When People Ask Me Whether Yoga Could Help Middle Aged People Who Often Suffer Several Conditions Like Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Conditions And Blood Pressure, I Tell Them That Simple Breathing With Positive Attitude Will Help With Few Asanas Like Sarvanga Asana And Urdhva Swa Asana (the Upward Dog Pose – Dogs Usually Do This When Stretching With Head Lifted Up) I Even Suggest That One Should Not Practice Pranayama Unless One Is Settled Well In One Asana.
In The Case Of Sarvanga Asana, If It Is Not Possible To Negotiate The Pose With Hands On The Hip With Shoulder Stand, It Is Better To Do It With Legs Resting On The Wall With Two Or More Pillows Piled Up, To Get Into That Position. One May Not Get The Perfect Position, But Still One Could Attempt To Have The Positive Benefits Of Sarvanga Asana. When The Chin Is Pressed Against The Upper Chest, A Pressure Is On The Thyroid Region. Even If It Is Done In An Awkward Manner With Pillows Supporting The Buttocks, It Is Still A Good Try For Middle-aged People. A Healthy Thyroid Reduces Nervous Tension. It Stimulates Pituitary And Thymus Glands And Keeps The Prostate Gland Healthy, A Common Problem Middle-aged People Confront.
A Word Of Caution:
One Should Have A Healthy Blood Pressure In Order To Attempt This Asana And Those Who Have Ocular Lenses Fixed On Cataract Operation Should Not Attempt This Asana. But Those Who Have No Eye Problem Will Benefit Greatly From This With Improved Eyesight. I Know Many People Who Have Almost Stabilized Their Eye Power By Doing This Asana.
I Have Been Doing This For Almost 35 Years Without Break. Even On Days When I Have No Time To Do All The Other Asanas, I Always Do This For At Least 3 Minutes. By Doing This, One Gets The Benefit Of Ujjayi Pranayama For As Long As One Is On Sarva Anga Asana. The Glottis Remains Partially Closed Because Of The Chin Coming Close To Chest And This Itself Is Pranayama And One Need Not Attempt Another Sitting. As You Know, Ujjayi Pranayama Helps To Keep The Mind Quieten And It Increases The Digestive Power. Asthma Gets Greater Relief Through This.
This Is An Additional Benefit Apart From Other Greater Benefits Of Sarvanga Asana. Swami Shivananda Maharaj Tells Eloquently About This Asana.
What Are The Great Benefits?
Sarvanga Asana Practice Will Prevent Hernia And Bleeding Piles And Cures One Of Urinary Disorders. Even Epilepsy Patients Are Often Advised To Try This Asana Along With Medical Attention. For Women This Asana Is A Boon After Child Birth. The Organs And Glands Related To Child Birth Will Fall Back Easily Into Their Positions Without Any Additional Effort. This Asana Keeps Sex Glands Healthy For Males And Menstrual Disorders In Women Are Brought Under Control. Persons With Vitality Lost After Long Illness Should Practice This Asana.
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Mr. V. RAGHAVAN Author Is A Chennai Based Yoga Practitioner/teacher. For More In Sequence And Your Submissions Please Mail At info@ayurvedic-healings.com
Editor
JAY
(journal Of Ayurveda And Yoga)
