Health Benefits of Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
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Issue-2 Free Weekly E-magazine on Health & Spirituality 1 Health Benefits of Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) I n S a n s k r i t , “ b h u j a n g a ” means serpent or s n a k e a n d “asana” means pose; hence the English, cobra p o s e . T h i s i n v i g o r a t i n g Gayatri Yogacharya backbend was n a m e d s u c h b e c a u s e Bhujangasana reflects the posture them if this feels uncomfortable. stretch evenly along your spine. of a cobra that has its hood raised. Rather, extend through and deepen Breathe calmly and hold here for 5 to Getting into Cobra Pose: your stretch to create a graceful, 10 breaths. As you exhale, gently Start by lying flat on your stomach on even arc in your back. Use the release your body back to the floor. a comfortable level surface. Make stretch in your legs and back, Benefits of Cobra Pose: sure your feet are together with the instead of exerting yourself to gain Stretches muscles in the palms, tops of them against the floor. height and risk overarching the wrist, shoulders, chest and Spread your hands on the floor spine. Press your tailbone toward abdominals. under your shoulders and hug your your pubis and lift your pubis toward Decreases stiffness of the lower elbows against your rib cage. Close your navel, narrowing your hips. back. Strengthens the arms and your eyes and inhale slowly, deeply. Keep your shoulders broad, but shoulders. Increases flexibility. Feel the stability in your pelvis, relaxed, with the blades low on your Improves menstrual irregularities. thighs and tops of your feet. Imagine back. Elevates mood. Firms and tones the them rooted to the ground Lift from the top of your sternum, but buttocks. Invigorates the heart. throughout Bhujangasana. avoid pushing the front of your ribs Stimulates organs in the abdomen, As you inhale, steadily straighten forward. Rather, puff your side ribs like the kidneys. Relieves stress and your arms and lift your chest from forward and keep your lower back fatigue. Opens the chest and helps the floor. Be mindful as you extend relaxed. Your face must be parallel to clear the passages of the heart your arms. Do not fully straighten to the ceiling with eyes stretched and lungs. Improves circulation of and looking up. Try to distribute the blood and oxygen, especially throughout the spinal and pelvic regions. Improves digestion. Strengthens the spine. Soothes sciatica. Helps to ease symptoms of asthma because of chest expansion in this pose. Strengthens your spine: Since the snake pose in yoga is helpful in offering a good stretch to your back, it is very helpful in strengthening your spine. It is designed in such a way that your lower and upper back is stretched. It relieves cervical pain also. But if you suffer f r o m chronic back Contd. on page 4 Issue-2 2 Inquiry into the Self for Complete Eradication of Miseries A great Indian from likes and sage known as u n i o n w i t h M a h a r i s h i dislikes is the K a p i l a h a d , cause of all right from the m e n t a l b i r t h , t h e d i s o r d e r s qualities like - which inturn Vimal Wadhawan medicine and all sorts of Yogacharya V i r t u e s , cause an imbalance in the K n o w l e d g e , three faults and thereby comforts." Renunciation and Power. Born cause physical disorders The argument offerred by endowed with these qualities also. All psychological and Maharishi Kapila alongwith the and seeing the world sinking in psychosomatic diseases are complete spiritual solution to profound darkness and miseries, called mental miseries. completely eradicate the he became filled with love and 2. External (Adhiboutika) miseries is - “Manifest means compassion and taught the miseries : These are caused are not permanent. They are knowledge of twenty-five neither certain nor final. principles - knowledge, There is every possibility about the constitution of of recurrance of miseries our body, from which again and again after you proceeds the eradication treat, cure and eradicate of miseries. once. These means can Human beings - packed in not finally eradicate whatsoever bondages of miseries with certainty. If caste, colour, creed and one has a desire to various attachments, completely eradicate the have miseries manyfold. misesries of life, he needs by other living beings like to undertake complete efforts of Thus, living in miseries is a humans, animals or trees common feature of all living inquiry into the self. This is the etc. unmanifest means of eradication beings. It is not possible to count 3. Divine (Daivik) miseries : down all such miseries. of miseries.” These are caused by the act Maharishi Kapila's suggestion of Maharishi Kapila categorised the of God beyond the control of miseries in three :- h u m a n - 1. I n t e r n a l ( A d h y a t m i k a ) beings, like - miseries : It is again twofold - m i s e r i e s (i) physical, and (ii) mental. arising due to Physical miseries like fever, h e a t , c o l d , dysentery and other bodily rain, storm, diseases/disorders that arise e a r t h q u a k e inquiry into the self is 'Sankhya due to the imbalance of either etc. of the three faults (doshas) - Darshan' i.e. the doctrine based Maharishi Kapila suggested to on number of elements used in wind (vatta), bile (pitta), and make an inquiry into the self to phlegm (kapha). t h e c r e a t i o n o f m a n . I t eradicate these miseries. discriminates between manifest Mental miseries arise due to On this suggestion one can likes and dislikes. Separation and unmanifest elements also pose, "The inquiry into and thereby takes a person to the the self is superflous Supreme Unmanifest Power since there are number of within and without manifest body. manifest or evident means to cure, treat and e r a d i c a t e t h e s e Our Yoga Courses introduce the miseries. We have 'Sankhya doctrine' - the method money to purchase of inquiry into the self. Issue-2 3 Methods of Hydrotherapy In the last i s s u e , w e published an article "Healing Properties of W a t e r " . T h e present article l i s t s s o m e M e t h o d e s Hydrotherapy. Reduction in the quantity of fresh water on open eyes under the supervision of an Water element in the body or improve the eye-sight. Even expert. consumption of polluted water can during the day, eyes should be 8 Hip bath is also an easy water cause many types of diseases such washed 3-4 times. In summer, therapy that is very useful in a s d i a r r h o e a , d y s e n t e r y, keep a pack of cold wet cloth on managing the diseases of constipation, obesity, diabetes, eyes in order to prevent the urinary system, reproductive heart problems, high or low blood effect of heat stroke on eyes. system, menstrual disorders pressure, skin diseases, etc. 5. One must drink 4-5 litres of and constipation, etc. The important methods to water in the summer season. 9. Serious constipation can be maintain a balance of water element Otherwise, the deficiency of relieved by taking water in our body are as follows:- water in the body can cause enema. These should also be 1. Dry or wet friction of the body serious problems. Cold-drinks p e r f o r m e d u n d e r t h e i.e. rubbing the whole body with cannot be a substitute of water. supervision of an expert. dry or wet palms, before taking The presence of chemicals in Enema takes care of the bath with fresh water every day these drinks does more harm problems of large intestine. benefits the body a lot. Even 10. Swimming is also an after the bath, the body important method of water should be rubbed and dried therapy. It is beneficial for properly with a dry towel. muscles, blood-circulation Warm water should be used and digestion. only in case of excessive 11. In case of exhaustion weakness or diseased or fever, hot foot bath for 5 conditions. Even in that minutes helps a lot. In hot case, one should pour fresh foot bath, legs are dipped in than good to the body. Even in water after taking bath with tolerable hot water. Before winter, at least 2-3 litres of warm water. Every one should doing so, drink 1-2 glasses of water must be consumed. clean private parts with water fresh water and cover the head Water regulates the body thoroughly while bathing. with wet towel. temperature. The proper 2. Of course, taking bath in Ganga 12. Steam bath is a substitute for method of drinking water is - does not absolve one of one’s Sun bath. The person is made every sip of water must be kept sins but the water of Ganga to sit in a wooden box with head in the mouth for a few seconds river is full of such minerals as outside the box.