Treating the Life force (Prana)/Pranic healing

Besides the treatment of specific bodily systems and their diseases, it is important to get an overview of the person`s vitality or prana as a whole. Ayurveda is not a physically based or symptoms- approach to medicine but looks at underlying issues of energy and motivation. It is a life science that requires an understanding of life and its forces.

Life is all about the transmission of energy, which consists of not only eating and breathing but also sensing, feeling, and thinking. The physical body is a manifestation of prana. Our prana reflects how we think, feel, perceive, and breathe, as well as our outer patterns of food, rest, and exercise. Pranic imbalances lie behind all diseases. The three doshas of our body are three different statuses or orientations of prana.

All Ayurvedic treatment methods are done to treat prana. Foods are the vehicles for prana, which is the deeper energy that we extract from it. Herbs correct the movements of prana and its functions like digestion, elimination, or sweating. Basic Touch is the sense through which prana is conveyed. It conveys prana from the therapist to the client. Bodywork loosens pranic blockages in the muscles and bones. Meditation opens the prana or energy of the mind, while the mantra energizes it.

The healer`s prana should awaken the prana of the patient and direct it towards healing. The rapport between the healer and the patient transmits prana and connects the patient with the will of the therapist. This is the power of counseling. A doctor with an awakened or spiritually energized prana can heal by touch alone. Sometimes in life, the presence of a doctor is healing and soothing to the mind and prana of the patient and can work miracles.

Nowadays, a large number of people today suffer from low energy and chronic fatigue. Others suffer from excess or distributed energy patterns. We should address these energy problems specifically and not just look at particular disease conditions that arise from them.

Low Energy

Behind most disease states- particularly those that are chronic, degenerative, or hard to treat-is a state of low energy. Most modern methods of treating diseases, such as the use of antibiotics or sedatives, reduce vitality further. Our modern isolated lifestyle disrupts our connection with nature and with other people and makes us prone to low energy. A person alone can lack the Pranic connection to feel really healthy and happy.

Second, there is the energy that we draw in from outside sources. These are primarily twofold food and breathing. The wrong diet decreases our true energy input from food and is a causative factor in most diseases- thus the importance of dietary therapy. Eating fresh cooked organic food removes many cases of low energy. Wrong breathing, including shallow or hurried respiration, is another important factor- thus the importance of pranayama or breathing control. Daily pranayama improves energy and counters many diseases, particularly those of the heart, lungs, and brain.

The third factor is those that produce energy through the mind. These start with sensory perception. When the impressions that we take in are wholesome, like the beauty of nature, the mind receives positive energy and creativity. When these are unwholesome, like the stimulation of the senses through images of violence or from an unnatural living environment, the mind develops negative energy and becomes destructive.

Our sensory impressions can either stimulate our higher faculties or dull us and put us to sleep. Meditation, silence, and peace of mind increase mental energy. The distraction of the mind, the excess pursuit of entertainment, gossip, worry, and any excess thinking dissipate mental energy.

Deep sleep is also important for renewing the mind. This is our natural form of mediation that regenerates our entire being. When this does not occur, our energy is not able to renew itself and we get unhappy or diseased.

We also receive from other people. Association is a key source of vitality, which is why we naturally congregate together. To have positive energy in life we should all our walls with those individuals whom we can emulate and are seeking to do what we think is truly valuable in life.

Love itself is the highest and most nourishing form of prana. Love can keep people alive who would otherwise die. It can raise our prana from its deepest depths. That is why love has such a healing force in it. A person who feels really loved will not be depressed or debilitated. Similarly, a person who can give love becomes a source of life itself.

The most important source of energy is our own soul, which is the ultimate source of prana and Ojas. If we are not in contact with that internal source of energy, we are entirely dependent upon external sources of energy, which are limited and possess a certain entropy or tendency towards decay.

Connecting with our internal source of inspiration, discovering our spiritual aspiration in life, and following our true dharma or right vocation, are ways of attuning ourselves to our soul. For spiritual healing, we must awaken our souls. We must be conscious of ourselves not as mere bodies seeking pleasure or longevity but as spiritual beings, immortal portions of consciousness seeking enlightenment and self-realization.

To increase Energy

Increasing energy requires first of all removing the factors that reduce it. We must change our negative attitudes and emotions, and take a positive view of life and healing. We must remove ourselves from locations or situations that are devitalizing. For example, many people sleep in rooms that have negative energy or emotional history, or they are tied to relationships that drain them. Without removing these energy drains we cannot expect our energy to grow.

We must establish the right diet, right breathing, adequate restful sleep (deep sleep), and moderate use of sexual energy. Important also are right thinking and not dissipating mental energy, which depends upon the proper intake of impressions from the external world. Right association and a spiritual purpose in life are perhaps the keys.

If our energy is chronically low we are either dissipating it or not renewing it properly. There is nothing mysterious about low energy, though it may consist of a combination of subtle factors that cannot be treated simplistically or mechanically. If we do not have the energy we must be wasting it in some way that should be obvious to objective observation of our behavior.

For revitalizing energy, various tonic and supplementation therapy is indicated. Substances to increase Ojas – foods like milk, ghee, and almonds and herbs like ashwagandha and Shatavari – are important. Chyavanprash or Ashwagandha compound or the Energy Tonic are very helpful.

For mental energy, mantras are the simplest way to increase it, particularly energizing mantras such as OM, RAM, and HUM. Gems for chronic low energy are ruby, garnet, and red coral, which revive and circulate energy set in gold. Also helpful are diamond, zircon, yellow sapphire, or yellow topaz which have a tonifying effect.

Treating Blocked energy

There are two states of low energy, which are often related. The first is energy that is simply low or insufficient. The second is blocked energy which cannot be used. When energy is blocked it appears low but it is simply not flowing properly. This is more common in young people,  whose congenital energy source is not yet exhausted by time.

Symptoms of blocked energy involve feelings of suppression, tension, and being pent up, with occasional agitation or even major outbursts. However, blocked energy leads to deficient energy in the long run because if energy is not allowed to flow it eventually dissipates. Complicated cases of combined deficient and blocked energy exist that can be hard to treat.

Blocked energy is treated differently than deficient energy. Activity is required to move the energy, such as purification therapy including Panchakarma. For the diet, spices to promote the digestive fire are indicated, particularly aromatics like ginger, cardamom, bay leaves or basil, which should be used freely with food. Herbs to move and clear the energy pathways are important like calamus, guggul, myrrh, or turmeric.

Normally Aromatic oils have essential clearing energy mostly camphor and eucalyptus. Physical exercise and creative mental activity are required. Sweating therapy is great in all its different forms. Pranayama is excellent, including more active forms.

Often it is necessary to make some move to break stagnation in our lifestyle. This may require a change of job, residence, or relationship, or otherwise breaking up our pattern of inertia. Some diseases cannot be changed until we change how we live.

Excess Energy

Generally, excess energies are not a problem. But some diseases arise from excess energy, which if not used properly can become toxic. This is usually as high energy of an inferior quality that comes from consuming meat or taking alcohol and stimulants. It can come on a psychic level of human body from being controlling or dominating others. It is often related to a condition of too strong an ego.

Most infectious, congestive, and acute diseases are excess conditions because they involve a strong pathogenic factor and acute symptoms. Such excess can lead to deficiencies because after the excess results in a disease that eventually weakens our vitality.

Reducing therapies are indicated for excess energy, including stronger forms of Pancha karma, like purgation, that eliminate negative energy from the body. Mild sedative herbs are also helpful like jatamasi and gotu kola. Jatamasi is excellent for those who feel their energy unstable and about to erupt or cause agitation. Peaceful forms of meditation are helpful along with peaceful materials like SHRIM or SHAM.

Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity is usually a sign of disruption. It leads to low energy and is often a sign that our energy level is in decline. When our energy falls to a certain level it no longer has the power to hold or consolidate itself. This results in hyperactivity, which in turn results in exhaustion.

Some individuals are karmically or congenitally hyperactive. While they may get away with this when young, it causes low vitality or chronic diseases when older. This is often the case with Vata types who often live on nervous energy.  Eventually, they suffer from an energy collapse, which often follows a period of strong exertion or lack of sleep. Psychologically, hyperactivity is often a form of distraction and indicates that there is something in life we are trying to avoid. We should always remember that inaction is important both for health and longevity. If a muscle is used all the time, for example, it easily gets worn out.

Hyperactivity requires a combination of mildly tonifying and sedating therapies. Usually, a rich and grounding diet is indicated that is mainly anti-Vata in nature and emphasizes complex carbohydrates and adequate proteins. It should be combined with mild sedative herbs like jatamasi, ashwagandha, or skullcap. Adequate rest, relaxation, and meditation are necessary.

In the case of children, hyperactivity often arises from a lack of proper attention or emotional regard from the parents. Children need to have their energy contained but an adult or they can easily get hyper. A balanced diet is essential for them as well.

Strengthening the Energy Field

The disease involves a disruption in the vital energy field, what is often called the aura. Our energy field reveals any imbalances that we may have. It is the field of our positive vitality, the light emitted by our essential vitality (Ojas). The aura wards off disease and maintains the organic integrity not only of the body but also of the mind.

The aura of the human body can be read through the complexion of the one’s skin, the luster of the eyes, or the pulse. It is revealed by the person’s willpower, the integrity of their character, and the degree of creativity that they possess. By yogi’s, power of concentration, it can be intuited or perceived. Astrology gives us a key to it because it is created by the colors of our planetary rays.

Pranayama, gems, mantra, and meditation have the most power to improve the aura. The aura is the total effect of our daily thought and action, so the right life regimen, in general, improves it.

Natural Dark gems found in nature such as blue sapphire or amethyst protect the aura. Warm gems like ruby, garnet, or red coral, energize it. Nurturing gems like a pearl, diamond, or yellow sapphire feed and strengthen them. Divine Mantras like AUM help expand the aura of the body, while those like RAM protect it. Those like HUM ward off any negative energy that may disrupt it. Peace and silence of mind both energize and consolidate it.

Most allopathic practices like the use of medical drugs, machines, or staying in hospitals, weaken the aura. Excess stimulation or dissipation of any kind damages it. This includes too much travel, too much exercise, excessive sex, overuse of the senses, and such factors as radiation, environmental pollution, or overexposure to mass media influences. The aura is the weekend when we give our minds over to an external influence because of its astral and psychological nature, not merely physical. So, improving concentration also strengthens the aura.

Various fatty oils, whether vegetables-based like sesame or animal-based like ghee, are used in herbal systems throughout the world, but they have their greatest diversity and importance in Ayurveda. Oil therapy is specific for Vata (air or wind) disorders. As the majority of diseases in the world consist of vata, oil therapy is helpful in most forms of treatment. It is specifically indicated in diseases of the nervous system, bones, and the deeper tissues. Oil therapy is useful for the other doshas as well, with cooling oils like a coconut being good for Pitta and hot pungent oils like mustard good for Kapha.

Ayurvedic oils are mainly for external usage but some can be taken immediately. With their nutritive properties, they combine well with tonic herbs like licorice or ashwagandha. Normally basic oils can made at home or things as special preparations can be bought. External usage in Ayurveda includes applications of oils to the nasal passage, the ears, mouth, and the other orifices and in medicated enemas, as well as massage. Ayurvedic massage uses an abundance of oil. In the treatment of Panchakarma, an extensive collection of Snehapana therapy is always prescribed.

Essential Oils

Normally except fatty oils, various essential oils are used in Ayurveda. Essential Oils are those oils that are mainly subtle aromatic oils from fragrant or pungent plants like mint or jasmine. They are active in small amounts and, when combined with heavier oils, activate them and give them greater powers of penetration. It also works well in alcohol. They should never be taken internally in their pure form, However, nor applied directly to any mucus membranes because their actions can be highly irritating with many side effects. Essential oils can be placed on various sites on the skin, like the points of the seven chakras (especially the third eye).

Oil Therapy According to the Doshas

Oils Therapy for Vata

For Vata qualities, the best general oil that can be used is sesame oil. Sesame oil is warm, heavy, lubricating, nourishing to the skin, bones, and nerves, and calms the mind. It is said to be the only oil that has the power to penetrate all seven layers of the human skin and to nourish all the organs and tissues. We have Almond or olive oil are also good but cannot substitute for sesame in severe conditions.

Many tonic herbs are well prepared in sesame oil, such as ashwagandha, Shatavari, and Bala. The nutritive, softening, and demulcent action of the oils and tonic herbs works synergistically. This combination is necessary for lowering the high Vata. Most Ayurvedic oils are good for Vata Types.

Essential Oils for Vata

Best for Vata are warm, stimulating essential oils like camphor, wintergreen, cinnamon, musk, galangal or Cyperus, combined with calming, nutritive and grounding oils like sandalwood, rose or jasmine. Both do better added to the heavy oils and tonics mentioned above, like used in a sesame oil base.

Oil Therapy for Pitta

For Pitta types the best general oil for external usage is coconut oil. As Coconut Oil is very cooling and calming and its also relieves thirst and burning sensations. Sunflower oil is also helpful and can be used for inflammatory skin conditions. Sometimes sesame oil is used as a base for anti-Pitta oils with the addition of cooling herbs that neutralize its warming energy.

Some Pitta types who cannot tolerate sesame oil (it causes itching) do well with olive oil. Desi Ghee (clarified butter) is considered usually the best oil for pitta, but mainly for internal usage. However, it can be used externally, particularly if aged in a copper or silver vessel. Cooling and calming tonic herbs should be added to these oils including shatavari, gotukola, and bhringaraj.

Essentials oils for Pitta

Pitta types enjoy fragrance as most flowers have cooling and calming properties. The Good flowery oils for Pitta include gardenia, jasmine, rose, honeysuckle, violet, iris, and lotus. The best essential oil for Pitta is sandalwood, especially when applied regularly to the third eye. Other good cooling oils are lemongrass, lavender, mint, and vetivert.

Oil Therapy for Kapha

For kapha, types the best general oil is mustard oil. Mustard Oil is very warm, light and stimulating and dispels phlegm. Another good drying oil for kapha is flaxseed oil (linseed oil). Sesame oil is sometimes used because of its warming nature; Sunflower Oil can also be good and is lighter in properties.

Essential oils for Kapha

Normally, Kapha types do best with essential oils that are warm, light, stimulating, and expectorant. Good oils include sage, cedar, pine, myrrh, camphor, musk, patchouli and cinnamon. Kapha can tolerate and should be strong, sharp, and stimulating fragrances though may prefer those that are sweet. Plasters of these herbs, like ginger paste, or the oils in rubbing alcohol can be applied when kapha cannot tolerate any heavy oils.

Why does Monastery Retreat in Nepal? Monastery Retreats are very popular in Nepal as Nepal is a country having the majority of Hinduism and Buddhism resulting in numerous temples and monasteries found all around Nepal. Nepal is home to thousands of monasteries and many more spiritual hubs. Monasteries offer a completely peaceful and spiritual environment for people to explore themselves. During such retreats, one will experience complete yoga and meditation experience in beautiful places where they will find themselves and explore more within. We at Himalayan Yoga Academy have gathered some beautiful reasons why Nepal is the perfect place for Monastery Retreats in Nepal.

1. Nepal is birth place of Buddha.

Lord Gautama Buddha was born into the royal family of Shakya clan of Kapilvastu district in Nepal. In the present day, the ancient kingdom of Kapilvastu is still present in Rupandehi district. Even though Nepal is generally considered a Hindu Kingdom, Buddhism has always been considered second. Buddhism is widely practiced in the Northern part of Nepal especially in the ethnic group, Tamang, Magar, and Gurung. The history of Buddhism in Nepal dates back to the lifetime of Gautama Buddha.

2. Here Padmasambhava got enlightenment.

Guru Padmasambhava is generally referred to as Guru Rinpoche, which means “precious master.” Guru Rinpoche is a totally enlightened being, a fully awakened one, a Buddha. He did not become enlightened gradually, or start practicing the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni and eventually achieve enlightenment. Guru Rinpoche incarnated as a fully enlightened being. Through his form, primordial wisdom manifests in the world to benefit all sentient beings.

In Nepal in the place Called Pharping, where Guru Padmasambhava attained the level of a Mahamudra vidyadhara. According to Katok Rigdzin Tsewang Norbu, Vajrayana practitioners consider Yangleshö as important as Bodhgaya. It is where the second Buddha, Guru Padmasambhava, attained enlightenment.

3. Here we can see Buddhist monastery, Stupa, Bihar and Chaitya.

Nepal is a pristine country popular not just for trekking, mountaineering, or other tour activities. But also for meditation retreats, cultural trips, and spiritual findings. Nepal is the land of countless religious temples, stupas, and monasteries spread across the country. What makes Nepal a prominent land is the birthplace of Lord Buddha.               

4. Nepal is highly practice of three major division of Buddhist religion.

Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, and Newar Vajrayana Buddhism are three types of Buddhism in Nepal. Lamas worldwide have established monasteries in the Himalayan region, making it a key center for Tibetan Buddhism.

Mahayana: Mahayana, translating to the greater vehicle, is currently the most popular and widespread form of Buddhism in the world and also in Nepal. In Mahayana, the texts and literature are written in the Sanskrit language. The Mahayana religion started spreading from northern countries like China, Korea, Mongolia, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet etc. to all around the world.

Theravada: People in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos follow Theravada Buddhism.

Vajrayana: Newa Buddhism is the form of Vajrayana Buddhism practiced majorly by the Newa community of the Kathmandu Valley. This sect, also called Newa Vajrayana Buddhism, has an elaborate tradition of rituals in Nepal and is a very ancient form of practice. It is popular in and believed to have spread out from the East Asian countries like Tibet, Bhutan, and also Bengal and Eastern India.

Nepal is rich in Buddhist culture, lifestyle and Harmony.

In Nepal, about 11 percent of Nepalese practice Buddhism and are mainly from Tibeto-Burman ethnic groups like Sherpas, Tamang, and Bhotia people. And other people from the mountain areas along the border with Tibet. In many areas, Hinduism has absorbed Buddhism to a large extent, but the two religions have many shared deities and temples. The famous Temple, Muktinath, the temple there is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

Though most people in Nepal are Hindu, Buddhist influences are pervasive in most aspects of Nepali culture. Also, all religions in Nepal live in harmony. In Nepal, Tibetan Buddhism is the most widely practiced, while Newar Buddhists follow a unique Newar variant of Vajrayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism.

Sheetali Pranayama, generally known as Cooling Breath, is a popular breathing practice that very effectively cools the body, the mind, and the emotions. The word “Sheetali” comes from the Sanskrit root sheet, which means “cold” or “frigid.” Sheetal translates roughly as ‘that which is calm, passionless, and soothing’. Sheetali pranayama calms and soothes the mind-body organism by activating a powerful evaporative cooling mechanism on the inhalation, delivering a gently cooling energy to the deep tissues of the body. This pranayama soothes the digestive fire for reference a live coal covered in ash might begin to glow under the influence of a cold wind.

• Sit in any comfortable meditation posture with the hands on the knees in shin or gyana mudra.
• Close the eyes and relax the whole body.
• Extend the tongue outside the mouth as far as possible without the strain.
• Roll the sides of the tongue up so that it forms a tube.
• Inhale and draw the breath in through this tube.
• At the end of inhalation, draw the tongue in, close the mouth and exhale through the nose.
• Practice yogic breathing throughout.
• The breath should procedure a noise similar to rushing wind.
• A feeling of icy coldness will be experienced on the tongue and the roof of the mouth.
• This is one round.
• Practice 98 rounds.

Duration:

Gradually increase the number of rounds from 9 to 15 and the duration of each inhalation/exhalation.

For general purposes 15 rounds is sufficient; however, up to 60 rounds may be performed in very hot weather.

Awareness:

On the tongue and the cooling sensation of the breathe.

Sequence:

Practice after asanas and other yogic practices which heat the body in order to restore temperature balance.

Precaution:

You should not practice this technique in a dirty, polluted atmosphere or during cold weather. The nose heats up and cleans the inhaled air before it enters the delicate lungs. However, breathing through the mouth bypasses this air-conditioning and the induction of cold or dirty air directly into the lungs may cause harm.

People suffering from low blood pressure or respiratory disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, and excessive mucus should not practice this pranayama. Those with heart diseases should practice without breathing retention. This practice cools down the activity of the lower energy centers, therefore, those suffering from chronic constipation should avoid it. You should not practice this pranayama in winter or cool climates.

Benefits:

• This practice cools the body and the mind as well.
• It affects important brain centers associated with biological drives and temperature regulation.
• It cools and reduces mental and emotional excitation, and encourages the free flow of prana throughout the body.
• Induces muscular relaxation, and mental tranquility and may be used as a tranquilizer before sleep.
• It gives control over hunger and thirst, and generated a feeling of satisfaction.
• It helps reduce blood pressure and acid stomach.

Advanced practice:

This pranayama can be combined with jalandhara bandha on internal retention. Do not strain when performing kumbhaka (holding), one or two seconds is sufficient at first. The duration may be increased gradually as the technique is mastered.

Practice note:

About one third of the population possess a genetic inability to roll the sides of the tongue into a tube. The practice of seetkari pranayama gives similar benefits.

Yoga Nidra has several applications in the management of diseases of all kinds and promises to play a far greater role in the future as its potential becomes fully recognized by doctors, psychologists, and, healers. Its value as both a curative and a palliative has been investigated in recent years in many research centers around the world, with extremely favorable results.

Yoga Nidra benefits both acute and chronic conditions, particularly degenerative and stress-related issues like hypertension, coronary disease, and arthritis. Many high psychosomatic diseases, such as asthma, peptic ulcers, and migraine headaches, respond favorably to Yoga Nidra therapy.

Yoga Nidra plays a key role in rehabilitation and geriatrics, where it helps address intractable pain, loss of motivation, and psychological depression, which often hinder conventional treatment. It is also widely used as a preventive measure, practiced by healthy, active individuals to relieve accumulated tension, increase stress resistance, improve overall efficiency, and prevent psychosomatic diseases.

Psychological disorders

Yoga Nidra is an effective adjunct to traditional forms of psychiatric treatment, especially in cases that are unresponsive to routine psychotherapy. Those who practice yoga Nidra become their own psychotherapist, recognizing and systematically alleviating their own personal problems and interpersonal difficulties.

In Yoga Nidra the subconscious mind is tapped, much as crude oil is brought to the surface of an oil well. Previously suppressed material, which is the source of psychic pain and aberrant behavior, is permitted to rise spontaneously into awareness, where it can be relieved and reintegrated into the conscious personality. The process is facilitated by the use of specific images and archetypes designed to liberate this subconscious material. Self-recognition and desensitization to painful memories follow spontaneously.

Yoga Nidra is a successful therapy for both recent and long-standing psychological disturbances of all kinds, especially high anxiety levels and neurotic behavior patterns. Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state or condition characterized by subjective feelings of tension, apprehensiveness, and worry, and also by activation of the autonomic nervous system. The practice of yogic relaxation has been found to effectively reduce tension and improve the psychological well-being of suffers from anxiety. The autonomic symptoms of high anxiety, such as headache, giddiness, psychosomatic chest pain, palpitations, sweating, abdominal pain, and nervous diarrhea, respond exceptionally well. Even severely disturbed people can be taught to practice on their own, and to relieve mounting fear or anxiety in any setting, not only during regularly scheduled therapy sessions.

Yoga Nidra relaxation and visualization are also excellent therapeutic techniques for children with behavioral problems and maladaptive social and environmental responses. Pediatricians, child psychologists, and remedial educators are now investing in it as an exciting new adjunct or alternative to more traditional modes of treatment using drugs and psychotherapy. For example, in studies conducted in the USA and Europe, hyperactive children who were taught yoga Nidra displayed significantly decreased hyperactivity levels, improved attention span, decreased fidgeting, fewer random movements, noises, and actions, and reduced levels of skeletal muscle tension. The technique has been adapted in other spheres of child psychology, including emotional deprivation and handicap, and behavioral disturbances, with highly favorable preliminary results. Yoga Nidra is also being used in psychiatric admission units enabling patients to reduce dependency on tranquilizing and hypnotic drugs and to increase their self-reliance, thereby reducing the duration of their hospital stay. Yoga Nidra is taught to highly disturbed and depressed patients for suicide preventive measures.

Insomnia

Yoga Nidra is a successful treatment for insomnia, producing definite decreases in the time required to fall asleep. The former suffers from insomnia and practices Yoga Nidra at some stage during practice. For insomnia, yoga Nidra should be adopted in conjunction with a busy daily program that includes asanas and other physical activities and excludes daytime sleeping. As competence in yoga Nidra is attained, dependency on sedative-hypnotic or barbiturate preparations diminishes, thus avoiding the dangers of long-term side effects, which include nightmares, disruption in brainwave patterns and sleep rhythms, and other nervous disturbances.

Drug addiction and alcoholism

As today’s modern life has been filled with stresses and headaches, addiction to tobacco, alcohol and other stimulants and depressants has become a big problem. As many people tend to believe that smoking or drinking helps them to relax. However, these methods can be never satisfactory, because they fail to provide the means to relax totally and enjoy life more fully, without the side effects of drug and alcohol abuse. By reducing deep-seated conflicts and tensions, Yoga Nidra promotes a general feeling of well-being which helps to curb excessive consumption of coffee, cigarettes, and alcohol and also the management of drug abuse and addiction.

Chronic diseases

The influence of yoga Nidra on chronic degenerative diseases has been investigated in several countries. In one study conducted with patients suffering from major long-term disabilities, at the University of California Medical Centre at Davis ( USA), researchers concluded that yoga Nidra is applicable for bedridden, incapacitated, and chronically afflicted patients of all degrees. They report that yoga Nidra can improve the lives of these patients in several distinct ways:

• Relieving insomnia and sleep disturbances.
• Maintaining moderate pain outside the field of conscious awareness.
• Partially relieving feelings of despair and depression which so often complicate the outlook in chronic disease.
• Decreasing the requirements for analgesic, hypnotic and sedative drugs.

Yoga Nidra relieves pain

Yoga Nidra always relieves pain by stimulating the pituitary gland as it helps to release its own potent pain-suppressing compounds. Research studies have uncovered the existence of endogenous morphine-like brain hormones, termed endorphins and encephalins. This natural substance appears to be produced by the pituitary gland under conditions of extreme stress and prolonged, intractable pain and is secreted into the cerebrospinal fluid which surrounds and supports the entire central nervous system.

The isolation of these natural analgesics, whose potency far exceeds that of any synthetically produced drug, is positive proof of the concentration of the ancient yogis that the body is capable of producing its own medicine. Researchers have proposed that these substances act centrally within the brain to transform the perception of painful stimuli which reach consciousness after being relayed from some peripheral focus of diseases in the body. Yoga Nidra, by creating the sensations of pleasure/pain, heat/cold, etc, and the visualizations of specific yantras and psychic symbols may well be the key that unlocks these magical secretions from the pituitary.

The ability of yoga Nidra to control pain was investigated in a study at the Presbyterian University College Hospital, Pittsburgh ( USA), in which the need for analgesic medications was eliminated, or markedly reduced, among the 54 patients participating in the study. Two-thirds of them suffered from headaches of either migrainous, muscular, or tension types. The remainder suffered from a variety of conditions characterized by long-term or intermittent pain, including gastrointestinal pain( peptic ulcer syndrome ), shoulder and neck pain( spondylitis syndrome), and lower back pain ( slipped disc syndrome). At follow-up after six weeks of yoga Nidra therapy, patients reported an average of  81% effective pain relief.

Pregnancy, childbirth, and menstrual disorders :

The practice of yoga Nidra throughout pregnancy helps to create the most favorable conditions for intra-uterine growth and development. It is now well-recognized that stress liberates hormones into the mother`s blood which profoundly alters the well-being of the infant. Stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline cross the placental barrier and enter fetal circulations. There they act as toxins and poisons, disturbing the ongoing mental and physiological development of the fetus. Highly stressed mothers, who do not yet know the art of relaxation, are thus more likely to produce children who develop maladaptive behavior, hormonal imbalance, and endocrine disturbances in their own teenage and adult lives.

Yoga Nidra also has an important role in the techniques of natural childbirth, such as the Leboyer technique in which deep physical relaxation and spontaneous breath awareness form the basis for drug-free labor and delivery. In maternity hospitals where training in yogic relaxation practices is included in prepartum medical management, expectant mothers routinely experience less anxiety before the onset of labor and less pain during labor and delivery. The result is confidence devoid of undesirable complications and a healthy baby who emerges into the external world relaxed and unscathed.

Yoga Nidra has also been prescribed for the relief of pain associated with dysmenorrhoea ( disturbance of the menstrual cycle) and excessive levels of pre-menstrual tension. In a study conducted at East Texas University ( USA), researchers concluded that yoga relaxation training should be prescribed more frequently as an adjunct or alternative to conventional drug therapy for menstrual dysfunction and pain.

Geriatric medicine :

Yogic relaxation helps elderly people overcome many of the specific psychological difficulties related to old age, according to a study conducted in a French geriatrics hospital. Elderly people may confront a variety of difficulties, including loss of confidence, lowered self-esteem, depression, unmet dependency needs, loneliness, boredom, and fear of the future. The French researchers concluded that yoga Nidra is especially helpful for those elderly patients who habitually transfer their psychological difficulties into physical symptoms and complaints associated with their advancing age. These patients unconsciously will themselves into a state of rapid physical and mental deterioration unless their self-destructive copying mechanism is modified.

The elderly patients who learned and practiced yoga Nidra daily were more capable of recognizing and managing their problems, maintaining good health, a confident, active, and independent lifestyle, and a bright outlook toward the future. In addition, physicians participating in the study reported that yoga Nidra improved their patient’s ability to communicate and scout their personal and situational difficulties, thus enabling more fruitful therapeutic relationships to develop.

Here at Himalayan Yoga Academy, we normally teach every student the technique of doing yoga Nidra so they can apply as well as teach many people on their journey of life. Also, various guests come to our school during their yoga retreat. if there are people suffering from different mental anxiety and disorders, we also teach them yoga Nidra during their yoga and meditation sessions so that totally relax during their time of retreat. During the Yoga teacher training Nepal course as well, we teach how to guide people in Yoga Nidra. So they can apply the amazing benefits to themselves as well as others.

Introduction to Ayurveda and its history

Ayurveda has a long and esteemed history. The ancient Sanskrit word “Ayurveda,” meaning “the science of life,” gives rise to the term Ayurveda. Dating back more than 5,000 years, Ayurveda is one of the oldest health sciences in the world.

Ayurveda bases its practice on the principle that the body is a dynamic system that requires a balanced and harmonious environment to function optimally. It believes that all aspects of a person’s life – physical, mental, and spiritual – are interconnected.

Ayurveda bases its practice on the concept of “seven doshas,” which are energy fields that govern the body’s health and well-being. The seven doshas are vata, pitta, kapha, air, fire, water, and earth. Ayurveda practitioners use formulas and treatments to balance the doshas.

Health and wellness Ayurveda’s approach

Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine that balances and harmonizes the body. The Ayurveda practitioners use a variety of techniques to restore balance and harmony within the body, including yoga, meditation, and dietary recommendations.

Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health and wellness, which means that it considers the entire body and its components. The Ayurveda practitioners believe that health and well-being are the result of balance and harmony.

Benefits of Ayurveda     

1. Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance

A healthy diet and alteration in lifestyle habits through Ayurvedic treatments help exfoliate extra body fat. In Ayurveda, weight isn’t a major concern but eating habits are. By allowing the body to detox through correct enriched restrictions, it’s possible to achieve a toned body.

Consult a ayurvedic doctor to determine the stylish diet that will suit your nutritive requirements and work with your dosha type.

2. Healthy and Glowing Skin and Hair

Need a perfect blaze and beaming hair? Ayurveda claims that you can ditch costly clinical treatments and go for organic and natural ways to achieve a blaze without spending too much money. A balanced meal, toning exercises, and Ayurvedic supplements are enough to promote healthy skin and crown.

General salutary guidelines in Ayurveda concentrate on the consumption of fresh food taking into account your dosha type, medical history, indigenous yield, customs, and traditions. The focus is more on high-antioxidant foods, sauces, teas, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats.

3. Helps to Reduce Stress

In today’s fast-paced life, which offers little time for relaxation or rejuvenation, Ayurveda helps reduce stress and anxiety. Regular practice of yoga, contemplation, breathing exercises, massages, and herbal treatments allows the body to calm, detoxify, and rejuvenate. Yoga enhances the autonomic nervous system, making your mind more alert, helping you concentrate better, and staying energized throughout the day.

Breathing exercises keep infections at bay and allow abundant oxygen force to the cells to produce a sense of mindfulness. Problems like Depression and anxiety can be treated with Shirodhara, Abhyangam, Shiroabhyangam, and Padabhyangam.

4. Reduce Inflammation

Lack of proper diet, unhealthy eating routines, inadequate sleep, irregular sleep patterns, and bad digestion can lead to inflammation. The root cause of neurological conditions, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, pulmonary conditions, arthritis, and numerous others starts with inflammation.

As you begin to have your meal or food according to your body dosha type, the digestive system begins to strengthen. Consumption of certain foods at the right times reduces poisons in the blood and digestive tract. As a result, vitality increases, energy rises, and languor and mood swings decrease. Ayurvedic treatments are well-known for preventing cancer. A popular example of an herbal Ayurvedic remedy is a combination of turmeric and black pepper.

5. Cleanse your Body

Panchakarma in Ayurveda is the practice of barring fleshly poisons through enemas, canvas massages, bloodletting, purgation, and other oral administration. Administering these factors in the mortal body allows for the elimination of food and poisons that intrude on effective fleshly functions.

Purifying the body promotes better overall health. Ayurvedic herbal remedies such as cumin, cardamom, fennel, and ginger are widely used to cure indigestion and relieve bloating.

6. Lower Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Symptoms of Illness and Conditions

Experimenters suggest that Ayurvedic diets and relaxation ways help reduce shrine buildup. Plaque is a result of the conformation of cholesterol and fats in the inner filling of the highways. This condition is called atherosclerosis and is the root cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Ayurvedic drug offers a multitude of herbs, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. These are mixed at an applicable dose and administered at an optimal time to help combat immunity-related diseases. Ayurvedic herbs and essential oils help increase blood inflow, complement blood rotation, and draw out poisons from the body through the skin. Therapists highly use “Abhyanga massage” with herbal oils for massages.

How does the immune system work?

The immune system is defined as the combination of systems, glands, organs, and corridors that guard you from germs, bacteria, and other dangerous substances that can make you sick.  It’s an essential part of our health and well- and it’s working around the timepiece to defend your body. When the system comes in contact with germs and substances that the body does not feel as its own, the immune system response is actuated.  That means, your body begins to fight against the origins, bacteria, and so on to keep you healthy. Still, run-down or stops working duly, it’s unfit to do its job to cover you as it should if your immune system is weak. Hence why it’s so important to nourish our bodies so that we can have a strong, happy immune system.

What are the signs of a weak immune system?

Basically, if you have the following symptoms, you have a weak immune system :

1. Your Stress Level is Sky-High
2. You Always Have a Cold
3. You Have Lots of Tummy Troubles
4. Your Wounds Heal Slow
5. You Have Frequent Infections
6. You Feel Tired All the Time

How can I boost my immune system fast?

There are many ways you can boost your immune system naturally and healthily.

1. Always Get a good night’s sleep
2. Eat a vegan diet
3. Drink a lot of water timely.
4. Exercise regularly
5. Reduce sugar and alcohol
6. Minimize stress
7. Practice Yoga!

10 Yoga Poses for Boosting Immunity and Relieving Stress

1. Bhujangasana ( Cobra Pose )

Bhujangasana (भुजंगासना) or the Cobra pose is one of the gentle backbends that helps relieve. Backache, it also helps in improving digestion and overall health of the spine. The cobra pose is often used within a sun salutation or vinyasa as a transitional pose in a collection of asanas.

Steps of doing cobra pose :

The procedure to do Bhujanagasana is very easy. Follow The given steps below without any jerks and stretch as much as you can in the Bhuajangsana yoga. Let us check the steps.

• Lie down flat on your stomach with your head on the floor, legs straight, and feet together.
• Try to raise your head and body up to navel with slow inhalation. You have to set both hands on the ground.
• Now, slowly stretch your whole body.
• Stay in this pose for at least 15 seconds and come back to the ground by a slow exhalation.

2. Uttanasana – Forward Fold

Uttanasana, also known as standing forward fold, is a full-body stretch commonly practiced as a transitional yoga pose in Vinyasa yoga classes. Yogis can also practice holding the posture for an extended period during their practice to reap the benefits of its deep stretches. This standing forward fold is a great pose for counteracting backbends. When practiced correctly under the guidance of a certified yoga teacher, the posture can help relieve back stiffness.

3. Matsyasana – Supported Fish Pose

The Sanskrit word ‘Matsya’ means ‘fish’. It is thus nicknamed ‘The Fish Pose’. Matsyasana is a reclining back-bending asana. The name is derived from the Sanskrit Matsya, meaning “fish,” and asana, meaning “pose.” Matsya is also the name of an incarnation of the god, Vishnu, who manifested himself as a large fish in order to save the earth from a flood.

Steps to perform Matsyasana:

To enter the pose, the practitioner lies flat on the back and then lifts the pelvis so the hands can slide under the buttocks. The back arches and the chest lifts until the crown of the head (or the back of the head for beginners) rests on the floor.

• Begin with the Shavasana (Corpse Pose).
• Maintain a flat back. Make sure your arms are straight, with palms laid out on the mat.
• Gently, bring your palms in under your buttocks.
• Tip your head backward slightly with your torso resting on the floor. Hold for a minimum of 30 seconds.
• Inhale and use your forearms to lift your chest, shoulders, upper back, and head off the mat.
• Bring the top of your head to rest on the mat and hold this position for a minimum of 30 seconds.
• Return to the initial position.
• Relax and inhale.

4. Supta Matsyendrasana – Reclined Spinal Twist

Supine Spinal Twist — Supta Matsyendrasana (Soop-tah-MOTS-yen-drAA-SUN-aa) — is a restorative spinal twist, that lengthens and strengthens the spine while detoxifying the internal organs. Supta Matsyendrasana is a gentle posture that stretches the spine, shoulder, back, thighs, and neck and stimulates internal detoxifying processes, all while the body rests. Regular practice of Supta Natarajasana can relieve lower back pain and tight shoulders. The pose gets its name from the Sanskrit words, Supta, meaning supine or reclined, Matsya, meaning fish, indra, meaning ruler, and Asana, meaning pose.

Step-by-Step Instructions

• Lie on your back with your arms stretched horizontally out to the sides in line with the shoulders.
• Extend your left leg out in front of you and bend your right knee, hugging it into your chest.
• Inhale, and on an exhale slowly cross your right knee over your midline and onto the floor on the left side of your body. Turn your head to the right and look at your right palm.
• Make sure that both of your shoulder blades are touching the ground, even if that means your knee does not fully touch the floor. While twisting, there is a tendency for one shoulder blade to lift off of the ground.
• Feel the stretch in your thighs, groin, arms, neck, stomach, and back as you hold the pose. With each exhalation, relax deeper into the pose.
• Hold for several minutes.
• Slowly turn your head back to the center and straighten your torso and legs.
• Repeat the pose on your left side.

5. Viparita Karani – Legs Up The Wall

Legs Up the Wall is a rejuvenating inverted pose that brings relief to the legs, feet, spine, and nervous system. It is a gentle way to bring the body into a state of deep relaxation and renewal. This pose is recommended for all yoga students, no matter their level of experience.

Its Sanskrit name, “Viparita Karani” (VIP-uh-REE-tuh kah-RAH-nee), literally translates to “inverted action.” When you take time out of your day to reverse the forward motions of doing, acting, and accomplishing, you allow your brain and body to settle into a state of pure being. Settling into this state, then, conditions the mind for deeper meditation, serenity, and self-awareness.

Because of its calming benefits, Viparita Karani is often done at the end of a yoga practice, before the final relaxation pose (Savasana) or meditation. However, it can also be practiced on its own, as an everyday restorative pose.

6. Savasana – Corpse Pose

 Mritasana, ‘Mrit’ – Corpse/dead body; Asana – Pose; Corpse Pose, or is an asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise, often used for relaxation at the end of a session. It is the usual pose for the practice of yoga Nidra meditation as well.

Mritasana or Shavasana is the Sanskrit name for an important restorative asana. It is a key component of asana practice in almost every yoga tradition and is most commonly used at the end of a sequence as a means of relaxation and integration.

This pose gets its name from the recumbent posture of a dead body. It is a position of rest, and is usually practiced towards the end of a yoga session – a session that typically begins with activity and ends in rest; a space or pause when deep healing can take place.

7. Setu Bandhasana – Supported Bridge Pose

The Setu Bandha Sarvangasana massages the spine and stretches the chest, neck & hips. It also calms the brain, helps to open the sinuses, reduces headaches, and opens up your shoulders. This is a great pose for women who experience menopausal symptoms.     

Steps for Setu Bandhasana Sarvangasana ( Bridge Pose ):

• First of All, Lie down on your back with your arms next to your body, palms facing down. Bend your knees and place your feet near your sitting bones, hip-distance wide.
• Then slowly inhale and lift your hips high. Check if your knees are aligned over your ankles.
• Interlace your fingers on the floor and tuck your shoulders underneath you. Draw your hands toward your feet.
• Stay in the pose for a few minutes with breathing, then release your hands, and exhale to lower.

8. Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana – Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose

Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose, or parivrtta janu sirsasana in Sanskrit, is a seated twist. From the head-to-knee pose, the practitioner reaches their bottom arm alongside the extended leg and reaches the top arm overhead, grabbing hold of the foot and twisting the torso toward the sky. It gives similar benefits to the head-to-knee pose but further improves circulation to the spine. It also invigorates digestion.

Instructions

• Sit with the legs outstretched.
• Bend the left leg and place the foot near the groin.
• Extend the right arm forward and twist it toward the leg. Grab hold of the inside of the right foot.
• Inhale and reach the left arm up and over. Grab hold of the foot.
• Bend the elbows and twist deeper, turning the torso toward the sky.
• Breathe while holding the pose.
• Exhale and release. Untwist and change sides.

Life is a beautiful journey where we encounter many situations, grow, and change eventually. Every person experiences their trial in their own way. People have different perspectives and choices on the way to deal with the circumstances they face in their lives. Regardless of our choices, we all must navigate ourselves to establish peace and our surroundings for balance. This is exactly what Lokah Samastah  Sukhino Bhavantu stands for; a blessing to the world.

A Sanskrit Mantra ‘Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu’ which means “May everyone in the whole world be happy”. May my actions and behaviour contribute to others in a way that brings peace and happiness.

What is so great about this chant is that it sheds light on the human awareness and consciousness by reminding us that our relationship with all beings and things should be mutually beneficial if we ourselves desires happiness and liberation from suffering. No any true or lasting happiness comes form causing unhappiness to others.

That’s why, if we want every beings to be happy and free, we certainly have to be careful about our each and every actions. By chanting this mantra, we move form a personal self and radiate a prayer of love for the world around us. Also reminds us that life is a beautiful journey with full of blessing for every living beings.

What does Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu mean?

Popularized form Jivamukti yoga (a path to liberation through compassion towards all beings.

Loka Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu represents many things.

Lokah alone can refer to all the universe existing now.Not only limited to our planet earth but also illuminates to all the beings in the universe and outside of our known universe.  

Samastah refers to every being in the whole universe.

Sukhino translates to happiness, joy and free from suffering.

Bhav means the divine mood or state of  unified existence whereas Antu means a ending word that represent it must be so/ may it be so.

This mantra is very powerful which represents various meaning that tends to connect us on this planet and beyond. It takes us form the egoic, little self,and its limited world view, and radiates from us global wellbeing.

Now lets get to know deeper about its expanded translations:

We are all bound together

All beings sharing the same planet must care equally for other inhabitants. We do not wish this blessing mantra only for ourselves but recognize we are part of a collective effort in the planet. The sound of Samastah expands us beyond our limited mentality and reminds us we are interconnected to all. We exist in the universe as we are now, in the very same shared moment.

Lokah Samasra Sukhino Bhavantu teaches us to :

• Compassion

Compassion begins to be a part of our being and easily a part of who we are. This mantra requests those who chant it to recognize the harmony in our lives. Although we witness the world through a different perspectives does not mean that those around us do not experience similar events. We all share the same life experiences, of pain and pleasure, loss and enlightenment, love and doubt. By exercising compassion, we feel that we are not alone and how connected we all really are in this together.

• Personal elevation

Sukhino represents free of suffering, finding the happiness and joy in life. We can accomplish this by focusing on ourselves, and letting go of all the negative thoughts and actions. We we centered on finding happiness and joy, we are emitting that energy out to others. It is instructive to be reminded that all people and animals are equally worthy of freedom and happiness. This state of awareness can help us take a first important step of understanding who we really are. No freedom can come from depriving others from their freedom. We must individually do our part to address our limitations and faults.

When we are able to accept we are no longer different than those around us we are more available to accept opportunities without judgement. Negative thoughts, fear, anxiety, stress lowers our vibrations and limit our frequencies. There is no magic in chanting this mantra unless your personal elevation can hold this higher frequencies. If you are still hurtful, critical or judgemental, you are adversely affecting the free will of others.

• Become enlightened

Bhav is the representative of attitude. It`s our state of mind in our current existence. To become enlightened, an essential step is to take responsibility for oneself. We own our karma and desire to act from places of greater love. Enlightenment is the path of awakening consciousness to remember the divine within us. We are also able to accept our true selves and accept love in its purest form.

Bhav says that, we are pure love in a unified existence. We all are bounded together with a love which interweaves the universe. Love and all that it represents, is the most authentic way for humans to present themselves. This mantra and chanting helps to amplify love, gratitude, and acceptance.

• Cosmic influence

This chant  “ Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu ” is about encompassing the universe as a whole and all the existing universe. This chant has a cosmic affect that enchants blessings to every beings that exists in the universe and beyond. This shows the power of love and influence of the language of love and kindness as it transcends beyond our understanding.

Why do we chant?

Besides its powerful meaning, you may wonder why we chant it. Well, Chanting is not only limited to the way you start or end the class. It is something that surrounds universal sound and his life due to its deep influence on our bodies.

For instance, the power of chanting in Sanskrit is that its deep words and letter has the direct connection and influence on the chakras.

By chanting these rooted words, the vibrations resonate deeply within us. Chakra gets vibrated and activated. The energy channels we are able to tap into a deeper level of transcendence and kindness. Plus, there are various benefits:

• Reduces  anxiety

The chanting sound allows the mind to through any sense of overwhelm by deepening the breathe. The specific sound with rhythm calms our mind, balance our breathe and improves  our sense  of self.

• Strengthens our immunity

During chanting, our breathing patterns help to adjust the rhythm of our body. Through sound and breathing, our parasympathetic nervous system is engaged and sends messages that we are in balance.  It calms our minds by letting us know we are not in flight and fight situations. And this communication helps our body build stronger immunity.

• Calms the body and mind

Chanting brings peace to the body and mind. It gives us a sense of peace. It offers us a comfortable place within a spiritual environment. Through chanting we are able to influence our thoughts, reduce tension in our bodies, and bring our body, breathe and mind at ease.

Reiki the natural healing technique or form of energy healing that has been used for centuries. It is based on the belief that all things are connected and that by working with energy we can heal ourselves and others. Reiki is a hands-on healing technique that uses the hands, palms up, to flow energy gently into the body. The practitioner may use either verbal affirmation or silent mumbles to help focus the healing energy. There is no need to believe in any specific theory or concept to benefit from Reiki; it is simply a form of energy healing that can be used to improve health and well-being.

Benefits to Reiki the natural healing technique

1. The practitioner can gain a sense of peace and tranquility.
2. It can help to reduce stress and anxiety, and can provide relief from pain.
3. It can also help to improve sleep quality and concentration, and can promote a sense of well-being.

History of Reiki

Reiki is a centuries-old Japanese system of healing that combines traditional hand and arm massage with guided meditation and breath work. The system was developed by the founder of modern Japanese massage, Mikao Usui, in the late 19th century.

This began as a system of healing that combined traditional hand and arm massage with guided meditation and breath work. Mikao Usui, the founder of modern Japanese massage, developed Reiki in the late 19th century. Usui intended the system to be a form of healing that could be used by anyone, regardless of religious or cultural affiliation.

How Reiki is Done

Reiki is administered by a practitioner using hands, fingers, or a palm brush. The practitioner may also use a quality crystal or gem to focus the energy.  The session might begin with a short meditation, and then the practitioner uses various hand and finger movements to lightly touch or hover over various parts of the client’s body while they are lying down on the floor. Throughout the session, the practitioner focuses specifically on their intent for healing. Also, The length of time that the practitioner leaves their hands in each position is determined by the flow of energy through their hands at each location.