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Management at the physical level focuses on cleansing techniques to keep the body free of accumulation of wastes and toxins.
The kriyas are internal cleansing techniques used in hatha yoga to cleanse the body of excess waste matter. The upper wash helps to cleanse the bronchial passages and stomach of excess mucus. It is performed by swallowing large amounts of warm salty water and then throwing it out. Dhauti is likewise helpful in eliminating excess mucus from the stomach and esophagus. It involves swallowing a long cotton cloth and then throwing it out.
Hatha yoga: The beauty of the hatha yoga system of exercises is that not only do they strengthen and tone up the body and enhance its physiological functions, they are especially effective in balancing out the distribution and flow of energy and for purifying the nadis. Besides helping to maintain a steady, uninterrupted flow of energy to all vital areas of the body, they also help to clear the mind of mental pollution—negative energy, tension and stress.
On the physical level hatha yoga helps to make the body supple and strong. Because the asanas are basically centered on the spinal axis, the spine is made more flexible and circulation is increased to this area to enhance the functioning of the nervous system and the endocrine glands.
At the pranic level the subtle energy passageways are purified and imbalances of energy at the level of the chakras are corrected. When the nadis are purified the mind becomes calm and relaxed. In addition, after practising these exercises for some time one becomes conscious of the subtler flow of energy within and can consciously direct energy to certain areas of the body to provide the needed healing force.
Since RA is primarily associated with imbalances of the first two chakras and the associated functions of apana and vyana, those asanas that help to correct these imbalances should be undertaken. These include the following: konanasana (angle posture), parivritta trikonasana (revolving triangle), padahastasana (hand to foot posture), bhujangasana (cobra), ashwini mudra (horse mudra), naukasana (boat), shalabhasana (locust), dhanurasana (bow), janushirshasana (head to knee posture), paschimottanasana (posterior stretch), ardha matsyendrasana (half spinal twist), pavanamuktasana (wind eliminating posture), utthita dvipadasana (double leg lifts), and halasana (plow).
Joints and Glands: It must be remembered that the asanas’ effects are not confined to a certain region, but rather to the organism as a whole. The exercise program should be designed according to the stage the rheumatic process has reached. The patient whose joint functioning has become severely limited should practise gentler exercises initially, such as the joints and glands exercises, until some flexibility has been regained. The joints and glands exercises have been designed to enhance circulation to the joints and innervation to the joints, thus ensuring not only proper nourishment for the joints and extra articular structures, but also preventing any accumulation of waste products or toxins in the joint cavity and vasculature.
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Dr. Barbara Bova, HOD, Dept of Homeopathy