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Yoga
Yoga is the art of meditation extended to the body. It is a form of flexibility
and concentration to allow your body to gain exercise and keep the mind fit
for realization. Yoga can help you relax sometimes better than even meditation
can because its stretching postures relieve tired muscles while you concentrate.
- A standard yoga posture is the lotus posture: instead of sitting cross-legged
the usual way, lift one foot and put it on top of the opposite thigh. You can tuck
the other underneath for now, but the full lotus posture is sitting cross-legged
with both feet on the thighs. This is the proper posture used to do meditation.
- Another yoga posture that helps relax (and also helps stomach aches) is to
simply sit on your feet. Sit with knees together with your legs folded under you
and sit on your heels with the toes pointing backward. Bend forward to try to
touch your forehead to the floor.
- Here is a yoga routine called the Surya Namaskar or Sun Salute, designed to
be done in the morning. It's a great stretch and should be done facing the sun (East):
Stand with feet together and hands folded as in prayer. Breathe out.
Breathe in as you lift your arms over your head and bend backwards as high
and as far as you can.
Breathe out as you bring your arms forward and reach down to touch your toes.
Now put your hands on the floor in front of you, and put your left leg back
behind you so you have your front knee bent (90 degree angle) and your back leg is straight
back with the toes on the ground. Tilt your head back and breathe in deeply.
Stay steady with your arms and lift and put your other leg behind you so you
look like you're going to do push-ups.
Exhale and lower yourself as if coming down from a pushup. Only your hands
and feet should touch the floor.
Inhale and stretch up so that your arms are straight and your head and torso
are up while your legs and feet are still on the floor. This is the Cobra position.
Get back on your toes and push your rear end up to make your body an upside-down
V - this is the mountain pose. Exhale.
Bring your right foot forward and leave your left leg back. Look up as you did before, inhaling.
Bring your left leg forward so that you are bending forward touching your toes again. Breathe out.
Rise slowly and inhale, stretching back behind you with arms extended.
Come back to the prayer position slowly with a slow sweep of your arms to your sides and then folded
in front of you, and exhale.
Repeat the sequence but this time putting the right leg back. Do 1 or more
rounds in the mornings, increasing as you can.
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