Reclaiming our spiritual power: What are you doing?

Spirituality
#21

Excellent Yoganewgirl, you obviously are taking your Yoga very seriously. It is refreshing to see a serious spiritual aspirant on this forum.

I have also been neglecting the physical side of Yoga for a long time. Although I have done asana Yoga on and off throughout the years, it has never really drawn me, in the same way the mental aspects of meditation, pranayama and spiritual study(Jnana) have. Now, I realize that physical health is equally as important, and by removing the tensions from the body through the asanas it will lead to a better flow of energy in the body and facilitate meditation.

I must say I am not really drawn to any of the vinyasa stuff like Surya Namaskars etc. I would rather do the asanas in the traditional Hatha Yoga way, by holding them for a very long time, and then moving onto the next asana. In this way the asana becomes more of a meditation. Iyengar Yoga is probably more closer to what I want.

Kundalini Yoga, as in the the 3HO type is dubious to me. I tried it a few times, and it seems more like Yoga aerobics than genuine Yoga. I am not surprised about the hyperventilation you described, I experienced that myself and many others I know experienced similar symptoms, light-headedness and nausea. Hyperventilation is not a good thing and Yoga is not suppose to induce it.

Deep breathing before meditation is a great idea. It is always advisable to start any meditation with a short round of pranayama. The pranayama harmonizes the breath and calms the mind, introverting(pratyhara) the senses and preparing it for dharana - assuming the object of meditation. It also helps to begin the meditation by saying your affirmation “I am the witness” to put yourself in the witnessing mode.

Systematic meditation where one begins with the body, then gradually moves to the breath and then the thoughts and feelings is an effective meditation. It mimics the actual process of meditation where by one begins with a gross feeling of body, then gradually consciousnsness becomes more and more subtle.

I can certainly see the sense in not eat too much per meal. I just end up feeling really heavy and bloated if I eat too much in a meal. I have a weird metabolism. If I eat too little I just end up looking pretty skinny(but not underweight) but if I eat to gain weight, I gain it in the worst area to gain it: stomach lol My aim, as shallow as it may sound, is to gain enough weight to look at least decent, but be toned at the same time. In order to achieive this I am going to have to eat a bit, because I have a really fast metabolism.
My decision to eat meat again, is motivated by the need to gain weight, because meat contains more calories and protein, otherwise I also think a vegetarian diet is more Yogic.

You should consider as part of your routine concentration exercises i.e., Yoga Trataka. These are great exercises to strengthen your powers of concentration, and will aid your meditation.

In order to select the best techniques to include in your plan I highly recommend the Bihar School of Yoga books.

#22

Thanks. highly appreciate your instructions

#23

Surya. I wish to emphasize with you. The difference of hyper ventilation and hypo ventilation.

Medical and public individuals a like. Take hypo to be hyper.
Hypo is accumulation of carbon dioxide. Run and you will experiance this.or you will get dizzy and pass out. Hypo also causes blood to become acidic PH wise. Which makes the stomach create extra acids.
Hyper leads to painless pins and needles (parasthesia) sorry wrong spelling. Lightheadedness is experianced by people not used to breathing deep. If continued the (tingling) leads to magneticness. Because of low co2 red bloodcells hold onto the oxygen longer truly “oxyginating” the blood more. This also leads to temporary breathlessness for multiple minutes. One simply dosnt breath causethe body dosnt need to. :stuck_out_tongue: :slight_smile: just saying.

#24

Thanks for the clarification between the differences in Hypoventilation and Hyperventilation. I understand from reading about it that Hypoventilation is underbreathing(excess carbon dioxide) and Hyperventilation is overbreathing(less carbon dioxide) Either one is considered dangerous and it not something medical professional advise. Nor is it advised by Yoga. Pranayama is not suppose to induce either hyperventilation or hypoventilation, and if one is doing pranayama and experiencing either of these conditions, they are doing it improperly and are at risk of harming themselves.

From an article on Pranayama and effects on breathing:

Answers to Some Common Questions on Breathing
The following are some answers to common questions about breathing adapted from Repich (2002).

  1. How do you take a deep breath?
    Although many people feel a deep breath comes solely from expansion of the chest, chest breathing (in of itself) is not the best way to take a deep breath. To get a full deep breath, learn how to breathe from the diaphragm while simultaneously expanding the chest.
  2. What happens when you feel breathless?
    Breathlessness is often a response of your flight or fight hormone and nervous system triggering the neck and chest muscles to tighten. This makes breathing labored and gives a person that breathless feeling.
  3. What is hyperventilation syndrome?
    Hyperventilation syndrome is also known as overbreathing. Breathing too frequently causes this phenomenon. Although it feels like a lack of oxygen, this is not the case at all. The overbreathing causes the body to lose considerable carbon dioxide. This loss of carbon dioxide triggers symptoms such as gasping, trembling, choking and the feeling of being smothered. Regrettably, overbreathing often perpetuates more overbreathing, lowering carbon dioxide levels more, and thus become a nasty sequence. Repich (2002) notes that this hyperventilation syndrome is common in 10% of the population. Fortunately, slow, deep breathing readily alleviates it. The deliberate, even deep breaths helps to transition the person to a preferable diaphragmatic breathing pattern.
  4. When you feel short of breath, do you need to breathe faster to get more air?
    Actually, just the opposite. If you breathe fast, you may start to over breathe and lower your carbon dioxide levels. Once again, slow deep diaphragmatic breathing is recommended.
  5. How do you know if you are hyperventilating?
    Often times a person does not realize when he/she is hyperventilating. Usually more focus is centered on the anxiety-provoking situation causing the rapid breathing. With hyperventilation there is much more rapid chest breathing, and thus the chest and shoulders will visibly move much more. As well, if you take about 15-17 breaths per minute or more (in a non-exercise situation) then this could be a more quantifiable measure of probable hyperventilating.

Source: http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/Breathing.html

#25

Ultimately, the aim of Pranayama is to bring your natural breath down to 1-5 breaths a min, but this does not happen through force. If you force yourself to breath only 1-5 breath a min, you are likely to cause yourself a breathing disorder. It should not feel uncomfortable, this means that your body is struggling for oxygen or the carbon dioxide levels in your body have lowered. In deep breathing Pranayama(ujjayi) one takes a full breath, but takes the breath deeply and slowly with awareness(as if drawing the breath from the base of the spine to the top of the head) Then holds it and then exhales it for the same count as inhalation(or twice as long in some techniques) Then repeats the cycle. As one practices the exercise, one is able to increase the duration of the count of inhalation, retention and exhalation in a natural way. Then one begins to approach a state of breathlessness, where less and less breath is needed. If one forcibly tries to induce the state they will hyperventilate or hypovenitilate.

#26

:slight_smile:

( gasping, trembling, choking and the feeling of being smothered. Regrettably, overbreathing often perpetuates more overbreathing)

This is hypo.
When I said breathless. I meant the body comfortably,dosnt breath,of its own accord.
I did not mean it as “out of breath” or oxygen hunger as its commonly called.

Carbon dioxide regulates breathing.
More co2= breath more
Less co2=breath less.

Like I said. They are commonly and professionally mistaken for eachother.

I have taught many people. And corrected medical professionals.
Sneezing is a short hyperventilation.
By public definition I should have severe brain damage and should be a vegitable. :slight_smile: haha
Breathing quickly commonly causes hypo. One dosnt need to breath quickly for either to happen. If it is caused by a primary ailment “medical ailments” seek help.

#27

More.co2=causes the body to breath more
Less co2=causes the body to slow its breathing.

Hypo causes more hypo. Never breath in a bag!! You will pass out or severely hurt yourself!!
When it happens,you will say "he is hyperventilating!"
At this moment tell him to exhail as deep as he can even though the body is telling him to breath in :wink:

In true hyper, you will simply stop breathing, and when co2 builds to normal levels again,the body simply resumes its natural rhythm.

I’ve observed breathing 79 months now. And have taught multiple people with no ill effects except preliminary light headedness in those not used to deep breathing. Light headedness vanishing in the first week.
I have done it for a half hour straight. With no ill effects. “Yes a half hour is weak sauce” :wink: :D.
but I was magnetic at the end of that half hour,and did not breath for many minutes.
This is the exact method mentioned in autobiography of a yogi. You will have your own opinion on him and the methods associated with him. But I tell you now,it was clearly revealed in that book with a few sentences. Although this is not how I learned. :wink:
Don’t trust anything you hear :slight_smile: test and affirm.

#28

I am not sure it is responsible of you to encourage hyperventilation on this forum. It is not advised by medical professionals or by Yoga experts. I will leave it to the discerning reader whether they would like to follow your advice or follow the advice of medical professionals.

By the way the author of the above article describes the difference between hypoventilation and hyperventilation. He has a Phd in the subject of the science of breathing and pranayama. I do not want to sound condescending to you, but as you are advising inducing a condition most professionals consider dangerous and harmful to health, I need to ask you what are your credentials to support your advice?

#29

By the way can you explain what this means, “but I was magnetic at the end of that half hour” ?

#30

In my opinion. If you experiance Any ill effects at all. Stop. Period. Hyper and hypo are have a fine line between them.
I have only had positive effects in my practise. And I do not breath “rapidly” when I perform this. I breath moderately in a relaxed manner.

Magnetic. Literally is the only way to describe it. It is magnetic to itself. Like a force field surrounding the body. Either repelling or attracting itself. Ie hands attract itself. Thumb is pulling to connect to one of the finger. Yet thumb will be an inch away from a finger,yet feels as if its pressing hard onto the finger. Its hard to describe.

#31

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;76562]According to your belief. Like I have told you before, I do not share your beliefs. I only believe what can be rationally demonstrated. If you can rationally demonstrate what you believe to me, I will certainly consider it, otherwise I will just bin it my already overfilling junk folder of fairies, leprechauns and tooth fairies etc.[/QUOTE]

My friend it is not belief. The facts are the facts.

The Proof you seek, the faith you must have is this world in all it’s perfection.

“God” is obvious. The world is the result of an Intelligence that so far beyond that of man to be laughable. Incomprehensible. Astounding. As the wise have said . . . words fail to describe his majesty . . . and only silence can suffice.

The world, LIFE, and it’s complexity, balance, and pure genius is the foundation of faith. The world is the proof you need to begin.

If you come to your senses by opening yourself to the possiblity of him, and you persist - you will see him, and all the others and you will come to [I]know[/I] that none of it is bullshit.

#32

[QUOTE=Surya Deva;76597]

Asanas: Should I do an existing routine or style, or is it better to just pick the asanas I want to do, and to them in my own sequence? Should I be focusing on asanas to fix certain problem areas, or asanas to target the entire body?

Pranayama: I intend to do 3 types of Pranayama: Alternate nostril breathing, Breath of Fire, Deep breathing, and Spinal breathing. Are these three types compatible?

Meditation: As there are literally hundreds of types of meditations to choose from and not enough time to do all of them, I have decided to pick two of my favourite: Expansion Meditation and Breath meditation. Would it be wiser to stick to only one type of meditation and gain proficiency in that?

Diet: Should I aim to eat a Sattvic diet or a diet as per my Ayurvedic body type of Vata? I am currently on a non-vegetarian diet, consisting of a lot of fried and fatty food and junk food like kebabs and burgers.[/QUOTE]

I would use the esteemed shastras as my guide.

HYP
YS
Shiva Samhita

#33

I retract my statement.
Self education is a slow process. Forgive my mistake.

Yes it can be dangerous. But usually is not in moderation and a healthy body.
running causes a great increase in co2. Running is good as long as over exertion isn’t had. Hyper is good in the same since.

Stick with me here. I have mentioned my goal a few times on here. I believe I may,in actuality,be trying to induce and sustain respiratory alkalosis.
This makes since as to why good diet and,healthy body,and conditioning are needed.
I personally have a healthy body.
Now. A question. I have not been able to figure out yet.
Respiratory alkalosis. After a few days the kidneys come into play,they try to compensate.
Something about withholding hydrogen. Would this make it difficult to pee?

#34

I retract my statement.
Self education is a slow process. Forgive my mistake.

Yes it can be dangerous. But usually is not in moderation and a healthy body.
running causes a great increase in co2. Running is good as long as over exertion isn’t had. Hyper is good in the same since.

Stick with me here. I have mentioned my goal a few times on here. I believe I may,in actuality,be trying to induce and sustain respiratory alkalosis.
This makes since as to why good diet and,healthy body,and conditioning are needed.
I personally have a healthy body.
Now. A question. I have not been able to figure out yet.
Respiratory alkalosis. After a few days the kidneys come into play,they try to compensate.
Something about withholding hydrogen. Would this make it difficult to pee?

#35

Thanks for the added advice about asanas and meditation, Surya.

Regarding your plan to gain weight, yes, meat is a good source of protein that you need for increasing muscle size. You probably don’t have to eat red meat, just lean chicken which has plenty of protein but witout the fat, and I believe it is digested better by the body. Eating lots of fried junk food will put weight on but, as you know, the wrong kind of weight, just fat and not to mention how bad it is for your heart. Try and stick to grilled and steamed or boiled food. Don’t forget good old milk and eggs which are a great source of protein, or you could a take natural whey protein when you do your gym workouts. Try not to think purely in terms of eating more calories. Yes eat plenty with lots of protein, but keep it lean, that way when put together with your weight training, you’ll get bigger without getting fat.

Regarding pranayama, I don’t do anything that’s very uncomfortable. I found Breath of Fire very hard at first because it was difficult maintaining an steady rhythm because I was going from inhaling more than I was exhaling and vice versa. But once I managed to inhale and exhale evenly I felt fine.

Many thanks again. :smiley:

#36

Thanks Yoganewgirl, your advice on diet is definitely very helpful, and I will try my best to stop myself from indulging in burgers and kebabs(and chips!) I am trying to lose some of the fat I have gained recently by fasting from meat for a while and eating less, so that I can can start back from square one on gaining weight the healthy way. Fortunately, I don’t have too much fat to lose!

#37

[QUOTE=Avatar186;76677]I retract my statement.
Self education is a slow process. Forgive my mistake.

Yes it can be dangerous. But usually is not in moderation and a healthy body.
running causes a great increase in co2. Running is good as long as over exertion isn’t had. Hyper is good in the same since.

Stick with me here. I have mentioned my goal a few times on here. I believe I may,in actuality,be trying to induce and sustain respiratory alkalosis.
This makes since as to why good diet and,healthy body,and conditioning are needed.
I personally have a healthy body.
Now. A question. I have not been able to figure out yet.
Respiratory alkalosis. After a few days the kidneys come into play,they try to compensate.
Something about withholding hydrogen. Would this make it difficult to pee?[/QUOTE]

If you are interested in practicing Tai Chi then I imagine you have come across the concept that Tai Chi Chuan is, yes an external form, but comes to be understood, if you persist in digging, as an internal martial art.

Hatha Yoga is the same. A series of external forms but it’s secrets lie within.

#38

Yoga started as an internal art for me. And of course
, the internal through its expression effects the external.