Page 6 - Lesson 18.xps

MODULE-5 Hatha Yog

Yogic Practices
nadi flow is more, then digestive process will be slow which in turn will cause
indigestion.

All over activities are linked and influenced by the flow of these nadis. It changes
approximately every sixty to ninety minutes. The flow of the nadis can be changed
at our will. There are few yogic techniques which practice can change the flow
of nadies voluntarily. For example, if ida nadi flow is more and we want to do
some hard physical work, we can redirect the flow of the breath to pingla nadi to
Note obtain necessary physical vital force and energy. Contrary to it, if at any point of

time pingala flow is more, and one wants rest or sleep, then by the change of
flow we can take rest and deep sleep.

The main objective of hatha yog is to bring about a balanced flow of prana in ida
and pingala nadis. When both these nadis are purified and balanced and mind is
controlled, then prana starts to flow in sushumna nadi, one of the most important
nadis. When sushumna flows, kundalini awakens and rises through the chakras.

At the physical or body level, ida and pingala nadis correspond to our autonomic
nervous system. Pingala coincides with the sympathetic nervous system and ida
with parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system tends to
stimulate and accelerate external activities. When this nervous system is more
active our heart rate, breathing rate, dilation of the blood vessels, intensify the
efficiency of eyes, ears and other sense organs. While parasympathetic nerves
coincides with ida nadi and directly oppose above symptoms, which results in
introversion. The flow of prana in ida and pingla is completely involuntary and
unconscious until controlled by yogic practices

18.3.1 Chakras

The literal meaning of word chakra is ‘wheel’ or circle, but in the yogic context
a better translation is vortex or whirlpool. Each chakra is a switch which turns or
opens up patterns of behavior, Thought or emotional reactions which may have
been unconscious in our everyday life. They relate to specific areas of the brain
and in most people these psychic centres, lie inactive and dormant. Concentration
on the chakras stimulate the flow of energy which in turn activates subtle power.

There are seven chakras in our subtle body. They are located along the pathways
of sushumna, which is also called bramharandhra. These chakras are infact located
in the centre of the spinal cord. Sushumna orginates at the mooladhara or perineum
and terminates at the top of the head- sahasrar chakra. These chakras are connected
with nadis. The chakra are symbolically depicted as lotus flowers Each chakra
have different number of petals and colours.

Lotus is the symbol of spiritual journey, which has three stages- ignorance,
practice and illumination. It represents an aspirants level of spiritual growth

Physical Education and Yog
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