Get yourself a sound sleep with Yoga

"Sleep disorder" or “Insomnia” – these words are very common to hear among us. A deep and good sleep is a dream or most wanted thing for many people. In this busy day it is very natural, due to some tension or some matters, we experience sleep problems often, but when it occurs in a daily basis routine then we should alert us. A deficiency of good sleep can give a lot of problems. It can give a negative impression on our physical and mental health. Insomnia is a kind of sleep disorder which comes with many symptoms like feeling tough to falling asleep, waking often due to sleep, or feeling tired whenever you awake. It has many causes like sentimental or emotional issue, i.e., loss of loved ones, death, job associated stress, ill health, uncomfortable surroundings, and extreme weather condition. Some medicines of cold, asthma, high B. P. depression, allergies may also be responsible for sleep disorders. Sleeping pills or anti depression medicine is a very common way to fight against sleep problems, but we have very simple but effective method to get rid of sleep problems without any side effects that is none other than Yoga.

Gomukhasana (Cow face Pose)

Sit on the floor with stretched legs. Turn the left leg and set it over the right thigh as the left heel can link up the border of the right bottom. Do the same with left leg. Upraise the right arm and incline it behind the head so the elbow tips up. Move the left arm at the rear of the back from below and hold tightly the fingers of both the hands together. The head remains upright and sit straight. Stay at this position for 30 to 60 sec. with normal breathing. Then come to the normal position. Do it same with the other leg.

Regular exercise of this asana instigates peacefulness. It is also good for a relief from tiredness and tension. As it relaxes mind, it promptly acts on sleeping problems. Apart from that, Gomukhasana is very effective for spine, frozen shoulder, liver, kidney, and pancreas too. But People who suffer from slip disc, sciatica, and osteoarthritis should not do this yoga.

Salamba Shirshasana (Supported Headstand)

At first, do Shirshasana i.e. make a cage of fingers of two hands & place it backside of the head but while doing Salamba Shirshasana hands should be folded in front of the head. Keep head on 1” thick towel. Raise the two legs upward. Keep palms on the ground to maintain body balance. Stay in this position for 30 sec to 5 min with normal breathing.

As it increases circulation of blood in head & strengthens nerves it works on sleep related problems brilliantly. It also increases memory, helps control of asthma, diabetes, piles, female diseases, skin diseases, kidney troubles, dysentery, and sorts out ENT problems. It helps ulcer, colitis, hernia, sickliness too. But it is strictly prohibited for the patients of constipation, high BP, dizziness, and heart palpitation.

Marjari asana (Cat Pose)

Sit in Vajrasana, that is, sit on the floor with stretched out legs together. Keep your hands besides the body and keep your palms on the ground. Then incline the right leg at the knee and keep the foot under the right buttock, with toe remaining inside. Now bend the left leg just like the right leg. Put your hips on the heels. Palms should be kept on your knees. Then stand on knees & keep two hands on the ground. First keep head between the hands then raise it upward. Also hips to be moved up & down. Inhale while head is held upward, then for 3 seconds retain breath & exhale while bringing head down.

It is mostly beneficial for problem of  hyperacidity, indigestion, Spondylitis, frozen shoulder, headache, abdominal fat, anemia, high blood pressure, asthma, bronchitis, menstrual troubles, cough & cold, dyspepsia along with insomnia or sleep related diseases as it relaxes mind.

Vipareetkarani mudra (Half Shoulder stand)

Lie straight on the ground on your back. Keep hands beside the body. Now raise the legs straight upwards and keep it slightly slant. Keep the hands under hips to retain body balance. Now concentrate on the thumb nails of both the legs. Inhale while constricting the bladder for 10 sec then exhale. Do it 10 times.

As it removes stress and depression, it is very effective on sleep disorder. Besides, it stimulates kidney, liver, and pancreas, and is also very beneficial for diabetes, female diseases, and low B. P. This asana also de-stresses the pelvic and lower abdominal region. But if you have cervical or lumber spondylosis, hernia, high B. P. or dizziness, please avoid this asana.

Yoga is a vast subject, there are numerous asanas, mudras and pranayamas for sleep disorders. A healthy routine, diet and positive attitude can make a big difference. Too much consumption of alcohol or caffeine may also be a cause of sleeping problems. So, to get a deep and sound sleep try out these asanas and have a Happy Sleep. 

Om and Yoga - A way of beautiful life

Yoga is a powerful healer and a best energy booster. If you have not started practicing Yoga till now, read this and start a new journey towards a healthier and stress-free life.

A little about Yoga

‘Yoga’, this magical word comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’, which means “coupling” or “tie-up” and is frequently explicated as “union” or a practice of self-control. The yoga culture is practiced in India since 5000 years. As I have always said, it is not just some physical activity but is also a very good way to balance and disciplined our body, mind and soul.

The Indian Mahatma Patanjali is believed to have systematized the exercise of yoga into the Yoga Sutra approximately 2,000 years ago. The Sutra is an assemblage of 195 testimonies which provides an esoteric directory for much more yoga poses which are mostly exercised today. It also provides a diagram of eight limbs of yoga, called ‘Ashtanga Yoga’. These are: Yamas (restraints), Niyamas (observances), Asana (postures), Pranayama (breathing), Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (absorption). These eight ways actually work as prescription on how to exist with a consequential and persistent life.

What is OM?

Practicing of yoga poses (asana) and meditation (dhyana), both provides a constant energy and stamina for throughout the day. Meditation with Omkar chanting is capable to sort-out many diseases. The vibration which is created due to chanting adds a positive thought to our life. 

Om is a mantra which is ancestrally chanted at the starting and end of yoga practices. It’s believed that, this is the sound of the universe.

Many of us just can’t understand the impact of this simple word on us and have numerous questions within us. We keep asking, “What is Om?” It is difficult to explain this but it is to be said that OM is a seed of all the creation. This tiny word holds the energy of the universe. Actually, it has four parts A, U, M, and the fourth sound is silence.

The A (aahhh) sound symbolizes the forming features of the universe, the preface of all sounds.

The U (oooh) sound proclaims the sustaining power of the universe and the indistinct sense of the mind.

The M (mmmm) sound depicts the modified energy of the universe and the feeling and perspective of our aliveness. 

The fourth sound is silence or anagata. It is the resonance which is above all the vocal accent.  It is a real awareness of the Self or the Atman.

Any how, former yogis knew the truth that the whole universe is not fixed, it is moving. As we chant OM, it helps us to realize the universal motion. We start to feel the oneness with the God by the way of our breathing and our consciousness. 

Om and Yoga

Om meditation (dhyana) works like a magic to get relief from stress. It works as a brain cooler too. It is scientifically proven that meditation is very helpful to overcome Post Traumatic Disorder. Om meditation is a blessing for those people who are facing problems of self-respect.

Om mediation also increases the power of concentration, as while chanting Om it starts to distract our mind from those matters that upsets our mind. As a result, we will moderately be more focused towards our objectives and thus attentiveness will enhance.

A person who deals with mood-swing problem, should add Om meditation at the beginning of the day as a daily routine. It balances the hormone secretion that takes an important part in mood disorder. It revitalizes us too.

As per the researches, it is proven that the vibration of Om Chanting enhances the ability of spinal cord, i.e., it strengthens our spine. This Om vibration and deep breathing during meditation improves the health of our heart, respiratory and digestive system too. It stimulates the function of blood circulation and detoxifies our body.

As it works like a stress buster, Om chanting and Om meditation is beneficial for sleeping disorders too. Before going to bed, if we perform Om chanting, it can help us get a peaceful and good quality sleep.

Regular practice of Om chanting and meditation enables us to control our emotions too. 

Om chanting encourages self-awareness and boosts up our mind. It makes a person more kind-hearted towards others. 

Overall, yoga poses (asanas), meditation (dhyana) helps to take away all the negativity that obstructs many possibilities of human life. It makes a person a good human being from within. Many times, we find peace in other things and somewhere else, but actually peace is nowhere, it is in our mind. Om chanting, meditation shows the way to go and get a peaceful life.

Benefits of Sarvangasana

Sarvangasana

It is a very occult asana which comes with enormous benefits. This asana is also known as ‘All - member’s Pose’ and ‘Shoulder Stand Pose’ too, because every part of the body is involved when we do this asana. It helps smooth blood circulation in the whole body and thus helps recover various diseases.

It is a very important asana to practice and requires body balance. Just lie down straight. Then raise legs straight upward. Maintain body balance holding waist with hands. Keep breathing normally. Stick on to this pose for 30 seconds to 2 minutes and then back to normal position.

Benefits

Sarvangasana is very effective for thyroid. If we practice this asana regularly, the gland is nutrified absolutely. It enacts a leading role in the making structure, nourishment, metabolism and growth. This thyroid gland governs and synchronizes all other glands and organ of our whole body. So, if this gland falls sick, all systems are going to break. Sarvangasana keep the thyroid fit and fine, which means proper activity of all glands and organs. Apart from that, Sarvangasana is also useful for spine. It enhances blood circulation, so that, roots of spinal nerves are fortified with good amount of blood. It reserves elasticity of spine. It restrains the bones from premature solidification. As a result, we can maintain an everlasting youth.

It stimulates digestive system. Sarvangasana arouses and increases ‘Jatharagni’ (digestive fire.) Hence, dysentery, constipation, indigestion, disorder of liver and spleen, dyspepsia, all the gastro-intestinal problems are sorted out. It checks disruption in ears, nose and throat (tonsil). Disturbance of the lower side like hernia (groin), and the nearby side of the heel area is made better. It is a very useful asana to maintain perfect body weight. Patients who suffer from chronic diseases will retrieve their stamina.

Practicing of Sarvangasana is helpful for kidney and urinary bladder related problems. It also removes impurities from blood. So, leukemia and different kind of skin disruptions are simply healed. The texture of the skin is also improved. Skin ageing problems like wrinkles, dryness goes away. It gives a supple and bright skin. Hair loss and early graying of hair is arrested or controlled.

Ladies can perform this asana with care. It can be helpful to get rid of infertility, ailments of ovaries, menstrual cycles, persistent abortions, leucorrhea, and gonorrhea. It can also kick out Sexual problems like masturbation, and night fall too. This asana is helpful to retain Brahmacharya.

It is seen that people who regularly practice Sarvangasana can send away diseases like asthma, Pneumonia, bronchitis, typhoid, cholera, blood sugar, varicose veins, sleep disorders, dental problems, and epilepsy.

Above all, this asana is a mystical way to gain wonderful health in a very easy way. So, to repossess a good health and to be free from a countless diseases, we must do this asana everyday in a proper way. But we should always be in contact with an expert before performing this asana because there is some caution to maintain, like people who suffer from high BP, Heart Disease, Spondylosis, and Slip Disc should not do this asana. 

Hence, with so much of benefits, Sarvangasana is the king of all the asanas and is a very good healer too.