At the end of a two hour workshop on ‘Yoga — A way to successful life,’ at the Sudharshan College of Arts and Science at Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu, I demonstrated a very short breathing technique to students to improve their awareness and concentration to help them prepare for their exams.
At the end of the event, a participant came to me and said, “Only when you told us to relax, I realised how much I didn’t know what it means to keep the body in a relaxed manner!”
There are unconscious and subconscious knots of tension and stress hidden and going on with its job in different parts of the body — the knees, the elbows, the shoulders, the thighs, the calf muscles, the teeth and the eyes. Stress is like a demon that hides itself in our body. The moment we lend our conscious awareness, the stress and tension easily ebbs away.
The prime aim of all yoga asanas and pranayama techniques is to bring this state of relaxation to the whole body and consequentially to the mind too. In this relaxed state, the cosmic energy flows freely through the channels of energy, unhindered. In such state, there is a balanced state of mind that guides you through your actions and words. Even the simple body movements have to be done in the most relaxed manner — as if there is nothing to do, nowhere to go and no train or flight to catch, but just turn your head or shrug your shoulders.
Contemplation for the week: The third yama or personal principles in relation with society is Asteya. It simply means not taking that which doesn’t belong to you. Thefts and burglary doesn’t alone qualify for Asteya. It is a state of mind that is so much in tune with the presence of the consciousness within. This leads us to an understanding that we are always abundant and prosperous and can always get whatever we want, whenever we need it. There is no need to hoard or steal.
Warming up for Yoga: This week we focus our awareness on the neck. Those who have specific problems with the neck such as cervical spondilitis should be extra careful not to make any jerky or swift movements. Even generally for even those with no problems, the neck movements should be smooth with awareness on how the neck is moving from one point to another. It should also be done in co-ordination and consonance with the inhalation and exhalation.
Inhale and gently move your chin to the right and hold for five seconds. Continue breathing and keep the focus on your breath and the neck movement. Exhale and take the head to the left and stay there for five seconds. Repeat this three times on each side.
Inhale and toss your head behind you and remain there up to 20 seconds, breathing normally.
Inhale and then exhale and gently move the head forward to stay there for five seconds. — Repeat this three times.
Inhale and exhale. Inhale again and bring head gently down with chin close to the chest and move it right, parallel to the right shoulder.
Exhale and toss the head behind and move it left. Do this three times in the clock wise and again in the anti-clockwise direction.
After each movement of the head, bring it to a stable position and back to the centre in alignment with the whole body. These exercises loosen up the neck muscles that are stiff and help you get a wide range of movement for the head, without moving the body much. These exercise don’t qualify for asanas, but they do nevertheless prepare the individual body part to participate better in doing the other postures later.
— swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com