
AuthorCharita Lankage Archives
October 2017
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