Holistic healing
Holistic healing is about exploring the best possible wellness options available to you.
It is about finding therapies that complement your existing medical care.
It may also be about finding solutions that replace your level of medical treatment.
Mudra Therapy
Mudra Therapy is another non-medical mode to treatment which helps without harming. Mudras are various postures of fingers and thumbs. in mudra therapy, different diseases are treated by holding and reatining the fingers and thumbs in different ways. This is simple measure surprisingly restores a state of balance in body and raises the level of the performer's resistance. with the patient's immunity thus strengthened, the disease has no other option but to flee.
Five Basic Elements
The universe is composed of five basic elements : space (or ether), air, fire, water and earth. In Ayurvedic terminology, these are called aakaash, vaayu, agni, jal and prithvi, respectively. Being a miniature universe, the human body, too, is composed of the same five elements.
Each of these five elements serves a specific and important function within the body :
(1) Aakaash (space) is an inactive element that manifests itself in the bodily cavities like the cranial cavity, the paranasal sinuses, the ear cavity, the buccal cavity (mouth), the thoracic cavity, the abdomen-pelvic cavity and the spaces -within tubular/bag-like organs. Aakaash creates room within the body so that the rest of the elements can act. Aakaash is also associated with sound and, therefore, hearing. Ear ailments (e.g., acute pain) are relieved by the manipulation of Aakaash element.
(2) Vaayu (air) is the element of movement. All movements : of the body and within the body, voluntary as well as involuntary, are effected by air. Air is also responsible for our thoughts and emotions and for the movement of electrical impulses along sensory and motor nerves. Air is related to the sense of touch and, therefore, to the skin. Disorders of movements (lacking as in paralysis or excessive as in Parkinson's disease) can be helped by the manipulation of air element.
(3) Agni (fire) element is responsible for the body-temperature and metabolism. Fire works on the alimentary system, causing thirst, hunger, digestion of food and assimilation of digested food. Fire is also associated with vision and, therefore, eyes. Disorders like loss of appetite, indigestion and fatness can be helped by the manipulation (reinforcement) of the fire element.
(4) Jal (water) element is the constituent of protoplasm (the jelly-like substance present within cells), blood, tears, saliva, digestive juices, sweat, urine, semen, cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) and fat. Water is also related to taste and, therefore, the tongue. Without water, the tongue cannot recognize various tastes. Disorders of water-metabolism within the body (e.g., dehydration or water-retention) can be helped by manipulating the water element.
(5) Prithvi (earth) element is the constituent of skin, hair, nails, bones, cartilage, muscles, etc. It is responsible for the body-mass. An excess of earth element causes obesity (overweight) whereas a deficiency causes emaciation (weight-loss). Earth is also associated with smell and, therefore, the nose. Disorders like leanness, prostration, debility, low immunity, etc., can be helped by the manipulation (reinforcement) of the earth element.
How to practice Mudras
(1) Touching a finger-tip to the thumb-tip increasec the element residing in that finger whereas touching a finger-tip to the thumb-base reduces the element residing in that finger.
(2) When performing a mudra, a light contact between the thumb and the finger/s is sufficient; firm pressure is not really required.
(3) When performing a mudra, the position of other fingers (which are not participating in that mudra) is immaterial. They can be held (effortlessly) straight or allowed to bend as per the practitioner's desire or
(4) Mudras can be practised anytime, anywhere e.g., while reading a newspaper in the morning, while travelling to the office or back home, while watching T.V. or listening to music, etc. However, simultaneous meditation can, perhaps yield greater benefits.
(5) Mudras can be performed in any body-position i.e., lying, sitting, standing, walking, etc. However, simultaneous meditational
(6) Even passive performance/ of mudras,using rubber bands or sticking plasters (in cases of unconscious/insane people or children) proves
benef.c.al.
(7) Only a few mudras (e.g., Aakaash-shaamak and Apaan-vaayu mudras) help within a few minutes of beginning to perform them. Rest of the mudras have to be practised for about 45 minutes every day (either at one stretch or in three parts, each of 15 minutes), for at least 15 days to experience benefits. In fact they should be practised till the disease is eradicated, however long it takes.
(8) Should a person undergoing Mudra Therapy bring about changes in diet is a question that is frequently asked. We will say that though not indispensable, suitable dietar/ changes can reinforce the benefits of mudras whereas unsuitable diet can, at least partially, offset the good effects of mudras. If a person having an excess of element Vaayu (air) or humor Vaata in his body liberally consumes foods that can increase Vaayu or Vaata, he may not benefit (or may benefit only partially and slowly) even by a most religious and regular practice of suitable (i.e., Vaayu-decreasing or Vaata-decreasing) mudra/s. Quite obviously, no sane person would want his sincere efforts and time spent in performing mudras go in vain because of injudicious diet. In other words, a person's recovery from disease is expedited by combinining Mudra Therapy with correct diet. Suggestions about appropriate diet for the three constitutional types, Vaata, Pitta and Kapha.
(9) Mudra Therapy goes along quite well with other forms of treatment, medical as well as nonmedical. Previous medicines should not be stopped when beginning Mudra Therapy.
Surya Namaskara
Surya Namaskara signifies paying homage to (Lord) Sun deity. It is a very ancient Indian system of exercise. Facing east, in the early hours of morning, one standing with serene mind offers prayer to Lord Surya with Surya Namaskara. Along with physical drill, Surya Namaskara has religious importance also.
Surya Namaskara is a graceful combined sequence of twelve positions. Through this sequence of twelve positions, the whole body is well exercised. Surya Namaskara also improves eye lustre. As a matter of fact, these twelve positions are ten different asanas, as well as two positions : the initial position and the final position. As all these exercises are simple, every one can do them easily. These twelve positions make one complete Surya Namaskara and twenty-five such Surya Namaskaras make one round.
Surya Namaskara should be practiced always in an open and clean place. Do not attempt Surya Namaskara when you begin to breathe hard. Practise Surya Namaskara on one leg changing the leg alternately.
Below you will find the twelve positions of Surya Namaskara fully explained and illustrated. Each position has been shown with the name of the asana. The advantages of each position have been fully explained.Thus, all care has been taken to enable an aspirant with proper understanding to practice it easily.
How to practice Yogasanas
(1) For practising Yogasanas, early morning is the ideal time. Before starting Yoga practices, the bowels and the bladder should be emptied. It is better to do Yogasanas after a bath because it makes the body light and active and one can practise Yogasanas with greater ease. If one wishes to take a bath again after practising Yogasanas, one should use warm water instead of cold water.
(2) The ground for practising asanas should be level, clean and free from noise. Asanas should be practised on a mat or a carpet.
(3) Clothing should be in accordance with the season. Men should wear a loincloth or shorts. Women should wear a loose blouse and stretch pants.
(4) One should remain silent while practising asanas. While practising asanas, concentration should be on breath¬ing and on the limbs which have a stress or strain. Concentration in the practice of Yogasanas is necessary for the all-round progress of the body and the mind.
(5) Before one begins to practise other asanas, one should perform Shavasana in order to make breathing normal, the body and the mind tranquil.
(6) Yogasana is a non-violent activity and therefore no force or jerk should be exerted in the practice of Yogasanas.
(7) There should be a gradual increase in the time duration in the practice of Yogasanas. By this process, the body becomes flexible and in a short time, it will easily accomplish a perfect state in each asana.
(8) Yogasana is a scientific process which deals with the internal and external parts of the body. A beginner should start practising Yogasanas after having learnt all their techniques under proper guidance.
(9) The performer of asanas should take light food in order to keep the body light.
(10) If one is suffering from complicated diseases or severe fever, one should not practise asanas. Women should not practise asanas four months after conception, for three months after delivery and during menstruation. A woman-aspirant should not as far as possible perform, without proper guidance asanas which involve lifting up the weight of the whole body on her hands.
(11) The number of asanas and the duration for each of them should be increased gradually. Practising many asanas on the first day should be avoided.
(12) Haste or quickness in coming to the final position from the initial position and vice versa should be avoided.
(13) After practising Yogasanas, Shavasana should be performed. Shavasana is a perfect asana. By Shavasana, the body gets speedy relaxation and becomes energetic.
(14) Yogasanas are supposed to be performed advanta¬geously in the right direction if the aspirant, after practising Yogasanas, feels no tiredness and has an increased capacity to work with his light and refreshed body.
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