Yoga for Asthma - II

In the previous article ,we learnt a pranayam and a cleansing technique for keeping asthma at bay. When the allergens irritate the lungs, our body secretes certain anti-allergens as a natural defense mechanism. Below are certain asans as entailed in the sanatan kriya through which these secretions can be directed to the lungs effectively. It is recommended that you visit a Dhyan Foundation center near you to learn the correct way to practice these asans.

Start by paying reverence to the energy of the Guru and Lord Ganesh.

Bhujang Asan: 

• Lie on your stomach and place the palms on the floor on either side of the chest.
• Rest your forehead on the ground and keep the heels joined.
• As you inhale, look upwards and raise your upper body (chest, shoulders, neck and head) with the strength of your back, using your hands, just for support. 
• This needs to be done very gently. Hold the posture for a count of seven and exhale as you come down.
• Repeat this seven times. 
• Ensure the navel touches the ground every time you lift your body.

Bhoonaman Asan: 

• Clench your fists and with the help of your knuckles and knees slowly go down on your belly.
• Allow only the knees, knuckles and forehead to touch the ground. 
• Stay in the pose for as long as possible.
• Repeat this seven times.

These asans work wonders when performed in tandem certain ayurvedic remedies.

Ayurvedic cure 1:

• Take 1 year old pure desi cow ghee. 
• Put 6 black pepper corns in it and leave overnight. 
• Next morning put 1/8th tsp of this ghee in each nostril, position of the head should be such that the ghee does not flow back into the throat. 
• This medicated ghee helps in making the allergen ineffective and then it can be thrown out of the body for which gently inhale and as you are exhaling bring your head down by bending the neck, without giving any jerk.

Ayurvedic cure 2:

• Another effective remedy to clear out allergens from body involves adding a pinch of saffron to one year old pure and organic honey (preferably single flower honey).
•  Leave the mixture overnight and have it next morning.

All of these techniques are tried and tested for thousands of years by the vedic masters, and in present times by sadhaks at Dhyan Ashram. It is highly recommended that one does not perform them by reading from books or on television, but practice them under the guidance of a Guru.

The article was published in the covaipost.