The Yoga Way

Strong arms -The Yoga Way

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“I remember watching Arnold Schwarzenegger’s documentary Pumping Iron when I was a school boy. The sheer size of his muscles left me wondering if it was humanly possible to achieve anything even close to those huge arms and shoulders. The coming years saw hours spent at the local gym trying to get a good chiseled body. As the scene shifted from classroom to workplace, so did the meaning of a good chiseled body. And what was left of that ambition was to keep the tummy line in check. My arms were never that strong and always had problem doing push-ups and pull ups. Eventually, I started feeling embarrassed every time I was supposed to lift something heavy and couldn’t hold on for long. I don’t even feel like going to a gym anymore due to a hectic work schedule”, says Anish, a blogger from Bangalore.
Many of us have similar desires of strong arms or flat abs or a well-toned body, but our schedules don’t give us that space to squeeze in a one hour gym routine. So how do we get to our goal? Well, if you are willing to take out 20 minutes for yourself, yoga can do wonders for you.
Here’s a list of some yoga postures that will help you gain stronger arms:

1. Trikonasana (Triangle pose)

The Triangle pose stretches the legs, chest, hips and spine and also strengthens them.

2. Poorvottanasana
(Upward plank pose)

The Upward plank pose strengthens the wrist, arms and shoulders.

3. Viparita Shalabhasana (Superman pose)

The Superman pose stretches and strengthens the muscles of the chest, shoulders, arms and lower back. It also tones the abdomen and lower back.

4. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)

The Cobra pose opens the shoulders and neck and also strengthens the arms and shoulders.

5. Adho Mukha Svanasana
(Downward facing dog pose)

The Downward facing dog pose energizes your body and also helps strengthen the shoulders and arms.

6. Shalabhasana (Locust pose)

The Locust pose improves the flexibility of the back and also strengthens the shoulders and arms.

Pallavi, a HR executive with a MNC had this to say, “I was suffering from lower back ache since past 5 years. After I started working, I had to spend almost 8-10 hours sitting and working at one place. Eventually, I became victim of carpel-tunnel syndrome and was in pain. I tried many medicines but none helped. Finally, I started practicing yoga after a friend recommended it. Within just a couple of months, my back-ache and carpel-tunnel pain subsided. I still practice yoga every day and am in a much better shape now.”

The body can be perfectly toned and strengthened by regular practice of yoga. Yoga is an art and requires time and commitment. But, like with any new activity, it is best to learn yoga from a certified teacher before practicing it. Learn the right way of doing yoga during a local Sri Sri Yoga course and experience the simplicity and effectiveness of the ancient practice.

Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind bringing a lot of health benefits yet is not a substitute for medicine. It is important to learn and practice yoga postures under the supervision of a trained Sri Sri Yoga teacher. In case of any medical condition, practice yoga postures after consulting a doctor and a Sri Sri Yoga teacher. Find a Sri Sri Yoga course at an Art of Living Center near you. Do you need information on courses or share feedback? Write to us at info@srisriyoga.in

what is Sudarshana Kriya....................................

What is Sudarshan Kriya?

The Sudarshan Kriya, a powerful rhythmic breathing technique that facilitates physical, mental, emotional and social well-being is an integral part of Art of Living programmes.

It is today universally acclaimed for its effectiveness in eliminating stress and bringing one completely into the present moment.

As H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar puts it, the Sudarshan Kriya came to him like an inspiration to bridge the gap between the worlds of inner silence and outer expression of life.

Nature is replete with various rhythms and cycles - day follows night, night follows day, seasons come and go. Similarly, there are biological rhythms to our bodies, minds and emotions. When these rhythms are in sync, we feel a sense of harmony and well-being. When stress or illness throws them out of order, we experience discomfort and discontent and feel upset and unhappy.

‘Su’ means proper, ‘darshan’ means vision, and ‘Kriya’ is a purifying practice. The Sudarshan Kriya is therefore a purifying practice, whereby one receives a proper vision of one’s true self. This unique breathing practice is a potent energizer.

Every cell becomes fully oxygenated and flooded with new life, bringing a sense of joy in the moment. And when we feel good about ourselves, love flows naturally in all our relationships with others.

The rhythmic breathing pattern of Sudarshan Kriya harmonizes the rhythms of the body and emotions and brings them in tune with the rhythms of nature. The breath connects the body and mind. Just as emotions affect our patterns of breathing, we can bring about changes in our mental and behavioral patterns by altering the rhythms of our breath. It flushes our anger, anxiety and worry; leaving the mind completely relaxed and energized.

The results of Sudarshan Kriya have surprised the medical fraternity across the world.

‘My cancer disappeared'

A doctor from Germany was suffering from metastatic cancer that had spread to her brain and liver when she came to attend her first Art of Living program. She did the course lying down. Two courses later, the cancer had disappeared. Being a doctor, she was requested to explain this. She suggested that possibly, the Sudarshan Kriya and meditation cleared her cells off stresses, leaving the layer of consciousness (or energy) surrounding those cells; which in turn, penetrated deep into her DNA.

Independent medical research has documented the benefits of the technique, including alleviation of depression and heightened awareness and creativity.

• Studies have demonstrated significant falls in cortical levels, known as the ‘stress hormone' among Sudarshan Kriya practitioners, suggesting greater levels of both, relaxation and resilience to stress.

• A study by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, concluded that regular practice of the Sudarshan Kriya invokes positive emotions, replacing anger, frustration and jealousy.

• It's also found that it improves the blood cholesterol profile with significant drops in total cholesterol and LDL (harmful) cholesterol, as well as increases in HDL (beneficial) cholesterol.

Also, check out this beautiful Sudarshan Kriya video: