Yoga

Okay, so in my last blog ( Jal Neti Part-1 ), I covered the following topics :- Introduction  Selection of the Neti Pot Preparation of water  WHY SALT WATER IS USED INSTEAD OF ORDINARY WATER ? Position of hand while holding the Neti pot  How to do it :- Removing the nozzle  Kapaalbhati kriya for drying the nostrils. Benefits of Jal Neti  :- √ Removes mucous and pollution from the nasal passages allowing air to flow without obstruction. √ Helps and prevent manage respiratory tract diseases and makes respiratory system stronger. √ Maintains good health for the eyes, ears and throat. √ Relieves muscular tension of the face and helps the practitioner to maintain a fresh and youthful appearance. √ Has a calming and soothing influence on the brain. √ Alleviates anxiety, anger and depression. √ Removes drowsiness and makes the head feel light and fresh. √ Stimulates the various nerve endings in the nose improving the sense of smell. √ A balance is brought between the right and the left nostril and the corresponding left and right brain hemispheres, inducing a state of harmony and balance throughout the body and mind. √ Awakes the ajna chakra. √  Effective in dealing with asthma and bronchitis  making it easier for the patients to breathe. √ Cools down the brain by drawing out excessive heat and even relieves you from migraine. Along with benefits there are some precautions and contradictions also which must not be neglected while performing. They are listed below as follows. Precautions :- Do not inhale from the nose while practicing it else the water will get straight up to the brain creating future problems. The water should only pass through the nostrils. If any water enters the throat or mouth, it causes no harm but indicates that the position of the head needs to be adjusted. Make sure that the nose is properly dried after the practice. Otherwise the nasal passages sinuses may become irritated and manifest the symptoms of a cold.   Contradictions :-  ∆ Those who suffer from chronic bleeding should avoid it before it is advised by a competent teacher. ∆ Those who consistently have great difficulty passing water through the nose may have a structural blockage and should seek expert advice. ∆ People prone to or having ear infections should not do Neti. ∆ Neti should be avoided when the nose is totally blocked during flu, colds or sinuses. So this was all about Neti blog part 2 and with these two blogs this topic is over will come up with another topic very soon.   Shruti Yoga Teacher Panchkarma Therapist Yoga and Wellness Therapist

Introduction :- Yoga and Ayurveda suggest various ways to cleanse your body so that it can function better. One of the age-old techniques that have been used to clean the respiratory system and remove toxins from the nasal passage is called Jal Neti. It is one of the six purification procedures or ‘Shatkarmas’. It is a natural technique used by yogis to prevent respiratory ailments and most importantly, to be able to breathe well. Yogis have practiced it for centuries and still vouch for its powerful benefits. Selection of the Neti Pot :- For neti a special neti lota (rounded vessel) called as ‘Neti Pot’ should be used. This pot can be of plastic, pottery, brass or any other vessel which doesn’t contaminate the water. One thing you must keep in mind while selecting the pot that the nozzel on the end of the spout should fit comfortably into the nostril so that the water doesn’t leak out. You can even use a teapot only if it’s tip is not too large or sharp. Selection of water : The water should be pure, at body temperature i.e. neither too hot nor too cold just luke warm and it must thoroughly mixed with salt in the proportion of one teaspoon per half liter of water. WHY SALT WATER IS USED INSTEAD OF ORDINARY WATER ? The reason is very simple and very practical. Salt water has a much higher osmotic pressure than ordinary water and its addition of ensures the osmotic pressure of the water is equal to that of the body fluids which means that salt water is not easily absorbed into the delicate blood vessels and membranes in the nose, thereby minimizing any irritation to the mucous membrane. A painful or burning sensation is an indication of too little or too much in the salt water. If you try this practice with ordinary water you will discover for yourself a discomfort or a little pain in the nose. So, Jal Neti is basically cleansing your nasal path to remove the mucous and blockages. It involves pouring water in one nostril and flushing it out from the other nostril helping you keep the nasal passage clean. It is a great way to cleanse your sinuses and consequently keep the respiratory tract clear of dirt and toxins. The sinus cavities get clogged with impurities which may cause inflammation, infections and other respiratory disorders. Position of hand while holding the Neti pot shown in the picture : How to do it :- First of all stand while keeping your both feet together holding the neti pot in one hand. You can also sit in Kagasana having 1 foot distance between legs or just stand simply keeping both feet shoulder width apart. Lean forward from the lower back. Insert the nozzle of the pot into the nostril which is active at that moment. Tilt the neti pot while raising the elbow of the hand which is holding the neti pot so that the water runs into the nostril and not down the face. Let the water flow in through one nostril and out through the other nostril. Breathe through the mouth throughout the practice. The same thing should start from other side. Initially, it should be practiced under the guidance of a yoga expert.   REMOVING THE NOZZLE :- Whenever remove the nozzle from the nostril, centre the head and let the water run out of the nose. Remove any mucus from the nose by blowing gently. Repeat with the opposite nostril. After finishing from both side, do forceful exhalation (kapaalbhaati kriya) from both the nostrils. After completing this process, the nostrils must be thoroughly dried. So this was all about Neti blog part 1 rest will be in the second blog on the same topic. Next blog will be having its benefits and precautions. Shruti Yoga Teacher Panchkarma Therapist Yog and Wellness Therapist  

In our very active modern lives, it’s very easy to have our nervous systems on high gear, from the blue light of our computers and phones to ads on TV’s  This influences, among other things like it propitiates the aging speed of our bodies and derails things such as digestion or our ability to produce essential hormones.   Often at the end of the yoga class while in seated position the teacher will ask you to rub your hands together this will create the heat and then place them on your eyes and this activity feels so much relief. It feels a bit like an internal light switch as if you dimmed the lights inside your body mind. This practice is known as Palming. Palming  was actually invented by Tibetan yogis, is one of the most relaxing things you can do for your eyes  Our hands are said to be healing. However their power isn’t limited to spiritual masters. Everyone can use their hands to heal themselves Benefits of Palming : You may notice that palming relaxes more than your eyes as if your shoulders, neck, and other tight spots start to let go while you palm. Eyestrain can go hand in hand with rigidity all through the body. Many yoga teachers also note this connection of eye strain with other body tensions. Palming soothes the optic nerve, which is often irritated. How to do palming ? •Sit in any crossed leg position when in office it’s even okay to sit on a chair & just rub your hands together vigorously to warm them. •Place your palms over your eyes. Visualize total blackness, and breathe deeply. Let the blackness permeate everything. You may see all kinds of lights, which is an indication of irritation in the optic nerve. According to Ayurveda when our nervous systems are on high pace it means we experience too much stress that’s when we actually need to pause and find ways to calm ourselves down and warm .soothe the nervous system with palming Palming just a few minutes in the morning and at night, or while at work can be very restful. All you have to do is close your eyes under your hands and clear your mind and concentrate on relaxing.Just feel the warmth coming from your palms but do not press on your eyes with your hands. Here what we’re actually experiencing is DPS or Deep Pressure Stimulation which refers to putting firm but gentle pressure on a part of body. Some other therapies involving the DPS are : Massage, Blinking or Shifting The power of DPS for quick stress relief in Yoga is beyond. Deep pressure stimulation helps our body to leave a state of high alert. When you’re in a state of high alert, your Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is working. It manages your “fight or flight” response. Once you leave this high – alert state, you enter into a state of rest and digest when your Parasympathetic nervous system takes over. Scientifically,  our hands are filled with sensitive nerve endings that allow us to feel skin contact  and also to feel pain and temperature. They send messages to the nervous system.The nervous system allows our bodies to respond to various kinds of stimuliis okay but, is palming good for kids ? Yes, definetely its a great exercise for the kids we must teach our kids to do palming while playing. as kids nowadays are always busy on screen either on smart phones for online studies or sticking at the TV screens for their favorite cartoon shows even as a parent we all want our kids to be smart and updated but not at the cost of their eye health right. So palming  is the thing for them. Every parent must make their child habitual to this simple activity. So this was all about this blog hope the information was useful. thankyou and keep reading my articles. Shruti Yoga Instructor Acupressure Therapist