Month: November 2024

Asanas for exercise

Other Asanas for exercise may be either done in the evening or after quarter an hour of the Shirshasana. A set of Asanas can be selected for practice from any good book on Asanas; or the following Asanas may be mastered and practised regularly. They give exercise to almost every muscle of the body, help the circulation of blood, remove constipation, help in the improvement of eye-sight, and are useful for Brahmacharya:-

(1) Paschimottana Asana
Sit with legs stretched out and catch the toes with your fingers without raising the knees from the ground. Then try to touch the knees with the forehead.

(2) Padmasana
Sit with legs stretched forward. Then lift the right foot and place its heel at the root of the left thigh. And similarly the left heel at root of the right. Now, keep the arms straight and palm of the hands going over the respective knee.
Place the chin firmly on the breast and look at the tip of the nose. Remain in this position for two to three minutes. Concentration of the tip of the nose will improve eye-sight.

(3) Sinhasana
Cross the legs as done in the ‘Padmasana’ above. Place the palms upon the knees extending the fingers and direct the eyes. to the tip of the nose, with opened mouth and a concentrated mind.

(4) Dhanurasana
Lie with the face downwards on the floor. Catch the legs near the ankles and pull the legs so much that the chest and the knees both rise up from the ground and the body takes the shape of a bow. Keep yourself an this posture for about a minute.

(5) Halasana
Lie flat with the face upwards. Stretch the legs and raising them slowly carry them backwards till the feet touch the ground. Stretch the legs and the waist to the utmost capacity. Then come back slowly and lie with your body loose and breathing deeply.

(6) Sarp-Asana
Place your hands on the floor only as apart as the breadth of the chest. Lie fiat on the belly. Keep the whole body perfectly extended. Raise the chest only up to the naval. Throw back the neck. Keep yourself in this posture for about two minutes.

Om Shanti

How to Cure – Eyes

Catarrh dims eye-sight when its infection spreads to the duct connecting the nose with the eyes, and the sinuses surrounding the eye-sockets. The weakness of sight persists even though when the Catarrh trouble has apparently been healed.

For an improvement of sight Sutra-neti accompanied by Vyutkrama, Shitakrama and Siddha netis done with water, mik or mixture of milk and almond oil according to the nature of the patient proves very useful. These practices drain off Catarrh from the duct and the sinuses, tone up optical muscles and nerves, and help in the proper circulation of blood.

Overstraining the eyes by reading thin type, working in dimlight, or doing office work constantly for many hours is harmful. If possible perfect rest should be given to the eyes during the course of treatment. Nourishing diet and light exercise consisting of some Asanas (below) and morning walk on grassy land is conducive to hasty recovery. ‘Shirshasana‘ should be regularly practised after the Neti. Its process is given as under:-

Shirshasna

Rest the crown of the head on the folded hands placed over a smooth cushion. Keeping the balance on the forearms raise the legs in the air till the body becomes vertically erect. In the beginning a helper shall be needed to raise the legs and support the body. Its practice should be increased from 15 seconds to 15 minutes in slow progression.

The Trataka Kriya is also very helpful in the improvement of eyesight. It is described below:-

Trataka Kriya
Look without winking the eyelids at a minute object with your mind concentrated till the tears come into the eyes. Its duration will itself increase with daily practice and with it shall gradually improve the vision.*

All these practices may be conveniently done in the following order:-
1. Sutra-neti.
2. Vyut-krama, Shita-krama and Siddha netis.
3. Trataka.
4. Shirsh-asana.

*C.f. Hathayoga Pradipika
निरीक्षेन्निश्चलदृशा सूक्ष्म लक्ष्यं समाहित:।
अश्रुसंपातपर्यंतमाचार्यै स्त्राटकं स्मृतम्॥ 2 31
मोचनं नेत्ररोगाणां तंद्रादीनांकपाटकम्‌।
यत्नतस्त्राटकं गोप्यं यथा हाटकपेटकम्‌॥ 2 32

Tr.:- Look without winking the eye-lids at a minute object with your mind concentrated till the tears come into the eyes. This is called Trataka by the Acharyas.

By ‘Trataka’ all the diseases of the eyes and sloth are removed. So it should be carefully preserved secretly as a golden casket.

How to Cure – Laryngitis

An inflammation of the larynx of which there are numerous forms. The ordinary cases are produced:

  • by continuous talking – lecturers and teachers are the chief sufferers
  • by excessive smoking, especially cheap tobacco containing much dust
  • by living in a dust laden atmosphere – people in certain factories fall victims in this way; and
  • by exposure to wet and cold.

The symptoms of laryngitis are huskiness or loss of voice, a cough, expectorations often tinged with blood, pain in the throat, feverishness and a general feeling of being unwell.

The inflammation of the larynx can be cured by Vamana Dhauti and Vyut krama neti with milk, sipping through the nose about a quarter litre of milk mixed with twenty drops of almond-oil.

How to Cure – Hay Fever

This disease is characterised by red streaming eyes, profusely flowing nose and shattering sneezes. Mostly the people with sensitive nasal lining catch it by inhaling pollen of grass, dust etc.

This disease must persist so long as the nasal lining is not made strong enough to be proof against the irritation caused by pollen of grass and dust etc.

The patient should begin with ‘Kapala-bhati Pranayma‘. He should practise it for one week. It will give good exercise to his nasal muscles and air passages. Then after one week Jala-neti only with luke warm water should be done for three days. The Jala-neti should also be followed by Kapala-bhati Prarayama which will blow off the remaining water particles from his nose. After the third day he should begin sutra-neti. A daily practice of it for a few weeks will make him immune to attack of hay fever.

How to Cure – Adenoids & Tonsils

The inflammation of tonsils and adenoids by repeated colds though seem a minor disease to some people yet when they have become infected furnish a particularly advantageous location for the multiplication of bacteria and sap the health of the patient.

Adenoids can be very easily cured by means of ‘Sutraneti‘ followed by ‘Jala-neti‘ with luke warm saltish water.

A regular practice of ‘Vastra-Dhauti‘ and ‘Sutraneti‘ for a fortnight is enough to subside the inflamed tonsils. Both these practice should be done weekly for a few months afterwards to ensure total eradication of the trouble.