Yoga in All its Glory

(The story of the spine)

I am a yoga enthusiast and due to this passion, I wake up early morning every day. If I am late, I lose the day and have to forget about yoga. Every year, I do take a yoga break for about two weeks when I go on holiday.

This year was unusual and my holiday was canceled due to the pandemic COVID -19 situation in the world, so it just happened that I continued with yoga and no breaks took place.

During this year, since there is no hurry to go to work, every morning, I go to my verandah and speak to my plants, listen to the twitter of the birds on the trees and watch the squirrels up and down and the crow goes on making a sound of ken-ken, once that is done, it is time to begin my yoga.

Yoga and Spine

For me, yoga is in three slots, standing, lying down, and then sitting down so that my body is flexible in different positions. Yoga is the story of the spine that is specifically focussed on this story. ( I had earlier written On June 19th in my post ‘ Yoga Love’ on Medium as to how I got interested in yoga. This was due to the inspiration of a good patient yoga teacher.) This post is specifically on just two positions that are spine oriented. The ‘Pavan Mukta’ asana and the ‘Sarvang Asana’, whose benefits I will let you know. Remember, the spine will energize you and make your life better and happier.

The upliftment of the body through a straight position. It just makes you feel straight at any age. It also gives the spine the energy to start your day afresh to move around and a feeling of positivity and happiness.

Starting the Yoga Session

Yoga session is better done with closed eyes starting with a sitting position and remembering the divine and giving him gratitude and credit for your life with folded hands breathing in and out and calming yourself before you begin your slow rhythmic warm-up dance-like exercises and then going on to smooth dancing movements.

I begin and end in the same position with the chanting of ‘Om’ The chant can be omitted but it has a vibration that lifts your spirit in the beginning and you are enthused with positivity and at the end of the session it gives you peace and your heart is filled with happiness and is calm.

Spine exercises

There are several exercises for the spine in the standing position which I will relate in another post, the most powerful and complete exercise in yoga being the Surya Namaskar, in this post, I will not be able to discuss that.

I am taking you straight to two exercises only. Pawan Mukta asana which is simple and basic and the Sarvanga Asana. Both of them have many benefits:

A tip to remember

The basic technique of yoga is not to do things you cannot do. All the exercises are to be done synchronized with breathing and in a slow smooth unhurried manner. The slower you do it the greater benefit will accrue to you.

(a)Pawan Mukta Asana: This asana is easy to do and to do this I will first explain the technique to you.

Technique

Step 1:Lie down flat on your back. Take a long deep breath in. Now pick up your right leg and your head breathing out. Hold for as long as you can.

Do not push yourself too much.

Step 2: Now go back and lie down flat breathing in, and relax.

Step 3: Next, pick up your left leg and head and again breath out and hold. Go back, Lie down flat, and relax.

Step 4: Pick up both legs and press against your body trying to bring your head as close as you can, cuddling yourself, put your head flat, following the breathing in, and out style, and relax.

Benefits

#1. It makes your spine flexible and supple.

#2. You can turn and twist at any age without any aches and pains.

#3. It has immense health benefits for all ages. It helps your digestive system and clears your bowel. There is no rumbling in the stomach and no acidity or flatulence.

(b) Sarvanga Asana: The Sarvanga asana is a practice that is slowly achieved and it takes time for beginners to learn the technique. You just have to give it time. Once you learn the technique, you can slowly master the art and keep your head down and bring your entire body up and even cycle up there.

Technique

Step 1: Lie down flat on your back, Look at the picture above and just take your legs up to your neck position.

Step 2: Breath in and out to a count of 5 and slowly increase it to ten.

Step3: This step is to be done when you are sufficiently practised and can balance above your neck, then you can make wheels clockwise and anticlockwise. There is no hurry, Take your time.

Benefits

#1: The spine becomes supple and the back does not get tired.

#2: You are infused with energy all day and do not feel tired.

#3: It is a very good exercise for the thyroid.

#4: It is good for the digestive system

#5: It keeps the stomach flabbiness under control.

Sarvanga Asana should not done be done by pregnant women and by people who suffer from high blood pressure or heart ailments. It should not be started vigorously.Slow practice will make you perfect.

Key Learnings

The key learnings from my yoga post are that yoga is for peace and happiness and should make you feel calm. Nothing should be pushed and there should be no stress. Practice makes you perfect.

All the exercises should be rhythmic and should not be like physical training exercises, rather it should be like a dance slowly swaying and graceful.

Yoga does not require too many repetitions but it needs slow soft movements.

yoga is not to give stress but to take away stress. The more you think of your spine, then your life will be relaxed, stress-free, and full of energy.

Yoga is not about losing weight but being supple and graceful and elegant and for happiness and contentment around you.

Enjoy the glory of yoga, stand straight, and be happy.