Swara Yoga for Health, Wealth & Happiness

Put Your Best Foot Forward.

noreply@blogger.com (MitraD) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:49:00 +0000

Have you ever had one of those days when nothing seems to work? In the office you get overloaded with work, can't meet a deadline so the boss gets mad and ask you to stay late and finish the project... you are too tired to remember that you had to pick up some grocery on your way home...so when you get home your wife gets mad at you for forgetting the stuff...and there's nothing you can do but huff n' puff. Well, I am not going to try to decipher why it happens, but here's a tip which you can try and see it if makes a difference.

They say well begun is half done, so do make it a point to wake up the right way. Read more about that here.

As you step out of the house check for your active nadi. Whichever nadi is active set that foot out of the house first. Apply the same principle as you enter the office, your home or any other place where you want to catch the positive vibrations of that place.

If the right side is active, set out right foot first and vice-versa.

If right side is active, then take a few steps in ODD numbers to the east or north side.

If your left side is active, then take a few steps in EVEN numbers to the west or south side.

Practically speaking, if you set your right foot out of the house and EAST or NORTH is the direction you want to traverse any which way...then just keep going. But what if you want to go in the other directions? Simple...just take those few odd steps in east or north direction first and then changes directions to wherever you want to go.

In case your day at the office is already sullen and you know that more work is going to be dumped on you by XYZ, what you can do is check for your dormant nadi, take a deep breath and enter XYZ’s room setting your dormant foot inside first.Very likely…that person will take a chill pill and not dump his/her work onto you.

Once again, if all of this sounds too mundane to work, give it a shot and see if it makes a difference.

Active / Dormant Nadi.

noreply@blogger.com (MitraD) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:22:00 +0000

Sorry for not writing anything for the past few days...
My little son has taken ill and has kept me by his bedside all this while.

Most of what we will discuss here will depend primarily on which of your Nadis is active at the relevant time. To know more about what Nadis there are, please click here. You will need to know which nadi is active and which dormant. Initially this will take some getting used to and it may seem too mundane to be true. But you have nothing to lose in trying it out...

There are two ways to find your active or dormant nadi as required per the situation.

First: Inhale for each nostril separately. One nostril will seem congested and the other free flowing. The congested nostril is your dormant nadi and the free flowing is your active nadi.

Second: Exhale slightly forcefully than usual while placing a finger in front of your nose. The exhalation will be stronger from one side and weaker from the other. The stronger side is the active nadi and the weaker side, the dormant nadi.

If in either of above situations, you find both nostrils active simultaneously, then you have hit the sushumna nadi. What makes Sushumna special, is the fact that this nadi although not impossible
is difficult to secure ie; we are so busy going through the day with it's routine hectic pace that we don't even realise this nadi. Sushumna beckons spiritual growth or time for some contemplation, meditation and like. Pursuit of material needs make awareness of Sushumna somewhat difficult.

For those who would like to experience spiritual progress, since Sushumna nadi is difficult to attain and is very short-lived, three hours a day at the specific times provide the same benefits as if Sushumna nadi were active. These times are sunrise, sun over-head and sunset.

30 mins before and 30 mins after sunrise - 30 mins before and 30 mins after sun comes overhead - 30 mins before and 30 mins after sunset. This is the apt time to set apart for some introspection, meditation or contemplation.

Rise and Shine...

noreply@blogger.com (MitraD) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:08:00 +0000

Feeling grumpy and unsociable first thing in the morning? Got off on the wrong side of the bed? Maybe you did...here are some swaraodaya tips for waking up the right way.

Try to rise at least 30 mins before the sunrise. This will help your body adjust the body-temperature as per the outside environment.
Waking up after the sunrise leaves your body at a temperature lower than the outside environment and may have adverse effects.
Do you feel a song or a thought lingering in you mind all day long? Well that could be coz the very first thoughts that you think or the sounds that you hear, tend to linger in your mind throughout the day. So make it a point to think good thoughts, hear pleasant sounds.

You may visualize (manas smaran) your esta devata (favourite deity) if you like.

Do not sit upright right away.

· First check which of your nadis (Surya nadi OR Chandra nadi) is active.

· To find out which nadi is active, hold a finger in front of your nose and exhale. The nostril with a stronger exhalation indicates the active nadi.

· Once you know which nadi is active, lean towards that side and wake up slowly from that side.

Hold your hand at eye level and recite shlokas like “ Karagre vasate Lakshmi” or “Samudra vasane devi”.

Looking at your hands and the recitation, will make you have more faith in your actions; make you self-confident and thankful for everything.

Afterwards, bow to the earth by touching the floor with the same hand as the active nostril. Make sure that the active side foot touches the ground first. If upon standing up, your right side is active, then take a few steps in ODD numbers to the east or north side. If upon standing up, your left side is active, then take a few steps in EVEN numbers to the west or south side. Then rinse your mouth and drink two glasses of water before starting other daily chores.

The left hemisphere of our brain co-ordinates working of the right side of our body and the right hemisphere of the left side of our body. During sleep although our body is in inertia, the Panchapranas (five vital pranas) are still active. Doing the above kriya ensures that the sudden waking up and movement does not overwhelm our brain but rather awakens our mind-body co-ordination gently.

Why Breathe?

noreply@blogger.com (MitraD) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 06:34:00 +0000

Because each nostrils independent operation influences the body chemistry in a different way. Both right and left nostrils are connected to the opposite sides of the cerebral hemispheres and the olfactory lobe. The nose is in direct contact with the hypothalamus by its link with the olfactory lobe of the brain. The hypothalamus is a part of the limbic system, associated with emotions and motivation. By the process of respiration, our nostrils are connected with neuromotor responses and consequently with the nervous system. These neuromotor responses influence the hemispheres and the activity of the brain which is chemical in nature. Neurotransmitters are the brain's chemical messengers and the messages they relay are responsible for our bodily functions.

Now that we know why we breath, have you ever observed your own breathing pattern? If you have, you probably already know that there is a certain cycle to it. Each nostril remains actively functional for about 1 to 1.5 hrs depending upon the individual. Then you have both nostrils working simultaneously although this lasts for a very short time, 1-5 mins. The pattern repeats constantly throughout our lives.

There are three dominant swara, also known as nadi (Nadi is flow of pranic energy in body).

Ida Nadi or the Left Swara

Pingala Nadi or the Right Swara

Sushumna Nadi

The Ida Nadi is the breath that flows through our left nostril. It signifies Shakti - a Lunar principle that represents the power of Moon and is considered feminine in nature. It influences the right hemisphere of our brain and is connected to lunar, emotional, peaceful, mellow and visual activities.

The Pingala Nadi is the breath that flows through our right nostril. It signifies Shiva - a Solar principle that represents the power of Sun and is considered masculine in nature. It influences the left hemisphere of our brain and is connected to solar, rational verbal and more energetic activities.

The Third Swara or Sushumna is said to be active when the Left and Right Swara flow together. Most people go through the day without even realizing Sushumna. For those who do notice it, it is a very short period of 1-5 mins. Those few minutes mark a transfer of energy through a thin sheet of membrane called the Corpus Callosum which conducts the energy from one hemisphere to the other. It is located at the center of the spinal cord and represents pure consciousness (Shiva). Sushumna indicates non-attachment to the mundane things which is why no worldly actions are recommended during this period. It is good time to meditate or for some serious contemplation.

References:
http://www.sanatansociety.org/yoga_and_meditation/swara_yoga.htm

http://satyamyoga.com/swyoga.htm

Shiva Swarodaya - The Science of Breathing

noreply@blogger.com (MitraD) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:43:00 +0000

"Shiva Swarodaya" is also know as "Swarodaya" or "Swara Yoga". The word Swara is of sankrit origin and means sound or a note, like a musical note. It is an ancient Indian science that deals with the power of breath. Rather a very detailed science which helps realization of cosmic consciousness by using, controlling and manipulating one's breath. We shall stick to the simpler term, Swara Yoga.

Swara yoga is considered a tantric science derived from the Agama Shastras and from Shaiva Tantra. The original manuscript of Shiva Swarodaya contains 395 sutras , many of which deal with Health, Wealth & Happiness and are a dialogue between Lord Siva and Goddess Shakti. Shakti seeks knowledge about nature and the governing forces of the universe, in response to which Lord Siva discloses this precious knowledge of Swara yoga. This knowledge was a closely guarded secret and was available to a select few over the centuries and was transmitted from generation to generation, orally.

Most people may mistake it for pranayama. Pranayama seeks to attain supreme control over one's breath. Swara yoga is different in the sense that it not only deals with breath, but harnesses it with other elements like the solar or lunar cycle, the physical or emotional condition of person involved etc; It is much more comprehensive in both theory and practice.

Plainly speaking, Swara yoga has the potential of being put to use right from the moment you wake up, all through your daily activites and chores, till you retire at the end of the day. Here, we are going to explore exactly that...without worrying too much about the spiritual applications. For now, I will assume that we all want to make our MATERIAL lives a little better so we will skip the complicated part and get to the goddies.

Where and how is Swara Yoga applied in daily life? Well...it can be applied everywhere, for instance:

Gaining health, wealth and prosperity.
Winning friends / favours / contracts.
Being at the right place at the right time.
Reducing negative effects or vibrations.
Chosing the right time to undertake a journey / venture.

These are just a few examples. Once you get the fundamentals right, you can apply it to virtually anything. And honestly, it is as simple as finding out which nostril you are breathing with.

Basics of Swar Yoga, to follow soon.