Practices For A Healthy Life

Yog is a science which has been practiced for thousands of years. The benefits of yog have been experienced by practitioners when they have taken up the practice in its entirety. The rules of yog stay the same even today despite the lifestyles of individuals undergoing a sea of change.

Just as a patient would benefit from doctor's prescription if and only if the patient takes the medication in its entirety, similarly yog has to be seen as a divine prescription, which cannot be altered as per individual's comfort or acceptance. Further, to reap the benefits of yogic practices, they need to be done regularly... you cannot cure yourself of a disease just by reading the prescription, the medicine also has to be taken also.

Yog simply put is union in, and union with, all spheres of life. One does not have to renounce this world and go to the mountains. A practitioner of yog can lead the life of a householder, executing his or her responsibilities towards the family and the society.

We are starting a series of articles on various practices of Sanatan Kriya which members of Dhyan Foundation have been practicing for years now and benefited on the physical, emotional, mental and the financial planes.

These very practices have also been shared with hundreds of people across the country and those who are regular with their practice have also reported positive changes in them. What is important to note here is that all the people are at responsible positions in the society with jobs or businesses and families to look after.

Today, let us start with the first step and that is, abdominal breathing. Sit with your spine absolutely straight on a firm but soft surface. Sit in a clean, well-ventilated but not windy or cold environment. Ensure that you're sitting without any support to your back.

Close your eyes and take your awareness to the abdomen. Exhale very slowly and as you exhale pull your abdomen in without bending the back. Without holding your breath, start inhaling slowly and start expanding your abdomen as if the air was filling your abdominal cavity. Once you have inhaled to your abdomen's full capacity, start exhaling again. Repeat this process of abdominal inhalation and exhalation for as long as possible sitting with a straight spine and without straining yourself. Slowly reduce the speed of breathing and increase the depth of your breath.

In the stressed out life of today, all of us are breathing at a fast pace. Physical, mental or emotional stress increases the metabolism of our body. Metabolism simply put is the rate at which energy is being consumed by the cells of our body. This stress leads to a faster cell burnout. This simple breathing technique reduces the rate of metabolism of the body thereby increasing the life span of the cell but most importantly without reducing the efficiency of the individual.

Yogi Ashwini is a renowned Yog Guru
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