By Atul Vyas
The traditional view of disease as a breakdown of individual parts of a complex mechanical device that can be fixed by medication or surgery has spawned the growth of the healthcare industry. The per capita expenditure for health care has increased immensely while the overall level of health is declining. A W.H.O. reports says that despite the ever-increasing amount of resources spent on dealing with the health problems, we have made little progress in treating chronic pain conditions, brain and gut disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, mental illnesses, anxiety, and neurodegenerative disorders.
It is happening because mainstream science has largely ignored the critical role of the most complex and crucial systems in our bodies when it comes to maintaining our overall health – the gut and the brain.
The mind is the master of physical being. The mind has considerable power of formation and direct action on the body. Mind, whenever perceives a threat activates the stress program in the brain, which then starts an appropriate reaction in our body including the gastrointestinal tract.
Due to stress, an unpleasant gut reaction may affect digestive functions. It is quite remarkable that digestive functions are extremely sensitive to stress – critical, unkind, and sour attitudes.
Yoga has tremendous capacity and power to improve gut health by reducing stress; thereby improving the performance of the brain. There are many yogic postures that induce calmness and improve gut health. One of the yoga poses for the health of the gut is Tadasana or palm tree pose.
Technique
- Stand erect, legs together, hands by side of the thighs, and gaze in front
- Raise your hands by the side of the ears with palms facing each other
- Breathe slowly, raise your heels, and stand on your toes
- Raise heels as much as you can comfortably
- Stretch your body as much as is possible
- After 10 seconds return to the original position by bringing the heels on the grounds first, and then the hands
Benefits
- This pose frees the diaphragm for moving up and down massaging abdominal organs thereby improving digestion and gut health
- Improves height
- Makes spine flexible
- Helps in curing visceroptosis, and back pain
- Invigorates body
- Helps in curing sciatica pain
- Stretches the lower abdomen, and stimulates digestive functions
- Gives steadiness of mind and body
- Keeps expectant mother healthy
Tadasana strengthens the stabilizing muscles of the abdomen and lumbar spine as well as the arches of the feet. In reflexology, the arches reflect the abdominal and pelvic organs. So by strengthening the arches one prevents prolapse of the corresponding organs. It also cures hypersensitivity limbs to cold.
Note of Caution
Those who suffer from reeling sensations should avoid it.
(The author likes to be called a “Yoga Scientist.” He is a celebrity yoga trainer and has trained several top Hollywood and Bollywood stars. He has trained for years under many eminent yoga gurus including his illustrious mother Daya Vyas, the first lady yoga guru of India.)
