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How yoga improve your brain?

Do you want to improve your brain functions and abilities?

Read this.

Improve your life with your brain

Nowadays, yoga acts as an alternative therapy or medicine for improving brain function. Several scientists have applied yogic practices to reduce brain disorders, nerve diseases and cognitive impairment

The yogic intervention increases the potency of the alpha, beta and delta bands in the frontal, central, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes, while it increases the potency of theta band only in the occipital lobe and the potency of the gamma band in the frontal lobes and slightly in the temporal lobes.

Ok, that’s all well and good, but what does it mean concretely?

Structure of your brain

Human nervous system

The frontal lobe

Basically, the frontal lobe functions with reasoning, planning, problem solving and cognition.

The parietal lobe 

It is associated with visual perception, recognition, information processing and spatial reasoning.

The temporal lobe and occipital lobe

It is related to memory and the processing of verbal and auditory signals. And the occipital lobe with the processing and recognition of visual space

After yoga practices, scientists found a 19.31% increase in delta, a 5.04% increase in theta, a 15.40% increase in alpha, and an 18.68% increase in gamma wave coherence, while beta wave decreases by 1.67%

Asana, pranayama and meditation practices activate alpha, beta and theta waves which influence perception, memory and mood. Delta wave coherence is associated with higher states of consciousness, and increased alpha wave coherence influences wakefulness and alertness

What are these brain waves frequencies?

Delta (0.1 to 3.5 Hz)

The lowest frequencies are delta. These are less than 4 Hz and occur in deep sleep and in some abnormal processes. It is the dominant rhythm in infants up to one year of age and it is present in stages 3 and 4 of sleep.

It tends to be the highest in amplitude and the slowest waves.

We increase Delta waves in order to decrease our awareness of the physical world. We also access information in our unconscious mind through Delta. Most individuals diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, naturally increase rather than decrease Delta activity when trying to focus.

The inappropriate Delta response often severely restricts the ability to focus and maintain attention. It is as if the brain is locked into a perpetual drowsy state.

Theta (4-8 Hz)

The next brainwave is theta. Theta activity has a frequency of 3.5 to 7.5 Hz and is classed as “slow” activity. It is seen in connection with creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing and is a repository for memories, emotions, sensations. Theta waves are strong during internal focus, meditation, prayer, and spiritual awareness. It reflects the state between wakefulness and sleep and relates to the subconscious mind.

Theta is believed to reflect activity from the limbic system and hippocampal regions.

Theta is observed in anxiety, behavioral activation and behavioral inhibition. When the theta rhythm appears to function normally it mediates and/or promotes adaptive, complex behaviors such as learning and memory. Under unusual emotional circumstances, such as stress or disease states, there may be an imbalance of three major transmitter systems, which results in aberrant behavior.

Alpha (8-12 Hz)

Alpha waves are those between 8 and 12(Hz). Good healthy alpha production promotes mental resourcefulness, aids in the ability to mentally coordinate, enhances overall sense of relaxation and fatigue. In this state you can move quickly and efficiently to accomplish whatever task is at hand.

When Alpha predominates most people feel at ease and calm.

Alpha appears to bridge the conscious to the subconscious. It is the major rhythm seen in normal relaxed adults and present during most of life especially beyond the thirteenth year when it dominates the resting tracing. Alpha rhythms are reported to be derived from the white matter of the brain.

The white matter can be considered the part of the brain that connects all parts with each other. Alpha is a common state for the brain and occurs whenever a person is alert (it is a marker for alertness and sleep), but not actively processing information.

Alpha has been linked to extroversion (introverts show less), creativity (creative subjects show alpha when listening and coming to a solution for creative problems), and mental work.

When your alpha is within normal ranges, we tend to also experience good moods, see the world truthfully, and have a sense of calmness.

Alpha is one of the brain’s most important frequency to learn and use information taught in the classroom and on the job.

Alpha-Theta training can create an increase in sensation, abstract thinking and self-control. Alpha allows us to shift easily from one task to another.

Effects of Training: can produce relaxation, inner-awareness of self, mind/body integration, balance, centering, healing, mind/body connection

Electroencephalogram

Beta (above 12 Hz)

Beta activity is ‘fast’ activity. It has a frequency of 14 and greater Hz. Beta activity reflects desynchronized active brain tissue. This wave usually seen on both sides in symmetrical distribution and is most evident frontally.

It is generally regarded as a normal rhythm and is the dominant rhythm in those who are alert or anxious or who have their eyes open.
It is the state that most of brain is in when we have our eyes open and are listening and thinking during analytical problem solving, judgment, decision making, processing information about the world around us.


Also, Beta would represent overdrive or hyperdrive in our car scenario.
The beta band has a relatively large range, and has been divided into low, midrange and high.


Effects of Training: produce relaxed focus, improved attentive abilities, mental ability, focus, alertness.

Gamma (above 30 Hz)

The subjective feeling states is thinking and the integratation of thoughts with high-level information processing, and associated with information-rich task processing.

Gamma is measured between 30 and 44 (Hz) and is the only frequency group found in every part of the brain. When the brain needs to simultaneously process information from different areas. A good memory is associated with well-regulated and efficient 40Hz activity, whereas a 40Hz deficiency creates learning disabilities.

So how yoga and its practices improve your brain anf life?

Yoga improve brain and body functions : how and which technics?

Yoga is also an important method to stimulate theta activity associated with anxiety and memory.

Kriya based yoga practice showed a 40% increase in alpha and theta waves primarily in the parietal region.

The practice of Asana meditation increases alpha and theta brainwave activities which reduce anxiety.

Meditation also increases frontal alpha coherence, which reflects improved frontal lobe integration that improves cognitive flexibility, intelligence, and emotional stability.

Regularly practiced yoga thus increases overall brain wave activity, which decreases anxiety and increases the ability to concentrate

Likewise, yogic practices greatly increase alpha activity which improves relaxation, better perception and calmness and relaxation of the mind.. Asana and pranayama considerably increase the activity of alpha waves during yoga sessions. 

The beta wave increases cognitive skills after a yoga session and reduced emotional exhaustion, state of anxiety and fatigue and linked to increased sensory awareness.

Yoga increases gray matter volumes in the temporal and frontal lobes and the increase in the amygdala function, which produces positive effects on mental health and improves overall cognitive functions, an improvement in tasks associated with selective attention, concentration, visual processing ability and improved sensory motor activity. It proportionally contributes to memory. 

Which acts as an alternative therapy to reduce neurological disorders, and an increase in positive mood and perception.

It improves autonomic flexibility by modulating the parasympathetic system. Parasympathetic responses include an increase of digestive enzymes, decreased heart rate, constriction of bronchial tubes in lungs, and more relaxed muscles…

The practices of agnisara, nauli and bhastrika, alters the pattern of the electroencephalogram around the somatosensory and parietal areas of the cortex cerebral.

Meditation Alters Brainwave Activity

Meditation allows us to access to inner capacities

The frequency of brainwave activity is altered depending on the state of consciousness and state of mind during meditation. 

Yoga nidra

The practice of yoga nidra is the intermediate stage of wakefulness and sleep, and this stage of the brain produces alpha waves. 

During the yoga nidra session, beta activity is slowly replaced by alpha activity.

This has a positive effect on cognitive and affective processes. Researchers observed increases in slow alpha in intermediate meditators, while advanced yoga meditators showed the emergence of rhythmic theta waves.

Yoga nidra produces alpha dominance in the brain and is characterized by mental relaxation, improved frontal integration, cognitive flexibility, intelligence, and emotional stability.

Meditation

The practice of yoga meditation increases alpha activity.

Scientists have examined that the practice of yoga meditation increases the alpha and beta values ​​of approximately 90% of practitioners, reflecting a state of extreme relaxation that increases alertness to the outside world.

The practice of Nadabrahma meditation greatly increases the alpha wave, which reduces stress and anxiety associated with centering and healing with a mind-body connection. While the beta wave physiologically correlates alertness and activity and aids in general activation of mind and body functions.

Kriyas

Sudarshan kriya also increases the alpha band. The practice of meditation increases alpha and theta waves, relieves stress while increasing memory and concentration, external sensory and motor processing performance, arousal, cognitive flexibility, and mind-body coordination

Scientists have also examined that 10 years of advanced vipassana meditation practice significantly increases gamma power in the parieto-occipital electrodes. Basically, the practice of meditation activates the cingulate gyrus, the thalamus, and the orbital and inferior frontal cortices.

The practice of voluntary meditation increases cognitive performance, while the practice of vipassana meditation increases the concentration of gray matter in the brain.

The practice of Rajyoga meditation reduces neural network activity related to attention, orientation, memory and emotions.

Researchers have reported that meditation improves various cognitive functions, including attention, memory, fluency, executive function, processing speed, and creativity, which positively affects brain function.

Long-term meditation significantly improves information processing speed, while practicing OM meditation also improves mental alertness.

Pranayama alters brain wave coherence

Practicing Pranayama has many benefits on health

Pranayama techniques increase both alpha and beta activity at the very beginning of practice, which increases awareness and relaxation at the same time. In everyday life, beta activity decreases and alpha activity increases when the person is conscious and awake from daily activities, and this pattern reverses when the person relaxes and falls asleep.

Pranayama practice increases theta power which is associated with decreased activity in the brain’s arousal system and the process of falling asleep. Such a practice improves the state of relaxation with a reduced level of anxiety

During such practice, the brain has been found to remain deeply focused with a higher level of mental awareness

Yoga alternate nostril breathing also increases spatial memory scores.

Two months of Sheetali and Sheetkari pranayama are beneficial for body and mind. This indicates that the brain is calm and quiet in a relaxed state with less anxiety. Pranayama practice produces an alpha dominance in the electrical pattern of the brain, which is primarily associated with mental relaxation.

The practice of Nadi sodhan pranayama also increases the power of the alpha and beta band with an increase in the activity of the alpha powers, improving relaxation and cognition, thus leading to a healthy and stress-free life. It increases alertness, wakefulness and excitement, concentration, visual acuity and normal waking state of mind.

Scientists have found that pranayama helps improve the balances between the right and left hemispheres which attribute to circulating neuropsychological functions.

Regular pranayama practice therefore increases cognitive performance, brings relaxation and improves spatial memory performance.

Respiratory regulation improves performance in spatial memory, visual memory, and verbal memory. The processing of sensory information at the thalamic level is facilitated when practicing pranayama.

Yoga improves cognitive function

Yogic intervention increases cognitive performance and better perceived cognition. One study found that practicing hatha yoga for 6 weeks improves working memory and attention shift ability in healthy older adults.

It increases positive mood, short term memory and decreases pain perception, improves various cognitive functions: improved performance, neural activity, active attention and executive functions.

Yogic practices and real facts

Yoga, pranayama, asanas, and meditation improve verbal skills, reaction time, hand-eye coordination, speed, accuracy, and neural performance, develops memory, perception and attention span and activates dormant areas of the brain, while replacing useless memories with useful ones.  

Likewise, asanas, kriyas, mudras, bandhas and the practice of meditation develop consciousness, intellectual efficiency and somatic functions.

The practice of yoga meditation improves the state of consciousness, mental activity and the feeling of well-being and responsiveness. Therefore, yoga improves cognition and overall brain functions.

All studies, directly or indirectly, have shown that yoga is beneficial on brain wave activity. In the human body, the brain is the supreme coordinator that regulates all kinds of movements and functions. 

Activation of the theta wave reduces anxiety, improves short-term memory and influences the process of memory construction and reduces nervousness.

The theta wave also provides heightened intuition, healing of the body and reprogramming of the subconscious mind.

While the increase in beta band power indicates a higher level of alertness and improved engagement task and improvement in various cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, concentration and reaction time.

The increase in alpha and delta power indicates synchronization of brain activity with greater alertness.

Additionally, improved alpha power indicates greater mental silence, tasks requiring memory and imagination, while a high frequency of alpha is primarily associated with centering , healing and improving the mind/body connection.

Alpha and theta can be interpreted as signifiers of heightened attention. It specifically representing internalized attention as well as indexing states of relaxation. Delta wave is basically associated with the deepest state of consciousness, while enhanced gamma power indicates a higher level of consciousness and awareness, where our mind and body reach a new emerging energy.

Conclusion

Practive to get the changes in you

These studies demonstrate the beneficial roles of yoga in improving brain wave activity, better cognition, improved neuropsychological function, and overall brain function

Yoga is positively correlated with overall brain network resilience and efficiency. 

These results reveal the possibility of increasing mental resilience, slowing the functional decline of the brain proving that yoga plays an undeniable role in improving brain and physical activity.

As you may have read, intentionally changing brainwave levels through stimulation has many benefits.

Successfully tested in university settings on student panels and used in hospitals for therapeutic purposes, brainwave stimulation helps to strengthen memory and the immune system. Just like alternative medicine, it is recommended in cases of insomnia, stress, anxiety…

Even if brain training relieves many nervous pathologies, it should not be forgotten that it is aimed at any individual wishing to develop his or her cerebral capacities.

From the artist to the meditator to the office worker, everyone will find considerable benefits.

Especially when the brain enters into resonance and consciousness in the most powerful information processing place of the brain: our unconscious.

So what are you waiting for to start and finally take care of yourself with natural and proven methods

Take a look on studies.

To practice with me: book a free session here

References

EEG based interpretation of human brain activity during yoga and meditation using machine learning: A systematic review

A study on improving physiological and psychological personalities of the students by Vethathiri Maharishi’s nine-center meditation using electroencephalography

EEG paroxysmal gamma waves during Bhramari Pranayama: a yoga breathing technique

Effect of Yoga on Cardiovascular Autonomic Reactivity in Essential Hypertensive Patients

EEG signal based classification before and after combined Yoga and Sudarshan Kriya

Fluid intelligence and brain functional organization in aging yoga and meditation practitioners

EEG alpha and theta oscillations reflect cognitive and memory performance: a review and analysis

Herbal Smoking: benefits and recipe

Herbal smoking or Dhoomapana

Herbal smoking or Dhoomapana is one of the daily routine advices by Ayurveda.

Why?

It is sometimes used for preventive and therapeutic purposes especially to treat or to prevent the appearance of diseases located above the shoulders and due to the increase of kapha and Vata.

After Pancha Karma, Dhoomapana help toget rid of any residual doshas from the sinuses. It kindles Agni /digestive fire and improves the appetite and eyesight, makes the mind attentive, and has an affinity to the heart, lungs, brain and sinuses. 

It balances Vata and Kapha Dosha.

On average, you should smoke 3-4 times a day.

Indications that you are practising Dhoomapana wrong are dry cough and chest pain, and overdoing Dhoomapana can cause nose bleeds and mental confusion, So with all things – moderation is best!

When to do it?

After sneezing, yawning, defecation, urination, having sex, surgical operation, laughing, brushing teeth, taking bath, having food, vomiting.

How to do it?

  • sit straight, attentive, with mouth open and inhale the smoke through each nostril alternatively. While inhaling from one nostril, close the other.
  • should be done thrice (inhale and exhale smoke at the same time).
  • Inhale the smoke by nose first if the imbalanced doshas are localized in the nose and head.
  • Inhale the smoke by mouth first and second nose if the imbalanced doshas are localized in the throat and head
  • Let out only through the mouth; if let out through the nose, it produces loss of vision.
  • Smoking should be done thrice, with three times inhaling and three exhaling alternately.

Simple herbal blends recipes for your dosha:

Herbal blends for Dhoomapana

Tridosha recipe:

  • Take Guggulu, pound it well.
  • Add neem, turmeric, saffron and black gram.
  • Make it into the form of a wick.
  • Add ghee for lubrication.

If you burn this wick, it should easily catch fire and yield smoke.

If guggulu is not available, you can simply make the combination using the other herbs like cited below, as per availability, put on a hot pan and inhale the smoke.

You can also use any of the following common available herbs / combination of herbs

Guggulu, musta (Cyperus rotundus), vetiver, varanga, saffron, black gram, barley, sesame seed, fat, marrow, muscle- fat and ghee, rose, chamomile, cardamom, cinnamon, thyme.

Building blend for Vata Types: bala, ashwagandha, vidari and licorice and a drop of ghee (pacifies vata increases Kapha).

Pacifying blend for Pitta types: rose, sandalwood, saffron. (pacifies Pitta

Cleansing blend for Kapha Types: Clove, Cinnamon, Cardamon.

For insomnia: add poppy seeds and nutmeg.

To study, add Brahmi: 1-2 drops of Brahmi ghee improves cellular intelligence.

For lungs cleaning and reduce harshness, you can add mullein to your blend, it burns slowly and it is soothing the throat, cleans the lungs, activates lymph circulation in the chest and the neck. It is also diuretic and encourages expectoration

For normal situation

Vata Herbs are: tagara, dashamoola, Tulsi or basil, thyme.

Pitta Herbs are: chamomile, lotus, Rose, sandalwood.

Kapha Herbs are: Manjistha Musta, Saffron, thyme, licorice. 

Signs of proper herbal smoking

  • Clarity of mind, clarity in thinking process
  • Clarity in throat, abscess of mucus collection in throat
  • Clarity in sense organs
  • Lightness of head

Benefits of smoke therapy

Herbal smoking balances Vata and Kapha Dosha

The combination of herbs will be done according to your needs, disorders and can be done in case of cough, dyspnoea, rhinitis, disorders of voice, bad smell of the nose and mouth, hair loss, discharges, itching, pain in ear and nose, loss of function of the ears, mouth and eyes; headache, migraine, eye pain, toothache, excess drowsiness, strengthens sense organs, excess sleep,…

What precautions should I take:

Inhalation of smoke should not be done if you are suffering from:

  • Bleeding disease: nasal bleeding, menorrhagia
  • On purgation treatment or enema
  • Ascites, intestinal obstruction
  • Diabetes, urinary tract disorders
  • Blindness
  • Flatulence, bloating
  • Diphtheria
  • Injured in the head,
  • Anemia and jaundice
  • Those who have kept awake at night.

What you feel if you do it wrong?

Impairment of voice

Presence of Kapha (phlegm) in the throat and heaviness of head

If you smoke herbal in excess,  palate, head and throat will get dried up and become hot. You can feel thirsty; you can feel dizziness and hotness in sense organs.

Also, if you doing Dhumapana at improper time or in excess it can leads to

  • bleeding disease,
  • blindness,
  • deafness,
  • excessive thirst
  • burning sensation
  • fainting
  • delusion.

You can see that all these are symptoms of Pitta increase. For this, cold regimen should be taken and cooling herbs as well.

If such troubles occur due to untimely and over smoking, you need to change your intake and have to do it properly.

In case of such symptoms you can use ghee because it will help to relieve burning sensation, and excess of dryness caused due to wrong herbal smoking.

Practice Nasya (nasal drops) with Anu Tailam or sesame oil. It helps to soothe the inflamed nasal mucosa and to strengthen sense organs.

Collyrium and demulcent drinks are prescribed.

If you follow what has been said, there is no reason for unpleasant symptoms.

References

An effective Ayurvedic herbal smoking technique for prevention and treatment

Ascertaining Classical Approaches of Ayurvedic ‘DHUMPAN’

How to relieve sciatica with yoga and Ayurveda?

Sciatica, how to treat it?

Ah, this sciatica that bothers me… How to relieve or cure sciatica can be a challenge…but not so much for the majority of cases… (depending on your pathology that leads to sciatica). Resolving sciatica requires patience, kindness, and awareness.

One of my students, who practices yoga regularly in her week, came to see me and told me that she had had sciatica for 1 week.

She was very annoyed, we can even say frustrated. She could no longer practice yoga as she likes and considered her sadhana incomplete.

The management of her sciatica

We then discussed about the sessions she practiced to determine the root of her pain. So I asked her:

– What postures did she perform?

– By what means did she arrive at the final postures, ie what type of breath did she use, her speed in the transitions and movements, where did she place her consciousness?

As I know Valérie well, I know that she is mainly Vata.

Vata is her Ayurvedic constitution, so I had some idea to her answers. I know how she likes to practice since she regularly comes to my classes.

Valérie therefore replied that during her personal practice, she did a lot of Ashtanga. A very dynamic and athletic form of yoga. Which, of course, matches his personality being predominantly Vata.

Vata people are dynamic both in body and mind. They like to move quickly, appreciate sustained exercise but go beyond their form of the day. These people are directed more by their mind than by consciousness.

They have great difficulty settling down physically and mentally. They follow the flow as they say. But after a while, the body speaks. He needs rest and a transition to gentler practices: Hatha yoga, meditation, pranayama, Chi gong…

So “my little Valérie” had to calm down her Ashtanga practice. It is neither beneficial for his skeleton, nor beneficial for his mind and in general for his homeostasis.

She specified that she always practiced the same stretching postures for the spine and legs during each of her sessions to work on her flexibility. She remained motionless for a long time in the poses and sometimes relaxing completely without muscle alertness.

Valérie showed me how she practiced: breath, setting up, transition, return and rhythm and which asanas.

How to relieve or cure sciatica: the diagnosis

Sciatica management

Her assessment is therefore as follows:

  • Predominantly Vata person…with aggravation of vata dosha whose symptom is sciatica. [In Ayurveda these people are more likely to report musculoskeletal disorders and pain than Pitta or Kapha people.]
  • She practiced Ashtanga 4 times a week in addition to the class she takes with me during the week.
  • Practice a lot of spine stretching postures and stay in the pose for a long time.
  • Ujjai breathing is not regular on his practice
  • Does not include pranayama in his session to calm his mind and relieve his nervous system
  • She works as a nurse
  • She eats prepared meals, skips meals and does not eat at the same time all the time

What is highlighted on this report:

Overstretching can lead to sciatica

All his imbalances may have contributed to this sciatica, having never experienced it before. In view of the assessment, the solutions are obvious…

According to Ayurveda, sciatica is typical of Vata imbalances. So as a Vata constitution, Valérie created an excess of Vata dosha in the body by practicing Ashtanga 4 times a week, without integrating any other gentle practice or rest time to regenerate her body and mind.

Care and Support: how to relieve her sciatica

I therefore explain to him that her practice is not adapted to her constitution and her way of life and that she will have to learn to integrate moments of calm, rest, gentle practices so that his body can have time to reconstitute. Practicing Ahtanga 4 times a week is too demanding given her pace of life, I advise her to integrate more hatha yoga and other gentle practices that she likes…even if it’s complicated for a Vata person who likes to move all the time, both in mind and body. All this to integrate after her sciatica is cured.

I also advise her on her diet, which is currently irregular and unhealthy. While she has intense physical practice and stressful work, her body and her mind are starving and lack regenerating, fresh, home-cooked food. She knows that she is a nurse but sometimes repeating things helps to raise awareness to react.

So I ask him his physical feelings about his sciatica to get an idea of ​​the degree of inflammation of the nerve and if we can practice yoga to try to relieve and reduce it. Valerie felt only a slight trip from the L5 lumbar to the top of the buttock, and a constant tension in the rear thigh area.

The symptoms were not dramatic, without neurological disorders and the movement very little inhibited, so we could start practicing certain yoga postures to improve his condition.

Solutions to relieve sciatica

A yoga adapted to his condition

So I offered him a series of postures to practice 5 times and a series of pranayama at the beginning and at the end of the session.

After having followed this session, she is autonomous to practice this session for at least 3 weeks to a month to improve her sciatica.

This session is built without sequence, without flow, without intense effort, just work on each zone in awareness and without forcing. On each posture, Valérie must bring her awareness to her pain, and exhale her pain.

The session is as follows:

1/ Nadi shodhana without breath retention then with retention to calm the mind and focus on what is coming.

2 / Kapotasana

3/ Salabhasana and variants with lifting of one arm and one leg

4/ Balasana

5/ Upavishati Kapotasana or inverted pigeon

6/ Pawanmuktasana

7 / Holotropic breathing exercise

The objective of the first pranayama is to calm the nervous system and to bring the concentration and awareness necessary for the realization of the postures to derive the best benefits.

End-of-session pranayama is holotropic breathing with active inhalations and passive exhalations, complete and rapid.

The goal of holotropic breathwork is to use accelerated breathing to increase self-awareness and deal with past trauma. It allows access to parts of the psyche that cannot be reached under normal conditions.

I use it in Valérie’s case to relieve her anxiety, chronic stress and tension disorders which are due to her Vata imbalance and her lifestyle in general.

Ayurvedic treatment to relieve her sciatica

I also offered him an Ayurvedic treatment called Kati Vasti which is a traditional Ayurvedic treatment used for back pain and disorders of the lumbosacral region including herniated discs, lumbar spondylosis, sciatica, problems spine, etc. We did this treatment for 3 days to follow.

Conclusion to relieve her sciatica

Valérie held up well to the 3-week challenge, which was not easy for her. She who likes to move around so much but also probably the source of her illness.

After 1 week, the feeling of tightness behind her thigh was gone but she still felt a slight trip from the top of the buttocks to the back of the thigh.

After 3 weeks, his sciatica was completely gone.

She also changed her diet, and prepared her meals the night before to take them to work. Valerie manages to give herself some rest and today she even integrated 2 yoga nidra sessions instead of 2 Ashtanga sessions.

She realized that moments of rest and gentleness were necessary to maintain her health, support her body and her mind. She has more energy, clarity and is more positive as she also does pranayama every day since this episode.

To say that it was only the yoga postures that allowed him to heal…it certainly helped but I think a complete approach must be taken.

The body must be understood as a whole: mental, emotions, the physical aspect, the food that we give to our body and its way of life. The intelligence of the body applies by self-healing, on condition of respecting it.

If you are interested in yoga and pathologies, I can only advise to learn the practice which is suits you, you will find concrete information to adapt your practice with my sessions. In addition to my article, I can only advise you to read Piriformis stretching: an effective exercise against sciatica

References

Measure of Significance of Holotropic Breathwork in the Development of Self-Awareness

An Argument for the use of Holotropic Breathwork as an Adjunct to Psychotherapy

Exploring the Therapeutic Benefits of Pranayama (Yogic Breathing): A Systematic Review

Health Impacts of Yoga and Pranayama: A State -of-the-Art Review

A clinical study on the effect of ksheera vaitharana vasti in the management of gridrasi wsr to sciatica

Yoga as a treatment for chronic low back pain: A systematic review of the literature

A preliminary clinical evaluation of external snehan and asanas in the patients of sciatica

A clinical comparative study of Matra Vasti and Vaitran Vasti in the treatment of Gridhrasi wsr to Sciatica

Healthy lifestyle disorders: yogic prevention and management

Healthy lifestyle crisis today… Yes..

We are facing what can be called a pandemic of lifestyle disorders. Changes must be made consciously by individuals themselves to live a healthier life, and know how to manage emotions and stress.

The main purpose of life is to be happy, right? To be happy we need to be mentally , physically healthy and expand our consciousness

Yoga is the best lifestyle ever conceived because it has potential in the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of common lifestyle disorders.

Yogic lifestyle, yogic diet, yogic attitudes and various yogic methods help men to strengthen themselves physically and mentally to develop positive health thus enabling them to resist stress better.

Yogic practice normalizes the perception of stress, optimizes it by releasing it through various yogic practices.

Several studies conducted in Pondicherry, India have demonstrated the positive effects of yoga on lifestyle disorders.

It is then quite interesting to understand that the future of health care in general could develop the use of yoga in integrative health care.

Besides, we can observe the development of alternative medicine like hypnosis in some hospitals today.

Yoga determines healthy lifestyle components (healthy diet, regular exercices, relaxation, positive attitude, healthy happy living) and psychosomatic harmonizing effects of pranayama and yogic relaxation.

Components of a healthy lifestyle

Healthy lifestyle Healthy habit

Yoga places great emphasis on a proper and healthy lifestyle and its major components which are also found in Ayurveda are:

  • Achar (wholesome activities),
  • Vichar (healthy relationships and healthy thoughts)
  • Ahar (healthy food)
  • And vihar (wholesome recreation).

The basic yogic principles help manage lifestyle disorders and psychologically reconditions to develop healthy life habits:

  • Stress management with normalization of metabolism
  • Relaxation, visualization and contemplative practices.

Yoga is an art and a science that is the best natural and effective way of life to manage common disorders such as diabetes and hypertension, mood disorders, schizophrenia, depression, migraines, hormonal disorders, weight loss…

And today, research looks at the beneficial psychophysiological effects of yoga and realizes that it goes beyond physical exercise since it impacts the general homeostasis of the body.

Lifestyle habits and Scientific Studies

Comprehensive reviews have suggested that yoga reduces cardiovascular risk profile by decreasing activation of the sympatho-adrenal system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and also by promoting a sense of well-being as well than a direct improvement in parasympathetic activity (Innes, Bourguignon & Taylor, 2005; Innes and Vincent, 2007).

All of the studies reviewed suggest that yoga significantly improves  lipid profile, and since this is an important risk factor for heart disease, on the risk indices associated with the syndrome of insulin resistance, …

An unsuitable lifestyle has a negative impact on the functioning of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Studies have shown that the central nervous system is affected in diabetes mellitus. A comprehensive 6-week therapeutic yoga program produces a significant shortening of reaction time in diabetic patients (Madanmohan, Thombre, Das, Subramanian, & Chandrasekar, 1984; Madanmohan, Bhavanani, Dayanidy, Sanjay, & Basavaraddi, 2012). It has also been reported that the yoga improves nerve conduction (Malhotra et al., 2002) and biochemical profile (Gordon et al., 2008) in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Yoga is also effective in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in reducing body weight, blood pressure (BP), glucose levels and cholesterol (Yang, 2007).

The pranayama also has immediate effects on hypertension and yoga has proven to be an effective complementary therapy:

Healthy reductions in heart rate with the beneficial practice of sukha (inhale = exhale), savitri (6:3:6:3 rhythm for inhale: hold: exhale and hold breath while sitting and lying down), chandra nadi (breath exclusive left nostril) and pranava pranayama (using audible AUM chanting during prolonged sequential exhalation while sitting and lying down) have been reported.

Normalization of autonomic cardiovascular rhythms with increased endogenous nitric oxide production.

These are simple and economical techniques that can be added in addition to the usual medical care. Healthy lifestyle is the key.

Role of Yoga in Modulating the Stress Response

Exercise to be healthy

Stress plays a vital role in increasing, precipitating or aggravating all lifestyle disorders. We understand that we can improve our lifestyles through yoga.

Stress leads to:

1. An imbalance of the Autonomic Nervous System with a decrease in parasympathetic activity and an increase in sympathetic activity

2. An under-activity of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system, the main system of inhibitory neurotransmitter

3. An increase in allostatic load (aconcept that refers to the negative consequences of stress on the body that accumulate over time).

Yoga-based practices correct under-activity of the parasympathetic nervous system and GABA systems in part through stimulation of the vagus nerves, the major peripheral pathway of the parasympathetic nervous system, and reduce allostatic load.

Thus the decrease in the parasympathetic nervous system and GABA activity involved in stress-related disorders can be corrected by yogic practices, leading to an improvement in the symptoms of the disease.

Yoga management for lifestyle disorders

The basic yogic principles used in the management of lifestyle disorders are as follows:

1. Psychological reconditioning and the development of appropriate attitudes :

Such as yama-niyama, chaturbhavana and pratipaksha bhavanam.

  • Chatur Bhavana
  • These attitudes which help us to control our mental processes are:
  • Kindness to those who are happy (Maitri – Sukha);
  • Compassion towards those who are unhappy (Karuna – Dukha);
  • Good humor towards the virtuous (Mudhita – Punya);
  • And indifference towards the wicked (Upekshanam – Apunya).

These principles help us to create a yogic attitude of Sama Bhava or equality of mind in all situations. They also help us overcome Kleshas (dark thoughts), and give us answers on how to live a yogic life. They make us human and help us to live in the social structure in a healthy and happy way.

Pratipaksha Bhavanam.

The concept of Pratipaksha Bhavanam is an amazing teaching and must be inculcated in our daily life Sadhana as we come across it so many times every day. While we can’t replace negative thoughts with emotionally charged positive reinforcements, we should at least try to stop them in their tracks! I have personally found that a strong “STOP” type statement works wonders to help block negative thoughts that would otherwise lead us down the cesspool of quicksand, into bigger and bigger problems. Tiruvalluvar advises us to return the negative actions of others with positive and selfless actions.

2. Stress management

Through counselling, jathis (release techniques), asanas (postures), kriyas (systematic rational movements of breath-body coordination) and pranayama (breath-energy harmonization techniques)

3. Normalizing metabolic activity

Helping to normalize metabolic activity through physical activity such as surya namaskar, asanas, kriyas and pranayama

4. Relaxation, visualization and contemplation

To induce feelings of inner calm and well-being.

One of the purposes of yoga is to encourage positive hygiene and health through the development of the natural powers of body and mind. It yoga pays particular attention to the processes of elimination and cleansing and redevelops the inner powers of adaptation and adjustment of body and mind. We can thus strive for positive health and enjoy it.

Yoga also entails nadi shuddhi (purification of all channels of communication) and mala shuddhi (eradication of factors that disturb the balanced functioning of body and mind).

Yoga helps cultivate positive and healthy lifestyle by:

Cultivating correct psychological attitudes:

  • Masters benevolence, loving-kindness, kindness, friendliness, goodwill and active concern for others.
  • Karuna – compassion,
  • Mudita – joy; especially sympathetic or vicarious joy, or pleasure in rejoicing in what others are doing.
  • Pekshanam – non-attachment, a balanced mind and tolerance towards those who are sukha (in joy), duhkha (in pain), punya (auspicious, virtuous), and apunya (wicked, bad)
  • Reconditioning of the neuromuscular system and neuroglandular allowing the body to better resist stress and effort.
  • Have an adequate diet conducive to optimal health

To lead a healthy life, our actions must be healthy.

Yoga and Ayurveda define 4 actions that we must observe:

  • Achar: wholesome activities such as physical exercise with regular practice of asanas, pranayamas and kriyas. Cardiorespiratory health is one of the main side effects of these healthy activities.
  • Vichar: The right thoughts and the right attitude towards life are vital for well-being. A balanced state of mind is achieved by following moral and ethical values ​​(yama-niyama).
  • Ahar: sattvic diet: fresh foods, green salads, sprouts, unrefined grains and fresh fruits prepared and served with love and affection
  •  Vihar: Appropriate recreational activities to relax body and mind are essential for good health. (appropriate relaxation, maintenance of stillness of actions-words-thoughts and group activities, in which one loses the sense of individuality). Karma Yoga is an excellent method to lose the sense of individuality and gain a sense of universality.

Cultivate healthy attitudes by developing yogic attitudes towards every aspect of life. This is inseparable for reducing stress which is most often an inner overreaction.

Achieve clarity of mind (chitta prasadhanam) through the attitudes advocated by Maharishi Patanjali (maitri, karuna, mudita and upekshanam).

It is important to adopt the viewpoint opposed to negative thoughts and actions (pratipaksha bhavanam) and to emphasize the principles of Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga and Bhakti Yoga in daily life.

A healthy and heart-friendly diet

It is important to have a healthy diet. And healthy lifestyle is also:

  • Regular meals
  • Adequate amounts of salad greens, sprouts, fenugreek, turmeric, bitter gourd and neem.
  • The minimum possible amount of salt in the diet
  • Maintain good hydration
  • Eat when hungry and after digesting the previous meal,
  • Regularly eat small meals with complex carbohydrates and avoid refined and junk foods.
  • Coordination of breath and body movements
  • Body-mind harmony is enhanced by practices using breath-related movements

Sukshma Vyayama practices (Sukshma Vyayama is the system of yogic practices which loosens your joints and removes the energy blockages. This system has a strong purifying effect thus, boosting the body energy. Yogic Sukshma Vyayamas (Loosening and strengthening. practices) are safe, rhythmic, repetitive stretching movements and Sheetalikarana Vyayama (physical. movements that mobilize and activate different parts of the body. by repetitive jerky, forceful movements) as well as pleasant jathis are helpful in this regard

Surya namaskar performed slowly and with breath awareness can also produce psychosomatic harmony and postures can be held effortlessly for a short time with meditative awareness of surya mantras (names of the sun)

Asanas for healthy lifestyle

The following postures or asanas may be used depending on the physical condition and other associated health problems of the patient.

Standing postures: tadasana, trikonasana, padottanasana, hasthapada asana, padangushta asana and mehru asana are helpful.

Lying postures: bhujangasana and ardha shalabasana

Useful seated postures include vakrasana, gomukhasana, ustrasana, shashasana and yoga mudra asana.

Lying postures: matsyasana, pavana mukta asana and eka and dwipada uttanpada asana.

Upside-down poses can help reset the mechanisms that regulate blood pressure. This can also be achieved by head under heart postures which do the same if the patient cannot do postures such as sarvangasana and sethubanda sarvangasana.

Pranayamas: pranava pranayama are very useful, as well as chandra bhedana and chandra nadi pranayamas which help to reduce sympathetic overactivity.

Pranayama: breathing technics to purifu mind and body

Savitri, nadi shuddhi and bhramari pranayama are excellent practices for reducing stress.

Sheetali and sitkari also produce a feeling of relaxation.

Kriyas to cleanse toxins

Cleansing practices such as kunjal, nauli, kapalabhati, agnisara, shanka prakshalana can be practiced according to individual predisposition. Some require a bit of learning to do them correctly.

The Viparita karani mudras help by virtue of being “the head under the heart” and also has a profound effect on the psychoneuro-endocrine axis.

Shanmuki mudra produces a feeling of inner calm

Brahma mudra, by working with breath and vibration (nada), induces a feeling of relaxation and invigoration in the head and neck region which reduces stress and normalizes reflex mechanisms.

Yogic Relaxation

Hatha Yoga relaxation practices can be practiced from savasana and include spandha nishpandha kriya (alternating tension and relaxation), marmanasthanam kriya (part-by-part relaxation), and kaya kriya (dynamic body relaxation).

Jnana Yoga such as anuloma viloma kriya and yoga nidra can help reduce stress levels and create psychosomatic harmony. Even the simple makarasana is an excellent antidote to stress and psychosomatic disorders.

Dharana and dhyana

Concentration practices that induce a meditative state include the popular om japa and ajapa japa.

Chakra dhyana

This practice focuses on the seven vital “chakras”, or energy centers, located along our spine. The activation of these chakras or energy centers triggers the expansion of consciousness and allows one to move from a lower state of existence to a higher state of existence in the planes of consciousness.

The dharana mandala can be done on all chakras with special emphasis on the anahata chakra to harmonize prana vayu which is based in the heart region and on the navel center to harmonize samana vayu to the manipura chakra.

Yoga advices

Yoga is essentially a preventive life science:

Heyam dukhkam anagatham – Yoga Darshan II: 16: Coming pain should be avoided).

The counseling process is not one-time, it is an ongoing process that starts from the very first visit and continues with each session at different levels.

Conclusion

Yoga offers great potential in the prevention and management of lifestyle disorders and diseases.

The healthy lifestyle with yoga science brings about improved health at different physical, mental and spiritual levels.

Yoga has the potential to prevent disease progression and if started early may even manifest a cure.

The majority of studies on yoga and health are positive, and would support the use of yoga as part of the integrative health care system in particular.

Yoga brings different components to the lifestyle: healthy eating, activity, relaxation and positive attitude, and harmonizing psychosomatic effects through pranayama and yogic relaxation.

It involves both the process and the attainment of a psychosomatic state of harmony and balance (samatvam yoga uchyate: Yoga is a state of balance – Bhagavad Gita) and this restoration of physical balance, mental, emotional and spiritual may be the overriding factor. behind the changes observed in all short-term and long-term studies.

Yoga is without side effects and multiple collateral benefits, safe, easy to learn and can be practiced even by sick, elderly or disabled people.

So, if you realize and take conscious that is NOW you have to act to learn healthy lifestyle habits by practicing yoga and ayurveda, book your 1st free yoga class with me here.

Namaste

Julie

Home remedies for detox cleansing with Ayurveda

Why clean yourself up?

Clean your body regularly for full vitality in the mind and body

Ayurveda home remedies for detox cleansing is to remove toxins (ama) from the body.

Toxins clog the lymphatic system, weaken immunity and impair organ function, causing fatigue, malaise and anxiety. And you cacth every virus around.

The other purpose is to strengthen digestion (agni). For Ayurveda, all diseases are weak digestion is considered the root of all disease with toxins building up in the first place because of poor food and lifestyle choices.

So to avoid the formation and accumulation of ama, it is necessary to rekindle your digestive fire. This restores homeostasis and proper organs functions.

A Simple Cleanse for the “Day After”

A simple cleansing ritual

Before getting out of bed, massage your digestive tract. This gently wakes up the digestive organs while massaging your intestines.

Brush your teeth and scrape your tongue (use a spoon if you don’t have a tongue scraper).

Scraping your tongue also massages the energy points in your digestive organs and removes toxins from your mouth.

Then drink a glass of hot water with or without lemon.

Lemon cleanses and is alkalizing. Our bodies are often too acidic, which needs to be corrected to ward off disease. The more alkaline we are, the more we ensure serene days.

Hot water eliminates stagnation, gently cleanses and brightens the body.

Do stretches and yoga that help the body detox by massaging the internal organs and encouraging elimination.

It is also recommended not to eat before having a bowel movement and to be really hungry.

If you don’t feel hungry, you might think about skipping a meal or two to digest the heavy foods you ate the night before.

Do not skip meals but simply swallow a light soup.

And when you’re hungry, prepare a pot of kitchari (easy-to-digest rice and beans) or a simple soup.

Sip hot water or coriander, cumin, fennel tea throughout the day.

Get outside, walk outside as movement and fresh air are essential for detoxification.

Take a warm bath before bed and add Epsom salt if you have them; they will draw toxins through the skin.

The Real Cleansing

Kitchari: an easy way to clean body and mind

A mono-diet of Kitchari provides simple, easily digestible, nourishing foods that support your body for a cleanse.

Kitchari is basically a recipe containing rice and an easily digestible bean.

Ayurveda advises using mung dal, a legume of choice, as it is easy to digest, rich in fiber and slightly astringent (which helps tone the colon).

You can also choose chickpeas or green beans.

Add spices, oil, salt and a vegetable according to taste and your constitution.

Eat three meals of this traditional Ayurvedic dish while cleansing and add plenty of warm fluids to flush the system. Hot water is a simple accompaniment, however you can also incorporate herbal teas according to your doshas.

Massage daily with the oil adapted to your constitution since it improves your blood circulation and thus eliminates toxins.

Cleansing such ayurveda way: sweet and efficient for body

In Ayurveda, everybody is unique, and everyone needs a unique approach to eliminating toxins and strengthening digestion.

What causes toxicity in Vata types is different from what causes toxicity in Pitta or Kapha types, so the origin of toxicity must be considered when designing a cleanse.

Returning to a balanced and healthy digestive fire is also distinct because each body type has unique challenges in digesting, absorbing and assimilating food.

Your practitioner will consider these factors when deciding how to guide you through the cleanse. If you already know your doshas , ​​you can use some of the basic guidelines below. This will assure you of maximum benefit for the time, energy and discipline you put into this endeavor while minimizing the dangers of cleaning.

Vata Cleansing

Vata types need nourishment.

Austerity and fasting are not healthy for Vata individuals and often create more toxins than they release as they are far too exhausting for them.

Instead, Vata needs foods that are nutritious and easy to digest. Vata types need to get enough rest during their cleanse, as they already tend to be deficient.

Vata people should make sure to go to bed before 10:00 p.m. and feel free to take an afternoon nap if needed. Rest helps Vata overactive people to recharge. Vata should soothe the nervous system by slowing down and spending time at home and indulge in comfort and self-education, like a new goal!

After a hot bath, you can take haritaki before bed to promote healthy bowel movements. The goal is to keep the elimination channels (faeces, urine, sweat and breath) healthy during cleansing, as toxins are pulled out of the tissues to be excreted.

The cleansing herb for Vata type: haritaki

Another possible treatment is the homemade enema with a bag of water and a probe to clean the colon. This procedure should be done regularly in vata individuals since the colon is the main site of toxin accumulation.

Kitchari for vata: mung dal, coconut and coriander

Servings: 4

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 60 minutes

In: summer, spring

Cleanser, aids healing

Ingredients

  •  1 cup Basmati rice: Vata and Pitta soothing Kapha aggravating
  • 1/3 cup cilantro: Vata and Pitta soothing Kapha soothing
  •  1/3 cup coconut flakes: Vata and Pitta soothing Kapha aggravating
  •   2 tablespoons ghee: Vata and Pitta pacifying Kapha aggravating
  •  2 cm ginger (fresh): Vata and Pitta soothing Kapha soothing
  • 1/2 cup mung bean or mung dal: Vata, aggravating Pitta and pacifying
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (mineral salt): Vata pacifying Pitta and Kapha aggravating
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric: Vata and Kapha soothing Pitta aggravating  6 cups water: Vata and Pitta soothing Kapha aggravating

How to prepare this healthy recipe

Wash mung dal and rice separately. Soak the mung dal for a few hours if you have time, then strain it. Put the ginger, coconut, cilantro and 1/2 cup water in a food processor and blend until liquefied. Heat the ghee over medium heat in a large saucepan and add the mixture, turmeric and salt.

Stir well and bring to a boil to release the flavor. Then add the rice, mung dal and the six cups of water. Bring back to a boil. Boil, uncovered, for five minutes.

Then cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Lower the heat to simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes, until the dal and rice are tender.

Much like a comforting bowl of grandma’s chicken soup, kitchari will leave you feeling nourished and satisfied. This Kitchari Pacifies Pitta and contains the best Ayurveda foods to reduce inflammation.

It cools and soothes internally so you feel refreshed and comfortable after eating. Although tridoshic, this kitchari is particularly suited to Pitta types who tend to feel overheated, irritable, or stressed.

Cilantro and coconut are cooling foods that remedy a Pitta. A combination of sweet and subtle flavors, this meal helps calm an inflamed digestive tract. Hearty but light, it satisfies your hunger but remains easy to digest.

Kitchari is a staple in the Ayurvedic diet and is considered the cleansing meal. However, it can be enjoyed anytime to give your stomach a much-needed break after eating complicated foods or eating on the go. Kitchari is the perfect meal to use when recovering from illness, when you just want to reset, or when you want to do an Ayurvedic cleanse.

Ayurvedic medicinal qualities

Taste: astringent

Doshas: pacifies vata, soothes pitta and kapha

Effects: sattvic, ojas, prana, tejas, alkalizing

  • Bone and joint: anti-arthritic
  • Digestion: digestive, carminative, antacid
  • Cleanses burns toxins
  • Energy: boosts energy , nutritive
  • Heart and circulation: vasodilator, blood tonic, alterative, refrigerant
  • Immune system: anti-inflammatory
  • Liver and gallbladder: cholagogue
  • Lung and sinuses: flush sinuses
  • Weight loss: hypolipidemic
  • Bowel elimination

Pitta cleansing

Pitta individuals have a strong digestion and a high metabolism. They may need to eat larger amounts of food to feel full.

Pitta Kapha people can also do a juice fast during the warmer months. Enjoy fresh green juices at mealtime to refresh, cleanse the liver, and sip CCF tea throughout the day as needed.

Practice yoga including twists and emphasizing the breath (especially the exhale) to cool, calm the body and remove heat and detoxify the liver.

Sleeping at 10:00 p.m. is highly recommended. Before going to bed, a mild purgative like triphala or bhumyamalaki will cleanse the colon and support the liver.

Pitta needs to purge unlike Vata which needs an enema to cleanse itself. This part is optional, but if you want to finalize your cleansing, drink a cup of ginger tea with licorice and a tablespoon of castor oil. Do this before you go to bed on the last night of your cleanse and wake up naturally without an alarm clock because you’ll want to stay close to your bathroom.

Kitchari for Pitta

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed, whole
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • mixture of 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/2 tsp cumin powder, 1/4 tsp coriander powder, 1/4 tsp fennel powder and a pinch of cardamom.
  • 2 tablespoons finely minced ginger
  • 2 tablespoons ghee
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 cup mung dal
  • 3/4 cup basmati rice
  • 1/2 cup chopped zucchini
  • 1/2 cup chopped yellow squash
  • 5 asparagus stalks, chopped
  • 1 large celery stick, thinly sliced
  • ​​1 large kale, stemmed and thinly sliced
  • ​​1/2 cup of fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
  • Chopped cilantro, for garnish
  • Shredded coconut, for garnish
  • Ghee, for individual servings

Ayurvedic medicinal qualities

  • Reduces overall Pitta in the body and mind
  • Easy to digest
  • Strengthens and balances Agni (digestive fire)
  • Cools and cleans liver and blood
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Beneficial in most Pitta disorders such as skin disorders, acne, hives, rashes, inflammation, arthritis, anger, judgement, criticism, hyperacidity, loose stools, diarrhea and inflammatory problems of the digestive tract.
  • Great recipe for Pitta types during Ayurvedic cleanses.
  • Great recipe for late spring, summer, and early fall (but can be enjoyed year-round for Pitta types and Pitta imbalance).

Preparation: Following the same instructions as Vata with Pitta

Kapha cleansing

The kapha tyoe cleansing methods

Kapha’s ingredients can make for a more aggressive cleanse since Kaphas tends to overdo it easily. They can limit themselves to a meal of kitchari at noon and sip hot water coriander, cumin, fennel as needed to cleanse excess fluids in Kapha.

Perform a nasal wash with your neti pot and add 2 drops of sesame oil to clear the sinuses as Kapha tends to clog mucus. Postnasal drip leads to excess gastric mucus, which hampers digestion.

If possible, practice a dry sauna ideal for wet and cold Kapha types.

Kapha should practice dry brushing the skin and exercise daily. They benefit from a more invigorating yoga practice emphasizing backbends and inhaling to open and clear the lungs and enliven the body. They too should take triphala before bed and aim to fall asleep by 10:00 p.m. Rather than napping during the day, Kaphas should aim to go to bed earlier if he feels exhausted.

Kitchari for Kapha

Servings: 4

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Time: 60 mins Harm Level: Easy
  • Spring, Fall-Winter
  • Repairs, Cleanses 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Basmati Rice: Vata and Pitta soothing Kapha aggravating
  • 4 Bay Leaves: Vata and Kapha pacifying Pitta aggravating
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom Vata Kapha and Pitta soothing
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon: Vata and kapha pacifying, Pitta aggravating
  • 1/4 tsp cloves Vata and Kapha soothing, Pitta aggravating
  • 1 tsp cumin Vata aet Kapha soothing Pitta aggravating
  • 2 tbsp ghee: Vata and Pitta pacifying Kapha aggravating
  • 1 cm fresh ginger: Vata Pitta and Kapha soothing
  • 1/2 cup mung bean: Vata aggravating Pitta and Kapha pacifying
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt mineral: Vata pacifying Pitta and Kapha aggravating
  • 4 cup water: Vata and Pitta soothing Kapha aggravating

Preparation

1. Use split mung beans if possible. Soak mung beans for several hours before cooking and drain. Add 6 cups of water and bring to a boil, skimming off any foam that forms on top. Then strain the liquid and add another 4 cups of fresh water to the mung dal.

2. When mung beans are dissolved in broth (1-3 hours depending on desired texture), grind ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and cumin.

Make a thick paste by adding a little water. Leave to stand for five minutes, then sauté in the ghee until the spices become aromatic but before they turn brown.

Deglaze the pan with 1/4 cup water to soak up any remaining flavor from the spices and add to the mung soup.

3. Add rice and remaining ingredients to broth. Stir. Cover and cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the grains are tender.

Ayurvedic medicinal qualities

Easy to digest, cleanses toxins, helps reduce weight

Tastes : acrid, bitter, astringent

Doshas : soothing Vata Soothing Kapha Pitta aggravating

Effect : Sattvic, Prana, alkalizing, ojas

Medicinal properties

  • Carminative
  • Digestive
  • Antispasmodic
  • Detoxifying
  • Burns toxins
  • Stimulates energy
  • Cardiac
  • Vasodilator
  • Antimicrobial
  • Anthelmintic
  • Diuretic
  • Decongestant
  • Galactagogue

Longer cleansing

These techniques require more planning, time and commitment. It is a period of rest without stress.

  • A 1-3 day cleanse done correctly and with full commitment often brings great benefits with minimal effort. Better to opt for this than to push yourself into a 5 or 7 day cleanse that you can’t give your full attention to. This type of cleaning can be a little more intense because it only needs to be done for a maximum of 3 days. Most people can easily eat kitchari for 3 days without getting fed up or feeling weak.
  • Deep cleaning can last 7-10 days. A cleanse like this gives you time to do a more gradual cleanse so it shocks the system less. You can cut out the foods you need slowly and steadily without feeling too deprived. The downside is that it can be difficult to maintain discipline for so long. I also offer you a detox program over 9 days. Nothing to do… just follow the program.
  • Longer cleanses last from 14 days to 3 months this is panchakarma. These types of cleanings require the supervision of an experienced practitioner and a high commitment on the part of the client.

Contraindications for cleansing

Cleansing eliminates toxins, but the process of eliminating toxins also tires your body.

Many of my patients do impromptu home cleanings without guidance or use new cleaning techniques that are unsuitable for their constitutions.

And often come to me with health problems caused by improper cleaning. Ayurveda’s approach is more gentle.

Ayurvedic methods minimize exhaustion while maximizing the release of toxins and these methods are especially tailored to each person’s constitution to ensure that your cleansing supports you.

Avoid detoxes during menstruation, because the body is already cleansing. Ayurveda always considers a person’s age and strength to determine which cleansing is optimal. The person should not be too young (under 7), too old (over 70) or too exhausted.

We will not do a detox during pregnancy or breastfeeding, however a cleansing 3 months before becoming pregnant is a common Ayurvedic practice.

We will also avoid detoxes during illnesses because the body is already tired to fight.

When to clean up

When to clean for detoxifying?
  • After a vacation,
  • A party,
  • A period of stress,
  • A period of excess.

Early fall and early spring are considered the best times to detox. If the temperatures are extreme (hot or cold), it is better to avoid intense cleaning.

Cleanses are also recommended when you begin to feel sick in order to prevent illness. In some cases, a detox is useful right after an illness to ensure full recovery and rejuvenation.

The longer you clean, the longer you need to recover. For all dosha types, it is important to maintain a solid routine when cleansing.

Eat, wake up and sleep at the same time every day.

For longer cleans, consider taking time off work, staying still, staying home, staying warm, and limiting social obligations.

Recovery

Coming out of a mindful cleanse is just as important as doing a mindful cleanse.

foods easily digestible and simple

For example, if you did a 3-day cure, simply eat for 3 days after your cure. Continue to maintain a solid routine as your body comes back into full swing.

Support your body and healing by periodically scheduling detox times. Attention and prevention are the best allies to maintain our health.

References

Ayurveda and Panchakarma: Measuring the Effects of a Holistic Health Intervention

Lifestyle disorders: Ayurveda with lots of potential for prevention

Is diabetes reversible with Ayurveda?

Diabetes and Ayurveda: what are the solutions?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is mostly an acquired disease, which develops due to poor lifestyles. Then is diabetes reversible?

“sama dosha sama agnischa sama dhatu mala kriyaaha |Prasanna atma indriya manaha swastha iti abhidheeyate” – Sushruta Samhita

Means perfect health is the perfect balance between:

  • The 3 doshas (sama dosha) i.e. vata, pitta, kapha ,
  • Digestive fire or agni (sama agnischa) 
  • Body tissues (sama dhatu)
  • Excretory functions (mala kriyaha)
  • With positive mind (atma), senses (indriya), mind (manah)

According to WHO, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not simply the absence of disease.

 What is type 2 diabetes?

The term “diabetes mellitus” is derived from the Greek word “diabetes” which means “siphon” (to pass through) and from the Latin word “mellitus” which means “honeyed” or “sweet”. Diabetes occurs when excess sugar is found in the blood and urine.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder associated with abnormally high levels of blood sugar – this implies that a person’s hemoglobin glicosilada (HbA1C0) is 7% or higher.

What causes type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is mostly an acquired disease, which develops due to poor lifestyles. In some cases, the disease is acquired quite easily due to predisposed genetic factors.

The pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach, secretes a hormone called insulin which regulates blood sugar. In diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas are damaged and therefore they produce less insulin.

Diabetes may also be linked to aging. As a person ages, the pancreas also ages and insulin production decreases. As a result, blood sugar rises, leading to diabetes.

The pathophysiology of diabetes indicates peripheral insulin resistance, decline in beta cell function, and impaired hepatic glucose regulation. Today, diabetes is rampant among young and middle-aged men and women. In this particular context, the generalization of diabetes is mainly attributed to insulin resistance.

In short, diabetes is usually an acquired disorder although there is also a genetic predisposition.

There are also other less common causes:

  • Gestational 
  • diabetes Latent autoimmune diabetes
  • A rare form of diabetes due to a genetic mutation or monogenic diabetes
  • Diabetes due to cystic fibrosis of the pancreas 
  • Chronic pancreatitis leading to diabetes
  • Long-term use of steroids leading to diabetes

Caused by insulin resistance?

How ayurveda helps to reverse diabetes?

Insulin resistance is caused by visceral fat – fat found on muscles, internal organs including the liver, intestines, heart, kidneys, etc. Visceral fat is derived from consumed carbohydrates which are not used as energy and therefore stored as fat in the body.

Insulin resistance drastically reduces the uptake of sugar from the blood into the cells, which makes the patient tired and fatigued, while the glucose remains in the blood.

To fight diabetes caused by insulin resistance, you must reduce visceral fat by moderating your diet, abandoning a sedentary lifestyle and actively managing stress.

Diabetes according to Ayurveda?

In the Ayurvedic lexicon, diabetes is called “Prameha” or “Madhumeha”.

‘Madhu’ translates to ‘sweet as honey’ and ‘Meha’ refers to ‘urine’. 5000 years ago, doctors detected the presence of glucose in urine and performed physical tests in which they studied the appearance of urine to diagnose the type of dosha involved in diabetes.

The etiopathology of diabetes indicates that reliance on a sedentary lifestyle and excessive sleep can aggravate Kapha Dosha and trigger diabetes. In addition, consumption of the following foods can also lead to diabetes by aggravating Kapha and vitiating fatty and muscle tissues:

  • Yogurt and other dairy products
  • Meat from domestic and aquatic animals
  • Freshly harvested cereals
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Jaggery [coconut sugar]

Similarly , Pitta Dosha can be aggravated by diet and lifestyle factors. This can cause another type of diabetes.

When Kapha and Pitta are out of balance, it disrupts Vata. Therefore, aggravated Vata draws the essence from bone marrow and lymph and passes it into the urinary tract, which ultimately causes another type of diabetes. 

How does Ayurveda treat diabetes?

Ayurvedic methods attacks the root cause of diabetes

The aim of Ayurveda in the treatment of diabetes is to achieve ‘reverse pathogenesis‘, also known as ‘Samprapti Vighatana’. In doing so, the cause and techniques to remove the etiology or causal factors are provided.

For this reason, under Ayurvedic treatment, you do not achieve immediate blood sugar control and acute management is best achieved with the help of allopathic medicines. 

The advantage of the Ayurvedic method is that it attacks the root cause and eliminates the problem at the root. To achieve maximum results in this endeavor, perseverance is essential.

Ayurveda therapies for diabetes?

There are many therapies used in Ayurveda to fight diabetes. I describe some of them below.

1. Detox/ Panchakarma for diabetes management

This line of treatment is described in detail in Charaka Samhita. The treatment procedure is different for thin and obese patients. A combination of nourishing therapies and medications are administered to an emaciated individual. In case of obesity, the use of Panchakarma treatments – Vamana and Virechana – is advised.

  • Before detox, the Udwartana procedure is performed – this is a dry, medicated herbal powder massage that is performed to reduce visceral fat.
  • A series of sweat therapies such as Jambeera Pinda Sweda/Choorna Pinda Sweda followed by Bashpa Sweda are performed to promote the reduction of fat and insulin resistance respectively.
  • Abdominal Udwartana using a formulation of anti-cellulite herbs, a massage is performed on the abdomen resulting in inch loss.
  • Shirodhara or Shiro Takra Dhara is practiced to relax and calm the mind.
  • Dinacharya and Ratricharya are administered to maintain the normal circadian cycle and rhythms of the body.

Therapy cure/reverse diabetes?

Yes, Panchakarma is a prerequisite for reversing the root causes of diabetes. Holistic mind-body interventions, dietary modifications, yoga, stress management, etc. will become more effective in reversing diabetes after a Panchakarma session. Detoxification promotes the elimination of toxins and allows cells to function optimally, whether it is pancreatic beta cells or fat metabolism.

Ref. : end of article

Study in IJGMP finds that Panchakarma therapy and corrective dietary measures helped to significantly reduce FBS [Fasting Blood Sugar Test] and PPBS [Post-Prandial Blood Sugar test], and there are also notable lipid correction trends.

It is proposed that prior to pharmacological intervention – through Ayurveda or modern diabetes management, the implementation of shodhana [purification methods] could be extremely helpful in helping the body to become very responsive to these interventional methods .

2. Prescription medications to manage diabetes

There are many recipes for internal medications for all types of diabetes.

  • A decoction of Haridra, Daru Haridra, Tagara and Vidanga mixed with honey is a magic potion for a Kapha diabetic. This remedy is notoriously prescribed in classical Ayurvedic texts.
  • A decoction of Triphala, Musta, Darunisa and Visala mixed with a paste of Haridar and honey is a recipe for all types of diabetes.
  • Bhallatakasava and Dantaysava are also helpful in treating diabetes.
  • Nisha Amalaki which is a combination of turmeric (Nisha) and Indian gooseberry (Amlaki) is the most beneficial prescription which is a must for all diabetics.

3. Dietary management of diabetes

Diet is the first key to manage diabetes

Diabetes can be managed to a large extent by also controlling the diet. Here are the recommended Ayurvedic dietary practices for diabetes.

  • Corn and barley flour pancakes, cooked barley porridge, and roasted corn flour and meat soup (made with meat from birds found in dry, arid lands) are excellent foods.
  • Old rice which is harvested in 60 days can be mixed with green gram soup. The food is prepared with bitter astringent vegetables.
  • Barley steeped in a decoction of Triphala and kept overnight can be mixed with honey to make a refreshing drink for a diabetic. This recipe is a classic recipe found in the Charaka Samhita.
  • Boil water using Khadira’s Heartwood as firewood. This water is excellent for diabetes.
  • Room temperature water mixed with honey and Triphala juice is also a good remedy.

4. Managing diabetes through exercise and yoga

Besides herbal remedies and a balanced diet, it is also very important that the patient’s mind be peaceful and his head clear.

Participating in practices such as meditation and yoga helps balance body, mind, and spirit and has a beneficial effect on healing. Very often, once diabetic patients start practicing yoga and meditation, they notice that they unconsciously choose the right foods and pay attention to the amounts of food they eat. 

In addition, meditation and yoga reduce stress levels and thus play an important role in the development and control of diabetes. When we are faced with situations that we perceive as stressful, our body increases the production of “stress” hormones such as cortisone and adrenaline.  

Chronic stress can lead to insulin resistance, which in turn raises blood sugar levels. With the regular practice of meditation and yoga, the levels of stress hormones decrease, which allows better control of the disease.

Yoga exercises that focus on reducing central obesity and visceral fat are most beneficial. There are many asanas specially designed for this. Diabetic patients are advised to start yoga under the guidance of a licensed yoga practitioner.

Can Ayurveda control diabetes?

Yes, Ayurveda can control diabetes. Since the disease is an acquired lifestyle disorder, Ayurveda can trigger the process of remission. The focus should be on reducing drug dependency (Ayurveda/Allopathy) and adapting to a new and improved way of life. Efforts should be made to improve diet, daily routines, yoga or exercise program, and stress management techniques.

There are many herbs that help lower blood sugar. Gymnema Sylsvetre is an herb commonly used in the management of diabetes. The herb prevents the absorption of glucose from the intestine and thus helps to reduce the glucose content in the blood. Additionally, chewing the herb helps destroy the sweetness in the mouth. Appropriately, the plant is known as “Madhu Nashini” or “destroyer of sweetness”.

Detox/Panchakarma removes toxins that hinder metabolism at macro and micro levels as the gut and cells are cleared of Ama (toxins that hinder function). It improves the gut microbiome and, in turn, improves metabolism. Since diabetes is a metabolic disorder, it is ideal to address the root cause by optimizing the metabolic rate.

Can Ayurveda reverse diabetes?

Yes, Ayurveda can reverse diabetes. The treatment protocol in Ayurveda focuses on Reverse Pathogenesis. Therefore, it takes some time for the restoration of good blood sugar control to occur. It is important to remember that the treatment protocols target the genesis of the disorder, ie the intestine and the metabolism.

In addition, the mode and type of treatment depends on the stage of diabetes. If the diabetic is newly diagnosed, it is easier for the reversal process to begin. In a chronic diabetic, the associated risk factors may already have set in and reversal may be a slower process.

If it’s recently diagnosed diabetes, certain lifestyle changes and exercise can easily reverse the disease. It is relatively easier in this case to control blood sugar. With the right combination of diet, yoga, stress management and Ayurvedic herbs and therapies, one successfully combats insulin resistance and restores normal circadian rhythms.

In uncontrolled diabetes with a chronicity of more than a year, a combination of allopathy and Ayurvedic medicines can help control blood sugar. After that, the focus should be on weaning off all medications and working your way back to reversal through lifestyle changes, improved diet, yoga, stress management techniques, and Ayurvedic therapies.

In chronic diabetes over 5 years, associated risks include kidney failure, retinal damage, cardiovascular problems, etc. Diabetes reversal again involves diet, yoga, stress management, and Ayurvedic medications and therapies appropriate for this stage. The focus is on preventing further harm and improving quality of life.

The best time to reverse and discontinue the drug is in the pre-diabetic stage where blood sugar control shows borderline diabetes and other predisposing factors like sedentary lifestyle, stress, and poor eating/lifestyle habits are confirmed .

Conclusion

Early detection of diabetes can be used as a trigger to start the lifestyle improvement process. With appropriate lifestyle modifications and basic medications, you can completely reverse the disease.

References

Efficacy of Integrated Ayurveda treatment protocol in type 2 diabetes mellitus – A case report

Use of Ayurveda in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Use of Ayurveda in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Effectiveness and Safety of Ayurvedic Medicines in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Clinical efficacy of Mehamudgara vati in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Effect of Ayurveda intervention, lifestyle modification and Yoga in prediabetic and type 2 diabetes under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS)–AYUSH integration project

Comment soulager une sciatique grâce au yoga et à l’Ayurveda ?

Sciatique: comment y remedier?

Ah cette sciatique qui m’enquiquine…

C’est un mal bien courant aujourd’hui chez bon nombre d’entre-nous. Résorber une sciatique demande patience, bienveillance, et conscience.

Une de mes élèves, qui pratique le yoga régulièrement dans sa semaine, est venue me voir en me disant qu’elle avait une sciatique depuis 1 semaine.

Elle était bien embêtée, on peut même dire frustrée. Elle ne pouvait plus pratiquer le yoga comme elle aime et elle considérait son sadhana incomplet.

La prise en charge de sa sciatique

Nous avons alors discuté au sujet des séances qu’elle pratiquait pour déterminer la racine de sa douleur. Je lui ai donc demandé :

– Quelles postures accomplissait-elle ?

– Par quels moyens arrivait-elle aux les postures finales c’est-à-dire quel type de souffle utilisait-elle, sa rapidité dans les transitions et mouvements, ou plaçait-elle sa conscience ?

Comme je connais bien Valérie, je sais qu’elle est majoritairement Vata.

Vata est sa constitution ayurvédique, donc j’avais une petite idée de ses réponses. Je sais comment elle aime pratiquer puisqu’elle vient régulièrement à mes cours.

Valérie m’a donc répondu que pendant sa pratique personnelle, elle faisait beaucoup d’Ashtanga. Une forme très dynamique et athlétique du yoga. Ce qui, bien sûr, correspond à sa personnalité étant majoritairement Vata.

Les personnes Vata sont dynamiques aussi bien dans le corps que dans l’esprit. Elles aiment bouger rapidement, apprécie l’exercice soutenue mais allant au-delà de leur forme du jour. Elles sont dirigées plus par leur mental que par la conscience.

Les vata ont beaucoup de difficultés à se poser physiquement et mentalement. Elles suivent le flow comme on dit. Mais au bout d’un moment, le corps parle. Il a besoin de repos et de transition avec des pratiques plus douces : Hatha yoga, la méditation, pranayama, Chi gong …

Il fallait donc que « ma petite Valérie » calme sa pratique d’Ashtanga. Ce n’est ni bénéfique pour son squelette, ni bénéfique pour son mental et d’une manière général pour son homéostasie.

Elle précisa pratiquer toujours les mêmes postures d’étirement du rachis et des jambes sur chacune de ses séances pour travailler sur sa flexibilité. Elle restait longtemps immobile dans les poses et parfois en se relâchant complètement sans veille musculaire.

Valérie me montra comment elle pratiquait : souffle, mise en place, transition, retour et rythme et quels asanas.

Le diagnostic de sa sciatique

Management de la sciatique

Son bilan est donc le suivant :

  • Personne majoritairement Vata…avec aggravation du dosha vata dont le symptôme est la sciatique. [En ayurveda ces personnes sont plus susceptibles de déclarer des troubles et douleurs musculo-squelettique que les personnes Pitta ou Kapha.]
  • Elle pratiquait 4 fois par semaine de l’Ashtanga en plus du cours qu’elle suit avec moi dans la semaine.
  • Pratique beaucoup de postures d’étirement du rachis et reste longtemps dans la pose.
  • La respiration Ujjai n’est pas régulière sur sa pratique
  • N’inclut pas de pranayama dans sa séance pour calmer son mental et soulager son système nerveux
  • Elle travail en tant qu’infirmière
  • Elle mange des plats préparés, saute des repas et ne mange pas tout le temps à la même heure

Ce qui est mise en avant sur ce bilan :

Trop d’etirements intenses du rachis

Tous ses déséquilibres peuvent avoir concourus cette sciatique, Valerie ne l’ayant jamais expérimentée auparavant. Au vu du bilan, les solutions sautent aux yeux…

Selon l’Ayurveda, la sciatique est typique des déséquilibres Vata. Donc en tant que constitution Vata, Valérie a créé un excès du dosha Vata dans le corps en pratiquant l’Ashtanga 4 fois par semaine, sans intégrer aucune autre pratique douce ou de temps de repos pour régénérer son corps et son esprit.

Prise en charge

Je lui explique donc que sa pratique n’est pas adaptée à sa constitution et à son mode de vie et qu’il va falloir apprendre à intégrer des moments de calme, de repos, de pratiques douces pour que son corps puisse avoir le temps de se reconstituer. Pratiquer l’Ashtanga 4 fois par semaine est trop sollicitant au vu de son rythme de vie, je lui conseille d’intégrer plus de  hatha yoga et d’autres pratiques douces qu’elle aime…même si c’est compliqué pour une personne Vata qui aime bouger tout le temps, tant dans l’esprit que par le corps. Tout ceci à intégrer après que sa sciatique se soit guérit

Je la conseille également sur son régime alimentaire, actuellement irrégulier et malsain. Alors qu’elle a une pratique physique intense et un travail stressant, son corps et son mental crie famine et manquent de nourriture régénérante, fraîche, et cuisinée maison. Elle le sait elle est infirmière mais parfois redire les choses permettent de remettre en conscience pour réagir.

Je lui demande donc ses ressentis physiques par rapport à sa sciatique pour avoir une idée du degré d’inflammation du nerf et si nous pouvons pratiquer le yoga pour essayer de soulager et résorber. Valérie ne ressentait qu’un léger trajet de la lombaire L5 vers le haut de la fesse, et une tension constante dans la zone arrière de la cuisse.

Les symptômes n’étant pas dramatiques, sans troubles neurologiques et le mouvement très peu inhibé, nous pouvions donc commencer à pratiquer certaines postures de yoga pour améliorer sa condition.

Les solutions pour soulager sa sciatique

Un yoga adapté à sa condition

Je lui ai donc proposer une série de postures à pratiquer 5 fois et une série de pranayama au début et à la fin de la séance.

Apres avoir suivit cette séance, elle est autonome pour pratiquer cette séance pendant au moins 3 semaines à un mois pour améliorer sa sciatique.

Cette séance est construite sans enchainement, sans flow, sans effort intense, juste travailler sur chaque zone en conscience et sans forcer. Sur chaque posture, Valérie doit porter sa conscience sur sa douleur, et expirer sa douleur.

La séance est la suivante :

1/ Nadi shodhana sans rétention de souffle puis avec rétention pour calmer l’esprit et se concentrer sur ce qui s’en vient.

1 / Kapotasana

2/ Salabhasana et variantes avec lever d’un bras une jambe

3/ Balasana

4/ Upavishati Kapotasana ou pigeon inversé

5/ Pawanmuktasana

6 / Exercice de respiration holotropique

L’objectif du premier pranayama est de calmer le système nerveux et d’apporter la concentration et conscience nécessaire à la réalisation des postures pour en tirer le meilleur bénéfices.

Le pranayama de fin de séance est une respiration holotropique avec inhalations actives et expirations passives , complète et rapide.

Le but de la respiration holotropique est d’utiliser la respiration accélérée pour accroître la conscience de soi et faire face aux traumatismes du passé. Elle permet d’accéder à des parties de la psyché qui ne peuvent être atteintes dans des conditions normales.

Je l’utilise dans le cas de Valérie pour soulager ses troubles d’anxiété, de stress chronique et de tension qui sont dues à son déséquilibre Vata et son mode de vie en général.

Un traitement ayurvédique

Je lui ai également proposer un traitement ayurvédique appelé Kati Vasti qui est un traitement ayurvédique traditionnel utilisé pour les maux de dos et les troubles de la région lombo-sacrée, notamment les hernies discales, la spondylose lombaire, la sciatique, les problèmes de colonne vertébrale, etc…. Nous avons fait ce traitement pendant 7 jours à suivre.

Conclusion

Valérie a bien tenue le challenge des 3 semaines, ce qui n’était pas facile pour elle. Elle qui aime tellement bouger partout mais aussi probablement la source de son mal.

Au bout d’1 semaine, la sensation de tension derrière la cuisse avait disparue mais elle ressentait toujours un léger trajet du haut des fesses à l’arrière de la cuisse.

Au bout de 3 semaines, sa sciatique avait complétement disparue.

Elle a également changé son régime alimentaire et préparé ses repas la veille pour les emmener au travail. Valerie s’accorde du repos et aujourd’hui elle a même intégré 2 séances de yoga nidra à la place des 2 séances d’Ashtanga.

Elle a pris de conscience que les moments de repos et de douceur étaient nécessaires pour maintenir sa santé, soutenir son corps et son mental. Elle a plus d’énergie, de clarté et est plus positive car elle fait également du pranayama tous les jours depuis cet épisode.

Dire que se sont que les postures de yoga qui lui ont permis de guérir …cela a certainement contribué mais je pense qu’une approche complète doit être engagée.

Le corps doit être entendu dans sa globalité : mental, émotions, l’aspect physique, la nourriture que l’on donne à notre corps et son mode de vie. L’intelligence du corps s’applique en s’auto-guérissant, à conditions de le respecter.

Si vous vous intéressez au yoga et aux pathologies je ne peux que vous indiquer l’excellent blog de Muriel Adapter son Yoga, vous y trouverez des informations concrètes pour adapter sa pratique. Son blog est une mine d’informations bien utiles. En complément de mon article, je ne peux que vous conseiller la lecture de Etirement du piriforme : un exercice efficace contre la sciatique?  Ou encore Lombalgie Aiguë : un flow pour mon lumbago!.

References

Measure of Significance of Holotropic Breathwork in the Development of Self-Awareness

An Argument for the use of Holotropic Breathwork as an Adjunct to Psychotherapy

Exploring the Therapeutic Benefits of Pranayama (Yogic Breathing): A Systematic Review

Health Impacts of Yoga and Pranayama: A State-of-the-Art Review

A clinical study on the effect of ksheera vaitharana vasti in the management of gridrasi w.s.r. to sciatica

Yoga as a treatment for chronic low back pain: A systematic review of the literature

A preliminary clinical evaluation of external snehan and asanas in the patients of sciatica

A clinical comparative study of Matra Vasti and Vaitran Vasti in the treatment of Gridhrasi w.s.r to Sciatica

Sadhana: causes of failure

Sadhana Practice

Overeating, exertion, talkativeness, adhering to rules, being in the company of common people and unsteadiness (wavering mind) are the six (causes) which destroy yoga.

Ida Pingala Sushumna

According to Hatha yoga there are six major factors which lead to failure in sadhana, and prevent yoga, or union, from occurring.

In hatha yoga, union means uniting the two energy forces in the body, i.e., the pranic and mental energy flowing in Ida and Pingala nadis. Usually, these two forces do not operate simultaneously; either the mental force predominates or the vital energy is dominant.

Hatha yoga is the process of balancing the flow of these two alternating forces to bring perfect physical and mental equilibrium and awakening of sushumna and kundalini.

Union of the 2 energies

All branches of yoga unite these two energies and channelize them through the third nadi, sushumna. The three nadis, Ida, Pingala and Sushumna, terminate in ajna chakra, the psychic center which is situated in the region of the medulla oblongata and the pineal gland.

Through the practice of yoga, Ida and Pingala are equalized, Sushumna is activated and ajna chakra is awakened. Ida is connected to the left nostril and the right brain hemisphere. Pingala is connected to the right nostril and the left-brain hemisphere. In the same way that the right hemisphere governs the left side of the body, on a pranic level ida also controls the functions of the left side of the body. Likewise, pingala and the left hemisphere govern the right side of the body.

Just as the brain hemispheres and the nostrils alternate their functions in ninety-minute cycles, so do Ida and Pingala. Ida and the right hemisphere activate an introverted state of awareness: orientation in space, artistic, creative and musical ability. Conversely, pingala and the left hemisphere externalize the awareness. Your approach becomes logical, sequential, mathematical and analytical.

Ida nadi controls the subconscious activities, whereas Pingala is responsible for the conscious and dynamic functions. When these forces are balanced and operating simultaneously, then both nostrils are active.

This indicates that Sushumna nadi is functioning. Usually this occurs for one to four minutes between each ninety-minute cycle.

The purpose of Hatha yoga practice

Yoga practice and sadhana

Hatha yoga practice is to increase the duration and flow of Sushumna and the period when both nostrils flow simultaneously so that a balance is created in the physical and mental functions. When the mind and body are not functioning in harmony, there is a division between the physical and mental rhythms, which inevitably leads to sickness.

When a sadhaka is in the process of uniting the two opposite forces of Ida and Pingala, he must avoid all activities which waste energy and distract the mind.

The 6 major factors causing failure in sadhana

Overeating

One major obstacle to yoga (or union) is overeating. When the body is overloaded with food, it becomes sluggish and the mind becomes dull. Over a period of time toxins build up in the body, constipation sets in and the whole physical/mental system becomes blocked.

If the body is toxic and lethargic, how can you expect to make progress in sadhana?

Whatever sadhana you do will act as a purification, you will just be spending your time removing toxins and disease.

However, if you avoid overeating and its consequences, then the sadhana you are doing will help you to progress more quickly.

Swami Sivananda and many other yogis have said that the stomach should be half filled with food, one quarter with water and one quarter with air.

Overstraining

The next advice is that the hatha yogi should avoid overexerting or overstraining the body and mind. Hard physical labor or intense mental work taxes one of the energy systems and can create further imbalance between the two energies.

The hatha yogi has to conserve and build up his store of energy for spiritual purposes. And should not waste it in performing any unnecessary physical or mental feats.

Talkativeness

Too much talking dissipates vital energy and wastes time which could be better spent in awakening the inner awareness. Gossiping with people who have low morals, base consciousness and sensuous desires cannot enlighten your soul, rather, their negative vibrations may influence you. Social situations and irrelevant discussions definitely distract the mind from sadhana.

Psychorigidity

Although Swatmarama advises that a sadhaka should not adhere to strict rules and regulations, the guru’s instructions must be followed. As far as social rituals and religious doctrines are concerned, it is unnecessary that they be maintained for spiritual progress. Sadhana is not dependent on social morals nor are its effects promoted by religious practices. Adhering to rules makes one ‘narrow minded.’ Yoga is meant to expand the consciousness, not to limit it. A yogi should have a free and open mind.

If you are accustomed to taking a cold bath every morning before practice, and one day you have no water… You should not be disturbed, take a bath when you can get water. Your mind should be flexible and you should be able to adjust to circumstances.

Unsteadiness

Unsteadiness means an imbalanced body metabolism, inability to hold one posture for a period of time, and a wavering mind. Obviously yoga cannot be achieved under these conditions. When there is physical, mental, emotional and psychic imbalance, the energy is dispersed. But if the energy is properly channelized, all the bodily systems become stable, and physical and mental steadiness develop automatically. Unsteadiness also means wavering willpower.

Inconstancy and irregularity

One day you get up at 3 a.m. and the next morning you sleep in till 7 a.m. because you feel lazy. When there is inconsistency and irregularity in lifestyle further imbalance in the body will ensue. An unswerving mind and steady body cultivate yoga.

If you can live in a hermitage as described in the previous sloka, all these obstacles will be avoided naturally. However, if you are unable to live in such a place, try to develop the habit of avoiding all activities which are useless. All activities which are time consuming and energy depleting. Try to channelize all your desires and actions into spiritual ventures.

Apart from these obstacles, the Tantraraja Tantra mentions that:

“The six obstacles to yoga are kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (infatuation), abhimana (pride), mada (arrogance).”

The six obstacles described in Hatha yoga and in tantra are interwoven and interlinked. Those of tantra have a broader scope and pinpoint the obstacle to actually be the mental attitude.

https://stylesatlife.com/articles/sadhana-yoga/

https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/wisdom/article/bhairavi-sadhana-significance-benefits

How to learn Sadhana

What is Hatha yoga?

So what is Hatha Yoga fo real? That’s what they don’t tell you in the West, or take the time to explain to you because everyone is running around and doing Hatha as a physical exercise.

Understand hatha Yoga for a better practice and health results

Hatha is not just the physical expression of the body.

With the physical practice of yoga, you cannot benefit from its benefits because you are not taught it in the right way.

Maybe also that people are not ready to listen to it because it calls our spiritual and physical part, yet these last 2 are inseparable, whether we like it or not.

This spiritual part is also the energy in us and that which surrounds us and this energy which surrounds us is part of us.

Why do we say “today I have no energy”, it is because we feel our level of vitality and yet it is not palpable is it?

Hatha yoga purifies

In order to purify the mind, it is necessary for the body as a whole to undergo a complete purification process.

Hatha yoga, in its traditional practice, is the science of purification, not just one type of purification but 6 different impurities.

When you rid the body of these impurities, the nadis* function and the different pranas* are released. Then they travel as wave frequencies through the channels of the physical structure (nadis), traveling to the brain.

*- Nadis: channels through which, in traditional Indian medicine and spiritual theory, the energies such as prana of the physical body, the subtle body and the causal body are said to flow)

*Prana: considered as a life-giving force. Prana is seen as a universal energy which flows in currents in and around the body.

Yoga has proven to be very effective in the treatment of many diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, depression, back pain, schizophrenia, migraines, hormonal imbalances, low back pain…

Hatha yoga balances

What is Hatha yoga: balance activities and process of body, mind and energies

The main objective of hatha yoga is to create an interaction: it is to find the absolute balance between the activities and the processes of the physical body, the spirit and the energy.

When this balance is created, the impulses generated call for the awakening of the central force, sushumna nadi, responsible for the evolution of human consciousness.

And if hatha yoga is not used for this purpose, its true purpose is lost.

The meaning of Hatha Yoga

Hatha is done by “Ha” and “Tha”, a combination of 2 bija mantras.

“Ha represents prana (life force) and the sun, heating.

“Tha” represents the spirit, and also our lunar, cooling side.

It refers to the balance of the masculine aspects: active, warm, solar, and feminine: receptive, fresh, lunar, present in each of us.

So Hatha means the union of pranic and mental forces.

Aparte…

What happens internally every time you start thinking?

If you’ve never thought about it, start thinking now.

What is thought?

What happens in us when a thought arises and the thought diminishes, and when one is replaced by another, or when the thoughts intersect?

This is called the interaction between Ha and tha, prana and mental forces.

What is Hatha Yoga: harmonizing prana and mind

In hatha yoga there is the concept of harmonizing the two energies, as they normally remain in an unbalanced and unharmonized form.

The prana force can be predominant and the mental force can be subordinate and vice versa.

If the force of prana is too great then people develop psychic disorders orillnesses, when the spirit is too high people get angry, quarrel, create conflicts, even cause murders, crimes, all kinds of violent behavior. This is the effect of imbalance.

The concept of Hatha yoga is to bring harmony between these 2 forces called ida (nadis) and pingala.

Ida and pingala

The 3 main Nadis : ida, pingala, sushumna

In hatha yoga, union means the union of the two energetic forces of the body, that is to say the pranic and mental energy circulating in the ida and pingala nadis, as said before.

Usually these two forces do not act simultaneously because either the mental force predominates or the vital energy is dominant.

Hatha yoga is the process of balancing the flow of these two forces to bring about perfect physical and mental balance as well as the awakening of sushumna and kundalini.

All branches of yoga unite these two energies and channel them through the third nadi, sushumna.

The three main nadis

The three main nadis: ida, pingala and sushumna, end with the ajna chakra, the psychic center located in the region of the medulla oblongata and the pineal gland.

Through the practice of yoga, ida and pingala are balanced, sushumna is activated and ajna chakra is awakened.

Ida is connected to the left nostril and the right hemisphere of the brain.

Pingala is connected to the right nostril and the left hemisphere of the brain.

In the same way that the right hemisphere governs the left side of the body, at the pranic level ida also controls the functions of the left side of the body.

Pingala and the left hemisphere govern the right side of the body.

Just as the cerebral hemispheres and nostrils alternate their functioning in a ninety-minute cycle, so do ida and pingala.

Ida and the right hemisphere activate an introverted state of consciousness: orientation in space, artistic, creative and musical ability.

Conversely, pingala and the left hemisphere externalize consciousness.

Your approach becomes logical, sequential, mathematical and analytical.

Ida nadi controls subconscious activities, while pingala is responsible for conscious and dynamic functions.

When these forces are balanced and working simultaneously, both nostrils are active. This indicates that sushumna nadi is working.

Small test: position your index finger below your nostrils: do you feel the flow of air coming out of one nostril greater than the other or is the flow of air coming out of your nostrils equal for both?

Cycle Length

Usually this happens for one to four minutes between each ninety minute cycle.

The object of hatha yoga practice is to increase the duration and flow of sushumna and the period during which both nostrils flow simultaneously so that a balance is created in physical and mental functions.

When the mind and body do not work in harmony, there is a split between physical and mental rhythms, which inevitably leads eventually to disease.

You should always keep in mind that body, mind and soul are not 3, they are 1.

At some level of existence you see the body.

On another level, you perceive it as a spirit.

You should never regard the body as different from the mind.

To achieve this: the shatkarmas

In hatha yoga, we first take care of the body and purify it through 6 methods. The most important point is that the nadis must be purified.

Just as a machine produces waste, our body continually produces wastes. This waste is of 3 types: mucus, gas and acidity.

If we cleanse the body internally from time to time, the excesses of the 3 wastes products are eliminated and their formation is regulated and balanced. Then good health can be maintained.

It is in this sense that the shatkarmas are of very great importance. Cleansing the body of the 3 types of imbalance in the system is an important aspect of hatha yoga and therapy.

These 6 hatha yoga kriyas (neti, dhauti, basti, kapalbhati, nauli and trataka) are also necessary for spiritual aspirants.

What is Hatha Yoga: controlling the mind by controlling prana

Indian philosophies were very aware of the difficulty of controlling the fluctuations of the mind.

She first defined the mental structure and then defined methods to relieve the monkey spirit.

Today our Western theories of personal, spiritual and psychological development have largely copied what had been defined centuries before in India.

The mind, you can handle it for a while, but you can’t always be successful all the time.

By controlling the prana (breath), the mind is automatically controlled. Prana and mind influence each other. When the prna are agitated, it affects the mind and vice versa.

Some people want to control the mind without wanting to control prana. Maybe a few people will do it, but most people of peace can’t control the mind with the mind. The more they try, the more the split grows.

Sometimes you are inspired. You feel very good, very focused, but this is not everyday practice… Practicing asanas and pranayama is the solution.

By practicing them, the mind is conquered automatically.

Hatha yoga is a very important health science. It is true that the practices require more involvement and effort from the patient than conventional therapies, but in terms of results, they are positive and permanent. It is healthier to save the huge expense of drugs, and these practices are certainly more worthwhile than damaging the body with chemicals that could be avoided for many symptoms and illnesses.

Unification Method

What makes this method of treatment so powerful and effective is that it works on the principle of harmony and unification, rather than diversity.

The 3 important principles on which physical and mental therapy are based are:

1. bestow absolute health on a part or system of the body thus influencing the rest of the body

2. balance the pole of positive and negative energy. (ida and pingala, prana and apana)

3. purify the body of the 3 types of waste.

Physical and mental therapy is one of the most important achievements of hatha yoga, which has been successful in diseases like asthma, diabetes and blood pressure, epilepsy, hysteria, rheumatism and many more. other conditions of a chronic and constitutional nature.

What has been discovered recently is that asanas and pranayama are more powerful and effective in controlling the whole body.

These are the first steps that allow us not only to modify the mechanism of an element, but also to take control of the total structure of the brain and the mind, the control system that allows us to direct all aspects of our life and the energy in it.

What is Hatha Yoga: a therapeutic science

Hatha yoga improves physical and mental health

Over the past 40 years, Hatha yoga has been accepted as a therapeutic science all over the world and many scientific studies have been conducted in this field. Today we teach yoga to people because it is very necessary. The man fells ill and medical science alone cannot meet the challenge. Hatha yoga, however, helps everyone.

Behind every sick man there is a spiritual man, a diabetic a yogi, a man suffering from depression, there is a seeker.

Hatha yoga improves physical health, but not only is it not enough, it also improves mental health.

Conclusion

Many scientific studies have been conducted in this area.

Source: Samanvaya 2022: conference on integrative medicine for Humanity and wellness.

Today, yoga is one of the integrated sciences in hospitals in the United States and now in various countries (Canada, New Zealand for example, etc.), because it allows improvement in coordination with health professionals. conventional medicine and improve the conditions of patients.

Or conversely, where conventional medicine fails, yoga improves the patient’s condition.

Yoga is a therapy that it is time to integrate more widely into health systems. There is no proof to give but scientific studies to read. They don’t cheat.

Today we teach yoga to people because it is more than necessary to improve our conditions.

The man has fallen ill and medical science is no longer able to meet the challenge alone.

Hatha yoga, however, has and does help everyone.

Hatha yoga is a great science that everyone can practice according to their own abilities.

Maybe not all the techniques because they require the presence of a teacher, but at least some can be practiced every day.

Hatha yoga techniques, along with asanas and some pranayama, are sufficient for most people.

It is necessary to practice these preparatory steps first.

Then you can go further. If the preparation is perfect, it will not be necessary to learn meditation from anyone because then it will be natural.

By practicing yoga your mind will be lifted into a new realm of awareness.

References

Exploring the Therapeutic Benefits of Pranayama (Yogic Breathing): A Systematic Review

Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life

Effects of various Praṇayama on cardiovascular and autonomic variables. 

Sudarshan Kriya Yogic breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression. Part II–clinical applications and guidelines

Effect of Sheetali pranayama on cardiac autonomic function among patients with primary hypertension – A randomized controlled trial

Immediate effect of Kapalbhathi pranayama on short term heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy volunteers

Yoga breathing, meditation, and longevity

Effect of pranayama breathing technique on asthma control, pulmonary function, and quality of life: A single-blind, randomized, controlled trial

Effects of Yoga Respiratory Practice ( Bhastrika pranayama) on Anxiety, Affect, and Brain Functional Connectivity and Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Ayurveda and yoga for fall season

Yoga for fall, what does that means? We are all living in the microcosm depending on macrocosm, so seasons have an impact on all beings. We can see Nature change as much as we change to its rhythm. It is therefore important to bring the ritucharya in our life to maintain the balance of our doshas.

Rituacharya is the ancient Ayurvedic practice. “Ritu” means season and “charya” means Regimen or discipline.

Ritucharya consists of lifestyle and ayurvedic diet routine to cope with the bodily and mental impacts caused by seasonal changes.

Fall season qualities or gunas

  • Dry
  • Rough
  • Windy
  • Erratic
  • Cool
  • Subtle and clear.

All these qualities are also Vata qualities. And in Ayurveda, same qualities increases the effect of them, then Autumn increase Vata dosha.

What to do to balance Vata for fall?

Balance the climate effects by appropriate lifestyle choices and diet:

  • Bring more stability, warmth, oiliness, deep nourishment, positive realtionships. Most important is to have a sense of stability, routine and groundedness.
  • Try to do the things at the same time daily: wake-up, exercise, meals, go to bed…
  • Massage yourself to calm your nervous sytem…

Diet should be:

  • Nourishing, oily and warmth.
  • Avoid fasting,
  • Use favor sweet, sour and salty tastes.
  • Breakfast of cooked grains (oatmeal, tapioca, cream of rice or wheat…)
  • Lunches and dinners : steamed veg, hearty grains, soups and stews are grounding and moisturizing. Organic dairy product and seeds are also beneficial.
  • No process or industrial food, only fresh and homemade as much as possible

Herbs:

  • Ashwaganda, chyavanprash, ginger tea, cumin, coriander and cumin tea.

Avoid or in moderation:

  • Raw food, cold or frozen foods, bitter, pungent and astringent tastes.

Bring Yoga and meditation in your daily routine:

  • For 10 to 15 min for starting.
  • Practices Vata pacifying yoga, and pranayama like nadi shodhana…
  • Slow sun salutation [here a video of complete yoga session with a modify sun salutation at 56:57 min in the video]
  • Tadasana
  • Bitilasana
  • Marjaryasana
  • Bhujangasana

  • Vajrasana
  • Balasana

  • Viparita karani
  • Savasana for 20 minutes

It is better to practice with a qualified and experienced yoga teacher to practice the asana according to your body, to avoid injuries and also to get the full health benefits from them.

For what benefits?

Learning pranayama, yoga philosophy and lifestyle will bring peace in your mind.

You learn how to manage your emotions and control your monkey mind.

You will also cure and bring calm into your body.

Practice smoothly, gently with conscious and you will rejuvenate and help your nervous system.

Moreover, we all have to learn how to invest in your own health and vitality. We all stand to benefit from aligning ourselves with the rhythms of nature all the year.

We can avoid all symptoms and diseases linked to seasons by our diet and lifestyle

These are general tips many can be down, unfortunately it is not in 1 article that you can get all the benefits of yoga and ayurveda.

Do a good start and set your Ayurvedic and yoga routine, it is simple and so beneficial.

I can only advise you to start ayurvedic and yogic practices as soon as possible to maintain your good health over time, to support your immune system and by the same token your homeostasis

  • For yoga lessons [stress and mental management, hormones balancing, overweight]: click here to book your 1st free session
  • For ayurveda counselling : Click here to book your free call
  • For learning ayurveda, beneficial for all: click here to know more about the program

Be love, be nice and compassionate.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Julie