stress and ayurveda

ayurveda plays major role in stress and mental diseases ,the approach of ayurveda is holistic in these diseases ,and these treatments are very effective,due to life style today,stress is a major problem,the main problems are financial streess which include money ,forex trading ,stock brokering ,stress in relationship .dissatisfied sexual life, peer pressure ,deadlines to finish,bossy bosses , personal problems with co workers , ego in working place ,people who do not have job are stressed because of that ,whereas people in job are stressed because of their job , so stress is every where its all pervading , and inseparable from our life's ,now we may wounder did people who lived before us undergo same sort of stress , they have also gone through the same things ,but not in this scale, this can be sorted out to an extent by holistic treatment ,living and diet.

Shava Asana

Technique
Lie down on your back.
Keep hands on the ground by the sides.
The entire body should be kept relaxed and in a straight position.
The eyes must be closed throughout this Asana.
Now relax all muscles of the body.
No part of the body should make the slightest movement.
No tension should remain in any part of the body.
If someone were to raise the arm or leg they fall as if there is no life in them.
For the time being, give up thinking about problems of daily life.
Imagine you are sinking into the ground.
Breathe normally and while exhaling let the mind feel that the body is going deeper down into the earth.
One must be aware that one is relaxing and should not fall asleep.
Consciously relax every part of the body and mentally direct the blood to a particular part of the body and after consistent practice one may feel that quite a good quantity of blood rushes to the specific body part where it has been directed. This area is then completely relaxed. This process of relaxation may be done from toes to face.
Even in the face, one may practise relaxation of every part like the eyes, ears, and nose.
When all the nerves are calmed down, one feels completely relaxed and refreshed.
If relaxation is perfect and complete, one may feel the energy flows from the back of the head towards the heels.
This Asana may appear the easiest but is the most difficult to perform accuratel a person trains himself to do this Asana correctly he derives immense benefit.
The best way for quick relaxation is to breathe out and pause. The time spen outer retention is the point of relaxation. Breathe in, breathe out and pause - this is cycle. If one wants total relaxation, one may repeat this cycle 20 to 25 times
Breating
Maintain normal breathing throughout this Asana. However, you should be fi conscious of your breathing process.When the outer retention method is followed, then do as stated herewith.
Benefits of Shava Asana
Ensures complete relaxation and perfect ease. Removes fatigue in all situations.
Induces calmness of mind.
Best antidote for stresses of modem life. When the muscles, nerves and other organs are fully relaxed they gain strength and normal health is restored.
Reduces blood pressure.
Cures insomnia.
Enables a practitioner to be satisfied with fewer hours of sleep.
Turns the mind inwards and makes one introspective.
Acts as a prophylactic against heart diseases in general. Eminent modi cardiologists worldwide prescribe this posture to speed up recovery of patie convalescing from heart diseases.
If performed perfectly, the feeling of relaxation from this Asana is far superto that experienced from tranquillisers and sedatives.
Awakens Kundalini Shakti.
Activates the Subconscious Mind
Suggestion plays an important role here. Be very conscious of directing the suggesti to relax each and every part of the body. It is also beneficial to have a common suggesti while doing this Asana.
"I am relaxing completely and all my muscles and nerves are fully relaxed."
Suitability : Suitable for all, but particularly good for those leading a life of stress and strain.
Precautions
It is quite likely that one may be prone to fall asleep initially. This must be consciously avoided.

Uttanpada Asana

Preparation :

Lie on your back on the floor and look upwards. Keep both the arms straight close to your body and palms touching the floor. Keep both the legs straight, heels and toes touching each other.
Steps :
Inhale slowly through both the nostrils and hold your breath. Stretch out your toes and while holding the breath and keeping the legs straight, lift your legs by one foot approximately and try to hold it there for 5 to 10 seconds.
Then start exhaling and simultaneously lowering the legs. Both activities to be synchronised to end at same time.
After resting for 5 to 10 seconds, repeat the process.
Practice :
Repeat it three times initially. Increase repetitions or hold the asana position for more time as your strength increases.
For persons suffering from backache, practice the variation of this asana by raising one leg at a time alternately.

Benefits :
Tones up the abdominal muscles.
It is a good asana for indigestion, disorders of pancreas, cures constipation and intestinal problems.
Reduces fat in abdominal area.
Strengthens the spinal cord.
Relieves backache by doing this asana with one leg at a time.Caution
Those with any back injury, backache should not do this asana by lifting both legs, raise one leg at a time.

SHALABHASANA

This asana is very useful in relaxing strain on the back muscles ,it is the counter pose of bhujanasana
refer shalabasana in the diabetic topic.http://ayurvedamiracles.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html

BHUJANJASANA

Position of readiness

Lie straight on your stomach, keeping the palms on the floor below the shoulder blades and the elbows touching the middle part of the body. Keep the heels together and toes flat on the floor. Breathe normally.
Steps
Bend the head and neck backward. Inhaling slowly, raise the head and chest, above the naval area, upwards. Tighten the legs allover from the waist down to the toes. Retain your breathe and hold in the same position for about 6 to 8 seconds. Exhale and simultaneously lower the head towards the floor. Relax your body and rest with your right or left cheek on the floor for about 6 seconds. Now you have completed one round of bhujanga asana.


Daily practice
Start with three rounds on the first day and increase to a maximum of four rounds. Benefits : Bhujanga asana activates and energizes the upper areas of the body like the chest, shoulders, neck, face and head, giving a youthful appearance and the abdominal area, because of this activation, the pancreas, liver and other organs of the digestive system are strengthened and normalized. Increases flexibility, rejuvenates spinal nerves and brings a rich blood supply to the spinal region. It has some special benefits for women. Helps relieve problems of the uterus and ovaries and menstrual problems. A regular practice of this asana makes child birth easy.

Note
It is recommended to practice the Salabha Asana after releasing the Bhujanga Asana.

Pavanmukta Asana :: The Wind Releasing Posture ::

"Position and Readiness

There are two methods of doing this asana:
In stand up pose and in lying pose. We will see it in lying position.

Lie dawn on your back on the floor. Keep the palm down and near to the body. Bring the heels and toes together and keep them loose. Make the whole body straight and look towards ceiling. Breath normally.

Steps

Lift one knee up towards the chest.
Put the same side hand on the ankle and other hand on knee.
Pull the knee towards the chest without any pull on the ankle.
Without disturbing the posture relax all muscles and continue normal breathing and stay in that position for 6 to 8 sec.
While releasing slowly move hands to normal position, leg to original position.
Repeat this with other leg pressed against chest/ stomach.





Benefits

All the foot and calf asanas help in returning the stagnant lymph and venous blood. They relieve tiredness and cramp, and prevent venours thrombosis especially in bedridden, post-operative patients.
It activates the pancreas and other organs of the abdomen and also relieves wind trouble, acidity etc... It loosens the hip-joints and activates the abdominal muscle and intestines and ultimately cures the constipation, and corrects the malfunctioning of stomach. It is easy asana and people of any age can do it.


Note

People who have undergone an operation on belly or suffering from hernia and piles, etc. should perform this asana after consulting some Yoga Expert. Similarly, the pregnant women should also not practice it."

yoga in back pain

I have gone through very detailed introduction of yoga,in my diabetic session ,so I am going to concentrate solely on the postures which relieve back pain and increase the strength of the back,basically all forward bending poses should be avoided and all asanas should be avoided in acute cases ,it increases the risk of back pain ,so one should be careful ,while starting yoga careful not to aggravate the pain.