Semantics versus Substance
I recently conducted a workshop
on “Heal the vagus nervous system to heal the body and mind”. This is how I
presented the theme:
“One of the
parasympathetic nervous systems, Vagus, manages our ability to control stress,
anxiety, depression, body image issues, and behavioral disorders (OCD,
ADHD...). Vagus nervous system represent the mind body connection. Sensitizing
this system by mindful diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness and meditation is
found to heal mind and body. In this one hour session, we will explore the
benefits of deep diaphragmatic breathing to sensitize the Gut Brain Axis (GBA)
and the role of meditation and mindfulness to create Gamma Amino Butyric Acid
(GABA) to calm and relax the body and mind”
I was surprised when twenty five percent of the people did
not show up on the day of the workshop. I had the chance to talk to one of
them. “I will be judged if I had attended”, he said. “The idea is not entirely deal
with the issues we may face, it is all about prevention and to be proactive”, I
said. I had been there many times and I realize the semantics is as important
as substance and the purpose. “May be you should’ve said, breathing exercise to
relax”, my friend told and I heard her.
A week after the workshop, a young man (who attended it) came
to me and said, “The breathing worked like a magic, I am able to focus, relax
and get off the gloominess of anxiety. Why our physicians and therapists do not
encourage these ancient wisdom”. I have an answer and being a hypothesis I
would rather not spell it out.
Anyway, I took “Healing the Vagus Nervous System” as the
theme of my classes for the past one month. Vagus nervous system is a wandering
bidirectional system innervating the internal organs in the gut area. There are
five things we may be able to incorporate in our yoga practice, life, to achieve
this. This is a practice to stay away from sympathetically active flight,
fight, freeze or faint to parasympathetically active realm of feed, relax and
happy.
1 1. Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing: Diaphragmatic
breathing massages internal organs and activates this bi-directional wandering nervous
system. It also massage thyroid, parathyroid, thymus ad prostate glands. It sensitizes
the manipura chakra (No…the solar plexus energy center!)
2. Recreate, Strengthen and Maintain spinal curves:
There are number of simple pose combinations (therapeutic sequences) to achieve
this: Cat-Cow-down-dog; pyramid-crescent lunge; bridge(s)-apanasana.
3 3. Detox poses extending upper thoracic area:
Anytime when you flex and rotate the lower abdominal area, it is a detox pose.
The best way to recognize them is look for the word “parivritha” in it. These
poses amplify the internal energy that will seek a path to move up through Gut
Brain Axis (GBA). Mindfully executing these poses tone GBA
4 4. Engage the chin lock, if possible, while
executing poses: Locking the chin helps to massage the vagus nervous system
passing through the neck.
5 5. Be mindful in breathing and poses. Practice SWOT
breathing to counts of 4-4-6-2. There definitely seem to be a reason why the
military folks are using this breathing to help those feet on the ground.
I am planning to continue the theme for another week. Hope
to see you.
P. S. Help your students, friends, colleagues to discover
their soul, the purpose of their life. Our soul, creativity and talents are
like timid wild animals. Seek them gently with care to ground them. Try to
connect with them and accept them with love. Our goal is to help them to
discover that purpose. The rest will fall in place. It means a lot when you say
Namaste,
So,
Namaste!
Jay.
