We are an integral part of the universe, connected to and intertwined with the natural world. This perspective recognizes that we are not separate or independent entities, but rather, we are part of a larger web of life.
By recognizing our place within the larger cosmic landscape, we can begin to see that our individual actions, thoughts, and intentions have a ripple effect on the world around us. This realization can inspire us to live in greater harmony with nature and to cultivate a deeper sense of responsibility and protection for the planet.
My Guru Dr k’s specific describes ,
yoga = The systematized knowledge of understanding the Universe that refers to the rules and regulations of Physical laws that govern our body which is essential to achieve physical, physiological and psychological states of health further to achieve the state of intellect and spirituality to achieve a higher state of evolution at genetic level. Yogic movements which are conscious , intellectual and perposeful that have to be in static and dynamic poses to connect with our own existence.
Correction of anatomical distortion is essential for posture correction, which is required to reach a level of asana with more depth, further evolving into super human, meditative poses – variations of seated poses – that elevate consciousness.
Our body is governed by Universal laws and the role of the central axis ( skull and vertebral column with rib cage) is most vital as it governs our body. If we really want to improve our state of health, we should follow rules and regulations of Universal laws strictly , we do not have any other alternative. Our bodies are designed to operate in harmony with these universal laws which have rules and regulations. When we align and get tuned with ourselves with these rules and regulations so with the Universe, we can experience optimal health and vitality. Conversely, if we disregard or disobey these laws, we may suffer and experience deterioration in our health.And which is exactly happening today.
Aligning with these laws can lead to optimal health and vitality, while disregarding them may result in health issues.
The 12 Universal Laws, rooted in Hermetic philosophy, guide the flow of energy in the universe and within ourselves.
Some of these laws include:
– *The Law of Divine Oneness*: Everything is interconnected at an energetic level.
– *The Law of Vibration*: Everything vibrates at its own frequency, shaping our reality.
– *The Law of Correspondence*: Inner and outer worlds are mirrored.
– *The Law of Attraction*: Like energies attract.
– *The Law of Inspired Action*: Take action towards desired outcomes.
– *The Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy*: Energy is always changing form.
– *The Law of Cause and Effect*: Every action has a consequence.
– *The Law of Compensation*: Efforts are rewarded accordingly.
– *The Law of Relativity*: Perspectives shape our reality.
– *The Law of Polarity*: Opposites are necessary for growth.
– *The Law of Rhythm*: Life has cycles of growth and rest.
– *The Law of Gender*: Balance masculine and feminine energies.
To improve health, focus on aligning with these universal laws which govern our body.
- Practical application : Voluntary muscles are the medium for conscious alignment with universal laws 🌟.
- Conscious control : Through these muscles , we can intentionally bring equilibrium of forces and harmonize with the universe 🌟.
- Yoga journey : From gross (physical ) to subtle (energy , awareness ), aiming for balance and inner harmony 🌟
Equilibrium of space within the body and outside the body :
Equilibrium of space within the body and outside the body:
To embrace our interconnectedness and to live in balance with the natural world. Yoga Shastra describes high-tech space science, where the space within the central axis, that is the vertebral cavity with the skull cavity and rib cage, is vital as organs situated govern all organ systems. For this, the movement of voluntary muscular architecture with its own ancient memory is most important to adapt healthily with outer space and environment while working on the body.
“Therefore, when learning Asana, it’s essential to implement and follow specific steps and rules strictly. Our daily habits of using our body can lead to distortions in the musculoskeletal system and body cavities, which in turn disrupt the mechanism of organ systems— gross level affecting posture noticeably.”
That’s where the magic happens! Conscious movement of muscular architecture can help re-educate and re-align the body, promoting optimal functioning of organ systems and overall well-being. This mindful approach to movement can also enhance body awareness and posture.
While learning Asanas, posture correction at subtle level is a prerequisite. Therefore, both teachers and students must understand how physical laws govern our bodies. For practical application, strictly following the laws of the universe with its inherent rules and regulations is essential. The medium for this is our muscular architecture and its ancient memory, which is stored in our ancient brain in a coded form. These voluntary muscles operate in a specific sequential order with a directional flow of movement and therefore their set of rules must be followed to maintain health. Since health is a prerequisite in Yoga Shastra, stick to these principles becomes even more crucial when addressing specific health issues.
Yoga Shastra offers guarantees about health that includes physical, physiological, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual well-being, ultimately evolving our genetic state to a natural one. This high-tech space science facilitates evolution to a higher state of being, where ease in the physical state, or “Sahajawatha,” and ” Shukha” becomes a prerequisite for achieving mental stillness and understanding the “Atman”. To truly grasp concepts like “Atman,” and “Atmano akash sambhuta,” one must understand this high-tech space science, starting with the practice of Asanas.”
“Atmana akasa sambhutah, akasad vayuh, vayor agnih, agner apah, adbhyah prthivi, prthivya osadhayah” (Tait. 2.1.1)”All vegetation started from the earth.”Osadhibhyo annam. Illustrating the elemental progression from space to earth and vegetation. This ancient wisdom suggests that all that exists in the universe is reflected within us, making us a miniature of creation. By knowing ourselves, we can understand the world, which is why the timeless phrase “Know thyself and be free” holds profound significance. Through self-awareness, we unlock the door to liberation and deeper understanding of the universe.
Nobody says, ‘Go outside and know things,’ for that won’t serve our purpose. Instead, knowing ourselves reveals all things, as we are the closest and most accessible reflection of the universe, containing within us the farthest and remotest aspects of existence.
We should understand the importance of introspection and self-discovery. By looking within, we can access the vastness of the universe, as the macrocosm is reflected in the microcosm of our own being. This approach makes sense, as exploring the external world can be endless, but understanding ourselves can reveal profound truths.
The self-discovery is the key to understanding the universe. By exploring our own inner world, we can gain insights into the larger cosmos. This connection is rooted in the concept of “As above, so below” – what’s within us reflects what’s outside.
The individualized microcosmic representation of cosmic layers manifests as a series of koshas, or coverings of consciousness within us. In a way, the universe itself can be seen as a gradual veiling over Brahman—the ultimate reality. This layered structure of existence offers profound insights into the nature of consciousness and the universe, highlighting the intricate relationship between the individual and the cosmic.
These sheaths within us—the physical, vital, mental ( mind-related aspects of our being. It encompasses thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences, playing a crucial role ), and intellectual and spiritual – are indeed associated with deeper levels of consciousness, intellect, and spiritual awareness. It’s considered the subtlest layer, closest to our true nature. inverted reflections of the cosmic sheaths, which manifest as the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether/space. While the cosmic elements progress upwards from earth to space, the individual sheaths unfold inwardly, mirroring the macrocosmic structure in a microcosmic form.
Evolution of the Universe” or “Cosmic Evolution: From Atman to Matter :
The evolution of the universe from the Universal Atman, highlighting the interconnectedness of space, time, and motion. The progression from subtle to tangible forms is a powerful concept.
“From the Universal Atman, space emanated, emerged” introducing the concepts of extension, dimension, and distance.
With space comes the inseparable notion, conception of time, as duration and extension are inherently linked. Time itself appears to be a form of movement or progression, making motion an integral part of the space-time continuum.
This interconnectedness of space and time forms the foundation of our understanding of the universe, highlighting the profound relationship between existence and the fabric of reality.
The universe evolved in stages: space gave rise to motion (air), which is the energy behind movements in our body, particularly through voluntary muscles. This motion then created friction and Agni (fire), which plays a key role in transforming things, like how it helps our body digest food or change materials. Fire led to liquids (water), and finally, solids (earth) emerged. This process shows how everything in the universe is connected and evolves from subtle to more tangible forms.
As individuals, we are part and parcel of this creation, and within us lies a miniature representation of everything that is manifest cosmically.
The power of Asana ;gateway to balance.
Gole of ” Asana” Most important stage in both Hatha yoga and Astang yoga :
The ultimate goal of Asana is to attain a state of ease and natural balance, characterized by “Sthiram Arogyam Angalaghutvam” (steadiness, health, and lightness in the body) and “Shira Sukham Asanam” (a steady and comfortable posture). By recognizing the power of conscious control over our bodies, we can harness the strongest medium nature has given us. To achieve total health at a cellular level and evolve to a higher state of being, it’s essential to understand and follow the universal laws and pathways that govern our existence. This involves embracing our natural state, which guarantees health, well-being, and overall balance in life.
To get this state of physical Stability and steadiness , “स तु दीर्घकालनैरन्तर्यसत्कारासेवितो दृढभूमिः”
(sa tu dirgha-kala-nairantarya-satkāra-sevito dṛḍha-bhūmiḥ) is most essential to follow in practical application to achieve a higher state of health. This Sanskrit phrase emphasizes the importance of regular ,consistent , dedicated practice with devotion, worship over a long period.
The ancient wisdom encoded in our minds guides us toward our natural state of being. In yoga, adhering to the principles of Yama (restraints) and Niyama (observances) is crucial for achieving the state of Asana, which represents a state of being or existence. Health is a fundamental prerequisite in Yoga Shastra, and disease is a significant obstacle to overcome. In today’s fast-paced world, following Yama and Niyama can help improve posture, reduce physical strain, and maximize the benefits of yogasan while minimizing the risk of disease.
The ultimate goal of Asana is to attain a state of ease and natural balance, characterized by “Sthiram Arogyam Angalaghutvam” (steadiness, health, and lightness in the body) and “Shira Sukham Asanam” (a steady and comfortable posture). By recognizing the power of conscious control over our bodies, we can harness the strongest medium nature has given us. To achieve total health at a cellular level and evolve to a higher state of being, it’s essential to understand and follow the universal laws and pathways that govern our existence. This involves embracing our natural state, which guarantees health, well-being, and overall balance in life.
In today’s lifestyle it is most important to follow some “Yama, Niyama” to change automated physical habits to remove distortion at the level of Musculo skeleton architecture further at the level of atoms. Thus firstly correction of posture with minimum wear and tear to get maximum benefits with minimum efforts and absence of disease further to reach a state of ease that is natural to understand .As “Asan” which has a deeper level of death.
So it is necessary to understand what should happen in “Asana” that is “Sheryam arogyam angalaghavam” and “Shira sukha asanam”.
Yoga shatra knows the secret behind and nature has given us the strongest medium, which is under our conscious will , command, and control. Thus, “Yama, Niyama”is important to follow before Asana, which is “to be,” ” to exist,”
One must understand what is the secret behind nature, that is, our beings’ ” naturalization,” which guarantees health, of course, and which won’t be easy in today’s fast lifestyle. Therefore, It is necessary to know what the medium that nature has given us. So through which we can follow the universal laws and their pathway in the right direction of efforts to achieve total Health and that at a cellular level if we want to evolve at a higher level of our state.
Once we achieve this higher state of level of ease where we can move and keep our muscles with their own natural form then the next state is
“Prayatna shethiyam samapatibyam”( Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras II.47) and then to achieve the state where it’s become our natural habitat – state of ease ” sahajawastha ” or lifestyle.
“Tato dvandva anabhighatah” – This phrase (from Yoga Sutras II.48) implies that when one achieves this state, they become less affected by dualities or opposites (like pleasure and pain, heat and cold, etc.). This state leads to Healthy adaptation where outside forces won’t
Modern science and our tendency of existence, Naturalization :
Today, modern science has significantly advanced our understanding of the body’s physical and physiological state and its impact on mental health. However, it often falls short in understanding the deeper, intrinsic aspects of our being, such as our natural tendencies and existential inclinations. As a result, the root causes of many health issues remain unknown, making it challenging to prevent diseases and achieve optimal health. While modern science is essential, it tends to focus on treating signs and symptoms through chemical mimicry and physical mimicry, rather than addressing the underlying causes. Diseases can be seen as defensive mechanisms of the body, which don’t necessarily address the root cause or lead to healing. Instead, these mechanisms continue to operate beneath the surface, often manifesting as subtle hints like uneasiness, discomfort, and various pains. Many people tend to ignore or suppress these warning signs, only to be caught off guard when their condition suddenly worsens. In reality, nothing happens suddenly in the body; rather, it’s often the culmination of underlying processes that have been unfolding over time.
Our body is constantly changing through a dynamic process that sends us signals, but we often ignore them, leading to deterioration. We dismiss feelings of unease and discomfort, allowing our body to compensate and adapt incorrectly, resulting in increased stiffness. This muscular stiffness not only affects our physical movements but also impacts the functioning of organs within the body cavities formed by musculature.
Diseases can be seen as our body’s defense mechanism, which we often treat with chemical and physical mimicry. While chemical interventions may be necessary at times, relying on physical mimicry can disrupt the body’s natural mechanisms.
Our lack of awareness about the root causes of health issues traps us into relying on prescribed medications or invasive procedures, ultimately deteriorating our genetic health. This cycle can be considered devolution, rather than evolution. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s crucial to prioritize overall health improvement.
Recognizing that unnatural behaviors and abnormalities aren’t inherent to our nature is key. Moreover, distraction, attention disorders, and hyperactivity aren’t solutions to our problems. A missing link in applying universal physical laws that govern our bodily functions seems to be the root of widespread suffering. Embracing these laws can help us improve as bipedal beings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an erect posture.
In this article, we’ll explore the distinction between anatomical movements and yogic movements in various poses, encompassing both static and dynamic aspects. Understanding this difference is crucial before delving into the concept of “Asana,” which encompasses a deeper and more advanced state of being.
Difference between anatomical movements and Yogic movements in static and dynamic poses :
The difference between anatomical movements and yogic movements can be seen in both static and dynamic poses. Anyone can do a pose with anatomical movements or yogic movements. Anatomical movements are from joints . Yogic movements are conscious and intentional movements of voluntary muscles that are different from anatomical movements of modern science.
Yoga Shastra knows advanced space science related to the human body, referred to as “Pindi te Brahmandi”. So, we need to understand the technology of space within our own body like a spacecraft, and the muscular system is the medium that we can control voluntarily with our conscious will and command to create natural space within body cavities and at cellular level.
Skeletal muscles have a complex and interconnectedness with beautifully designed architecture. While voluntary muscles are the primary movers, fascia plays a crucial role in connecting and supporting these muscles. Fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds muscles, bones, and organs. Unlike muscles, fascia doesn’t have active, voluntary movement – it’s more like a supportive network 🌐.
Fascia’s like the body’s web 🌐 – it connects everything! 😊 Connective tissue wrapping muscles, bones, organs… impacts flexibility, pain, and movement.Fascia itself can’t initiate movement, but it facilitates and responds to the sequential order patterns of muscular movements, allowing efficient and coordinated movement. The movement of fascia is totally dependent on its elastic property and the movement of voluntary muscles. Muscles are more elastic than fascia, and their inherent property allows fascia to move. If muscles become stiffer, then fascia becomes more stiff, which becomes more obstructive to moving muscles to remove their stiffness.
1. Fascia’s role : Fascia’s elasticity and viscosity allow it to respond to muscle movement and tension.
2. Muscle-fascia interaction : When muscles become stiffer, fascia can become restricted, leading to:
– Increased tension
– Reduced mobility
– Potential discomfort or pain
Implications :
1. Muscle stiffness can impact fascia’s function and mobility.
2. Fascia’s response: Fascia’s stiffness can create a feedback loop, making it more challenging to move muscles and alleviate stiffness. Muscular stiffness leads to stiffness of fascia, which brings further restriction to the movement of muscles. Since we can’t directly move fascia, but rather voluntary muscles, understanding this interplay is crucial for effective movement and rehabilitation.
The interconnectedness of muscle and fascia ,their stiffness, and how this affects movement and rehabilitation.
Anatomical movements: Modern Science Perspective –
In modern science, anatomical movements are understood to involve the musculoskeletal system, also known as the locomotor system. Since skeletons are inert and don’t move independently, ligaments play a crucial role in holding bones together at the joints, preventing displacement. Muscles, with their fibers attached to bones, serve as the primary and sole movers, allowing a wide range of movements and functions. These include maintaining posture (both static and dynamic), ensuring joint stability, and generating heat.
The key characteristics of skeletal muscles ;
Skeletal muscles are composed of tissue fibers attached to our skeleton or bones, enabling a wide range of movements. These muscles are also strategically located at the openings of various bodily tracts, such as the throat, anus, and urethra, where they play crucial roles in regulating the flow of substances. As voluntary muscles, they operate under our conscious control, allowing us to deliberately determine when and how they function.
The role of muscle elasticity in facilitating smooth movement. The neuromuscular system’s role in coordinating movement is also emphasized.
Smooth movement involves the interplay of two primary forces: gravity and anti-gravity. The gravitational force is a strong, attractive force that tends to cause contraction and is passive in nature. In contrast, expansion is an anti-gravitational force that is active yet weaker. This property is crucial for maintaining muscle elasticity, which is essential for smooth movement involving contraction and expansion. The harmonious functioning of the brain, nerves, and skeletal muscles forms a complex system known as the neuromuscular system, which facilitates movement.
Modern science,Skeletal Muscle Activity:
Skeletal Muscle Anatomy and Function within the context of modern science:
Skeletal muscles have at least two attachments: the origin and the insertion. The origin is the fixed attachment site that remains stationary during contraction, while the insertion is the movable attachment site that shifts when the muscle contracts. Typically, the origin is positioned proximally (closer to the body) relative to the insertion, which is located distally (further away). Since according to modern science, skeletal muscles can only pull and shorten, they never push. During contraction, the insertion moves toward the origin, directed toward the body’s central axis.
Anatomical movements that involve :
1. Anchoring the proximal end (origin) of muscles
2. Moving the distal end (insertion)
3. Resulting in a pulling force directed toward the center (central axis)
These movements are characterized as quick and often occur without conscious thought, suggesting a strong role for reflexive or automatic neural control mechanisms.
Examples of such movements include:
– Limb movements originating from the shoulder and hip joints, where the central axis (trunk) serves as the anchor point.
This type of movement generates movement, often anchoring off the central axis to facilitate peripheral movement.
These actions are typically quick and don’t require conscious thought, meaning the conscious brain doesn’t play a direct role. Examples include movements where the central axis is anchored, and the hands and legs move from the shoulder and hip joints.
Modern science has investigated this concept through various fields, including:
1. Motor control theory : Research on motor control and learning has shown that repetitive movements and habits can lead to changes in muscle activation patterns and movement strategies.
2. Muscle physiology : Studies on muscle physiology have demonstrated that muscles can adapt to changing demands and environments, but also that maladaptation can occur due to factors like overuse or injury.
3. Movement dysfunction : Clinicians and researchers have identified movement dysfunctions and patterns of maladaptation that can contribute to pain, injury, and decreased function.
Modern science recognizes the complex interplay between muscles, nervous system, and environment in shaping movement patterns and muscle function.
The potential consequences of maladaptation and compensatory actions on both the musculoskeletal system and inner organ systems.
Modern science has explored the idea that voluntary muscles can become disconnected from their natural state, leading to maladaptation and compensatory actions.
Chronic maladaptation and compensatory actions can lead to:
Musculoskeletal System
1. Increased wear and tear : Abnormal movement patterns can put excessive stress on joints, muscles, and other tissues, leading to wear and tear.
2. Pain and injury : Maladaptation can contribute to pain, inflammation, and injury in the musculoskeletal system.
Inner Organ Systems
1. Breathing and respiratory function : Compensatory actions can affect breathing patterns, potentially impacting respiratory function and overall health.
2. Digestive and other systems : Chronic stress and maladaptation can also impact digestive function, cardiovascular health, and other inner organ systems.
The interconnectedness of the musculoskeletal and inner organ systems means that dysfunction in one area can have far-reaching consequences.
These voluntary muscles can act similarly to involuntary muscles, operating on autopilot without conscious awareness of the movement mechanics. As a result, their voluntary nature is often forgotten, leading to a disconnection from their natural state – elasticity and inherent memory (or “Dharma,” referring to their natural behavioral patterns). This disconnection can be considered “Adharma” or a distorted state (“vikrut avastha badal”). Consequently, both voluntary and involuntary muscles contract in response to unnatural stimuli as a defensive mechanism for protection, often resulting in compensatory actions and maladaptation.
This concept highlights the importance of awareness and conscious movement to maintain optimal muscle function and overall health. When muscles operate on autopilot, they lose their natural elasticity and movement patterns, leading to potential issues like pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility.
Unconscious use of the body:
This type of unconscious use of the body, driven by physical habits, harsh use of automation can lead to internal spatial distortions. Since contraction is a passive force, repetitive joint movements can cause consistent muscle contractures, resulting in wear and tear, stiffness, and hardness in muscles and joints. Over time, soft tissues in organ systems may become denser and potentially tumorous.
One must understand, how the cerebellum coordinates movements and balance, and how repeated muscle contraction can lead to stiffness and hardness.
Importance of Physical Stability in our bipedal and vertical structure:
To maintain physical stability, the cerebellum continually adjusts our muscular architecture to coordinate movements and balance our structure. This involves fine-tuning muscle contraction to hold our center of gravity, preventing falls. However, repeated contraction causes muscles to become denser over time. Although the center of gravity varies between individuals, muscles tend to contract toward the center consistently. Prolonged static poses and dynamic movements can lead to continuous contracture, causing the muscular architecture to become increasingly stiff. Muscles contract passively to maintain stability during movement or stress, leading to persistent tightness, stiffness, and hardness. Since expansion is an active process and contraction is passive, muscles can’t relax or expand autonomously, contributing to stiffening.
The impact of muscular contraction on the body’s structure and function, and how this contributes to various health issues ;
1. Muscular contraction and distortion : Muscular contraction can cause deviations and distortions in the vertebral or central axis.
2. Soft tissue accumulation : Soft tissues become dense and hard toward the center, visible on imaging tests.
3. Accelerated deterioration : Modern lifestyle accelerates this process, leading to rapid deterioration and degeneration.
4. Prevalence of health conditions : Various conditions, such as motion sickness, migraine, and insomnia, are becoming more prevalent.
Understanding the root cause of these issues is crucial for effective prevention and treatment.
A potential limitation in modern science’s understanding of Muscular movements and muscle control lies in its narrow focus :
Anatomical movements primarily involve joint movements, where flexion tends to dominate over extension. These movements are often reflex actions originating from spinal segments, serving as a protective force of contraction and a defensive mechanism of the nervous system in response to stimuli. As a result, muscles are believed to contract solely to move bones by pulling on them at the joints, with the direction of movement typically being toward the body’s center. However, this perspective leads modern science to conclude that muscles can’t be moved or stretched independently, despite being under conscious control. This limited understanding highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to understanding human movement and muscle function.
The mechanics of muscle pairs and joint movement, and how habitual use can lead to stiffness and strain.
Back Cracking: Is it Good, and What are the Side Effects?
Back cracking, also known as spinal manipulation or adjustment, is always from joints.
This can provide immediate and temporary relief from tension and stiffness at the level of joints.
Joints are junctions where two bones are bound together with ligaments to avoid displacement of bones. Bones can’t move on their own muscles which are attached to bones allowing them to move.
At the level of joint flexion, extension and rotation and sliding of bones happens. While our muscles and joints are stiffer then like reputative movements of joints manipulation can bring distortion in joints or injuries,
As it depends on persons state of Muscular and joint stiffness spinal manipulation can lead to more severe complications, such as:
– Herniated discs
– Nerve damage
– Vertebral artery dissection (a tear in the artery supplying blood to the brain)
However, it’s essential to consider the potential benefits and risks.
While back cracking can provide temporary benefits, it’s crucial to evaluate the potential risks and consider alternative approaches to SYS Yoga therapy where movements should not be from joints for long-term relief.
Modern science’s understanding.
This sets the stage for potential injuries or issues ;
Muscles work in pairs to facilitate joint movement, with one muscle, the agonist, contracting to move a body part, while the other muscle, the antagonist, relaxes or lengthens to allow the movement. When the direction of movement is reversed, the roles of the muscles switch: the antagonist becomes the agonist, and vice versa. However, due to habitual use or repetitive strain, the antagonist muscle may not relax or lengthen sufficiently, leading to stiffness and strain. As a result, the agonist muscle may experience overstretching, while the antagonist muscle becomes strained due to its inability to relax. This imbalance can lead to potential injuries or issues, particularly in joints where flexion and extension are primary movements.
The importance of muscle elasticity and the distinction between contraction and expansion:
Muscle elasticity plays a crucial role in maintaining overall muscle health. Joints, where two bones meet and are connected by ligaments, allow for movement through angulation, with muscles serving as primary movers. To maintain physical stability in static and dynamic poses, our muscular architecture – particularly the deeper muscles – must remain in a state of contractile readiness, both at rest and during movement.
Muscle Function and Elasticity
1. Deeper muscles : Maintain contractile readiness for physical stability.
2. Superficial muscles : Designed for movement, can become hardened due to repetitive contractions.
3. Loss of elasticity : Muscles lose their natural ability to expand autonomously.
Contraction vs. Expansion
1. Contraction : A passive force leading to wear and tear, accelerating degeneration.
2. Expansion : An active force promoting relaxation and regeneration.
Importance of Balance
A balance between contraction and expansion forces is essential for maintaining muscle health and preventing degeneration. When muscles lose their elasticity and ability to expand, it can lead to various issues, including stiffness, strain, and potential injuries etc..
By understanding the importance of muscle elasticity and the distinction between contraction and expansion, we can better appreciate the need for balance in our muscular architecture.
Modern science’s focus on reflex and defensive mechanisms has limited our understanding of muscle function, overlooking broader implications of muscle movement. This limited perspective has also impacted the practice of yoga asanas, neglecting the connection between muscle function and the body’s innate intelligence. To unlock the full potential of yoga and human movement, it’s essential to bridge this gap and gain a more comprehensive understanding of muscle function, exploring beyond mere reflex actions to foster a deeper connection between body and mind.
The pre-programmed sequence of muscle movements is a natural intelligence that we must learn to harness intellectually and consciously, both in static and dynamic poses. The ancient wisdom of Yoga Shastra recognizes and honors this secret of nature, offering a proven path to optimal health, well-being, and further evolution. By embracing this knowledge, we can harmonize with our bodies’ innate wisdom, unlocking our full potential and living in balance with the natural world.
By recognizing the limitations of modern science in understanding muscle function, we can begin to appreciate the significance of the missing link between muscle movement and the body’s innate intelligence. Bridging this gap can profoundly impact our comprehension of yoga and human movement, allowing us to tap into the full potential of our bodies. As we deepen our understanding, we can unlock greater benefits and cultivate harmony in both our physical and mental well-being. This holistic approach has the potential to transform not only our practice of yoga but also our overall quality of life.
Yoga shastra guarantees health ;
One must understand why Yogashastra emphasizes the state of “Snayu vritti nirodha” before “Prana vritti nirodha” to achieve “Chitta vritti nirodha”. Snayu vritti nirodha is crucial for bringing ease and physical stability. Without it, anatomical distortions can occur at the atomic level, slowing down physiological functions and leading to permanent pathological changes in tissues.
The temperamental nature of muscles is contraction, their strongest quality. ‘Snayu vritti nirodha” involves controlling smooth movement, not opposing or suppressing contraction. Smooth muscular movements are vital for achieving ease and understanding “Prana”, the life force. Forceful breathing can disrupt the autonomous nervous system, making it beneficial to master Snayu vritti nirodha before exploring higher state “Prana vritti nirodha”, ultimately progressing towards evolution “Chitta vritti nirodha”.
Understanding “Snayu Vritti Nirodha“
Yogashastra emphasizes mastering Snayu vritti nirodha that is regulating muscle contractions before working with Prana (life force) and Chitta (mind). This is because uncontrolled muscle tension can lead to:
1. Physical instability
2. Anatomical distortions
3. Disrupted physiological functions
Importance of Smooth Movement
Muscles naturally contract, but regulating these contractions is key. Smooth movements promote ease, stability, and better understanding of the body’s life force (Prana).
Progressive Approach :
Mastering Snayu vritti nirodha lays the foundation for working with Prana and ultimately achieving mental clarity (Chitta vritti nirodha).
The mind, or “Chitta,” is a storehouse of memories, impressions, and experiences. When it works in harmony with the body, it can achieve great things. However, when it’s not coordinated well, it can cause difficulties and miseries. Yoga aims to silence wandering and the mind’s modifications, or “Vrittis,” which are the waves and ripples that arise when external factors disturb it.
Vrittis are obstacles to liberation, and yogic practices aim to calm them. By understanding the different states of consciousness – distracted (Kshipta), dull (Mudha), partially focused (Vikshipta), one-pointed (Ekagra), and completely controlled (Niruddha) – we can learn to transcend the limitations of the human body and mind.
Through intellectual penetration and self-awareness, we can access profound insight, inner peace, and ultimately discover our true selves. By silencing the mind’s modifications and gaining control over our thoughts and emotions, we can achieve a state of liberation and inner peace and in the end, our true selves..
Achieving a harmonious state of mind and body requires understanding its naturalization, and the key medium for this is the voluntary muscular system, which is under our conscious control.
Muscle contraction is a powerful, gravitational, and passive force.This is why researchers often find that traditional stretching methods may not effectively lengthen muscles, despite recognizing the importance of stretching.
The underlying nature and causes of muscle function remain unknown to them, leading to a lack of understanding about how to truly achieve muscle relaxation and flexibility. As a result, muscular stiffness and involuntary contractions, such as spasms or cramps, are often treated symptomatically with physical and chemical interventions mimicry, rather than addressing the root causes. This approach can lead to temporary relief but may not promote long-term health and well-being.So, we are stuck in treating symptoms with physical and chemical mimicry.
It’s essential to understand the fundamental principles governing the human body. One key aspect is the dominance of flexion over extension in joints. Even before birth, infants are positioned in anterior flexion, except for the ankle joint, where the feet are extended. This prenatal position highlights the strong force of flexor muscles, which tend to be more powerful than extensor muscles.The reason we are not fully extended or erect in our full range of form, despite appearances, is due to the inherent dominance of flexion. Flexion occurs at joints where two bones come closer, decreasing the angle between them, and resulting in increased friction and wear on the skeletal mechanism. Unfortunately, modern lifestyles often accelerate this process from an early age, disrupting the natural chain of extension that is present in our intellect.
As a result, the dominance of flexor muscles can lead to mechanical deformities, particularly osteoarthritis. This condition arises from the increased friction and damage to the joints, ultimately affecting the overall functioning of the body. Therefore, it’s crucial not to take this process lightly or ignore its significance, and instead, recognize the importance of maintaining a balance between flexion and extension to preserve joint health and overall well-being.
Loss of Voluntary Muscle Control :
We often neglect to utilize our voluntary muscles through their full range of motion, particularly in extension. This lack of effort leads to a loss of voluntariness, causing muscles to become stiff and hard. As a result, we compromise two vital properties of muscles: elasticity and expandability.
Consequences :
The loss of elastic and expansion properties can lead to reduced flexibility, increased muscle tension, decreased bone density and decreased overall mobility. By neglecting to engage our muscles in full extension, we may be contributing to these negative consequences and undermining our overall muscle health.
In the Stone Age or with our ancestors, their daily movements were related to nature. But today, in our fast lifestyle, the way we use our physical body is totally different.
In the Stone Age or with our ancestors, their daily movements were related to nature. But today, in our fast lifestyle, the way we use our physical body is totally different.
To make us physically stable, as we are part and parcel of Mother Earth, which has a strong gravitational force and is rotating at a fast speed with an anticlockwise direction. So, we have anti-gravitational and clockwise forces, but they are weak. Therefore, contraction happens, but that has to be in smooth form, which is the quality of the nervous system. This is one of the reasons that our motor system has a tremendous load to keep us physically stable in any static or dynamic pose.
What is the remedy to save us from diseases which we are matching fast in today’s modern and fast lifestyle and early age?
Overcoming Modern Lifestyle Challenges :
To overcome the problems of muscle and joint stiffness, and to prevent diseases that are increasingly affecting us at an early age, we need to understand the universal laws that govern our bodies. This includes recognizing the physical laws of the universe and our own naturalization. With our higher intellect, it’s our responsibility to prevent diseases and improve our well-being.
Limitations of Conventional Approaches :
Simply performing anatomical movements in static or dynamic poses, or practicing yoga asanas may not yield the desired results if we don’t understand the underlying principles. Despite the emphasis on fitness through sports, gyms, dance, and yoga, many individuals in these fields are still suffering. Even high-level athletic performance or yogic practices can be injurious to health if not done with proper understanding.
The Consequences of Ignorance :
The reality is that many people are stuck in a cycle of treating symptoms with physical and chemical interventions, while also distracting themselves with various forms of entertainment. Going with the crowd may be easy, but ignorance is leading to rapid deterioration of our health. Modern science has enabled us to live longer, but often with more suffering, prescribed medications, and a distracted mind.
*Yogic Movements vs. Anatomical Movements*
Yogic movements differ from anatomical movements in their approach and understanding of the human body. While anatomical movements focus on anchoring the central axis and move the periphery, they consider muscles only get pulled towards the center. Yogic movements consider the muscles ancient memory which has sequential order and specific direction of synchronised Simultaneous flow of movement of muscles and its connection to the natural world.
*Golden Laws of Yogic Movements*
1. Ancient memory of muscles : Muscular architecture has its own ancient memory of our beings, like other animals, which is imbibed or stored in our ancient brain in a coded form.
2. Decoding of ancient memory : After birth, infants unwind that decode to develop motor skills through trial and error, gradually mastering balance and movement. This process involves neural development, including brain and nervous system maturation, as well as musculoskeletal growth, encompassing the development of muscles, bones, and joints. Key milestones include learning to maintain the center of gravity and balance, and progressing from crawling to standing and walking. Through repeated efforts, infants refine their movements, achieving milestones like sitting, standing, and walking.
3. Move the center from periphery: In the unwinding stages, muscular movement is not pulling towards the centre. Instead, it is away from the centre. Push and pull both ways are in an outward direction, pulling the centre from the periphery and pushing from the centre towards the periphery. All movements are for expansion from the centre to the periphery, with elongation occurring from head to tail and from shoulders to hips and towards heels, step by step, unwinding from the knee-elbow pose to become erect, which is the extended human pose.
4. Naturalization: Firstly, yogic movements do not mean going from one pose to another pose as it is not performing art. We should understand our own posture first by understanding the nature of our muscular architecture, how they behave, how they should behave, and how to keep and move them correctly to form the pose, both static and dynamic. Because “Asan” has more depth to enhance our own naturalization, which is our “asatitva” which is the natural behaviour pattern of our own beings known as “dharma”. Once this becomes “adharma” then there is “avastha badal” that changes in matter particles that give “lakshana” those are signs and symptoms of dis-ease. We should stop this process or reverse and improve further so then only, we can enhance and evolve our naturalization at genetic level. This is what Yoga Shastra talks about ” Vitarka badhane pratipaksha bhavanaum” to awaken the cellular intelligence of each cell. But to reach this high level of state, we should start from ancient memory of voluntary muscular architecture, which we have lost and forgotten. This memory is imbibed or stored in coded form in our ancient brain, which we have to consciously and intellectually enhance to get exactness and accuracy to imbibe in the memory centre that is “smruti parishudhi”.
5. Yogic Movements in Asana : Therefore, in Asana, yogic movements are different from anatomical movements. Movement of center axis from the periphery. These movements are conscious and intellectual movements of our muscular architecture, as they are not merely reflex or defensive, which is flexion. Otherwise, gravity takes over and destroys. There is a huge difference between the movement of joints through muscular contraction. Movements of bones with muscles involve their full range of motion in one direction, where joints are junctions just to change the direction.
6. Health : While “Yoga Shastra” gives guarantees about health, which is prerequisite and to awaken cellular intelligence. We must know the basic fundamentals behind these “Akrutibandha” . The definition of Asan in Mahamuni Patanjali Sutra is “Shira Sukha Asanam”. Hatha yoga Swami Atmaram described “Stheryam arogyamcham angalaghavm” So what exact efforts do we have to make to get “Shirata” , “stheryam” to get Arogyam and angalaghavm of all organ systems further to achieve the state of “Sukhata” – state of equilibrium in a state of “Asan”. One must understand that both definitions describe physical stability as essential to get Arogyam, that is Swasthya, and Angalaghavam, which is a skillful function of all organ systems.
7. “Yoga is high tech space science” : means inner spaces in our body cavities, which are both close and open should be in an equilibrium state. So that inner spaces are balanced with outer space and forces . That is “su- vyavasthit akash” natural state of space within for a prolonged period of time to be in this tranquil state.
So that outer atmosphere pressure and environment won’t disturb our physical, physiological, and psychological state of body. This is what Sutra says “ thwtoh dhndan anabhighat anant samapattibyama”. Once you get this equality state “smatva” then next sutra he described “ Prayatna Shaithilya” means now we don’t need too many forms of Asana. Because any outer universal force will not affect our state of body and that is also ananta samapatti bhyam that means forever, this will get memory programing in our conscious brain and memory centers and in our DNA, even though our body is perishable but it is the medium or vehicle to achieve higher state of being.
8. Importance of physical stability : We have a bipedal with vertical structure. Physical stability is essential and most vital to keep our centre of gravity at the centre for balancing. Physical Stability is essential to achieve health and further getting stillness of mind.
We are part and parcel of Mother Earth. As the Earth orbits around the Sun, it also rotates on its own axis. We are being held together by its gravitational pull. The speed at which the Earth rotates is not apparent to us because since the Earth rotates at a near constant speed that is, it doesn’t speed up or slow down in any way noticeable to us, we simply spin with it and don’t feel a thing. Although we are connected to the earth’s surface, we do not disintegrate either. So, with gravity, we have held up here on earth. If there was no gravity, we would not get stuck with our feet on the ground. But at the same time, we are not completely buried on the ground. So our body has a force of anti-gravity. There are two other forces in the body. Anti-clockwise force is imbibed in mother Earth as it also revolves in Anticlockwise, which is the speed of the mother earth . Since we are travelling at such a high speed. We do not feel the speed of our body. But we do feel that when we are walking, we come up on an obstacle, and we fall. Why? The circular motion of the wheels that are our legs, which are converted into linear motion of the body, gets obstructed, and that’s why it topples. Generally, we topple towards the front because we have risen from the front. So, if we had not had the clockwise force, we would get to churn and get destroyed. So we have an Anti-gravitational force in the form of right and left. Our muscular skeletal system is the strongest system in our body . It has a beautifully designed muscular architecture, and they are voluntary by nature and under our own conscious will and command. Our ancient brain has stored information and memory of our species, mainly muscular architecture, in a coded form. Therefore, these voluntary muscles have specific sequential order with a special form or pattern in a formless state . After birth at developmental stages , the infant unwinds this order of flow by themselves with efforts – failure and successes. We should not obstruct their own efforts because this obstruction remains even though the centre of gravity gets held. Then this goes into automation. As we have not learned consciously or intellectually, we lost and forgotten this memory. ( In Cerebellum, our little brain where muscle memory is stored in the Perkinje cells of the cerebellum, where the brain encodes information and records whether certain movements are right or wrong.)
9. Naturalization of our human beings:
Naturalization of our human beings is governed by universal laws and coded in our ancient brain… decoding patterns happen through Righting reflex.Then this goes into automation. We have to decode and encode using our intellect and mind to enhance our human form by enhancing these muscular flow of movement consciously and consistently to program in our conscious brain to further get stored in memory centers.
Therefore, Memory of these voluntary muscles, which are coded in our ancient brain. So if we program this memory consciously in our conscious brain, then we can almost do anything with ease and reach a meditative pose, which is a super human pose of the highest state of formless consciousness. Our cerebrum is a large brain and is the most powerful part of our brain, responsible for all our conscious actions, muscles , speech, and feelings. So to begin with in practice of Asan or pose , Memory Programming is the process of creating the instructions that will tell a person what exact efforts one has to make consciously for specific sequential order and direction of flow like a relay race such as strings and pulley’s moving in one direction to perform a particular form that is Akrutibandha in a given form of body.
10. Asana ,decode and encode : Learning Asana, we have to implement and need to carry out specific steps and set of rules to decode and encode which must be followed strictly by the teacher . For practical application, only medium is an ancient memory of our muscular architecture. These voluntary muscles have sequential order with specific direction of flow of movement and set of rules that must be followed to keep us healthy. As health is prerequisite in YogaShastra , also makes it when solving particular health problems.
11. Natural behaviour patterns of our species: The intelligence of how to walk is embedded in our ancient brain. Slowly, during the developmental period, which starts unwinding or opening step by step, we start walking. Nobody teaches us how to walk; we derive it from past memories in our ancient brain. Then, it transitions into automation. We never attempt to learn this skill or technique consciously and intellectually. Hence, we are stuck in reflex actions rooted in our joints. Thus, merely continuing to walk doesn’t ensure our health. Therefore, we must learn this consciously and intellectually. Consequently, I refer to yogic movements as intellectual. This represents our species’ natural genetic coding, which we need to decode intellectually while strictly adhering to universal laws. We must retrieve this stored memory through conscious movement of voluntary muscles, following their natural sequential order and direction of muscle movement flow, and program this memory into our conscious brain to attain an evolved state of natural habitat.
If we have insight, we allow them to unwind this flow naturally. One can observe this flow of specific sequential order in the unwinding stages of a child’s developmental period, up to a two-year period. We need to decode this flow of muscular movement, progressing from the knee-elbow pose to lying on the back, turning onto the belly, sliding forward, crawling, sitting, and then standing and walking skillfully. Each stage involves specific patterns and codes governed by particular rules and regulations of universal laws. However, this order transitions into automation and gets lost and forgotten since we haven’t learned it intellectually. Consequently, physical instability leads to disturbances in our physiological and psychological state. Our body’s strong defensive mechanisms take over, resulting in our inability to maintain an erect or extended form, despite appearances.
Therefore, distortion begins from the early developmental period. This is observable in today’s teenagers’ lifestyles, and we’re progressing rapidly. Physical instability leads to regression and backward movement.
Yoga Shastra guarantees health at the genetic level and describes disease as the first obstacle. We must understand and find the meaning of this secret coding and its decoding process. With conscious memory programming, we can reach further evolved states. This is reflected in the concept of “Shira Sukha Asanam,” highlighting the importance of a stable and comfortable posture, both physically and mentally, as a foundation for deeper practice and growth.
“Akrutibandha” arises from the consciousness of voluntary muscles in specific forms. To change our state of health for improvement, prevention, to enhance and further evolution, it’s essential to learn physically and consciously through consistent efforts in the right direction, particularly in Asana/pose practice.
12. We as a biped : As bipeds, humans have bodies perpendicular to the ground, making physical stability crucial for maintaining an erect and extended posture. However, problems arise due to muscular architecture imbalance and disturbances in basic forces, leading to spinal contour distortions. Weak links in the spinal column, particularly where curvature changes, result in collapse, often diagnosed as cervical and lumbar spondylosis, and exacerbate conditions like hunchback. Overuse and skilled use of hands can cause muscles to lock, rub against each other, and stiffen, pinching nerve roots traveling between muscles and exiting through intervertebral foramina, causing pain. With advancing technology and rapid progress, these issues may worsen. Despite rapid advancements, it’s essential to address and halt this decline.
Actually, we should harness the advantages of technology to evolve into higher states. The pelvis is suspended like a hammock between the heads of the two thigh bones, allowing the entire torso, including the neck and head, to move like an inverted pendulum. When walking or running, we should be able to balance the spine and facilitate this pendulum-like movement. However, unless we learn to do so consciously and intellectually, our body will operate solely on reflexes.
13. Evolution : Yogasana trains the human body to evolve from a sub-human (animal-like) form to a fully realized human form, and ultimately to a superhuman or hyper-conscious state through superhuman poses that are meditative in nature. This involves harmonizing the body and mind, where the mind is seen as an energy force that arranges and distributes energy properly throughout the body, enabling it to function in its natural habitat.
How to achieve?
To achieve this, we must learn to eliminate fatigue by elongating the musculature of the entire spine.
For effective movement, physical stability between consecutive vertebrae is crucial. The muscles connecting the spinal column to the shoulder girdle, to the arms, to the rib cage and to the lower limbs must be healthy, elastic, and movable. Key areas of mobility include intervertebral joints and specific junctions like Occipital-C1, C7-T1, T12-L1, and L5-S1, which are prone to collapse. The shoulder joint, being highly mobile, plays a significant role, but daily routines often restrict its movement, particularly in the shoulder girdle, which is essential for generating anti-gravitational force. Instead, we tend to rely more on arm bone and elbow joint movements, and finger phalanges, neglecting the crucial mobility of the shoulder blade, collarbone, and spine connection.
Similarly, at the lower end, mobility exists at the hip joint, specifically the pelvic girdle. The deep muscles, including the deep paraspinal muscles, which are attached between the head and neck of the thigh bone and pelvis, have totally forgotten that they have some mobility. They have become fixed parts, as if they are ligaments of the hip joint. This all has gone into automation, and as this is natural, nobody taught us. Exercising these joints more or less has turned into exertion, exertion leads to friction, friction leads to fatigue in the muscles, stress on ligaments, joint capsules, and hence destruction of bones and structure.
As the muscles stiffen, the viscera inside the abdomen start to protrude, leading to conditions like herniation, uterine prolapse, and sagging of glands such as the prostate. This stiffening also affects the lumbar spine, often exaggerating its natural lordosis (inward curvature) by increasing the angle between the lumbo-sacral joints. Consequently, many people today experience either an exaggerated lordosis or a loss of lordosis, resulting in a straight spine.
This anatomical distortion in the organs within the rib cage, abdominal cavity, and pelvic cavity can disrupt the physiological functioning of various glands. Consequently, the functioning of different bodily systems, including respiration, circulation, gastrointestinal tract, digestion, and reproductive system, becomes impaired and slows down.
Yoga as a high-tech space science and the concept of closed and open spaces in the body.
Understanding Closed and Open Spaces
Closed spaces in the body refer to areas that are enclosed and protected, such as:
– Joints
– Skull
– Vertebral column with ribcage
– Heart and circulatory vascular system
These spaces are maintained by the musculoskeletal system and play a crucial role in supporting the body’s structure and function.
Open Spaces
Open spaces, on the other hand, are areas that are directly connected to the outer body space and atmosphere, such as:
– Digestive passages
– Respiratory passages
– Genito-urinary passages
These spaces are subject to external pressures and require a delicate balance to function properly.
Importance of Balance :
The balance between closed and open spaces is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. When this balance is disrupted, it can lead to various health issues. Yoga, as a high-tech space science, aims to restore this balance by understanding the intricate relationships between these spaces and promoting harmony within the body.
Proprioception and Body Language :
Understanding the concept of spaces in the body requires a deep understanding of ancient memory of muscles and proprioception (the ability to sense the position and movement of one’s body) and body language (the way the body communicates through its structure and movement). By developing awareness of these aspects, individuals can regain intellectual control over their bodily functions and promote overall health.
In present-day society, one wants to enjoy life. So, it’s crucial to arrange our torso in a way that it can adapt to uncongenial surroundings. Sitting Yogic poses are super-human poses ,they differ from typically used in daily life. Therefore we need to move the torso to restore harmony. This involves restoring hormonal balance to maximize benefits while minimizing utilities. To achieve this, we must learn various modified postures that mobilize the shoulder and pelvic girdles around the head of arm and thigh bone with synchronizing spinal column movement while securing weak links. These postures are tailored to suit individual personalities, with different permutations and combinations, enabling us to utilize our systems in the most economical way.
“Visual aids like our SYS photos and videos are just to understanding of static and dynamic yoga poses, but expert guidance is essential for mastering precise movements and muscle engagement. Learning from a qualified instructor who has completed our SYS exclusive Diploma program and internship ensures that students receive personalized feedback and practice safely and effectively, unlocking the full potential of yoga’s therapeutic benefits.”
When we achieve bodily harmony with equality, then naturally, one feels like sitting down and watching their own body within. To stop the veiling of the mind, which occurs in two forms – imaginary visions and words, both of which are useless as they don’t produce anything tangible. We can cut out this daydreaming and remain silent, understanding the physiological functioning of the body. Muscles in our body are like mercury, flowing due to their natural property as liquids, and they flow towards gravity. However, we can convert this downward flow into an upward flow through various postures. We must learn the art of a child who has just stood up and silencing the curvatures in the spinal column, keeping it physically steady so that gravity doesn’t take its role. By doing so, we help the heart and lungs, like a transformer, create energy, electrical energy, and electromagnetic force, leading to a state of permanent joy.
*Aim of practicing Yogasana*
That should be the aim of practicing Yogasana, which is for tranquility, contentment, and happiness. To achieve this, we must understand body language and the language of flow, as well as forces acting on the body, such as anti-gravity and gravity, and clockwise and anti-clockwise movements. It’s essential to remember that contraction increases density in cellular fluid, while expansion, or push and pull away, dilutes it. This is a modification of the stretch reflex in the muscle spindle. The whole body is interconnected, so if someone has a knee problem, there’s likely some contraction in their head that’s manifesting as knee pain. To address this, we need to understand the sequential order and specific direction of movement in muscles. There are two types of movements: upward movement in the front, which is anti-gravitational, and downward movement in the back, which is gravitational. When executing upward movements, we require a principle of variation in fractional dilution of muscle density. For downward movements, we allow gravity to pull us towards our heels. The balance between gravitational and anti-gravitational forces creates a real flow of movement, and along with the electro-magnetic force of the body, it helps us understand rotational forces, such as clockwise and anti-clockwise movements, and the balance between them. Stephen Hockings described these energies as gravitational, electro-magnetic, and nuclear energy in the form of heat. This nuclear energy is a natural gift that enables us to produce heat for locomotion by utilizing oxygen, carbon, and water inside cells, which we can use for fractional dilution through heating or cooling. By expanding this into a microscopic vision, we can understand how muscles are connected and how they should flow.
Understanding of Muscular movement:
We need to understand that joints are designed to change the direction of flow with muscles, facilitating movement with a limited range of motion. Rather than solely focusing on increasing joint mobility, it’s crucial to optimize the range of motion and functionality of our muscular architecture.
To understand the change of direction of flow, we must comprehend the space within the joint, which can only be grasped through the flow of movement with a sequential order of muscles, specific direction, and positioning of the muscles. This requires learning to move the muscles of the torso from the upper extremity.
Given that our body is vertical to the ground, locomotion should be effortless. However, air resistance poses a significant challenge for humans, unlike animals. Ideally, air currents should pass without resisting the body’s linear locomotion, while limb movement is circular. Converting circular motion into linear movement is a complex task controlled by the brain. To execute dynamic movements, we need to link a sequence of static postures together rapidly, yet each moment must be static.
Since our body is vertical to the ground, locomotion should be easy. Unfortunately, the air resistance given to us is much higher than animals . So in human beings, air current should pass without giving resistance to the locomotion of the body because the locomotion of the body is linear, and while the motion of the limbs is circular. This conversion of circular movement into a linear movement is hell of a job . Our brain is controlling this. So execute any dynamic movement. We must have a sequence of static postures and link together in a very fast sequence. But at a given movement, it has to be static.
This won’t be easy, like simply moving from the joints. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, we’ve lost the nuanced joint movements described by medical science. Due to conditioning and lack of awareness, most people don’t understand or prioritize these movements. As a result, we’re rapidly losing this aspect of physical fitness at a young age, despite the emphasis on physical fitness.
Think of genetic coding like a complex game with its own set of rules. Just as you need to follow specific rules to play a game effectively, our bodies have inherent “rules” based on our genetic code that influence our health and development. Understanding and working with these “rules” can help us make informed choices to support our overall well-being. By acknowledging and respecting these genetic principles, we can potentially enhance our health and quality of life.
Normally, people aren’t interested in decoding genetic coding or following specific rules to enhance their genetic health.
So, why are there rules?
Rules provide a sense of predictability and consistency when used appropriately, promoting physical and emotional safety and improving skills. They guide actions toward desired results. Before using our physical body, we need a higher understanding, strong will, and strength, along with the right direction of efforts, regular perseverance, and dedicated prolonged practice to overcome the tendency of contraction force. This allows defensive movements to become smooth and unobstructed. Furthermore, this should become our nature, making it easy and natural, rather than a dis-ease that goes against nature and gets destroyed. Therefore, in “Asana” or various “Akrutibandha” or forms/poses, following the order of universal laws and regulations is crucial to improve and enhance our natural behavior patterns as a species. This naturalization is essential to become healthy first, and then make further efforts to reach higher evolved stages.
Yoga Shastra guarantees health at a genetic level through decoding and memory programming in the conscious brain, leading to higher consciousness and further evolution. A child learns the art of locomotion through a sequence of efforts and failures, eventually succeeding. To master a posture, one must understand that failure often stems from a lack of memory of that specific posture, resulting in a mismatch between intention and action.
The laws of physics govern the body, requiring balance between gravity and anti-gravity forces, as well as equal weight distribution on the right and left side. This balance is crucial, as imbalance can occur due to unequal weight distribution between the two sides. The principle of physics dictates that a posture will be stable when gravity and anti-gravity forces are equal and opposite.
Through persistent effort and learning, the child eventually remembers the sequence of actions for a posture, which is recorded in the cerebellum. This recording includes awareness of space within the body and its relationship with the surrounding space, enabling precise movement and balance.
The cerebellum records the awareness of space within and outside the body, storing ideal body positions. Specifically, the right cerebellum records the position of the right side of the body. Sensations from the periphery travel through the spinal cord to the cerebellum on the same side. When these sensations reach the cerebellum, they program the cerebellum of the same side. Then, the sensations travel further to the thalamus, which is a sorting centre that determines the origin of the sensation and transfers it to the sensory cortex in the opposite brain.
The sensation of the body’s position is recorded in both the cerebellum of the same side and the sensory cortex of the opposite side. In consultation with the sensory cortex, the motor cortex of the opposite side decides the plan of action, and the spinal cord executes the action through spinal cord reflexes, controlling the muscles. The ideal posture is recorded in the cerebellum, allowing for lifelong recall of complex movements, such as transitioning from lying to standing.
Notably, intellect doesn’t participate in these automatic sequences. Damage to the motor cortex can result in paralysis, highlighting the importance of these neural pathways in controlling movement.
*Methodology and practical applications of Swati Yoga Shalaa*
In our SYS method of learning yogasan, the same channel of trial, error, and failure in the biofeedback technique of yoga postures is used. Yoga postures teach us to reprogram this intellectually. The principles involve creating a chain of memory in the nervous system. To achieve this, a posture is divided into small parts and steps, often utilizing props and furniture. With the help of gravity, individuals can execute precise control over their nervous system, mastering the postures.
Conclusion : I am describing the natural movement pattern of the muscular architecture, which follows a specific sequential order and direction. This wave-like movement pattern can be summarized as:
1. Back side (posterior chain) muscles move towards the heels, in a downward and backward direction.
2. Front side (anterior chain) muscles move towards the head, in an upward and forward direction.
3. Muscles on either side of the midline move outward, away from the midline.
The movement pattern of expanding the muscles from the midline outward, like wings, is not just a poetic analogy, but a literal reflection of the similar movement patterns found in birds and humans.
Just as birds:
– Push their legs backward (extend their legs)
– Expand their wings outward (expand their wings)
Similarly, humans:
– Extend their legs backward (hip extension) , such as pushing paraspinal group and posterior leg muscles backward.
– Expand their muscles from the midline outward (like wings), including the muscles (Rhomboids, subscapularies, Serratus, Trapizius , Latissimus, pectoral etc. from hands )
This parallel between bird and human movement patterns highlights the shared principles of efficient movement and anatomy across species.
The sequential order and directional movement pattern is like a wave that flows through the body, with each muscle group working in harmony to produce efficient and graceful movement.
By understanding and honoring this natural movement pattern, we can:
– Restore balance and coordination
– Reduce tension and stiffness
– Improve range of motion and smooth angular movement in joints just to change the direction simultaneously together with the flow of muscles.
– Enhance overall movement fluidity and efficiency
– Promote optimal muscle function and overall well-being etc.
I am highlighting the importance of respecting the body’s natural design and movement patterns to achieve optimal function and health.
“Why do physical therapists, physiotherapists, and physical trainers overlook natural movement patterns, despite prevention being crucial for good health, and neglecting this hindering wellness?”
There are several reasons why physical therapists, physiotherapists, and physical trainers might be ignoring natural movement patterns:
1. Lack of education and training: Some professionals may not have received adequate education and training in anatomy, biomechanics, and natural movement patterns.
2. Focus on symptom relief: Many professionals focus on treating specific injuries or symptoms rather than addressing the underlying movement patterns that contribute to these issues.
3. Overreliance on exercises and stretches: Professionals may rely too heavily on isolated exercises and stretches, neglecting the importance of integrated, whole-body movement patterns.
4. Misconceptions about “proper” movement: Some professionals may have misconceptions about what constitutes “proper” movement, leading them to teach movements that are not natural or harmonious.
5. Time constraints and efficiency: In a fast-paced healthcare environment, professionals may prioritize quick fixes and efficient solutions over taking the time to address underlying movement patterns.
6. Lack of awareness about the importance of prevention: Some professionals may not fully appreciate the importance of prevention and may focus primarily on treatment and rehabilitation.
7. Limited exposure to alternative approaches: Professionals may not have been exposed to alternative approaches that emphasize natural movement patterns, leading to a limited perspective.
8. Fear of change: Some professionals may be hesitant to adopt new approaches that challenge their existing knowledge and practices.
It’s essential to address these factors and promote education, awareness, and adoption of natural movement patterns to prioritize prevention and optimal health.
Swati Joshi , by Swati yoga shalaa.
Yoga for health, restorative, and therapeutic expertise.
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