Each one of us is having the ability to heal ourselves. We need to learn the techniques for healing. Yoga and Vipassan are two beautiful ways to control pain and bring happiness in life. Both these techniques are scientifically proven and millions of people are getting benefits of that. Just like allopathic medicines, too much Yoga and too much Vipassana meditation is harmful for body and mind. You should be careful they should not create addiction.
Great Yoga and Vipassana master Sri Amit Ray of Uttarkashi in the book “Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style” beautifully explained the ways and means to use yoga and Vipassana for pain management and stress relief. He says “Select your own yoga posture slowly and very gently twist your body and gently focus your attention to the starting place of the physical pain. Just comfortably permit your awareness to rest in that area for few moments and then move your attention to the ….. “. The book beautifully amalgamated the two ancient meditation and yoga techniques.
But Yoga and Vipassan are not the answer for all pains, particularly for acute pains you need to take proper medical advice. Yoga postures should be selected depending on the nature of pain.
The concepts and methods of harmonizing body, mind, and spirit introduced centuries ago by Patanjali have been adopted by scientists, religious and spiritual leaders, and experts in the field of physical and mental health, as well as by the public at large. The concept of observing the breath and the tingling sensations of the body have been adopted by Gautam Buddha. Kriya yoga and vipassana are the two wings of a spiritual journey. If one is weak you cannot fly comfortably. God realization and stillness of mind both are important.
Buddha said “It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. “ Vipassana is the art of conquering yourself.
Essence of Vipassana
Paramahansa Yoganandanin the writer of the spiritual classic,“Autobiography of a Yogi”, said “Meditation is the science of God‑realization. It is the most practical science in the world. Most people would want to meditate if they understood its value and experienced its beneficial effects. The ultimate object of meditation is to attain conscious awareness of God, and the soul’s eternal oneness with Him. “
In the teachings of the Zen masters we observed “What we call the body and mind in the Buddha Way is grass, trees and wall rubble; it is wind, rain, water and fire.”
Himalayan spiritual master Amit Ray of Uttarkashi in his book, “Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style” said“There are three aspects in yoga, the first one is keeping the body and mind in harmony and healthy. The second one is stilling the mind and the third one is realising the inner sprit. Yoga deals with the first aspect of life. Vipassan is more about the stilling the mind and for the third one you need your own inner grace.”
Ramana Maharshi the master of yoga through self-inquiry mentioned that “self-inquiry is certainly not an empty formula and it is more than the repetition of any mantra. If the inquiry `Who am I?’ were a mere mental Questioning, it would not be of much value. The very purpose of self-inquiry is to focus the entire mind at its source. It is not, therefore, a case of one `I’ searching for another `I’. Much less is self-inquiry an empty formula, for it involves an intense activity of the entire mind to keep it steadily poised in pure Self-awareness.” Self inquiry is the art of knowing yourself.
Sri Aurobindo tried to amalgamate the older religions and said “Eevolution is the method by which it liberates itself; consciousness appears in what seems to be inconscient, and once having appeared is self-impelled to grow higher and higher and at the same time to enlarge and develop towards a greater and greater perfection. Life is the first step of this release of consciousness; mind is the second; but the evolution does not finish with mind, it awaits a release into something greater, a consciousness which is spiritual and supramental. The next step of the evolution must be towards the development of Super-mind and Spirit as the dominant power in the conscious being. For only then will the involved Divinity in things release itself entirely and it become possible for life to manifest perfection.”
Great yogi Ramakrishna Paramhansa taught ceaselessly for fifteen years the basic truths of all religion through parables, metaphors, songs and by his own life. He said “There are pearls in the deep sea, but you must hazard all perils to get them. If you fail to get at them by a single dive, do not conclude that the sea is without them. Dive again and again, and you are sure to be rewarded in the end. So also in the quest for the Lord, if your first attempt to see Him proves fruitless, do not lose heart. Persevere in the attempt, and you are sure to realize Him at last.”
If you prefer the outdoor yoga, dress correspondingly and get out for a walking yoga. Walking through the snow might be a brilliant way of getting the heart rate up in the cold winter months. You can have an even better time if you join with your yoga pet for the walk.
If you do not like the traditional way of yoga, then you may pick up the snow shovel and go for shovel yoga. This is an excellent technique of physical activity. You will have a great time together with your children and family by practicing this shovel yoga.
Remaining active in winter is must. According to the Himalayan yoga master Sri Amit Ray “Activity, spirit and fun is the essence of yoga.” Get as much as you can to allow your body to produce as much seratonin as possible. Expose yourself to plenty of sunlight. Get plenty of sleep. Go to bed early and rise when the sun does.
If you are doing indoor yoga, turn the room temperature up to at least 100 degrees. During exercise the heat allows your body to be more fluid and flexible. You may sweat a lot depending on the humidity levels of your room, but heat is the key. If you are doing Vipassana yoga keep your awareness on the sensation of heat and cold. Just observe the feelings.
Lahiri Mahasaya was Yogananda’s guru’s guru explained the beauty of kriya yoga during winter. Great yoga teacher Sri Ramana Maharshi explained winter as the best time for concentration. Yoga Guru Sri Ramakrishna said “Repeat God’s name and sing His glories, and keep holy company; and now and then visit God’s devotees and holy men. “. Winter is the best time for that.
Arthritis is a degenerative condition causing wear of the articulating surfaces, resulting in pain at rest, pain with movements, restriction of movements and in severe cases, deformity.
The word “arthritis” means “joint inflammation” — the Greek “arthron” means “joint”, and the Latin “itis” means “inflammation. Arthritis is a term that covers many different medical conditions that affect the joints, and is the main cause of disability in older people.
With arthritis, something goes wrong with the joint, depending on the kind of arthritis — it could be that the cartilage is wearing away, a lack of synovial fluid, or it may be an autoimmune disorder, or a combination of factors. Joint injuries may also eventually lead to arthritis.
Osteo Arthritis
Types of Arthritis:
The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The most common type is osteoarthritis, which is wear and tear associated with ageing. It can be accelerated, or aggravated, or even caused by trauma, excess body weight, obesity, mal–alignment of the joints or congenital joint deformities (dysplasia).
The other common type of arthritis is called rheumatoid arthritis. In this disease, the immune system of the body reacts against the joints and musculoskeletal tissues. This causes inflammation of joints, and leads to wear and tear.
The other types of inflammatory arthritis are: aukylosing spondylarthropathy, Lyme disease, gouty arthritis, arthritis associated with connective tissue disease, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.
Walking Yoga to Remove Arthritis
Now people are discovering that immobility is terrible for someone with arthritis. With sedentary people, even more degeneration and pain of the joints arises. To keep joints and muscles healthy and strong, they must be used. When they’re not used, they become weaker and more unbalanced with more likely-hood of injury and more pain and debilitation.
Regular gentle movement and walking helps to maintain mobility and it reduces pain, as well as promoting the health of other systems of the body. With regular walking yoga exercise there’s increased blood circulation which helps to reduce swelling and pain, and it improves the functioning of the immune system.
Walking Yoga to Remove Arthritis
Yoga Postures and Yoga Exercises to Remove Arthritis:
Regular yoga exercises help to keep the body stronger and more supple; increasing range of motion in the joints, while keeping the surrounding muscles strong and supportive. Some common yoga postures are as follows:
Neck Exercises:
Many people hold tension in their necks and shoulders, leading to stiffness, bad posture, and tension headaches. Yoga practice can ease tension, increase flexibility, and tone the muscles. The steps for neck exercises are as follows:
Bend your head forward, chin on chest, then back to original position.
Bend to the right, then back to the original position.
Bend backward, then back to the original position.
Bend to the left, then back to the original position.
Bend forward, chin on chest, move from right to the left, then move from left to right.
Standing Side Stretch Yoga Pose:
The Standing Side Stretch Yoga Pose may give you the look of a tree swayed by wind, though this pose offers more benefits than just a stretch on your branches. This side stretch will increase the flexibility of your spine, arms, and rib cage as it stimulates the liver, kidney, and spleen functions. Furthermore, the Yoga Pose will also help realign your spinal column and will aid the lungs to take in more oxygen. This is a simple Yoga Posture with a wonderful stretch in which one line of energy reaches upward from your belly and outward through the arm, and one line travels downward through the legs
Single leg raises Yoga Pose:
This Yoga Pose is performed in order to prepare the body for other exercises. It benefits the legs, lower back muscles, and abdominal area. In practicing the Single Leg Raise, one leg is raised while the other one stays on the floor.
Shoulder Stretches:
These are great in relieving stress and tension on your shoulders, as well as your entire upper back. Practice them daily for several weeks and notice the changes. Learn some basic stretches for the shoulders in this section.
Wrist bending:
Your wrists can also be affected by arthritis, specifically Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid Arthritis. Take good care of your wrists through stretching and bending. Learn how to improve the range of motion of your wrists by doing the Wrist Bending Exercise.
Ankle bending:
Repeated strain or sprain in the ankles can contribute to the occurrence of Ankle Arthritis. Manage stress and keep your ankles in good condition through therapy, having enough rest, and by doing the Ankle Bending Exercise.
Scientists from Johns Hopkins University found that Yoga is helpful for rheumatoid arthritis. They found that those who participated in eight weeks of yoga classes had significantly fewer tender and swollen joints than they did before starting class.
Physical activity is deeply valuable for bone health. Sure, walking is the greatest of all for the prevention bone density. But it won’t do much for wrist or spinal fractures, so we need free hand Yoga exercises to keep our upper body bones strong. Above all don’t smoke, get lots of exercise, eat lots of beans & green leafy vegetables, and cut out the fat to live a long life on this planet. Eat plant-based food, now, if you wait until your baseline nitric oxide supply gets too low, it may be too late. Use whole grains over refined grains and apples over apple juice. Take broccoli, arugula chard, other greens, beans, calcium-enriched non-dairy milk, tofu, dried fruits, kiwi, and soy yogurt. Amla, Aloe Vera and Green tea’s detoxifying properties helped to stay young with long life.
Chinese symbol of long life:
symbol of long life
You need about 500-700 mg of calcium per day. Don’t drink the milk much but walk for a mile every day. Do yoga exercise for at least 30 minutes per day. The social contact appears to be as important as the calories burned and the joints lubricated. According to my spirituals master Amit Ray “Most heartening is to increase the span of life either you should be like a child or you should be in contact with the children. “
Calcium supplement is not the answer. “We calculate that for every 1,000 people treated with calcium for 5 years, it will lead to four additional myocardial infarctions, four additional strokes, and two additional deaths, while preventing three fractures,” Dr. Ian R. Reid said. Click here for the press release.
Some simple tips for long life are as follows:
Always see the positive side of the life
Always stay with cheerful friends
Be ALIVE while you are living.
Often laugh long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
Jesus said, ”For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Yoga is the art to find out that kingdom.
I recently returned from a week-long Yoga meditation retreat from Rishikesh, India. I liked the yoga classes. It helped me to understand the deep relation between the myself and Jesus.
This yoga classes were particularly delightful for me. Yes, the place was beautiful, it was peaceful, it was quiet, it was nice and away from all telephones and computers, all tasks and ordinary demands, all talking, all purposeful activities.
The people attended the retreat were all excellent. In life we want enjoyment; we want to avoid pain and discomfort. I think Yoga is the right answer for that. Yoga and service to others was the true message of Christ. Jesus said, “You have burned enough in the sun, in the heat. You have roamed all over the place. Just come inside; this room is ready for you.” You are made up of love. Everyone is full of love and love is God. So you are made up of God! God is not an object of senses, but the feeling of feelings, the presence of presence, the sound of silence, the light of life, the essence of the world and the taste of bliss.
Yoga practice the postures, free hand exercises and special breathing techniques, which open energy channels and centers of awareness, activating them to higher levels of consciousness.
Ujjayi Pranayama is a kind of breathing exercise that breathe through your throat instead of through your nose. Ujjayi means imitating the oceanic sound or the sound of the waves. Ujjayi Pranayama techniques are very helpful to fight against the sleeping disorder which is known as insomnia.
Our nervous system consists of two main branches the central and the autonomic. The central nervous system is controlled through the conscious part of the brain whereas the autonomic nervous system is controlled by the sub-conscious part of the brain. Breathing is carried out almost automatically by the sub-conscious part of the brain. Ujjayi Pranayama controls the breath, which has an immediate effect on the sub-conscious
The technique of Ujjayi breathing is easy to learn. Ujjayi is breath with a throat sound accompanying it. To perform Ujjayi breathing, narrow your throat and inhale through your throat to make a hissing sound. Ujjiayi Pranayama, inhalation and exhalation should be practised by both the nostrils. This is similar to the sound made when you exhale noisily. Ujjayi pranayama can be done lying down:
Inhale deeply and long using Ujjayi breath as described above.
Exhale deeply and long using Ujjayi breath
Repeat 5 to 10 times as per your capacity
When Ujjayi is done correctly you should be able to hear the sound.
Water kriya is a very ancient yoga practice. For doing water kriya yoga you don’t need to go to an ocean or river. You can do water kriya yoga at your home. You can purchase a SPA (HOT TUB) at your home.
The first thing of water kriya yoga is, you need to drink sufficient water. Depending upon your physical condition the water intake varies. Usually, consumption of two to three litres of water per day is good enough. Drinking sufficient amount of water eliminates toxins from brain. Depression, anxiety, giddiness, meningitis, migraine, fatigue, headache and fever are also well guarded by water.
Water Kriya Yoga
Water Kriya:
Water kriya is a very ancient yoga practice. It includes water yoga exercises, Neti Kriya, Dhouti Kriya. You may do water yoga exercises at swimming pool. These exercises are very gentle and good for health. Swimming pools offer more space than hot tubs, allowing for more vigorous exercises. In present day, Neti Kriya and Dhouti Kriya are not so important. Alternate nasal water intake is important. But you must learn it from a master. There are many variations in water Kriya Yoga.
Daily yoga exercises such as; Kapalbhati kriya and head Massages is having remarkable effect to stop hair loss. In fact Kapalbhati helps to grow hair. You don’t need hair transplantations if you practice regular Kriya exercises. Take proper sleep and yoga food and drink enough water to stop hair loss.
Your hair is made of typical type of protein known as keratin. A single hair consists of a hair shaft (the part that shows), a root below the skin, and a follicle, from which the hair root grows. At the lower end of the follicle is the hair bulb, where the hair’s color pigment, or melanin, is produced. A single follicle on the human scalp produces approximately 0.35 millimeters of hair shaft per day.
There are numerous causes for hair loss. The major causes are; aging, stress, drugs, skin disorders, testosterone, menopause, iron deficiency and genetics. It is normal to lose 50-100 hairs a day, so it is not necessarily a worrying sign to see hairs fall out. The main male hormone testosterone is a major cause of hair loss in men, it is a direct result of the hair follicles responding to male hormones. Alopecia areata is a skin that disease causes hair loss on the scalp and sometimes elsewhere on the body.
Many drugs can also cause hair loss, though there many be a delay between taking the medication and the actual hair loss, so any medication is being taken it is important to consult a doctor to identify if this could be a side effect of the drug being taken.
After the menopause thinning of the hair is more pronounced, by the age of 55 more than 50% of women have thinning hair.
There are currently three basic types of hair restoration surgeries to be aware of so you will need to determine which one will provide you with the most benefit. Consult with a hair restoration surgeon prior to selecting one so that they can recommend which one of the following surgeries will work best for you.
Yoga Practices to stop hair loss:
Yoga postures can help you overcome stress, anxiety, and indigestion, poor blood circulation in head, which are considered as main causes of hair loss. Headstand yoga pose can be very helpful as it contributes blood circulation in head as well as relieves tension. Massage improves circulation, which in turn improves the health of your hair and scalp. A few drops of vitamin E oil massaged into the scalp is recommended to strengthen fragile hair and help prevent dry, flaky skin. Give yourself a daily massage for 10 to 15 minutes to stimulate circulation, which is vital for healthy hair growth.
yoga pose to stop hair loss
Yoga postures can help to relieve tension in your neck and indirectly aid in keeping hair healthy. Inverted postures like Downward- Facing Dog, Standing Forward Bend, Camel pose, Cobra pose and Cow Pose are believed to help keep hair healthy.
Kapalbhati Kriya to stop baldness and grow hair:
Kapalbhati kriya has a remarkable effect to stop hair loss. It is a de-stressing tool and clearing the mind of negative emotions.
Sit in a comfortable position with spine erect. You can sit on a chair or in any position that you feel comfortable. Breathe normally for about a minute. Once composed, you can begin. In Kapalbhati, first, exercise the diaphragm by forcefully exhaling suddenly and quickly through both nostrils, producing a “Huooss” sound. Don’t focus on inhalation. Inhalation will be automatic and passive.
The air is exhaled completely from the lungs with a sudden, vigorous stroke while simultaneously drawing inwards the abdominal muscles. The breath should be expelled fully. Inhaling is automatic – the abdominal muscles will relax automatically. Initially, this exercise should be done in three rounds, each consisting of 9 strokes.
Hair Vitamins:
If iron in the body is low then this may cause hair loss also, this is generally more a problem with women. A high-quality liquid multivitamin supplies the body with the proper amino acids, vitamins and minerals that you may not be receiving in your diet to help create beautiful hair. It is also important to include B-6, biotin, inositol and folic acid in the supplemental program. Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, Vitamin E are important for hair growth. Consult your physician before taking any vitamin supplement.
Yoga Foods:
Take Yoga foods to stop hair loss. Take the fruits and vegetables that are packed with beneficial fibers, vitamins and antioxidants.
Breathing relaxes the mind, and serves as a perfect warm-up for practicing yoga poses. It provides sufficient oxygen for the correct and efficient functioning of every body cell. A mastery of yoga breathing techniques is the best – and most effective tool for stress reduction. Relax yoga breathing soothes the nervous system; calms, steadies, and clears the mind; improves concentration, focuses attention, and increases the ability to deal with complex situations without suffering from stress.
LET THE WHOLE BODY BREATHE. When we are at ease, the whole body participates in the breathing process. Imagine a sleeping baby: When he breathes in and out, the belly swells and releases, the hips rock to and fro, the shoulders bob, and the spine gently undulates. This offers a mini-massage for the muscles and organs of the whole body, and turns each breath into a soothing melody that further calms and quiets every cell within.
MOVE THE BELLY WITH THE BREATH. When we are at ease, the diaphragm is the primary engine of the breath. As we inhale, this domelike muscle descends toward the abdomen, displacing the abdominal muscles and gently swelling the belly. As we exhale, the diaphragm releases back toward the heart, enabling the belly to release toward the spine.
Relax Breathing
LENGTHEN THE EXHALATIONS. When we feel stressed, our exhalations tend to grow short and choppy. When we’re relaxed, though, the exhalations extend so completely that they are often longer than the inhalations. Some teachers even instruct that if we’re deeply relaxed, each exhalation will be twice as long as the inhalation. To facilitate this, try gently extending each exhalation by one or two seconds.
PAUSE AFTER EACH EXHALATION. In our most relaxed state, the end of each exhalation is punctuated by a short pause. Lingering in this sweet spot can be deeply satisfying and can evoke feelings of profound quiet and stillness.
KEEP THE UPPER BODY QUIET. During high-stress times, it’s common to heave the upper chest and grip the muscles in the shoulders and throat. When we’re at rest, the muscles of the upper chest remain soft and relaxed as we breathe, and the real work occurs in the lower rib cage. To promote this type of breathing pattern, consciously relax the jaw, throat, neck, and shoulders, and envision the breath sweeping into the deepest parts of the lungs as you breathe in and out.
BREATHE EASY. Although some breaths may be deeper or faster than others, when we’re relaxed, the alternating rhythm of the inhalations and exhalations feels like a lullaby—smooth, soft, and uninterrupted by jerks and jags. Consciously relaxing into this wavelike, oceanic quality of the breath deepens our sense of peace and ease.
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