Are you leaning forward as you read this? Do you tend to put the right foot over the left when you sit?
That nagging pain in the neck or back could result from something as simple as using one side of your body more. Yoga helps identify and correct the imbalance that results from using a side more.
“Not making enough use of certain parts of the body causes imbalance and misalignment. The correct practice of yoga, combined with right lifestyle, can restore the balance on all levels of your being. The purpose of Sri Sri Yoga is to restore the balance in your body, mind and spirit, making you feel fresh and new,” shares Kamlesh Barwal, Sri Sri Yoga teacher.
Balancing the body with Yoga
Would you drive a car that had more air in the tires on the right are less on the left? Definitely not as it reduces the efficiency of the car and increases wear and tear. Yet surprisingly, we do this to our body everyday by exerting unequal pressure on both halves of our bodies. The imbalances in the body are not limited to the right and left halves, but also the front and back of the body.
When we favor one side of the body and continue to utilize one side more than the other, blood circulation and muscles accordingly re-adjust to support the way the body behaves. This causes body aches and pains that one normally experiences in daily life. Regular practice of yoga can bring back the balance.
How can yoga asanas restore balance?
A quick Yoga test to find the side you use more:
- Let’s do a sideways bend, such as
Triangle Pose (trikonasan). - Raise your right hand up and bend to the left.
- Then do the converse. Take the left hand up and
bend to the right.
Did you notice a difference as you stretched on each side?
When you do yoga asanas with awareness, you will notice that the body tends to adjust itself to balance both sides. The side on which you bend more tends to strengthen the opposite side. That’s how regular yoga practice brings back the balance. When the body is balanced, muscle and muscle activities are also balanced. Something as simple as giving equal importance to both sides of the body, can improve the workings of the internal organs.
Yoga has a deep impact on our body
While doing Sun Salutation, you bend and straighten your back; compress and stretch the abdomen. It loosens up all joints, flexes the muscles, massages internal organs, and activates all systems of the body (including the hormonal system). It is interesting to note that Sun Salutation consists of two rounds: if you bring your right leg ahead in the first round, the left leg goes ahead in the next – balancing both sides of the body!
We do not have to be perfectly balanced all the time. For example, most of us use only one hand to write and eat. Nor is our body symmetrical. Some of us know that the heart leans slightly to the left; one lung is bigger than the other. So, some imbalances remain. But the more we balance our body with regular yoga practices, the healthier we become.
This week, let’s observe ourselves as we walk, sit, stand, and lie down. You might be surprised to find out that you favor one side of the body over the other. Using yoga, you can not only bring back the balance to your body, but also to the mind and spirit.
Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind bringing a lot of health benefits yet is not a substitute for medicine. It is important to learn and practice yoga postures under the supervision of a trained Sri Sri Yoga teacher. In case of any medical condition, practice yoga postures after consulting a doctor and a Sri Sri Yoga teacher. Find a Sri Sri Yoga course at an Art of Living Center near you. Do you need information on courses or share feedback? Write to us at info@srisriyoga.in.
