Yoga for menstrual cramps, menopause, and disorders part 2
Yoga for menstrual cramps, menopause, and disorders
While the Cobra is particularly useful to women suffering from dysmenorrhcea, amenorrhcea, leucorrhcea, and various other utero-overine troubles, the overall benefits can be greatly increased by those students able to increase the backward bend. Do not perform the variation until you are able to do the Cobra I have just described with perfect ease and comfort.
Cobra
Variation 2. From the first position, rise into the Cobra with the elbows bent and the spine arched. Slowly straighten the elbows, push the head back as far as you can, so that the bending of the spine involves the sacral to the cervical region. Remain thus for as long as you comfortably can without strain and then relax. When you can perform variation 2 you can, if you wish, omit variation 1 from your practice schedule.
Variation 3. There is yet a third variation of the lovely Cobra Pose for advanced students but it can be achieved by beginners who are athletic or who have been trained in ballet. From variation 2, with elbows straight, bend the spine backwards still farther, gradually bring your toes towards your head to touch the back of your head. This tones the deep and the superficial muscles of the back, and also relieves backache, helping to keep the spine young and supple.
And now to return to another inverted posture to rest the internal organs. For my readers who find the Shoulderstand just a little too strenuous but who need the benefits of this valuable posture, there is a slightly easier posture which has the delightful name of VIPARITA-KARANI MUDRA, meaning literally reverse effect. For short we will call it THE REVERSE POSE.
The radiations which we receive from the earth are negative while those from the cosmos are positive. Thus, when in the ordinary standing position we receive the negative radiation through the soles of our feet and the positive radiation through the top of the skull. In the Yoga poses in which the body is turned upside down, viz. Shoulderstand, Headstand, and Reverse Pose, the effect is just the opposite. Additionally these postures bring an unaccustomed rich supply of blood to the lower intestinal organs.
Viparita-Karani or Reverse Pose
1. Lie flat on your back, hands along your sides and feet together. Inhale deeply and at the same time raise your legs and buttocks off the floor, putting your hands on your hips to steady yourself and keep your body reversed.
2. Place your thumbs just under your hip bone and your hands round the back of your hips. You will find, by practice, your most suitable position of hands and elbows which should be set about a foot apart to maintain correct balance. I have demonstrated Viparita-Karani in figure 44, this position also being the preliminary position of the Plough Posture described in chapter nine.
You will see from the illustration that Viparita-Karani does not require the body to be held straight, but bent at the waistline which should make it easier for some of my readers than the Shoulderstand. Do please keep your knees straight, though, and while in this position hold your body in poised stillness with your eyes closed. Hold it for one minute at first but gradually extend the time until you can hold it steadily and comfortably for ten minutes or more, according to the time at your disposal.
This posture is especially recommended for women who suffer from many kinds of female disorders, and any kind of physical or mental distress during the menopause. Because this posture affects the gonads it controls the aging processes in the body and helps to restore youth and vitality and a sparkle to the eyes.
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admin | November 8, 2007