Of all the challenges in life, calmness of mind is probably one of the greatest challenges for many people, especially in our busy urban society.
One of the reasons for this is that most of us have been far more trained to think from our left-brained programmed mind than from our holistic, spiritually connected, creative right brain. Our programmed ego mind is deeply devoted to controlling our own feelings as well as others' feelings and actions and the outcome of things. It likes to think non-stop about how to have control. But the challenging thing is that this programmed part of our mind often thinks negatively - thinks about all the bad things that can happen, worries, ruminates, judges, blames, projects, analyzes, and so on. All of these are ways our ego - the programmed wounded part of ourselves - tries to control feelings, people, and outcomes. And the ironic thing is that it creates the exact opposite of a calm mind - the exact opposite of what is needed for wisdom and success.
Our ego mind is our default setting. It is where we will automatically be focused unless we consciously choose an intention other than to protect/avoid/control. When we choose the intention to learn about truth and about what is loving to ourselves and others - what is in our own and others highest good - then we move out of our default thinking and into our right brain.
Moving into the calmness of our right brain takes much practice. Many people meditate for years to attempt to achieve this calmness. The problem is that, while they may achieve calmness of mind during meditation, what happens to the calmness when their intent shifts into wanting to control?
It is our intent that governs whether or not we are able to have a calm mind throughout our day - not just during meditation. Our ego is deeply addicted to thoughts that create fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hurt, and agitation. As long as we unconsciously choose the intent to control, we will automatically think the thoughts that create these painful feelings. We cannot consistently change our thoughts without changing our intent. When we consciously choose a deep intent to learn about truth and love, our thoughts will follow this intent.
What can you do when your ego mind is going full force and you feel stuck in anxiety, depression, panic, fear, and so on? How can you stop these negative thoughts and move into the calmness of your right brain?
Perhaps we can learn something from Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, author of "My Stroke of Insight." Dr. Taylor's left-brain was completely off line due to a stroke. As it gradually came back online, she decided that she didn't want to continue with some of her old negative thinking patterns. Not only does she tell her "Peanut Gallery" - her name for her ego - to "Knock it off," she says it out loud "while waggling my pointed finger in the air, or standing firm with my hands on my hips. A scolding mother is more effective when she says what she means with passion and communicates her message multidimensionally."
I often see my ego voice like a child or adolescent who is acting out. After becoming aware that my intent is to control and accepting what I can and can't control, I might say to her, "If you can't be quiet, you will have to go to you room!" But this works only when I have consciously shifted my intent from controlling to learning about loving myself. Once I do that, I immediately move back into calmness of mind.
In this form of yoga, the body is seen as an energy system, divided into areas or chakras. Each asana focuses on increasing energy flow to a particular chakra to stimulate organ function, enhance blood flow, and work specific muscles to generally improve your wellbeing in that chakra.
There are a huge variety of asanas and each person requires a tailored program of poses to address their particular aims or health concerns. Asanas are divided into broad categories with certain properties. One of the major categories is asana twists which are designed to extend and open the spinal channel, tone the abdominal muscles and untwist the mind.
The aim of most asana twists is to bring the shoulders to a right angle with the hips. The pose will be held for between thirty seconds and a minute and with each outward breath we should aim to twist a little further towards our goal. Asana twists can be performed standing or sitting.
One of the most popular asana twists is the spinal twist pose or Matsyendrasana, named after Sri Matsyendrasana who originally conceived hatha yoga. This pose realigns the spinal column, and is used to treat diabetes, constipation, dyspepsia and urinary problems. The spinal twist asana increases energy flow to the stomach, colon, liver, spleen, pancreas and kidneys.
All yoga asanas should initially be performed under the supervision of a qualified professional, but twists have particular potential for injury so great care should be taken. When performing a twist you should always lead with the belly or torso, and never the head. The head should be the last part of the body to twist.
You should be particularly careful about performing asana twists if you are pregnant, and if you do not want to avoid doing them altogether, you should always perform open twists. These are asanas that involve keeping the abdominal muscles soft and not contracting them as you would in a closed twist. Other people that should only attempt an open twist with a relaxed belly area are hernia sufferers, menstruating women, and anybody with detached retina or glaucoma.
Some people should avoid asana twists altogether. They are not recommended for people with high blood pressure or those prone to migraine headaches as the restriction of the blood vessels during a twist can trigger an attack.
Back problems such as lumbago, slipped discs or rheumatism can actually be treated by asana twists as they can relieve tension in the back muscles. However, great care should be taken, and professional supervision is mandatory.
Both Margaret Paul & Rebecca Prescott are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Margaret Paul has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Web Development. Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is a best-selling author of 8 books and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding? healing process. Ready to join the thousands who have healed their pain and discovered their joy? Learn Inner Bonding now! Click here for a FREE. Margaret Paul's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.
Rebecca Prescott has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Yoga Practice and Woman Menopause. If you'd like some in-home yoga instruction, check out this article on choosing the . For more. Rebecca Prescott's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.