Yoga
is a system through which we gain insight into the mystery and for some mastery
over the inner and outer systems. What’s closer to us than our heart! Some are
thrilled by the tales of yogis who can slow or stop its beating. The heart
muscle is the second organ to form in the body, second to the skin (which I heard recently on BBC's Horizon). Its life is a poise of strength
and elasticity, epitomises Yoga; it mediates energy via the balancing of
tension and relaxation throughout the organism. The Heart’s four chambers work in
two pairs, contracting to transmit or relaxing to receive blood. It is surrounded
by connective tissue with myofascial integrity; if the mind or emotions clench,
this impedes regular flow and causes stagnation.
(image from http://vacuumsingularity.wordpress.com)
Balancing
arteries (yang) moving blood outward with veins (yin), gathering back in to
centre, provides a regular pulse. This cardiac stability promotes well being and
insight that we have all we need within, if only we listen to our heart. Through
breathing and relaxation techniques we access voluntary and involuntary nervous
systems, gaining an element of control over the chemical production in the
bloodstream. The body is bio electro magnetic; tuning in to, receiving,
conducting, transporting and storing currents. The heart is the body’s greatest
battery, able to generate a higher electro-magnetic charge than any other
‘cell’. It produces this electrical charge within its cells and is an awareness
transmitter and receiver for both physical and spiritual life.
Floating
between the pressures of gravity and levity, one gains insight into balancing
blood pressure and nerve tension. A healthy system self regulates; free flowing
blood is cleansed, supplying more oxygen and effectively discharging waste upon
venous return. Blood pressure (yin) and circulation (yang) partner to
facilitate maximum vitality absorption. Bodily and emotional pain is reduced as
healthy hormones, painkillers and sedatives are released throughout the system.
Awareness
allows one to maximise diaphragmatic pressure, which keeps the traffic (blood)
moving through the system. This dramatically reduces the amount the heart has to
work, allowing it to function on a higher level. When the belly relaxes we gravitate
to earth; diaphragms move, air flows to or from the lungs and blood moves into
or out of the heart’s chambers. This rhythmic breathing relaxes the autonomic
nervous system, reducing excess tension within the ‘fight of flight’ branch and
stress hormones circulating through the heart. This soothes and retunes its
pace and balances all other physiological processes.
Applying
conscious breathing with movement-stillness synthesis, yoga accesses the
heart’s mind and through meditation and relaxation, the mind’s heart. Correct practice triggers the central nervous
system to function optimally; electrical wires (nerves) are cleansed, glands
and neural pathways tune to cosmic harmonics. Health is a balance of fullness
and emptiness. Disease occurs when we try to fill our emptiness when it is
inappropriate. When we learn to embrace having and not having, doing and not
doing, we find true and permanent peace.
Copyright Matt Gluck
October 2010
www.pranasanayoga.com
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