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Energise The Intestines with Yogasanas
Exercise Cycling
A sure way to develop inner strength is to tone the abdominal region. Right under the skin, a sturdy wall of four pairs of abdominal muscles stretches over our internal organs. They are called external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique, rectus abdominis and transverse abdominis. Three of these form layers that encircle the abdomen and the fourth is a pair of longitudinal bands. These muscles assist breathing, align the pelvis, flex and rotate the trunk, keep the torso erect, support the lumbar spine and hold in the organs of digestion.
Abdominal Muscles Explained
The External Abdominal Oblique Layer runs diagonally from above to downward in the same direction as the external intercostals muscles. If you place your hands in the pockets of a short jacket with your fingers extended, the fingers will point in the direction of the external abdominal oblique muscle fibers. The external oblique muscles allow the trunk to twist, but to the opposite side of whichever external oblique is contracting.
For example, the right external oblique contracts to turn the body to the left.
The Internal Abdominal Oblique Layer, is in the middle. Its fibers also run diagonally but in the opposite direction from laterally and below to up and medially in the same direction as the internal intercostals muscles. For example, twisting the trunk to the left requires the left side internal oblique and the right side external oblique to contract together.
The Transversus Abdominis Muscles, the innermost third layer runs horizontally around the abdominal wall from back to front. You flex this muscle to pull in your belly. These three layers together act as a unit, helping to support the upper body and contributing to bending, twisting and turning in a logical fashion. The transversus abdominis also plays an important role in maintaining a toned abdominal wall. You engage this muscle when coughing, sneezing, laughing or exhaling forcefully. Pranayama practices involving forceful exhalations, like Kapalabhati and Bhastrika provide an excellent workout for the deep transversus.
To feel this muscle contract, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees slightly and place your fingers on your sides, just below the rib cage. Now cough and feel the muscles under your fingers contracting forcefully. To contract this muscle even further, try Uddiyana Bandha (Upward Abdominal Lock), Agni Sara Dhauti (Cleansing through Fire) and Nauli (Abdominal Churning), which are used to massage the abdominal organs.
The Rectus Abdominis Muscles (rectus means straight) run vertically on either side of the middle between the pubic bone and the sternum. The main function of the rectus abdominis is to move the body between the ribcage and the pelvis. It provides stability to the torso. The rectus abdominis muscle is the one that, when well defined, gives your stomach a six pack look. To feel this muscle, you can do Navasana, Paschimottanasana, Setu bandha Asana or Urdhva Dhanurasna.
OUR SACRED CENTER
The source of our vitality, the abdomen, is a sacred space in our bodies. It is an important center of energy and consciousness. Our thoughts and emotions are influenced by the gut. We have more nerve cells in the gut than we do in the combined remainder of the peripheral nervous system. In Kundalini Yoga the digestive organs, glands and the solar plexus of nerves are symbolized by Manipur Chakra. Its element is fire and its symbol is the blazing orb of the Sun. just as the external Sun is the source of life, energy and heat in our solar system, so our physical body and its metabolic processes are maintained by a healthy digestive fire, a blazing inner Sun. If this fire becomes weak, we suffer from sluggishness or malfunctions of the digestive system. We can have weakness in the body, indigestion, stomach, intestinal and colon problems.
REASONS
We live in a time where there is little encouragement for paying attention to our body’s natural energy levels and giving it what it needs. So often when we are really tired, we ignore our longing for rest and manipulate our bodies with caffeine, sugar and other stimulants to create a false sense of energy. We go on eating in the morning, noon, evening and night whenever we feel like. There is no rule applying to consumption of food. The rule for eating is that one should not eat second time till food taken once is digested but this discipline is not observed and hence we get constipation, gas, acidity and ulcer as a result of food remaining undigested. The result is food gets putrefied in the intestines, which results in chronic colitis.
THE FOUR FIRE YOGIC EXERCISES
Abdominal skin differs from much of the skin covering the rest of the body. It has a subcutaneous tissue that loves to hoard fat. Too much belly fat is unhealthy. The four fire exercises described below strengthen the abdominal region and protect the back. They relax and rejuvenate the nervous system and energize the body. Hence even if one finds these exercises little difficult, these must be done as these are of great use.
SITTING POSTION
Spread a blanket or a mat on the floor. Sit with legs straight. Make L shape of the hands (fingers together, thumbs apart) and keep them just behind the hips; palms down. Lean back & support yourself on the forearms. You can first take support from right hand, thereafter on the left hand. In this position shoulder and head will remain lifted up. Lift the whole body, which is situated under the navel.
First exercise
Bend both the legs from knees, raise them up off the floor and start cycling with natural breathing. Do 7 times clockwise and 7 times anti clockwise.
Second exercise (Churning of the Abdomen)
Inhale, raise both the legs off the floor to 90 degrees and rotate the body from the navel to the toes clockwise 7 times and anti clock wise 7 times with the breath. When the legs are up inhale and when the legs are down exhale. Pay more attention towards exhalation.
Third exercise
Inhale, bend the knees and bring them near the chest, then inhale again, raise the legs to 90 degrees and straighten them completely, exhale and lower the straightened leg in a forward movement, parallel to the floor. This is one round. Repeat it 7 times. Then do reverse movements 7 times.
Fourth exercise
Keeping the feet together extend the toes, feet and knees, inhale, raise both the legs to 90 degree while exhaling bring them back, not quite to the floor if your strength permits. Repeat 7 times or as many times as you can without strain. Concentrate on exhalation more, inhaling as required and always breathing evenly.
NOTE
To support the posture efficiently with intra- abdominal pressure, the diaphragm must be continuously active. If you watch your breathing carefully you will notice that the posture feels more powerful when you exhale. If you take a deep inhalation, you will immediately sense a loss of abdominal and diaphragmatic strength.
BENEFITS
These exercises increase blood oxygen and decrease blood carbon dioxide.They strengthen the digestive system, massage the abdominal muscles and help in reducing the size of belly. These are excellent for persons suffering from indigestion, constipation, acidity, excess wind or gas, lack of appetite and diabetes.Also useful for disorders of male or female reproductive system such as uterus problem, irregular or painful periods, menopause, hormones imbalances, leucorrhoea, itching, fungal infection, dryness, less sperm etc. Good for the preparation of pregnancy. One can start these exercises 6 months before conceiving (function of uterus become alright). Along with it do Omkar, Godohan Mudra and Utkatasana.
PRECAUTIONS
These practices should not be performed by people suffering from severe backache, back conditions such as sciatica, slipped disc, shoulder pain, high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, hiatal hernia, inguinal hernia, menstruation, pregnancy or soon after abdominal surgery. If there is any doubt please consult a competent Yoga therapist.
Courtesy: Dr. Rita Khanna
Aum Shanti
Exercises For Thigh Bones
Butterfly
Butterfly variation
The thigh bone in anatomy is called the "Femur." The word "Femur" is the Latin word for thigh. There are two femur bones, one in each thigh. The femur has a hollow area within which it contains morrow. The production of white blood cells (WBCs) and red blood cells (RBCs) occurs in the bone morrow of the bones of the thigh. From this bone marrow about 180 millions of RBCs are produced every day. During our daily life innumerable RBCs get destroyed and they are replaced by this factory inside the femur. Some production also occurs in the liver and the spleen during early life. But it is negligible later on. The mass production is inside the femur. RBCs and WBCs of the immune system protect the body against both infectious diseases and foreign materials.
Out of the 208 bones in the adult human body, the femur or thighbone is the longest, biggest and the strongest bone and extends from the hip to the knee. It has great amount of minerals and essential elements like 99% of calcium, 88% of phosphorus, low amount of copper, cobalt and other trace elements. Both the ends of the femur are attached on each side with different bones. The head of the femur joins with the cavity in the ileum. It is known as a ball and socket joint. At its lower end it joins with the tibia, fibula and with patella. These bones have two types of bones- compact outer part which is stronger and cancellous and the inner part which is lighter in weight and contains pores. This structure has extra ordinary strength.
The functions of the femur include creating the structure of the thigh, bearing weight, supporting movement of the legs, creating insertion points for muscles and forming blood cells within its bone marrow. Like in a big factory, continuous uninterrupted production of protective elements goes on for all 24 hours.
These bones start degenerating at about 48 years of age because of our being ignorant and negligent about this bone. For example many of our daily chores are done while standing- we use vacuum cleaner in standing position, clothes are washed in washing machines while standing, dishwasher cleans crockery while we stand, kitchens are designed to allow cooking while standing and even toilets are having western style seats. So where do you have the occasion to sit with folded knees? Yes, if we go to attend a gathering to mourn the dead, we may have to sit with folded knees & legs. But these days, chairs are provided there too! So the exercise of femur is lacking. Slowly the functioning of the femur is reduced and conditions that can afflict the femur include infection, trauma, rickets, osteoporosis, cancer, bone marrow disorders and genetic conditions.
SIMPLE EXERCISES
Femur bone is a very important bone. We can’t stand without this bone, what to talk of walking or running. If these bones are not given proper exercises, they will tend to contract, and there will be stiffness and heaviness in the body. Blood circulation and nerve force will consequently be impeded. Their malfunctioning will disturb the organs. We should remain conscious to protect it. If we make a habit to do the following exercises for sometime during the day, we can protect it all our life and maintain the right circulation in all the body parts.
BUTTERFLY AND ITS VARIATIONS:
1. Sit down on the ground by keeping the legs straight. Bend the legs from the knees in such a way that both the soles of the feet remain together, let the heels be nearer to the perineum. Interlock your fingers around the toes and move the knees up and down like the wings of the butterfly. Do it minimum 8-10 times. Breathe normally.
Note:-
As we do butterfly, the heels move away from the body unconsciously. Each time make conscious efforts to bring the heels closer to the body.
2. Same position but instead of holding the toes, place both hands on the respective knees. Hold the right knee by the right hand and the left knee by the left hand. Now move the knees up and down as done before. Do it minimum 8-10 times. Breathe normally.
3. (a) Sit by keeping the legs straight. Put the right leg on the left thigh. Hold the toes of the right foot by the left hand and hold the right knee by the right hand. Move the right knee up and down for eight to ten times. Breathe normally while doing this. Then rotate the right knee by right hand clockwise first for eight to ten times and then anti clockwise for eight to ten times. Inhale deeply while the knee moves towards the body and exhale while the knee moves away from the body. Then straighten the right leg.
(b)The same exercise should be repeated with the left leg also. For that put the left leg on the right thigh. Hold the left knee by the left hand. Move the left knee up and down for eight to ten times. Then rotate the left knee by left hand clockwise first eight to ten times and then anti clockwise eight to ten times. Inhale deeply while the knee moves towards the body and exhale while the knee moves away from the body. Then straighten the left leg.
Then try to sit in Padmasana (Lotus) by keeping the right leg on the left thigh and then left leg on the right thigh for sometime. If you can’t, then try half Padmasana for a few days. Slowly you’ll be able to sit in full Padmasana.
BENEFITS
These butterfly exercises are advantageous for joints of hips, knees as well as ankles. The working capacity of the legs increases because stiffness of joints decreases. Ladies get great advantages to their ovaries. When we perform this exercise it gives the flexibility to the inner thigh and pelvic muscles and also it is good for the lower hips, knees and ankles. Number of joints get lubricated and chances for arthritis and joint pains minimise.
Courtesy: Dr. Rita Khanna
Aum Shanti