A question regarding the mechanics of the lungs

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Pranam esteemed yogis,
I have an idea that I’d like to run by those of you with knowledge of the respiratory system. I have bad lungs. I’m not a smoker myself, but I’ve been around smokers all my life. As a result of that - and other environmental contributing factors - I find I often have trouble breathing. I want to find a practice that will fix that, but I need more information.

So what I really want to know is this: can inverted asanas, such as sirsasana, be used to drain fluids from the lungs? Or does the body have any mechanisms - such as valves - that might block fluids from draining out of the lungs, once inhaled?

It occurs to me that by regularly inhaling steam into the lungs and then draining the water back out into the esophagus by doing inverted postures - and perhaps deep or rapid breathing while inverted - I might be able to unclog any gunk in the alveoli, thus making it easier to breathe. If that is the case, great; but if not, I don’t want to get stuck with a bunch of fluid in my lungs that can’t be easily removed. Pulmonary edema just isn’t my idea of a good time.

Am I on to something here, or is this a bad idea? Or, would this be ineffective for any reason? Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance. :slight_smile:

#2

I have bad lungs. I’m not a smoker myself, but I’ve been around smokers all my life.

Passive smoking is as harmful as active smoking.

can inverted asanas, such as sirsasana, be used to drain fluids from the lungs? Or does the body have any mechanisms - such as valves - that might block fluids from draining out of the lungs, once inhaled?..

It occurs to me that by regularly inhaling steam into the lungs and then draining the water back out into the esophagus by doing inverted postures - and perhaps deep or rapid breathing while inverted… Am I on to something here, or is this a bad idea?

This is not only bad idea but it is weird and dangerous idea too. The way gradually you have damaged lungs capacity, the same way gradually you need to recover it back too.

Asanas are helpful in building capacity of lungs but you need to focus on pranayama. AVOID any inverted postures until you find yourself breathing efficiently in standing postures. It will take few months but gradually you will see progress provided you avoid further damage with passive smoking.

“The mind is a dangerous weapon, even to the possessor, if he knows not discreetly how to use it.” - Michel de Montaigne

I liked this statement. Please follow it.

#3

One more suggestion that please practice pranayama under supervision because with weak lungs if you make any mistake then it may be harmful for lungs…

All the best. Please feel free to ask any question on pranayama.

#4

I will take your statements under advisory, however I hope to hear others thoughts as well.

Also, I wonder, if you think that ‘this is not only bad idea but it is weird and dangerous idea too’ then what do you think about other traditional practices discussed in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and related texts like the shatkarmas, vastra dhauti, and shankaprakshalana? Those practices and many others seem, at a glance, weird and perhaps even dangerous. On that basis, would you have us throw away these methods - tried and deemed true by centuries of tradition and practice - as well?

[QUOTE=SohamYogaStudio;86585]I liked this statement. [U]Please follow it[/U].[/QUOTE]
You decided to exploit my Montaigne quote to attack me by implying that I was not thinking; but, on the contrary, it is clearly you - if the title ‘Certified Yoga Teacher’ has any real meaning at all - who are not thinking. Otherwise you would know that hatha yoga has many things in it that appear to be strange but are nevertheless invaluable.

#5

I apologies if inadvertently I might have hurt you. What I meant is, I liked this statement and our mind only plays trick to misguide us many times.

#6

[QUOTE=SohamYogaStudio;86596]I apologies if inadvertently I might have hurt you. What I meant is, I liked this statement and our mind only plays trick to misguide us many times.[/QUOTE]

Your apology is gladly accepted. But I do hope to get other responses as well.

#7

Here are other responses:

I am very much in favor of Hatha Yoga and all other ancient texts.
Hatha yoga talks about prerequisites (Yamas and Niyamas (verse 16 chapter 1 “atha yama-niyamāḥ”)), which should be attained first before we go for any other practice. In verse 15 “jana-sanggha” it says that company to common people (including smokers) should be avoided as well. Similarly, there are so many conditions mentioned before you go for even asana. Everything mentioned in these texts are not possible to follow. We need to find out a midway to achieve results from yoga keeping current situation of life.

Hatha yoga practices are not ordinary and it is way too dangerous than anyone can even think about it, I mean it. Swami Swatmarama was quite aware of the fact that people may misuse or misunderstand it and that is why he said “haṭha-vidyā paraṃ ghopyā” that means teaching should be kept secret for fruitful results . For the same reason I mentioned above to practice under teachers guidance. This is mentioned in verse 14 “ghurūpadiṣhṭa-mārgheṇa yoghameva samabhyaset” which means as directed by guru. Verse 16 of chapter 2 talks about “ayuktābhyāsa-yoghena sarva-rogha-samudghamaḥ” that means an improper practice generates diseases.

And so on…

In a nutshell what I mentioned is to achieve basic simple results first under supervision before getting into intermediate or advance level of practices.

By the way, I am curious to know which text has mentioned the technique you are referring here when you say “regularly inhaling steam into the lungs and then draining the water back out into the esophagus by doing inverted postures - and perhaps deep or rapid breathing while inverted”. Please send me the pointer of the text in which you have found it.

#8

I did not get my idea from any text, and I didn’t mean to imply that I did. And in fact, after doing some homework, I recently came to the the conclusion that, as you said, it was a bad idea. I appreciate your good advice, but at the time I found your observation that the idea was ‘weird’ to be very unconvincing. As I’ve pointed out, yoga, and medicine too, is full of things that look ‘weird’ but are very healthy. And on the basis that you should know that, I really started to doubt your competence.

It is unfortunately true that hatha yoga has fallen into the hands of people who do not understand it, who try to discard all of its aspects except asanas and pranayama, and who have - in the eyes of the public here in America at least - effectively seperated it from Hinduism. I expected to encounter people here on this forum that essentially were caught up in the pop-culture yoga phenomena, who at least thought of themselves as yogis and who were probably quite knowledgeable about various matters regarding health in general - but who likely would not have a firm foundation or knowledge in any traditional yoga practice.
So I submitted my post here because it related to general health practices, although not really to yoga at all. But then, I didn’t expect to come across any real yogis.

Then I checked your website, and I saw there pictures of a bunch of white people doing yoga, and no one of any other race. I can say that - as a white person myself - usually that means to me that the site represents the watered down, pop-culture form of yoga that is popular with white people; and so, my confidence in you was lowered even further. However, your last post has shown clearly that you are not the type of person I expected to meet. I see that you know what you’re talking about, and that’s unexpected but it’s refreshing.

As to the dangers of practicing hatha yoga without a teacher, I recognize that many practices are dangerous. For example, in the past I almost seriously hurt myself doing vastra dhauti with an improperly prepared cloth. But when the benefits of practices are so good, it’s tempting to do it anyway. Life is always a gamble.

Anyway, thank you for the good advice, Umesh. My curiosity has been satisfied.

#9

Generally speaking the respiratory system is a pneumatic system. Pneumatic systems move air. In contrast the digestive system is hydraulic. Hydraulic systems move liquid. It is not “desirable” to have liquid in a pneumatic system nor air in a hydraulic system.

To hold the idea in the mind that one’s anatomy is “bad” is reinforcing and/or energizing that level of truth. I understand the nature of the communication but it is a reflection of the thoughts and so that would be the place in the practice where I would begin. Let’s call it pratipaksha bhavana just for the sake of brevity. Replace the old thinking pattern with a new, positive one.

Physically you ask about the helpfulness of inverted posture, specifically to drain inhaled steam from the respiratory system. Periodically inhaling steam is fine and it will be handled through the respiratory process with little to no need for going upsidediwn, either fully or in part.

What I would suggest is a course of backbends and preparation for backbends which would include, but not be limited to, opening the intercostal muscles that connect to the ribs.

I would also suggest hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and a cleansing routine that would foster increased function in the lymphatic system. Something as simple as Calli tea or Fortune Delight would work well to move gook. Nutritionally foods that oxygenate the blood would be necessary. They include deep green leafy vegetables.

I would avoid any environmentally polluted locations and make sure that the products I have in my home for cleaning did not have neurotoxins in them. It would also be helpful to have a really good, quiet Hepa filter in the bedroom.

I don’t think in the beginning stages a pranayama practice is required however were it my student I would introduce a very basic, gentle breathing technique and build based on proficiency and ability.

Last but not least, I’m concerned by the comment that Umesh’s teaching, it’s authenticity and efficacy, are reliant on the skin color of people featured on his web site. When we fail to see people and chose to see people’s color - be it white, red, brown, or green, then we are participating in racial inequality. The skin color of the people have nothing at all to do with the potency of the yoga being taught.

gordon

#10

Last but not least, I’m concerned by the comment that Umesh’s teaching, it’s authenticity and efficacy, are reliant on the skin color of people featured on his web site. When we fail to see people and chose to see people’s color - be it white, red, brown, or green, then we are participating in racial inequality. The skin color of the people have nothing at all to do with the potency of the yoga being taught.

Thanks Gordon for visiting my website. This is important observation that you raised in your statement.

Well, as far as color of people is concerned, on my website, those are stock photographs which were easily available at that time to suite my requirement.

In India, we don’t have racial issues about any color though we have other internal social issues which we normally take care when needed. Here, we give equal importance to everyone and every color. And for the same reason, no one here (locally) objected or commented on the images present on my website.

Everyone is welcome in my class and in fact, I have taught people belonging to different countries, religions, race and creeds. Moreover, we have even same fee structure for everyone, no matter where that person belongs to. On the contrary, many times when people short visit (from other countries) for say just a day or two or even a week, I teach them free of cost because they are guests in our country and there is no sense charging them just for a day or two.

Yoga is universal and it is beyond any boundaries, it is for everyone and it can be done by anyone.