Sunday, March 1, 2009

YOGA DOES NOT MEAN EXERCISE

YOGA DOES NOT MEAN EXERCISE
-- Yogacharya Vishwas Mandlik

The word ‘Yoga’ reminds us of Yogasana’ here is a very close relationship between Yoga and Yogasana. Really speaking, ‘Yogasana’ is a part of ‘Yoga’. We think, that Yoga itself means ‘Yogasana’. Which is the most important part out of the eight different parts in our body? Every part has its own importance and peculiarity. Of course, we don’t want to go deep into detail of these parts. We have to keep in mind that, Asana is one of the parts of the ‘Yoga’. For the time being, we will study this part in more detail.

There is one misunderstanding in case of ‘Yogasana’ i.e. ‘Yogasana is a type of Exercise’. This misunderstanding is there in many ‘Yoga learns’ and ‘Yoga propagandist’. Government has also handed over the ‘Yogasanas’ to sports-ministry instead of education ministry. Yogasanas are being taught and studied by considering them equivalent to exercise. Hence, it is adversely affecting the existence of ‘Yoga’ in Asana. If we study Asana through an exercise point of view, then we may get its benefits. But these will not be the benefits of Yogasana.
We say, that it is harmful to exercise as age increases. So, we will have to apply same principle to ‘Yogasana’ also. On the contrary it has been said that very old people, patients can also practice Yogasana. It is very true, that exercise and Yogasana are related to the muscular system of body. May be due to this reason, Yogasanas are considered as part of exercise. But the real difference lies here. In exercise, more emphasis is given on movements of muscles whereas, in Yogasana it is given on steadiness of muscles. Yoga Maharshi Patanjali has defined Yoga as ‘Steady and comfortable state means Asana’.
( Sthirsukham Asanam )

If we think over this definition, it can be noticed that exercise and Yogasana are two distinct aspects i.e. they work in exactly opposite directions to each other. If you keep this point in mind, then the next explanation can be easily understood.

It is know that, Yogasana means the different states of parts of body. In this state, stability and comfort of body parts and so of muscles is to be achieved. This is called as Asana. To achieve this state, we have to practice a specific movement. It is to be practiced very slowly i.e. the movements should be very slow. If the movements are fast, then it will be difficult to attain steadiness in later states. Thus, the movements to be practiced in Yogasana have to be very steady and slow. While practicing such movements, some muscles may get stressed. At this time, if you try to keep muscles relaxed, then both the pressure and stress on them will be relived. To do so, try to concentrate on your body movements. Due to this, the muscles that are taking part in movements will be pressed to the required extent only. And the non - interacting muscles will be in relaxed state. With the help of such movements, the expected results can be experienced.

It would be helpful to know the impact of such type of movements on other systems of body. In exercise, if we keep the speed of movements more, then muscles are under strain. So the speed of blood circulation as well as pressure increases. As this is the function of heart, it has to perform some extra work. Exactly opposite results are obtained due to Yogasana. Due to slow and steady movements, muscles do not have to work extra. Once you have undergone any particular state in Asana, requirement of blood is reduced. Also, stress on heart is relived. With the help of advance study in Yoga, functioning of heart takes place more slowly. Same effect take place on the respiratory system during exercise. Due to rapid movements, heart has to perform extra task. Similarly, due to more need of oxygen by muscles, breathing takes place rapidly i.e. Along with speed of heart beats speed of breathing also increases. Due to reduction in requirement of Oxygen in Yogasana, speed of respiration also reduces. So, there is no load on respiratory system. If speed of heartbeats and respiration increases, sweating takes place. Unlike Yogasana, sweating takes place in exercise. If at all there is sweating from body in Yogasana, then mind well, that something has gone wrong. Make the changes accordingly.
Thus, it becomes the study of exercise more, than of the Yogasana, if the fact that Yogasana is not exercise is not understood. It results in advancement of muscles. Enhancement of muscle power is the main purpose of exercise. It’s not at all expected by means of Yogasana. Due to Yogasanas, muscle power doesn’t grow up. But, their capability to work for a long time increases. I.e. Due to exercise, strength is raised and through Yogasanas, stamina is raised up. The reason for this lies in the manner, how you practice both Yogasana and Exercise.

While exercising, muscles have to work extra. Thus, we feel stressed and need more rest. In Yogasana, no such rest is needed. On the contrary, muscles become active due to practicing of Yoga. Eventually, we feel more energetic.

It is very difficult to implement the fact, that Yogasana and exercise are altogether different. But it is equally true, that if we work in that direction, it will be certainly fruitful. All of a sudden the steadiness of muscles cannot be achieved so, you may feel strain in the very initial stages of this study. Sometimes, both heartbeats and speed of respiration may increase. Hence at some stages provision for breathing is also made while Performing Yogasana. It is difficult to maintain the steadiness of muscles. But it is equally easy to practice the movements steadily. In study of Yoga, all movements are important and it is easy to practice them slowly. It is worth achieving a success, if you could practice them slowly.

Many types of body movements have been mentioned in Yoga, before actually starting with study of Yogasana. In all these types, no precise steadiness is required. But ‘Slow Speed’ is soul of these types and it is easy to achieve it. Thus, through all these types, basic principles of Yogasana can be easily implemented. Hence, yogasanas, that are mentioned further can be practiced easily. Their good results can also be experienced. Like this, if strong base of Yogasana is built up, then you can practice further types of Asanas. i.e. Pravesh, Parichaya, Pravin, Pandit etc. in a real sense. You can certainly experience the good results of this study.
It looks like, as if out of eight stages, in the Yoga – Yogasana is same as that of exercise. But we know, that it is not to be practiced like exercise. Other stages of Yoga do not have any relation at all with the exercise. Five ethics are told in first part ‘Yama’ about noble behavior in society. To keep yourself healthy and mentally fit, five important things are mentioned in chapter ‘Niyama’. Third system is of ‘Asana’ and forth Anga is of ‘Pranayarana’. The whole control over respiratory system is mentioned in the ‘Pranayama’ chapter.

In the fifth chapter ‘Pratyahara’, certain ways to control your mind are told. The last three parts are Dharana, Dhyan and Samadhi. All these parts are concerned with mind control.

From the explanation, given above, it can be easily noticed that
‘Yog is not an exercise, but it’s a lifestyle’.
Yoga is a riotous way to live happy & healthy life.

YOGA AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - Yoga For Getting Rid Of High BP

YOGA AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - Yoga For Getting Rid Of High BP

-- Yogacharya Vishwas Mandlik

o What is Blood Pressure?
o Measuring BP
o Yogasana - (Yoga Positions or Postures)
o Pranayama
o Meditation
o Yoga Nidra

What is Blood Pressure??

Every living animal on the planet has blood pressure; there is no exception to this rule. The blood flows through the body with certain pressure, but if the pressure is higher than the normal range then it is a disease, which is called High Blood Pressure or sometimes the blood pressure drops below the normal range, then it is called Low Blood Pressure.

For the blood to reach all parts of the body, it has certain pressure. This pressure is created because of contraction of heart. Sometimes for various reasons these blood pressure increases, for example fearful situation, anger, anxiety, excessive thinking, mental tensions or even for physical exertion. During these situations the heart comes under extra workload. But when the situation changes and comes to normal, so also the blood pressure. This temporary change in Blood Pressure is not disease but when this Blood pressure remains high always, it becomes a disease.

Measuring BP

The BP is not same everywhere; it is maximum close to heart from where the blood comes out and lowest where blood comes in to the heart. So always the BP is measured on the hands. There are 2 types of pressures, systolic and diastolic. Systolic Pressure is higher and indicates the contraction of heart and diastolic is when heart expands. The BP in healthy person is 120 mm / 80 mm, that is systolic 120mm and diastolic is 80mm. If the BP is greater or less by 15 mm to 20 mm than the normal range, it is considered as disease.

There are various reasons for this high BP. Sometimes because of improper functioning of kidneys, heart related problems or diabetes BP can go high, so if these diseases are treated then BP also comes to normal. But in 80 % of the cases there is no apparent reason, then it is called "Essential Hypertension".

The reason for this High BP is cannot be found on physical plane but can be traced to mental activities. High mental strain results in high BP. Modern medical science treats the BP but not the underlying reason that is mental strain. When you take medicines, the BP comes to normal for sometime but when the effect of the medicines is over, the BP again rises. So the best remedy is to remove all underlying reasons for mental stress and strain. Yoga certainly helps achieve the stress free mind. There is no solution except removing all the strains on mind and control the mental activities. Yogasanas (Yoga Positions and Postures), Pranayama, Meditation, Yoga Nidra definitely help achieve the mental peace.

Yogasana - (Yoga Positions or Postures)

Yoga Guru Patanjali has defined Yoga as 'Steady and comfortable state of Body and Mind means Asana'. Sthirsukham Asanam
During any exercise the strain on muscles increases, the requirement for blood and oxygen increases but in Yogasanas the requirement goes down as there are no strains and every muscle is relaxed, the requirement for blood and oxygen goes down. This also reduces the strain on mind, the mind also becomes stable and focused. Also because of twists and stretched postures, the functioning of endocrine glands, digestive organs, heart and other organs improves. To achieve this even simple Yogasanas are helpful, one can easily practice these yogasanas and get the best for himself.

Pranayama -

Pranayama is control of breath, breathing & blood circulation system, heart have close relation between them. Also these are dependant on mental activities. If mental strain increases the breathing rate is affected. In Pranayama the breathing is controlled and the rate is reduced, which reduces the strain on heart and also the rate. This increases the stability of mind and mental activities are also controlled.
Even simple breathing exercises like Deep Breathing, Quiet Breathing help reduce the mental stresses and strains.

Also the Pranic force in the body is balanced with the regular practice of Pranayama, which restores the physical and mental balance. Some Pranayama techniques affect the functioning of nervous system, which again help restore the balance.
Pranayama reduces the need of oxygen, so also the production of carbon dioxide. So the respiration rate reduces. In various Pranayama techniques Ujjayi Pranayama balances the Pranic flow of energy in the body. Ujjayi also affects carotid sinus, which help reduce BP. Nadishodhan Pranayama controls the Pranic flow. But people suffering from BP should not practice Kumbhaka (retention of breath) but only inhalation and exhalation.

Meditation

Meditation is study of concentration. One should try to keep mind focused on one point or object, this concentration of mind has very effects on body and mind. Lot of research is going on around the world about the meditation and its effects. Some of the observed facts are listed below.


1. Balance is achieved in the functioning of nervous system.
2. Complete body is relaxed, which gives enough rest to the muscles and various organs.
3. Concentration, grasping power, memory increases and so also the will power.
4. One can handle stressful situations in efficient ways.
5. Balance is achieved in the functioning of Body Mind complex.
6. Brain functioning is improved.

The basic meditations help achieve these results, it includes Omkar Meditation, Omkar chanting, Prana Meditation. Especially for High BP patients, Omkar chanting for 15 minutes everyday shows miraculous results.

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is psychic sleep, this process is designed by Paramhansa Swami Satyananda Saraswati of Bihar School of Yoga. This process helps remove physical, emotional and mental strains very easily and effectively. It also helps focus the mind and removes negative elements. This Yoga Nidra is easy to practice and given results in short time. Even ½ hour daily practice helps.

Eight Psychic Powers

Eight Psychic Powers - Extra Sensory perceptions
as mentioned in Hatha Yoga, Patanjali Yoga Sutras

Yoga is regarded as an Indian mystical science, mainly described in Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga (Patanjali Yoga Sutras), both this texts along with many other ancient Indian scriptures talk about psychic powers. Yogi floating in the air, staying underwater etc are some of the examples. Some of these texts even mention the systematic practices to achieve these powers like clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy, telekinesis, psychic spying etc. The book "Autobiography of an Yogi" written by Paramhansa Yogananda talks about many Gurus with these powers.

Now whether to believe in or not is still a dilemma to many of us. But in these texts, the other effects of Yoga and Pranayama techniques can be seen and experienced with great benefits, and for this reason one is compelled to believe that the description of psychic powers may be true.

Mainly eight types of psychic powers are described. The first is "Anima" that is the ability to become as small as atom. There are some stories of Lord Hanuman, the Monkey God who transformed himself in to a small object and could enter in to the kingdom of Ravana, the demon who captured wife of Lord Rama.

The second power is "Laghima", the ability to become weightless. Some people claim that they can walk on water, or fly in air without any external help or floating in the air or a yogi levitating during the meditation.

Third power is "Mahima", ability to become as big as universe. Again the story of Ramayana mentions that Hanuman, the monkey God transformed himself in to a very big object while crossing the sea and fighting with demons.

Fourth is "Garima", the ability to become very heavy, Bhima, one of the Pandavas in the story of Mahabharat, had this ability to become very heavy at times and no one could beat him.

"Prapti" is the fifth power. It is the ability to reach any place as per will and within no time. There were some psychic spying experiments carried out for getting more information of remote place, and some of the experiments were proved to be 95 % correct.

"Prakamya" is the ability to get the desired. It is like a Genie of Alladin, what ever one wish for, it comes true. If one wishes for Youth for ever, he will be young for ever.

"Vashitva" is to control other objects, live as well as other objects. And finally the last power is "Ishtatva" and this is the ability to create and destroy the objects at will, it equals the role of God, this is the ultimate power one can achieve with dedicated practice of Yoga techniques.

Though it is very difficult to achieve these powers, especially living the life as a family man and in society, the texts say that it is not impossible. But at the same time texts call these powers as hurdles in the path of self realization. So there are ways mentioned in the books to overcome these problems which one may face after achieving the psychic power. There are examples of Yogis who got fascinated by the powers they acquired and ultimately were responsible for their downfall. So Patanjali in his Yoga sutras talk about the powers as hurdles in the path of self illumination.

So now what should be the aim of practice of Yoga, whether it is to achieve any of these or to realize the self & God. Undoubtedly it is to realize the Atman, and not achieving these powers.

Lot of practitioners of Yoga talk about extra sensorial powers, Swami Niranjananda of Bihar school of yoga raised a very practical point of view; one should be the master of his sensory organs and mind first to talk about extra sensory powers. Mastering your own mind and sense organs in it self is very difficult to achieve. So the objectives of practice of yoga should be to master your own mind first..

Hari Om Tat Sat

References -

Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Patanjali Yoga Sutras
Gherand Samhita
Ramayana
Mahabharata

Yoga Lesson Planning – What should be the contents of Yoga session?

By – Gandhar Mandlik (under the Guidance of Yogacharya Vishwas Mandlik)

Typically a Yoga lesson should contain techniques to improve physical and mental health. Mostly asanas or positions, Pranayama or breath control, relaxation techniques for body and mind, meditation or other mind control techniques are the techniques practiced in the session.

How to start a Yoga lesson?

At the start, a Prayer or chanting Omkar or Mantra or brief relaxation can help students forget their anxieties, worries or stress related thoughts. These techniques should help the students to focus the mind on the yoga, relax the mind, and get rid of the thoughts.

How to select & design the Asana sequence?
Hatha Yoga talks about asanas as discipline of Body & Mind. The asanas are primarily focused on the physical body and through body, one can control the mind. Asana involves stretching various parts of the body, typically muscles, ligaments, tendons and internal organs as well. This various movements are helpful to different systems of the body.

There are numerous benefits one can get by regular practice of asanas, like good physical health, maintaining proper weight, controlling metabolic activities of the body, better functioning of heart, lungs, brain, digestive system, excretory system, reproductive system, respiratory system, muscular system, endocrine system and much more.

To get most of these effects in a short asana practice of 1 hour or less than that involves great skill in designing and sequencing the asanas.

There are few basic principles if followed properly can get most of the advantages mentioned above.

1. Preparatory movements – One should always practice few warm up movements to loosen the joints, align the ligaments, tendons and muscles at joints. It is essential as asanas exert stress on different joints and if they are not loose then one may overstretch them. These movements should focus on various joints like waist, knee, shoulder, wrist, ankle, neck etc. These movements should be done in a slow and controlled way. This slow and controlled movement helps gain better muscular control.
2. Asanas – There is a variety of Asanas available. Forward bending asanas, backward bending asanas, twisting & turning asanas, stretching asanas, inverted asanas, balancing asanas.
These asanas should be mixed considering your level of flexibility and practice. You can refer to following URL to see variety of asanas (www.yogapoint.com/info/yogasana.htm)
3. The time of practice for backward bending asanas should be more than forward bending asanas as we rarely bend backward during the day. Twisting and turning asanas should equal for right side as well as left side. Stretching asanas stretch most of the body and should be done towards the end of the session as stretching all the muscles help them realign naturally.
4. Initially after the preparatory movements, supine position asanas are preferred, followed by prone position, then sitting position asanas and finally standing position asanas are performed. This is based on the natural evolution of balance mechanism of our brain. (The baby is born and is in supine position, then 3 months later it can get on its stomach that is prone position, then it can sit and finally after 1 year it can stand on its own.)
5. The asana session also should consist of inverted asanas as it allows the stagnated blood in some part of the body to drain resulting in efficient functioning of body.
6. Balancing asanas make the brain and nervous system efficient and helpful in increasing the concentration.

The movements should be slow and controlled as it allows better control over the muscles and mind is engaged in the movement which helps in relaxing it.

The asana position should be maintained for at least 15 to 20 seconds. If you maintain any position and try to relax in it then Golgi tendon or clasp & knife reflex is triggered, this nervous reflex further relaxes the muscles. One can stretch the muscles if they are relaxed, so if you maintain the position and try to relax in it, one can easily stretch more effectively and take ideal position.

If you try to relax the muscles, the stretch in the asana position is transferred to the internal organs which stretch them and increases blood supply, nervous activities in the region. This helps in improving the functioning of the organs and entire system.

How to design Pranayama practice?

Yoga breathing involves 3 types of breathing, 1st is abdominal breathing or diaphragmatic breathing, 2nd is chest breathing and 3rd is clavicle breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing is the most efficient breathing, so in Yogic breathing diaphragm is used to the maximum capacity followed by chest breathing.

Deep breathing is very important practice, it has calming effect on the entire nervous system, effective absorption of O2, rhythmic breathing, reducing blood pressure, heart rateand effectively helping reduce stress are some of the benefits of Deep breathing. Also it increases lung capacity.

Physiologically breathing can be of 2 types. 1st is hyperventilation, the O2 (oxygen) levels increase and CO2 decreases in the blood and 2nd type is hypoventilation where O2 levels drop and CO2 increases.

The Pranayama practice should have balance of Hyper and Hypo ventilation practices. Kapalbhati, fast breathing, Bhasrika types of Pranayama are Hyperventilation. Nadi Shodhan, Ujjayi, Shitali, sitkari with retention of air are Hypoventilation type of Pranayama.

Another aspect of Pranayama is some types increase the heat in the body and other types reduce excess heat in the body. Fast breathing, kapalbhati, Bhasrika increase the heat. Shitali and Sitkari reduce the heat in the body. So the practice of Pranayama should consist of heating and cooling Pranayama.


- Gandhar Mandlik
Under the guidance of Yogacharya Vishwas Mandlik (Rushi Dharmajyoti)

SAMADHI - A SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENON?


SAMADHI - A SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENON?
- By Parikshiti Mhaispurkar

Parikshiti is a qualified yoga teacher from the Yoga Vidya Gurukul.
He is currently working at the Howard Florey Institute of Neurosciences (Melbourne University) as a visting scientist and at the School of Physics (Monash University). He is also a research team member at Yoga Vidya Gurukul.

SAMADHI - A SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENON?

Since ages human creed has always tried to explore the cause of the life and how to make it happy. The ancient philosophy of Yoga, developed by various sages and yogis, has successfully established some key aspects related to the whole shebang.
Quite a lot theories put forth and experimental results obtained by the modern scientific community are in well agreement with the abovementioned aspects. What follows is an attempt to explore such correlations.

Ishavasya Upanishad starts with the mystic syllables of peace:

OM POORNAMADAH POORNAMIDAM POORNAAT POORNAMUDACHYATE; POORNASYA POORNAMAADAAYA POORNAMEVA AVASHISHYATE.
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih

Meaning: This is full. From full, the full is taken, the full has come. If full is removed from full, the full alone remains.
Om peace, peace, peace.[1]
(“Poorna” = Complete or Full.)

This explains one of the key principles of physics, Conservation of Energy. The word POORNA is nothing but the ultimate principle or the energy source of creation. The word Yog has been derived from a Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’, means union. The union of life energy of an individual with the Poorna.


Sage Patanjali has elaborated eight dimensions of yoga in his Yogsutras as Yam (Observances), Niyama (Abstinences), Asana (Postures), Pranayam (Breath controlling), Pratyahar (Withdrawal of senses), Dharana (Determination), Dhyan (Meditation) and Samadhi (Self realization or Nirvana per Buddhist philosophy).

According to Sage Patanjali the Samadhi has three different categories Savikalpa, Asamprajnyata and Nirvikalpa or Sanjeevan.
Savikalpa is an interface of trans meditation and higher awareness state, Asamprajnyata. In Savikalpa one can experience Vitarka (Guessing), Vichara (Thought), Anand (Bliss) and Asmita (Self awareness).[2]

Results obtained by various researchers on effects of meditation on human brain can be explained on the basis of Savikalpa.
In one of the experiments Buddhist monks, at a significantly higher state of meditation, were asked to impose thoughts related to compassion and in-situ medical imaging was performed. It was found that the left hemisphere was much prominent. This proves that at the interface stage thinking, self-awareness and guessing were active. [3]
Another study showed that at the further higher state of meditation, different lobes of brain slowed down and the thalamus stopped signals from reaching to the lobes. This maybe considered as a step forward to the Asamprajnyata from Savikalpa. According to sage Patanjali Asamprajnyata is a higher awareness state with absence of gross awareness. [4]

The Nirvikalpa or Sanjivan Samadhi is well explained by the greatest yogi, Dhnyaneshwar. In his treatise, Bhavarthadeepika or Dhnyaneshwari, Dhnyaneshwar has emphatically talked about relation between higher awareness and light or pure energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. In the book ‘Swara Yoga’, Swami Muktibodhananda has clearly elaborated the correlation between electromagnetic radiations and consciousness on the basis of explanations given by the all time great physicist, Albert Einstein [5]. Yoga is often considered as a journey from body to mind and from mind to soul or spirit or life energy. In other words Yoga is a journey from gross material energy to more refined form of the energy. This phenomenon of journey from gross material energy to more refined energy is apparently quite similar to the Bose-Einstein condensation. Noble prizewinner scientists have experimentally verified the Bose-Einstein condensation [6].

In the experiment they conducted on the atoms of an alkali metal, the atoms got transferred into symmetric wave functions and interference pattern was observed at the absolute zero temperature (-273 deg. cent). Can it be compared with the higher three dimensions of the Ashtanga Yoga, Dharna, Dhyan and Samadhi? The alkali atoms were slowed down using a magnetic trap ( Dharana: Slowing down the fluctuations of mind and focusing it on the goal of self realization) and brought closer (Dhyan: Bringing one self closer to the ultimate principle) and ultimately the atoms were merged into each other forming light (Samadhi: Merging into the ultimate principle or Purna). Is it the reason, why Yogis perform their higher meditation practices at the serene and chilled areas in the Himalayas?

AUM SHANTI !!

Physiology of Meditation Asanas

Physiology of Meditation Asanas
By--Gandhar Mandlik (Rishi Dharmachandra)

Physiology of Meditative positions

Meditation is a state of concentration of mind leading to higher states of awareness resulting in to heightened perceptions. To achieve this state one needs to still the mind, control the thoughts, balance the emotions. The process of meditation takes long preparations, one needs to be comfortable for longer time duration. So the meditative postures should help the practitioner steady the body and mind.

All the Hatha Yoga reference books recommend padmasana (Lotus pose), Siddhasana (Perfect pose), Swastikasana (Auspicious pose), Bhadrasana (Gracious pose) and Simhasana (Lions pose) as meditative positions. They are considered the best Asanas, and all other asanas are to prepare the body and mind to sit in these positions for longer duration, typically half hour to 3 hours. The mastery of asana in Hatha Yoga is ability to maintain the asana for more than 3 hours, without any trouble. The above mentioned meditative positions are sitting postures with legs crossed in different ways, offering a firm triangular base to the spine. The spine is erect and all the body parts are relaxed. Hands in Dhyan Mudra or Chin mudra resting on knees comfortably. (Dhyan or Chin mudra helps the mind become relaxed and concentration is easily achieved.)

These postures offer following important advantages required for meditation.

1. In these positions spine is erect which allows all the physiological activities go on normally. Physiology says that erect postures create proper balance posture for digestive organs, heart and lungs. These vital organs function at optimum level resulting in increased efficiency and reduced stress.

2. To maintain the balance in these positions, brain and other parts (hypothalamus, pyramidal tract, extra pyramidal tracts, cochlea, neuro-muscular junctions) have to work less. Gravity & Anti gravity muscles need not work hard to maintain the pose as the firm triangular base provided by crossed legs reduces the work. Closing the eyes is also possible without loosing the balance.

3. Abdominal muscles, diaphragm and muscles in the chest are stressed to the minimum extent. Production of carbon dioxide is minimized so that process of breathing is minimized and continuous movement of diaphragm and ribs do not disturb the state.

4. These positions are such that the brain and nervous system has minimal stress, so that mind can be peaceful and relaxed.

5. The mind remains alert but relaxed.

6. Only the supine position or lying down position is more relaxed than the meditative positions, but there is danger of falling asleep in horizontal positions.

7. The pelvic region gets the rich supply of blood; it may result in toning up of sacral and coccygeal nerves. (May be awakening of kundalini which is located in pelvic region, is affected because of these physiological conditions offered by meditative positions but is a subject of research and nothing concrete is known as yet.)

8. The blood from the legs can easily reach heart reducing the efforts of heart and lungs.

9. Yoga psycho-physiology says that erect spine position offers least resistance to the Pranic energy traveling up to the brain which is awakened through the meditation.

One should start practicing with basic crossed legs position for few minutes and then carefully learn the advance positions like padmasana, siddahasana, swastikasana etc.
There is always a danger of damaging your knees if you stress your self too much.

Best wishes and regards
Rishi Dharmachandra (Gandhar Mandlik)
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