Disease comes from structural change. This is the oriental, ancient way of looking at it. This body and its bones have no screws and bolts. It is held together by tissue and by muscle. During one’s life many movements occur in the body simultaneously influencing the action of the muscles. Certain muscles are stronger and hold the skeleton in a different way than the other muscles. This can lead to physical problems. Life becomes imbalanced and irritation sets in.
The whole body structure is responsible for one’s elevation, for one’s “being-ness.” A car has its gas, it has transmission, and it starts. If one part is missing, or if just a little air does not get to the gas, it dies. It is the same with the body.
Before you begin your practice, tune-in by chanting the mantra Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo
How to chant the mantra Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo
Sit in Easy Pose with your spine straight. Press your palms together in Prayer Pose at the center of the chest, sides of the thumbs pressed against the sternum. With your eyes closed, focus your concentration at the Third Eye Point located between the eyebrows at the root of the nose, about a half inch under the skin. Inhale deeply and as you exhale chant Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo, on one breath. The sound Dev is chanted a minor third higher than the other sounds. If you cannot chant it all on one breath, take a short breath after Ong Namo. Repeat the mantra three times. The meaning of Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo is: I call on the creative infinite consciousness of the universe. I call on the divine wisdom within me.
Leg Lifts
Posture: Lie down flat on the back with the hands clasped under the neck.
Breath and Movement: Keeping the heels together, raise both legs to 90 degrees as you inhale. Be sure to press your lower back into the floor before and during the lift, and lift from the navel. Lower the legs as you exhale.
Note: Do not bend the knees. But if you don’t have the abdominal strength to keep the legs straight, use your hands to provide leverage for your back by placing them on the floor under your buttocks.
Time
Start with 54 repetitions and with practice, build up to 108 repetitions.
Triangle Pose to Cobra Pose
Posture: Triangle Pose. Come into Triangle Pose. The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are on the ground, with the feet about hip-width apart. Create a straight line between your wrists and your hips, and from your hips to your heels. Pull the chin in and elongate the back of the neck. Roll the armpits toward each other.
Movement: Smoothly begin to move the body into Cobra Pose. In Cobra Pose your palms are flat on the ground and your body is arched up through the upper back. The feet are together. The shoulders are pressed down and the neck is long.
Move smoothly from Triangle to Cobra to Triangle, etc. Do not bend the knees. Keep the arms straight if you have sufficient strength and flexibility, otherwise you may keep the arms bent with the elbows in towards the sides of the body.
Time
Start with 21 repetitions and build up to 52 repetitions with practice.
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