Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India

encyclopedia

Ancient Concepts, Sciences & Systems

10.

MATSYASANA

(Fish pose)

Benefits - Good for diabetes, asthma patients and people

threatened with other lung diseases.

11.

HALASANA -

(Plough posture)

Benefits - The muscles of the back, the spinal joints and neck

region receive plenty of blood supply and the nerves are toned up,

spine becomes elastic.

12.

CAKRASANA

(Wheel posture)

Benefits - Builds a flexible back, stimulates the nerves of the

spine; one of the powerful back - bending postures.

13.

SIRSASANA

(Stand-on-head posture)

Benefits - Due to improved circulation to the brain the whole

nervous system becomes healthy. Memory power gets improved.

Endocrine glands such as the pituitary and the thyroid get revital-

ised.

14.

SAVASANA

(Corpse pose)

Benefits- One of the most powerful tools in controlling a large

number of diseases caused by tension such as high B.P., insomnia

etc., It is very helpful for calming down the mind leading to medita-

tion.

The other important asanas which are equally beneficial are

Pavana Muktasana, Parivrtta Trikonasana, Parsva Konasana,

Ardha Chkrasana, Pada Hastasana, Hamsasana, Mayurasana,

Vajrasana, Sasankasana, Ustrasana, Vakrasana, Ardha Matsen-

drasana, Bhujangasana, Salabhasana, Vrishtikasana.

Yogasanas should be taught in the complete manner as de-

scribed in the tantras, with awareness of the corresponding centres

integrated into the practice. As Swami Sivananda says, "To light a

candle one needs another burning candle, in the same way those

who are unenlightened need the help of an illumined guru".

It is impossible to embark on the higher paths of yogic sadhana

(spiritual practice) without the supervision of someone who knows

its complexities and pitfalls.

PRANAYAMA

There are some loosening and stretching exercises called

Sith-

ilikarana Vyayama

which help to make the body supple and flexible

so that they aid in Asanas that are designed to conserve the

energies and transform them to subtle forms of mental energies.

The human body is the symbolic representation of the universe.

The

Siddhas,

the mystic Saints of Tamil Nadu, had full faith in the

limitless energy that dwells inside man. They sought various ways

to reach the ecstacy in merging with all these powers. One of the

means to achieve this is in breathing movement. Hence they have

bifurcated breathing into two types - Chandrakala and Suryakala.

They have measured the timing in inhaling and exhaling these

breaths. In Sanskrit the art of breathing is called 'Pranayama'

SECTIONAL BREATHING : is a preparatory breathing practice

for doing Pranayama. It corrects the breathing pattern and in-

creases the vital capacity of the lungs, It has three sections.

a) Abdominal breathing or diaphragmatic breathing

(Adhama).

b) Thoracic

(chest)

breathing

intercoastal

breathing

(Madhyama)

c) Upper lobar breathing or clavicular breathing

(Adya)

ANULOMA - VILOMA

(Simple inhalation - Exhalation

Pranayama) - helps in eluding lung diseases . Heart-beat gets nor-

malised. Two types of Anuloma - viloma are:-

Candranuloma

: (inhalation & exhalation through left nostril

only)

Suryanuloma

: (inhalation and exhalation through the right nos-

tril only)

NADI SUDDHI:

(Alternate nostril breathing to balance inner and

outer energies through left and right nostrils.) One has to practise

these for a duration of 3 to 6 months to accomplish the purification of

the Nadis (72 lakhs) and Cakras (which exist in the subtle body,

called Pranayama kosa)

BHRAMARI

: (Bee-sounding- Pranayama) : Humming breath

vibrates and soothes body and mind.

UJJAYI

: (Hissing Pranayama) : The airway resistance at the pal-

ate is the important aspect of this Pranayama. It helps to reduce the

speed of breathing.

SITKARI:

(Cooling breath)

Sitali

(Beak-Tongue Pranayama)

Sadanta

(Suck-through-teeth pranayama) - The above have

the same benefits. They are cooling pranayamas. They help in

calming down and removing mental tension and anxiety.

Sadanta is useful for people suffering from respiratory prob-

lems, pyorrhoea and hypersensitivity of gums.

K R I Y A S

The cleansing techniques in yoga is called kriyas. Some general

cleansing techniques are :-

KAPALABHAT1

(Stimulating the brain cells)

NETI

(Clearing the nasal passages)

DHOUTI

(Cleansing the intestinal tract upto the stomach)

NAULI

(Control of the abdominal recta)

TRATAKA

(Cleansing the eyes)

Other kriyas include VIPARITAKARANI KRIYA (cleansing in

inverted posture), SANKHAPRAKSALANA KRIYA (Complete

stomach bowel wash)

BANDHAS

AND

MUDRAS

Bandhas and Mudras are neuro-muscular locks and gestures.

Bandhas are safety locks used during the process of breath-holding

kumbhaka.

These Bandhas and Mudras are advanced techniques in hatha

yoga used mainly for culturing of emotions.

Types of Bandhas

Uddiyana Bandha

Jalandhara Bandha

and

Mula Bandha.

Types of Mudras

Mudras are used in hatha yoga. According to Aheranda Samhita,

there are mainly 25 mudras, whereas Hatha Pradipika describes

only 10 of these excluding Yoga Mudra and Yoni Mudra. Among