Traditional Medicine in Asia

Traditional Medicine in Asia
“The mind and body are not separate
entities, although there is a tendency to
think and act as if they are. The gross form
of the mind is the body and the subtle form
of the body is the mind. The practice of
asana integrates and harmonizes the two.
“Both the body and the mind harbour
knots. Every mental knot has a corresponding
physical muscular knot and vice
versa. The aim of asana is to release these
knots. Asanas release mental tensions by
dealing with them on the physical level,
acting somato-psychically through the
body to the mind. For example, emotional
tensions and suppression can tighten up
and block the smooth functioning of the
lungs, diaphragm and breathing process,
contributing to a very debilitating form of
illness in the form of asthma.
“Muscular knots can occur anywhere
in the body: tightness of the neck leading to
cervical spondylosis, or of the face as
neuralgia, etc. A well chosen set of asanas,
combined with pranayama, shatkarmas,
meditation and Yoga nidra, is most effective
in eliminating these knots, tackling them
from both the physical and mental levels.
The result is the release of dormant energy;
the body becomes full of vitality and strength,
the mind becomes light, creative, joyful and
balanced.
“Regular practice of asana maintains
the physical body in an optimum condition
and promotes health, even in an unhealthy
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Bhastrika Pranayama is known
as the bellows breath, bhastrika
means ‘bellows’ in Sanskrit.
Bhastrika rapidly increases the
vitality and warms the body,
just as the bellows increases the
heat of the fire.
body. Through asana practice the dormant
potential energy is released and
experienced as increased confidence in all
areas of life.”
Pranayama
Pranayama is generally defined as ‘breath
control’. Although this interpretation may
seem correct in view of the practices
involved, it does not convey the full
meaning of the term. Pranayama should
not be considered as mere breathing
practices to introduce more oxygen into the
lungs. It is the utilization of breathing to
influence the vitality of the body, and the
balance and calmness of the mind and
emotions. Four pranayamas are worthy
of mention in this respect.
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama is the
technique of blocking each nostril in turn
as the breathing goes on. The breath flows
in through the left nostril and out through
the right, then in through the right nostril
and out through the left, the eyes remaining
closed throughout. This practice balances
the emotions, and induces tranquillity of
the mind, clarity of thought, and improved
concentration. How does it create such
balance? The most likely explanation is this:
it has been clearly demonstrated that
breathing only through the right nostril
stimulates the left cerebral hemisphere and
breathing only through the left nostril
stimulates the right cerebral hemisphere.
Balancing the flows through both nostrils,
as in nadi shodhana, balances the two
sides of the brain, and with it, the thinking
and emotions. Nadi shodhana can become
quite powerful with advanced additions
such as breath holding and muscle locks.
Simple nadi shodhana can be done for
5–10 minutes.
Bhramari Pranayama consists of
blocking the ears with the fingers, and, with
the eyes closed, making a humming sound