Pushan mudra

January 9, 2009

For right hand, touch tips of index finger and middle finger to tip of thumb. For left hand, touch tips of
middle finger and ring finger to the tip of thumb. Hold for minimum fifteen minutes for impact. Longer, if suffering from low vitality and sluggish metabolism or toxic conditions. Benefits: Improves the earth and air element in the body, boosting strength and energy. Detoxifies powerfully, while boosting mood.

Suku pranayama (Happy breathing practice)

January 9, 2009

May be done seated. Purse your lips to form an 'O'. Inhale deeply, so the cheeks cave in. Shut your
mouth, pressing lips back to normal. Exhale from the nostril. This is one round. You may do up to nine rounds. Please note that since this involves mouth breathing, never to attempt this practice if you are in a polluted, dusty place or where the quality of air is suspect since that could lead to respiratory problems.

Avoid: In polluted places or if having respiratory problems. Benefits: This is a simple version of the anti-aging cooling breathing practices called Sheetali (cooling) or Sheetkari (Whistling). This is said to impact hunger centers in your brain, controlling emotional binging. It is a cooling practice which is an immediate de-stressor. It is a powerful anti-aging practice because it is said to tweak the parasympathetic nervous system, needed for repair and rejuvenation. Apart from that, it also works out the cheeks and the delicate region around the mouth, preventing sagging and removing fine laughter lines.

Bhujangini mudra (cobra respiration)

January 9, 2009

This is a yogic trick that plays with satiation signals in the brain. Sit relaxed in a meditative pose. Inhale
air through mouth, into the stomach, in gulps, as though drinking air. Belch it out. Initially you may not be able to belch it, due to self-consciousness. But this is a rather harmless practice. And if you are not unable to belch, the air will in any case be eliminated through the regular channels. Do this three to five times when you feel untimely hunger. Avoid: In polluted places or if having respiratory problems. Benefits: It tricks the satiation signal in the brain which triggers the need to consume food. Also tones the digestive tract and helps with most digestive disorders.

Pranamasana (Prayer pose)

January 9, 2009

Sit back on your knees, with hips resting on your heels. Inhale. Exhaling, lean forward to place crown on
the floor. Simultaneously place hands on either side of head. Continue breathing. Raise your back and hips so that the crown is firmly placed on the ground. Ensure chin locks into the spot between your collar bones. Hold the pose for as long as is comfortable. Return to starting pose with an inhalation. Repeat a few times if a beginner. Later, with continued practice you may hold the pose longer. Benefits: This pose helps control hunger, due to pressure on certain key acu points. The neck lock it creates hikes metabolism by the pressure it applies on the thyroid gland. Also, respiration becomes more efficient, hiking energy levels. It is used as therapy in anger management, hunger control, obesity and respiratory problems.

Chakki Chalanasana (Mill-churning pose)

April 8, 2009

Sit on a yoga mat, with your back straight. Stretch out your legs in front of you. Let the insides of your
feet touch lightly. Hold your hands together, interlocking your fingers. Now move your torso forward, with your hands moving also, in a circular fashion, clockwise. The movement must be similar to what you would do if churning an old-fashioned mill. Simultaneously your torso would move too, in tandem with your hands. Inhale as you move backwards, and exhale as you move forwards. Do this five times on your first attempt. Slowly build up stamina up to 30 rounds. Benefits It tones and tightens a sagging stomach. It works out the entire pelvic region, especially the uro-genital system. It gets rid of stress-induced backache and strengthens the back. It strengthens knees. Detoxifies. It is a mood-elevator.

Viparita Karani Mudra (Psychic Union pose)

April 8, 2009

To do this lie on your back, feet touching on the inside, legs together, palms flat on ground beside your
body. Inhale. Exhaling push your palms against the ground and your hoist hips off the ground. Your weight should rest on your elbows and hips should rest lightly on open hands. Hold for a few seconds, breathing normally. Exhale and drop your hips back to the ground by gently lowering your spine first. Then drop your legs. Rest. After regular practice you must increase duration in the pose to three minutes or so. Benefits This is a powerful pose, possibly even more powerful than the classic shoulder stand. That is because there is less pressure on the thyroid, so you enjoy the benefits of a shoulderstand without its aggravations. The pressure on the throat and thyroid, stimulates metabolism aiding fat loss. It is said to be anti-aging and death-defying. It strengthens you mentally, helping you fight emotional binging.

Matsyasana (Fish pose)

April 8, 2009

Lie on your back, with legs lightly touching each other along the insides. Inhale. Lift your head up and
exhaling, drop your head gently back. Your neck should arch deeply, with your entire body weight borne on the elbows. The crown should rest on the floor. Breathing should be normal. To release from the pose, raise your head, look at your toes, and gently lower your spine and head back to the ground. Avoid Avoid this pose in case of severe neck pain. If having vertigo, learn it in a phased manner using cushion or bolster support till the sense of dizziness is weaned away. Benefits Aids weight loss through pressure on the thyroid and liver, hiking metabolism and releasing fat respectively. The spinal arch is an emotional detox -- known to clean up mental negativity such as depression, lethargy and fear. The pressure around the hips also work out the uro-genital system which is deeply hit when we have such negative mental states. It fights stress. The thymus gland, or the immune gland, at the chest involved with our defences gets rejuvenated.