DIABETES MANAGEMENT THROUGH YOGA - II

YOGA, AYURVEDA AND DIABETES:

According to Ayurveda, diabetes is the result of pitta and kapha imbalances. This is difficult to say whether there is complete cure to diabetes through Ayurveda and Yoga or not. Each person is an individual and will be in different stages of the disease. However, whatever the stage of the diabetes, Ayurvedic and Yoga assist in the healing process.

YOGA AND MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES:

Yogic system of treatment consists of:

i) Regular practice of certain postures, called Asanas,

ii) Breathing techniques, called Pranayama,

iii) Proper diet management and

iv) Meditation.

Initially for a period of 3-4 weeks, the patient may not find any improvement through Yoga. Thereafter, Yoga starts giving permanent and irreversible results. People around 40-50 years find relief by that time. For juvenile diabetics (i.e., below 20-25 years), the results could appear after a year or so.

Yogic treatment restores the normal functioning of pancreas and other glands in the body. When the glands begin to function properly, pancreas gets activated again and results in normalcy of body functions.

Following Asanas are selected for diabetes treatment. It is not necessary that one should do all these but should select whichever is suitable to them, depending on time available, age and body ductility. It is imperative that all the asanas (minimum of 5) should be repeated three times. The yogic practice may be done either in the morning or evening in empty stomach. Regular practice is needed.

YOGA ASANAS FOR DIABETES:

Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimoottan Asana:

Stretch both legs in sitting position. Bring one leg near to stomach and press against the abdomen. If possible, you may try to hold the toe using other hand. Now, breath out and bend forward holding or trying to reach the out stretched leg. Do not strain but do it slowly and slowly. Achieving the final position is not the goal but attempt to do so is purpose. Hold it until it slightly lessens the pain and come back to original position by releasing the outstretched and and folded leg. Relax for a minute and repeat 2 more times.

Ekapada Galava Asana:

This is one of the balancing asanas. You should not perform this Asana if you have weak wrists. First, sit on the floor and bend a leg and using this leg as a support between hands, lean forward. Now, take in the breath and slowly push forward to achieve the final position. Remain in this position for few seconds and come back to sitting position. Take care not o push further more lest you should hit the ground nose down.

Shalabh Asana: Lay down on the floor, your stomach down. Bring two hands together and clasp. Let the hands be close together and now take in full breath. Putting all the body weight on the wrists, lift both legs - not bending at the knees.

Padahast Asana: Stand straight keeping your legs at comfortable distance with each other, say one or two feet. Now, breath out and bend forward keeping both hands on your legs for support. Slowly reach towards the floor, if possible your feet. Keep the knee junction locked. Hold it for some time and come back to standing position. You may not be successful in the first attempt. Try two more times. 

Supta Veer Asana: This is an easy Asana for diabetes. Sit on the floor keeping your both legs to the sides- not too far. Now bend back and come to laying position. Breath slowly and stretch both hands. Automatically, there will be tremendous pressure on your stomach, pulling inside. Repeat two more times. If you are not able to keep the legs side ways, you can keep a pillow and try to sit down on it. Forget this Asana until you master keeping the legs side ways.

Ado Mukha Matsya Asana: Sit on the floor cross legged the bottom portion in Padma Asana. If it is not possible, you can squat on the floor in Swastika Asana.   Bend forward and lay down stretching your hands. There is external pressure on the stomach. Repeat two more times.

Urdhwa Prasarita Pad Asana:

Easy to explain but difficult to perform. Stretch hands upwards in laying down position. Take in the breath and lift both legs joined together and hold within your tolerance limit. Now, you feel worms crawling in the stomach. Come back to laying position and breath out. Repeat two more times. Some people lift the legs after breathing out. This will cause severe cramps in stomach and is a wrong practice.

Chatush Pad Asana: Stand on the ground keeping both legs half to one meter apart. Resting your hands on legs bend forward. Now walk on all fours without bending hands and legs! Your thighs press lower abdomen over and over again. Repeat two more times. Do you know that four legged animals do not suffer from piles? As men and monkeys walk on two legs keeping back bone erect, the stomach weight collapses on lower rectum. Chatush Pad Asana keeps lower abdomen, bladder and kidneys in order.

Maha Mudra:

This is similar to Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimoottan Asana and is easy to perform. It is self explanatory. Just remember that you need not have to care whether you breath in or out. First keep your hands on the knees and inch by inch progress towards toes, but the legs be stretched straight. Repeat two more times. When you get used to retain this position for say one minute, then when you bend forward breath out and pull in the stomach.

Urdhwa Dhanur Asana:

Lay down keeping your hands and legs pulled towards the body i.e. folded. Now, take in the breath and push the stomach upwards. You need not have to make the legs and hands straight. Push the stomach upwards as far as possible. When you achieve the final posture, breath out. Before coming down to normal position take a full breath. You do not loose physical balance, though this posture looks challenging your balance. Problem is to push stomach upwards.

Bhujang Asana:

The picture itself explains the method. Take care to keep the legs together as they try to fly away from each other. It is not necessary to make the hands straight but desirable.  Repeat two more times.