Editorial by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra in Yoga and Total Health: July 2009 ♥

Dharma or Duty, what is it? In Dr. Jayadeva's words

Editorial on duty in the Yoga and Total Health Magazine, January 1988 

 by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

Bhujangasana - the cobra pose

Bhujang means cobra in Sanskrit, and the movements in Bhujangasana are based on the way a cobra raises its hood.

Benefits:  

This asana promotes circulation to the abdominal region and strengthens the pancreas, liver and other organs in the digestive system. It relieves constipation, flatulence and other abdominal disorders. It corrects minor vertebral displacements and makes the spine flexible.

Who shouldn't be practising bhujangasana: 

This asana must not be performed by people suffering from cardiac problems, hernia, hypertension, lordotic spine (in short, those with a reaaaaally big paunch), root canal and central canal stenosis, tight para-spinals. During menstruation and advanced pregnancy, bhujangasana is contra-indicated.

Steps:

1.    Lie down on your abdomen with your forehead on the ground, legs stretched out, toes flat on the ground, pointing out and heels together. Place your palms on the floor close to your chest. Your fingertips in line with your shoulders, elbows inwards, towards the body.

1.    Slowly, as you inhale to the count of 3 seconds, begin lifting your head and shoulders backwards and try not to rest your weight on your hands, coming up purely on the strength of your spine. Push with your palms, straighten your elbows and try to keep your feet together.

1.    Hold your breath for 6 seconds and exhaling for 3 seconds return to start position and relax for 5-10 seconds. Practice the asana three times daily and relax between rounds.

While in the final posture, one will feel some pressure in the lower back and the abdominal region. This is an indication that you’re doing it right.

http://ajournalistreveals.com/bhujangasana/

Sukhasana (सुखासन)

In India, Sukhasana is not only a common manner of sitting on the floor with legs crossed, but it is also a meditative posture. Gentle stretching exercises for the lower limbs, also help one prepare for the posture.

Sukhasana

Begin by sitting legs crossed at the ankle. Place right heel below the left thigh and vice versa.

Place palms on the knees or thighs, keeping elbows relaxed. Keep the spine erect, with the chin parallel to the ground. Pay attention to the flow of your breath.

“The idea is not to experience meditation, but rather to sit correctly even for a short period allowing our mind to be quiet, inward” believes Dr. Jayadeva[1].

A tight lower back and hamstrings can make one slouch, struggling to sit straight, as one is seated in Sukhasana, and soon it can begin to feel like dukhasana - full of pain. At such times, rolling a turkish towel tightly or using a small cushion, and placing it at the edge of the butt helps sit erect.

“The most vital things in life are the simplest… Sukhasana may be the simplest meditative posture. But sitting in this posture and understanding oneself is one of the greatest things a human being can do” Pradip Kumar[2].

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[1] Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra: 21 day better living course

[2] A.B.Pradip Kumar: Sukhasana – Greatness in Simplicity – published in Yoga and Total Health (August 1991) 

Herbal Chai!

Yoga and Ayurved recommend avoiding caffeine in all forms. Apart from the health benefits, the best part of getting over chai - coffee is not having a splitting headache when you don't get your daily dose of the beverage. You just wake up fresh and awake all by yourself, goodbye headaches and Groucho Marx.

Here's the recipe of Herbal Milk Tea that we is served at The Yoga Institute in place of tea. Try some!

Serves 2:

Ingredients:

2 cups water
1 cup milk
1/2 - 1 inch piece of ginger
3-4 lemon grass leaves cut
4-5 mint leaves - if you'd like
3 tsp jaggery

Method:

1. Add any one or two of the above herbs into two cups of  water.
2. Add jaggery and bring to a boil, letting it simmer for a minute or two. Turn off the fire and set aside.
3. Warm milk in a separate vessel.
4. Strain the herbal water, and add the warm milk.
5. Mix. Serve. Relish!

Santosh = संतोष = Contentment

The practice of santosh or contentment brings tranquility, the ability to look inward. And while contentment is not looking for more, it does not imply getting complacent in life. 

संतोषादनुत्तमसुखलाभ: ॥ ४२
                    - The Yoga Sutra - Verse 42 Samadhi Pad

Transliteration: Santoshaad anuttamah sukhalaabhah

|| Contentment endows extreme happiness ||

In a world where, the world, is not enough, and experiencing unhappiness in spite of having everything, santosh might just be the solace we seek.

Full Comic at: http://zenpencils.com/comic/kalam/