Stress-Free Brain: Yoga Techniques that Calm the Nervous System and Enhance Mental Agility

Stress-Free Brain: Yoga Techniques that Calm the Nervous System and Enhance Mental Agility

By-Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar – Author, Columnist, Founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa

Yoga has rightfully been recognised as a practice that aligns the mind, body and breath. Yoga views the Human System in a holistic manner where everything is interlinked. Especially in recent times when lifestyle disorders have become common, stress is the underlying cause for most health issues. Mental Health has now been declared as a worldwide pandemic. Ancient sciences like Yoga are therefore regaining popularity in the current culture, rightfully so.

• Kapalabhati Shuddhikriya: Start in sukhasana(seated posture), stabilise the breath, keep the spine straight. Start forcefully exhaling while pulling the stomach and abdomen inwards, rest of the body should be relaxed. Continue for 50-60 strokes, active exhales, passive inhales. Take a break to normalise the breath, repeat 2-3 rounds.
Benefits: Cleanses the channels and stimulates energy towards the skull. An uplifting practice that activates the nervous system, enhancing mental agility.

• Balasana: Sit in Vajrasana, slowly place the palms in front of the knees, on the floor. Gently walk the palms forward till they fully extend, without lifting the pelvis off the heels, place the forehead in between the palms, keep the eyes closed and relax.
Benefits: Helps in releasing stress from the spine which is directly connected to the central nervous system, fights backache, reduces stress and relaxes the mind.

• Anulom-Vilom: Sit in a comfortable posture with the spine straight. Place the left hand on the left knee, with the right hand block the right nostril and inhale from the left, then block the left nostril and exhale from the right. Now inhale from the right nostril while the left is still blocked, then block the right and exhale from the left. This completes one cycle. Practice 5-10 cycles, maintaining the breath as slow as possible.
Benefits: Balances both sides of the brain, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, it immediately calms the mind, reduces anxiety and regulates blood flow in the whole body.

• Aarambha Dhyaan: A powerful Himalayan Meditation, great for beginners. Sit in a comfortable posture, imagine 2 circles in front of you, on top a white hole and on the bottom a black hole, forming a triangular connection between the body and the two circles. Mindfully start visualising all inhales coming from the white hole signifying the universal source of knowledge and positive energy, and consciously exhaling all stress/unwanted heavy energies, negativity into the black hole. Practice for 5-11 minutes daily. Repeated and regular practice will give powerful results.

 Benefits: Removes negativity, re-wires the brain to become more positive thinking, releases stress from the nervous system, aligns the brain to respond to stressful situations with deeper awareness without getting disturbed, increases mental clarity. It is a technique that can be practiced multiple times and used for manifesting positive affirmations for a healthy and happy mind.