The human mind carries with it the seed of desire, a momentum which it must express. To express this momentum it adopts vrttis or ways of expression of mind or expression of sentiments.
The brain cannot work directly to perform its function of creating messages through the nerves without passing through sub-stations called glands. The glands secrete various hormonal substances which in turn affect the complex operation of the organs of the body.
Thus the seed of the vrtti is in the brain, but its first expression is in the glands.
There is mental restlessness because of the distracting effects of the vrttis which seeks expression through the organs of hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell. Since the vrttis are created by the glands, one can regulate the expression of the vrttis and therefore balance the mind by regulating the glandular secretion.
The yogic postures or asanas is the yogic system that makes the glands function efficiently. These bodily postures, held motionless for a prescribed period of time, puts pressure on selected glands thus balancing their secretion.
Asanas also prevents diseases and keep the youthful flexibility of the human body. As prescribed posture dispose one troublesome vrtti after another as the glandular dysfunctions are cured, the mind gradually becomes peaceful and focused.
In Ananda Marga, personal sets of asanas are prescribed by competent acharyas (teachers). Readers should not to take the risk of practicing asanas unless guided by Ananda Marga teachers.
For inquiries call telephone number 436-2946. Text your questions to 0919-734-9704. Ananda Marga acharyas will always be ready to help without any renumeration.
There are a few simple asanas that are good to start with. Three postures are described as follows:
1. Snake Posture: Lie down on your chest. Supporting the weight on the palms, raise the chest, directing your head backward, Look at the ceiling. Breathe in while rising, and after having risen, hold your breath for eight seconds. Come down to original position while breathing out. Practice eight times.
2. Half-Tortoise or Long Bowing Posture : Kneel down and holding the palms together, extend the arms upward keeping them close to the ears. then bend forward in a posture of bowing down, touching the floor with the tip of the nose and the forehead. the buttocks must continue to touch the heels. While bending down breathe out and stay in a state of complete exhalation for eight seconds then rise up, beathing in. Practice eight times.
3. Yogamudra Posture: Sit in crossed legged position. Pass both hands backward and grip the left wrist with the right hand. Then bring the forehead and the nose into contact with the floor, breathing out during the process. Maintain this position for eight seconds and rise up, breathing in. Practice eight times.
Asanas, like other disciplines require the observance of certain basic guidelines as follows:
1. Before practicing asanas it is best to take a bath which is ended cool, or if in shortage of time, cool down the heated areas of the body i.e. feet, knees, elbows hands, face neck, top of head with cool water. A special procedure has been designed for this , known as "half bath," which can easily be demonstrated.
2. Asanas should not be practiced in the open air because it may result in sudden exposure leading to a cold. While practicing asanas indoors one should be sure, though to have fresh air, preferably with open windows. No smoke should be allowed to enter the room.
3. One should wear tight fitting underwear to protect the organs during asanas. For male a special underwear called "lungota" is recommended.
4. Practice asanas on a blanket or a mat. Do not do asanas on bare ground, because you may catch a cold, and some secretions which come from the body while practicing asanas may be destroyed.
5. Breathing should flow freely through the left or both nostrils. (Left and right nostrils alternate their dominance in regular intervals and correspond with respectively subtler and cruder energy flows. Asanas should be done when subtler energies are flowing.) One may open the left nostril by lying on the right side with the head cushioned on arm and elbow, and breathing regularly for a few minutes.
6. Take sentient food . Follow a vegetarian diet.
7. Asanas should not be done on a full stomach and only after a minimum of 2 1/2 to 3 hours after a full meal.
8. After completing the asanas, massage of the entire body should be done.
9. After massage, remain in "corpse posture" for at least 2 minutes: Lie back on the floor and to prevent chill, cover the body up to the neck with a blanket. Relax completely keeping the arm spread away from the chest and legs comfortably apart. Imagine that your body has become totally inert, like a corpse. Remain for a few minutes.
10. After corpse pose, do not come in contact with water for at least ten minutes, and do not take food until after 30 minutes.
11. If it is necessary to go outdoors after practicing asanas and body temperature has not come down to a normal level, or if there is any difference between the room temperature and the outdoor temperature, you must cover your body when going out. If possible inhale a deep breath inside the room and exhale it after coming outside. In that way there will be no chance of catching cold.
12. One should not practice any free-hand exercise, running or sports after asanas.
13. There are no restrictions of nostril or diet for the following asanas: Lotus posture, siddha posture, half siddha posture, crossed leg sitting posture, brave posture, long bowing posture, Yoga posture, and cobra posture.
14. During mentruation, pregnancy and within one month of delivery, women should not practice asanas at all, except the postures for meditation.
(NEXT BLOG : MEDITATION AND MANTRA)
The brain cannot work directly to perform its function of creating messages through the nerves without passing through sub-stations called glands. The glands secrete various hormonal substances which in turn affect the complex operation of the organs of the body.
Thus the seed of the vrtti is in the brain, but its first expression is in the glands.
There is mental restlessness because of the distracting effects of the vrttis which seeks expression through the organs of hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell. Since the vrttis are created by the glands, one can regulate the expression of the vrttis and therefore balance the mind by regulating the glandular secretion.
The yogic postures or asanas is the yogic system that makes the glands function efficiently. These bodily postures, held motionless for a prescribed period of time, puts pressure on selected glands thus balancing their secretion.
Asanas also prevents diseases and keep the youthful flexibility of the human body. As prescribed posture dispose one troublesome vrtti after another as the glandular dysfunctions are cured, the mind gradually becomes peaceful and focused.
In Ananda Marga, personal sets of asanas are prescribed by competent acharyas (teachers). Readers should not to take the risk of practicing asanas unless guided by Ananda Marga teachers.
For inquiries call telephone number 436-2946. Text your questions to 0919-734-9704. Ananda Marga acharyas will always be ready to help without any renumeration.
There are a few simple asanas that are good to start with. Three postures are described as follows:
1. Snake Posture: Lie down on your chest. Supporting the weight on the palms, raise the chest, directing your head backward, Look at the ceiling. Breathe in while rising, and after having risen, hold your breath for eight seconds. Come down to original position while breathing out. Practice eight times.
2. Half-Tortoise or Long Bowing Posture : Kneel down and holding the palms together, extend the arms upward keeping them close to the ears. then bend forward in a posture of bowing down, touching the floor with the tip of the nose and the forehead. the buttocks must continue to touch the heels. While bending down breathe out and stay in a state of complete exhalation for eight seconds then rise up, beathing in. Practice eight times.
3. Yogamudra Posture: Sit in crossed legged position. Pass both hands backward and grip the left wrist with the right hand. Then bring the forehead and the nose into contact with the floor, breathing out during the process. Maintain this position for eight seconds and rise up, breathing in. Practice eight times.
Asanas, like other disciplines require the observance of certain basic guidelines as follows:
1. Before practicing asanas it is best to take a bath which is ended cool, or if in shortage of time, cool down the heated areas of the body i.e. feet, knees, elbows hands, face neck, top of head with cool water. A special procedure has been designed for this , known as "half bath," which can easily be demonstrated.
2. Asanas should not be practiced in the open air because it may result in sudden exposure leading to a cold. While practicing asanas indoors one should be sure, though to have fresh air, preferably with open windows. No smoke should be allowed to enter the room.
3. One should wear tight fitting underwear to protect the organs during asanas. For male a special underwear called "lungota" is recommended.
4. Practice asanas on a blanket or a mat. Do not do asanas on bare ground, because you may catch a cold, and some secretions which come from the body while practicing asanas may be destroyed.
5. Breathing should flow freely through the left or both nostrils. (Left and right nostrils alternate their dominance in regular intervals and correspond with respectively subtler and cruder energy flows. Asanas should be done when subtler energies are flowing.) One may open the left nostril by lying on the right side with the head cushioned on arm and elbow, and breathing regularly for a few minutes.
6. Take sentient food . Follow a vegetarian diet.
7. Asanas should not be done on a full stomach and only after a minimum of 2 1/2 to 3 hours after a full meal.
8. After completing the asanas, massage of the entire body should be done.
9. After massage, remain in "corpse posture" for at least 2 minutes: Lie back on the floor and to prevent chill, cover the body up to the neck with a blanket. Relax completely keeping the arm spread away from the chest and legs comfortably apart. Imagine that your body has become totally inert, like a corpse. Remain for a few minutes.
10. After corpse pose, do not come in contact with water for at least ten minutes, and do not take food until after 30 minutes.
11. If it is necessary to go outdoors after practicing asanas and body temperature has not come down to a normal level, or if there is any difference between the room temperature and the outdoor temperature, you must cover your body when going out. If possible inhale a deep breath inside the room and exhale it after coming outside. In that way there will be no chance of catching cold.
12. One should not practice any free-hand exercise, running or sports after asanas.
13. There are no restrictions of nostril or diet for the following asanas: Lotus posture, siddha posture, half siddha posture, crossed leg sitting posture, brave posture, long bowing posture, Yoga posture, and cobra posture.
14. During mentruation, pregnancy and within one month of delivery, women should not practice asanas at all, except the postures for meditation.
(NEXT BLOG : MEDITATION AND MANTRA)
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