Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, Director of Yoga Teacher Training at Aura Wellness Center, speaks to you about an easy approach to performing a Chin Lock.
Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, Director of Yoga Teacher Training at Aura Wellness Center, speaks to you about an easy approach to performing a Chin Lock.
Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Speaks to you about proper movement of your knees in Warrior I. Demos given by Yong Yang. Part 3 of a 5 part series.
Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 Speaks to you about the harm locking your knees in Yoga can do. Demos given by Yong Yang. Part 1 of a 5 part series.
By Kimaya Singh
There are several questions to contemplate if, or when, you are considering participation in a Yoga teacher training program. One area to consider is your external level of commitment to the Yoga certification process itself. This commitment is most evident in the form of attendance, studying, and practicing, as well as the financial commitment necessary to attend the training program.
Additionally, there is the aspect of your level of inner commitment to the classic Yogic principles and teachings that you will learn during your Yoga teacher course. You will also want to evaluate your readiness to align your thoughts and behaviors with Yogic principles as enumerated within Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
Yoga teacher training programs take time and money. Different training programs will require varying levels of tuition fees and dates of attendance. It is critical that you are able to attend very close to 100% of the classes given during the training program. This level of attendance will ensure that you receive a thorough background in the philosophy of Yoga, pranayama techniques, asana demonstrations and corrections, as well as modification ideas for working with special populations.
There are a wide variety of Yoga teacher training programs available to students today. Some Yoga instructor training programs are even offered online or in sequential module formats. You must evaluate your lifestyle and decide which kind of program would fit most easily into your lifestyle. A month-long Yoga teacher training program may work best for you at this time, or possibly an online Yoga teacher certification course, or even a series of multi-day modules may mesh more easily with your current work, family and school obligations. Ultimately, you must evaluate if you currently have the time and money necessary to comfortably and successfully attend the Yoga teacher course of your choice.
Another aspect to consider when you are about to embark on the journey to become a Yoga teacher is your level of readiness to live by the Yogic guidelines you will learn during the teacher training program. The guidelines are most succinctly outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. These explicit Yogic guidelines are known as the Yamas and Niyamas. The adherence to the Yamas and Niyamas govern a dedicated student’s external and internal thoughts and behaviors. For example, one of the Yamas is the practice of non-violence. This practice is both an external restraint of acting in a violent manner and also an internal restraint of not luxuriating in violent thoughts about oneself or others. A prospective Yoga teacher intern must consider whether or not her or she is ready to live by these ancient Yogic guidelines of dharmic behavior.
© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.
http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/
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By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
If you ask most instructors which teaching opportunities they were made aware of, during their initial Yoga teacher training, most will readily admit they learned of none outside their studio. Regardless of the reason for this, most Yoga instructors are not aware of the wide spectrum of opportunity for working with the public.
Networking with local golf clubs, golf equipment suppliers, driving ranges, and miniature golf courses is an opportunity for Yoga teachers. Yoga sessions would have to be customized for the exact needs of golfers, and it must be remembered that there is a wide variation for pre-existing injury, age, fitness level, and flexibility among golfers. Much like Yoga practitioners, golfers cover a wide gambit.
Yoga for Golf Fitness
For the fitness-minded golfers, Yoga may appear to be less of a challenge than it can be. These “alpha types” will enjoy physically challenging sessions – especially Vinyasa Yoga or any Yoga which focuses on continuous movement. These flow Yoga sessions are very effective therapy for personalities, who deal with any kind of discomfort, by challenging themselves physically and mentally.
Many muscles and body parts are being used during a golf swing, including the back, shoulders, abdominal muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. For golfers to get the most out of their game, it’s important to be relaxed and loose. Yoga can help immensely with this, as well as giving the client a tranquil state of mind.
Yoga for Golfers with Pre-existing Injuries
An alarming, and increasing number of golfers, play the game with an injured back. Some ideas for golfers, with back issues, are the knee to chest pose, the cat and cow positions, child’s pose, abdominal work, the table pose, locust pose, the hand to foot pose, cobra pose, downward dog, eagle pose, and a variety of twists.
For golfers, pain and injury don’t stop at the back. Those who have problems with their swing, due to pain in their shoulders, can practice the seated spinal twists, the lunge with a twist, bridge pose, triangle, revolved triangle, camel, camel twist, bow, and the half bow pose.
Customized Physical Yoga Sessions for Golfers
For golfers, who are looking for greater hip rotation and hamstring flexibility, some important poses are the happy baby, cobbler, pyramid, staff pose, half moon pose, and pigeon pose. It’s important to pay attention to the position of the hips when teaching or practicing these poses.
Golfers, who are looking for more upper body power, should try poses – such as the single leg downward dog, sage, crow, wheel, firefly, handstand, and dolphin pose. Always remember – that the shoulders should not be crunched up while going into these poses. The shoulders and neck should be loose and limp.
Mental Strength for Golf
Pranayama is essential, when it comes to practicing Yoga and golf. Golfers know that their game requires mental fortitude. Pranayama is the foundation to making the mind and body connection. This helps one to become calm in the worst of times. Getting out of a sand pit, or over a body of water, requires a positive frame of mind. Yogic breath awareness is a successful tool for golfers who want to stay mentally focused and improve their game.
Teaching Yoga to golfers is a huge field and teachers have barely scratched the surface.
© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.
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By Sangeetha Saran
As teachers, many of us already know the benefits of Yoga practice. Yet, the global masses are just beginning to become aware of the deeper benefits of a steady practice. During Yoga teacher training, we learn many skills, but the most important skill of all is communication. From the day a new student arrives or after years of practice, it is good to explain what students of various levels of experience should realistically expect from their Yoga practice.
For centuries, Yoga has been widely considered to have major health benefits in South Asia, and has recently become incredibly popular in the United States, with thousands of Americans beginning Yoga practice each year. Hatha Yoga can clearly benefit the practitioner physically, with fitness and flexibility, but routine practice can also lead to a number of less expected benefits.
Hatha Yoga, like any physical activity, can improve physical health when practiced routinely. What many do not know, however, are the specific ways in which Yoga may be able to help in relieving certain medical issues. Yoga has been shown to improve circulation and lower one’s heart rate.
Both of these effects can lead to a decrease in blood pressure and a stronger heart. Improved circulation has also been shown to aid in lowering cholesterol and in reducing the amount of sodium in the body. According to the Online Nurse Practitioner Schools website Yoga may decrease the level of triglycerides in the bloodstream. This would reduce the risk of heart disease. Of course, more studies will be needed before that claim can be clinically proven. Yoga can also improve one’s pain tolerance, making it an effective exercise regimen for those with chronic pain issues such as fibromyalgia or arthritis.
Perhaps one of the least often discussed benefits of Yoga is the effect that routine practice can have on one’s sex life. Yoga not only makes practitioners more flexible and improves dexterity, but it may also increase stamina and muscle control during sexual activity. What’s more, Yoga gives participants more self-confidence and promotes relaxation, both of which can significantly improve sexual experiences for practitioners in any age group.
Since Hatha Yoga is a physical activity, many do not consider that it may have effects on an individual’s emotional or mental health. Yoga can relieve stress and anxiety, and many also feel that it can greatly lessen the effects of depression.
Many long-time practitioners also report an improvement in memory and a drastic improvement in the ability to focus and concentrate. Overall, Yoga creates a sense of calmness and well-being, and helps to eliminate anger or hostility.
Whether one is seeking a great exercise choice to help with arthritis, diabetes, or depression, Yoga appears to be a perfect way for everyone to be more fit and happy. The wide variety of Yoga styles and programs make it ideal for practitioners of any age or level of ability. Even beginners will see the benefits of Yoga after just a few weeks of practice.
© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.
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By Faye Martins
There are two sets of expectations for a 500 hour Yoga teacher certification course. There are the expectations of the teachers who are guiding interns enrolled in the course. There are also a set of expectations on the part of the student, who is choosing a particular 500 hour Yoga teacher training course. Of course, a student must choose a training program wisely and make sure the curriculum and goals of the Yoga teacher training course matches his or her professional and personal aspirations. This article will briefly address those expectations of a student who enrolls in a training program.
Enhance Qualities of Character and Commitment
A Yoga student who enrolls in a professional level, 500 hour Yoga certification course will obtain a deep abiding level of dedication. This commitment to the inner and outer transformation is due to the cleansing effects of Yoga. A student who enrolls in a professional Yoga teacher training course will learn through personal experience of the profound impact within a regular and sustained practice of Yogic techniques and disciplines. The student must also apply him or herself to the thorough study or anatomy, physiology, the subtleties of asana sequencing, Yoga as therapy, the power of mudras, bandhas, chakras, mantras, advanced meditation, and pranayama techniques.
Through sustained practice and focus, the prospective Yoga teacher will become more aware of his or her strengths and weaknesses as a Yoga teacher trainee. This profound Yogic experience may be humbling and at the same time it is a method for reaching states of clarity. A Yoga teacher trainee must stick with this process while learning how to develop and strengthen areas of weaknesses. Interns learn how to balance strength and weakness as a prospective Yoga teacher.
Living Yoga in the World
A student who enrolls in a 500 hour Yoga teacher certification course will ultimately learn how to integrate the experience of Yoga, both on and off the mat. A professional level Yoga teacher training program will bring a student’s personal life into alignment with the basic Yogic tenets taught by Pantanjali. These are the tenets one learns within the Yoga Sutras, such as: self-inquiry, not stealing and truthfulness. If a prospective Yoga teacher does not integrate his or her Yogic experiences, wisdom and guidelines into his or her home life, the rasa or bliss of Yoga will slip through the teacher trainee’s hands and will reduce his or her ability to uplift and impact future Yoga students in a positive way.
© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.
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By Faye Martins
A comprehensive Yoga teacher training program will cover far more than just Yoga poses. A comprehensive program will definitely cover the philosophical tenets underlying all of the Yoga practices. It will also clarify the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits of a regular Yoga practice.
Additionally, a thorough Yoga teacher training program will have some instructional modules focused on working with special populations, such as at-risk teenagers and cancer patients. A comprehensive Yoga teacher training program will also cover the subtleties and nuances of teaching Yoga.
The philosophical tenets that underlie Yogic practices are based on ancient Vedic teachings from India. The Vedas, and the scriptural texts that arose from the Vedas, form a great body of knowledge about the science and embodiment of Yoga.
According to Pantanjali, there are eight different main limbs of Yoga practice, including meditation, asanas, self-inquiry and pranayama. Understanding the philosophy on which Yoga is founded is critical to the knowledge base of a Yoga teacher trainee. This knowledge will give an intern a firm and thorough understanding of the depth and history of Yoga practices, as well as enumerating the many benefits of a regular Yoga practice.
The more in-depth Yoga teacher training programs will also contain several instructional modules on how to work with different types of students who have a variety of health profiles. These populations range from seniors to children. These are only some of the groups with whom Yoga teachers are working.
There is a rising recognition of the many benefits of Yoga amongst the military, educational, prison, respite, and hospital systems. Many individuals in these settings benefit greatly from Yoga’s profoundly mental, emotional, and physical affects. This specialized niche also opens up many new opportunities for Yoga teachers to offer Yoga instruction to under-served populations.
An aspiring Yoga teacher who enrolls in a comprehensive training program will also learn about the physical nuances of gearing his or her class to the needs of students in the class. Designing an appropriate asana sequence is a critical skill to teaching an approachable, yet challenging class.
From day to day, the students who come to participate in your class will change. A great training program will offer you suggestions on how to tailor a Yoga practice to match the ability and energy level of your students on any given day. This is one of the many finer points of teaching Yoga that will be covered by an in-depth Yoga teacher training program.
© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.
http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/
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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!
By Faye Martins
Teaching your Yoga students to accept changes, throughout life, may be their most difficult task to put into practice. Luckily, Yoga is designed to help people cope with new situations, which occur on a daily basis. The practice of Yoga is a great tool for helping a practitioner to accept change.
Often, we are so busy that we are not even aware of the changes that are occurring within us and around us. Yoga helps us to slow our body, breath and mind down, so that we can become aware of our own physical and emotional state. Our bodies change daily, even hourly, sometimes we have a tremendous amount of energy and on other days, we are very tired or fatigued and need a more restorative practice.
The art of the practice of Yoga is based on the self-awareness of what we actually need in the moment. The practice of ahimsa, or non-violence is a core element of Yoga. Once you become aware of what you need, the key is to choose a sequence of asanas, pranayama, and meditation that truly nourish you and are appropriate for you on a given day. In order to be aware of the changing nature of our present needs, we must learn to tune into our emotional and physical state of being without judgment. This includes a compassionate awareness of the changing state of our bodies and minds on a daily basis.
For example, to work in a kitchen preparing meals for two hundred retreat participants at a Yoga conference, and then engage in a vigorous two hour Yoga practice, may not be appropriate or even self-loving. You may need a much more restorative practice after a long day in the kitchen. In this context, the concept of success is self-referential. In other words, a successful practice is based on an evaluation of how well you match the practice you create to what your body, mind and spirit may need on any given day.
There are also times in our lives when we are recovering from an illness, injury or surgical procedure when we need to engage in a much more gentle Yoga practice than we are used to doing. These limitations can be very frustrating and difficult to accept, especially if you are used to engaging in a vigorous practice of Yoga. As we go through the decades of our lives, the needs of our bodies and minds also change and evolve.
As we decide to pass the torch to others, teaching Yoga helps us to accept change, because the practice itself makes us slow down enough to become aware of the changes that have occurred and supports us in tailoring our teaching and practice to our current physical, while calming our emotional state. We are constantly reminded to breathe deeply, look within, and find out what is true for us in that moment. To move through life from that inner place of ahimsa is what each of us is taught at our foundational Yoga teacher training.
© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.
http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/
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By Dr. Rita Khanna
Yoga Nidra is one of the practices of Pratyahara, where the awareness is internalized. Literally, Yoga Nidra means – sleeping consciously. It is a kind of deep sleep in which you don’t lose consciousness. It is a more efficient and effective form of psychic, and physiological, rest and rejuvenation. Normally, when people sleep, they do not unburden totally. They carry their frustrations, conflict, pain, and turmoil with them; hence, sleep never goes deep. Due to this, there remains great tension in the mind and body.
The practice of Yoga Nidra, not only relaxes our mind and body, but restructures and reforms our whole personality from within. We burn old Sansakaras, habits and tendencies, in order to be born anew with every Yoga Nidra session. If you practice Yoga Nidra, then the nature of your mind can be changed, diseases can be cured, and your creative genius can be restored. A single hour of Yoga Nidra is as restful as four hours of conventional sleep.
ORIGIN OF YOGA NIDRA
Yoga Nidra has its origin in the ancient Tantric practice called, Nyasa, which means ‘to place’ or ‘to take the mind to that point’. Nyasa was practiced in a sitting posture, and involved the use of specific Mantras, which were identified or felt at different parts of the body. First, the name of the part was recited; then it was visualized or touched, and the Mantra identified with that part. Besides rotation of consciousness, there are many other practices in Yoga Nidra, which are derived from the Tantras – awareness of the whole body, the brain and internal organs, the contact point between earth and body; feelings of heaviness and lightness, heat and cold, pain and pleasure; visualization of the things you have seen in your life.
STAGES OF YOGA NIDRA
The practice of Yoga Nidra is divided into the following stages:
Preparation
Yoga Nidra is performed in the posture of Shavasana, with the eyes closed. In this stage, initial relaxation of the body and mind is induced by the awareness of stillness, comfort, posture, position, breath, and listening to the external sounds, with the attitude of a witness.
Sankalpa
When the body and mind are relaxed, then the practitioner is instructed to take a resolve, according to his or her own wish. The Sankalpa should be short, clear, and positive. The practitioner repeats the selected Sankalpa three times mentally, with full determination, conviction, and confidence.
Rotation of Consciousness
In the third stage, the awareness is rotated around the different body parts in a systematic and organized manner. The practitioner is instructed to remain aware, to listen to the instructions, and to move the mind very rapidly, according to the instructions, without making any physical movements. The rotation of awareness in Yoga Nidra follows a definite sequence: right side of the body, beginning with the right hand thumb and ending with the little toe of the right foot; left side of the body, from the left hand thumb to the little toe of the left foot; back of the body, from the heels to the back of the head; and lastly the front of the body, from the forehead and individual facial features to the legs.
Breath awareness
In this stage, one simply becomes aware of the natural breath, without making an attempt to change the flow of the breath. One may become aware of the breath by watching it in the nostrils, chest, and abdomen, or in the passage between the navel and the throat. The practitioner becomes aware of each incoming and outgoing breath, by counting it mentally.
Opposite Feelings and Sensations
In this stage, the physical or emotional sensations are recalled, intensified, and experienced fully. Usually, this is practiced with pairs of opposite feelings or sensations, like heat and cold, heaviness and lightness, pain and pleasure, love and hate, and so on.
Visualization
In the stage of visualization, the awareness is taken to the dark space in front of the closed eyes, referred to as Chidakasha, in Yogic terminology. The practitioner is then instructed to visualize some objects, stories, or situations in the Chidakasha.
Sankalpa
Once again the Sankalpa, taken in stage two, is repeated mentally three times, with full dedication, faith, and optimism.
Ending the Practice
Before ending the session of Yoga Nidra, slowly the awareness is externalized, by asking the practitioner to become aware of the external sounds, objects, and persons. They are asked, then, to slowly move the body parts and to stretch the body.
BENEFITS OF YOGA NIDRA
The practice of Yoga Nidra has a number of benefits. Important among them are as follows:
• Yogic philosophy believes in three kinds of tension – muscular, emotional, and mental tensions.
1. Muscular tension results from nervous and endocrinal imbalances. It manifests in the form of stiffness and rigidity in the physical body. In the practice of Yoga Nidra, the body is progressively relaxed, which, in turn, releases the accumulated muscular tensions.
2. In the practice of Yoga Nidra, the practitioner slowly moves towards the deeper realms of the mind, where he or she confronts the deep-rooted emotional tensions. When the practitioner recognizes these emotional tensions, with full awareness, and a witnessing attitude, then repressed emotions are released, and the practitioner becomes calm and tranquil.
3. Due to excessive activity on the mental plane, the mind always remains in a state of arousal, which results in mental tension. In the practice of Yoga Nidra, especially in rotation of consciousness and breath awareness, the mind is relaxed, thereby releasing the mental tensions.
• The Sankalpa helps in training the mind because it is planted when the mind is relaxed and ready to absorb and accept it. The Sankalpa, taken at the beginning of Yoga Nidra, is like sowing a seed; and the Sankalpa, at the end, is like irrigating it. So, the resolve taken in Yoga Nidra always brings result, provided it is taken sincerely with strong willpower and feeling.
• The brain is the linking mediator between the mind, body, and emotions. In Yoga Nidra, intensifying the awareness of the body stimulates the brain. When the awareness is rotated on the different body parts, it not only induces physical relaxation, but also clears the nerve pathways to the brain.
(Each of the body parts has an existing centre in the cerebral white matter named, ‘motor homunculus’ or ‘little man’. The sequence of rotation of awareness, in Yoga Nidra, is in accordance with the map in the cerebral white matter of the brain. When the awareness is rotated in the same sequence again and again, it induces a flow of Pranic energy within the neuronal circuit of the motor homunculus of the brain. This Pranic flow brings in a subjective experience of relaxation in the brain).
• The repressed desires, wishes, and situations remain in the form of symbols, in the unconscious mind. In the deeper realms of the mind, this conflicting and frustrating matter does not die, but remains alive, and later manifests in the form of various pathological symptoms. During the practice of Yoga Nidra, the instructor asks the practitioner to visualize certain symbols and images, with a witnessing attitude. If the symbols and images are selected properly, then they are in accordance with the symbols of the unconscious. An abstract association is created between the guided imagery, and the associated repressed experiences, of the unconscious.
(For example, if the teacher instructs the practitioner to visualize a dog, this may bring out a past traumatic childhood experience, in which the practitioner was bitten by a dog. The practitioner observes this associated painful experience with a witnessing attitude, which helps in cutting off the personal identification with the experience. When the personal identification ceases to be cut off, the painful experience associated with the dog is repressed again. In this way, the practice of visualization brings the unconscious repressed desires, experiences, conflicts, and frustrations to the conscious level, and then cuts off the personal identification with those experiences. As a result, the unconscious is cleared up.)
• When the mind is totally relaxed, the awareness slowly enters the deeper realms (subconscious and unconscious) of the mind, and the person becomes aware of the creative and intuitive faculties. Regular practice of Yoga Nidra helps in making a bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind. Slowly, one becomes tuned with the unconscious workings, and then the power of creativity automatically awakens.
• The technique of Yoga Nidra is helpful in increasing learning and memory capacity. When Yoga Nidra is used in education, both hemispheres of the student’s brain are involved in learning the subject, whereas in the classroom, teaching the left hemisphere functions more. In this way, the practice of Yoga Nidra involves the total mind in learning.
• Stress is a cognitive or emotional response made by the individual towards any situation, which demands adjustment. When the demands of the situation, exceed the ability of the individual, and then distress results, which may manifest in mental and physical symptoms of abnormality. The practice of Yoga Nidra helps in building up the coping ability. The practitioner of Yoga Nidra slowly becomes aware of the inherent dormant potentialities; and thus, prevents himself from becoming a victim of distress. In the practice of Yoga Nidra, the inherent tendency to become tense is rooted out, and the individual starts viewing the situation as less demanding. The practitioner of Yoga Nidra becomes his own psychotherapist, recognizing and systematically alleviating his own personal problems, and interpersonal difficulties.
(Stress-related disorders evolve gradually through four stages. In the first stage, psychological symptoms, like anxiety and irritability, arise, due to over-activation of the sympathetic nervous system. The second stage is characterized by related physical symptoms, like high blood pressure, increased heart rate, etc. In the third stage, the abnormalities manifest clinically in the organ systems. In the last stage, severe symptoms in particular organs result, which need long-term medical management).
YOGA NIDRA AND CANCER
The growth of cancer is associated with a relative failure of the body’s immune defense system. It is known that cortisone (the main steroid hormone, secreted by the adrenal cortex, in response to stress) has an inhibitory effect on the immune reaction. This is why cortisone is used so widely by doctors. Cortisone injections help to relieve inflammatory response in allergic asthma; cortisone tablets usually remove the crippling inflammatory joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis, and cortisone creams aim at damping down the inflammatory reaction and itch, due to skin infections and rashes. However, there are a number of serious side effects of prolonged use of steroid therapy, including atrophy of the adrenal glands; the body’s own cortisone supplies cease to function when we provide an adequate long-term external steroid source. Also, predictably, depression of the response leads to a higher incidence of cancer development. If cortisone inhibits the immune reaction, then, as a technique of Meditation, Yoga Nidra, which can profoundly lower the levels of gluco-corticoids, like cortisone, in the blood will predictably enhance the immune response, thereby rendering the individual more competent to resist cancer development and to fight any pre-existing cancer in his body. The gluco-corticoids are secreted into the bloodstream in response to intra-psychic or environmental stresses.
HOW DOES YOGA NIDRA WORK IN CANCER THERAPY
Along with conventional treatments, Yoga Nidra is suggested to treat cancer patients. It can be successful, by bringing back memories of the good old days, so as to coerce the body to change course and go back to its healthy self. Yoga Nidra awakens the Prana, or the bio-plasmic energies of the body, that help in resurrecting itself. It can augment auto-immune defense mechanisms of the body, to create psychological conditions that oppose excessive growth of cancer cells, thus, altering the entire process of development of cancer. Yoga Nidra, by maximizing the patient’s own conscious efforts to become healthy and whole, is an effective form of cancer therapy. In cancer therapy, Yoga Nidra works at four different levels:
1. By Releasing Repressed Matter
Researches on cancer have brought out the fact that the repressed, and suppressed material of the subconscious and unconscious mind, reinforces the multiplication of anarchic tumor cells, resulting in cancer. In Yoga Nidra, cancer patients are taught to relax in a true sense. In the state of complete relaxation, patients practice the technique of visualization, which helps in bringing up the repressed unconscious matter to the present area of awareness. When these repressions are observed, with a witnessing attitude, the ego identity is cut off, and no more repression or suppression takes place. In this way, slowly the reinforcing factor of cancer is rooted out
2. By Pranic Healing
In the practice of Yoga Nidra, the subtle bioplasmic energy, Prana, is awakened and mobilized throughout the body. The practitioner is asked to consciously imagine the flow of light, or energy, within healing the infected area of the body. Slowly, this conscious imagination activates the dormant self-healing capacity, and actual healing takes place in the patient. This kind of healing is termed Pranic healing.
3. By Mental Healing
In Yoga Nidra, healing can also be initiated on the mental plane, through the technique of visualization. Here the cancer is visualized shrinking in size; an army of white blood cells is visualized fighting the cancer cells. This results in the activation of dormant mental power – i.e., the power of the unconscious to heal the infected part. When the body is visualized to be in perfect health again, and again, the inherent potency of the mind actually starts healing the cancer.
4. By Promoting Willpower
In most cases of cancer, the patients become devoid of hope, and gives up the fight against the disease, which further worsens the situation. To overcome cancer, enormous willpower and sustained endurance is needed. For this purpose, Sankalpa is practiced in Yoga Nidra. The Sankalpa helps in building up willpower and optimism in the patient, because it is sowed in the subconscious and unconscious mind, again and again, and can bring about even the impossible in life.
In this way, by developing confidence, willpower, and optimism; by clearing up the unconscious repression; and by healing the cancer site at the Pranic and mental levels, Yoga Nidra may help to cure cancer and significantly increase the life span of cancer patients.
AUM SHANTI
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Courtesy: Dr. Rita Khanna’s Yogashaastra Studio.
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Dr. Rita Khanna
Dr. Rita Khanna is a well-known name in the field of Yoga and Naturopathy. She was initiated into this discipline over 25 years ago by world famous Swami Adyatmananda of Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh (India).
She believes firmly that Yoga is a scientific process, which helps us to lead a healthy and disease-free life. She is also actively involved in practicing alternative medicines like Naturopathy. Over the years, she has been successfully practicing these therapies and providing succour to several chronic and terminally ill patients through Yoga, Diet and Naturopathy. She is also imparting Yoga Teachers Training.
At present, Dr. Rita Khanna is running a Yoga Studio in Secunderabad (Hyderabad, India).