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Therapeutic Applications of Yoga Techniques / 293
With some practice one will be able to relax in other positions of the body also. In advanced stages patients would be made to bring back to memory various associations related to different parts of the body and to work out the causes for those associations. This should be done cautiously even by an experienced therapist knowing the repurcussions of activating associated memories and thoughts and that too, only after dealing with oneself with some success.
Asanas for Tackling and Correcting Postural Substrate
2. Most of the cultural asanas described in different books could be
used to tackle and correct the postural substrate of the individual and thus bring about a change at the psychological level through pro-prioceptive feed back. The theme as been presented in Fig. 1.
Breathing in Asanas to Tackle Muscle Tone and Functioning of the Nervous System
3. If the muscles of the body are hypotonic, then it is better to ask the
patient to practice asanas after deep inhalation and holding the breath inside during the maintenance of asana. On the other hand if the muscles are hypertonic, then it is advantageous to exhale and hold the breath out during the practice of asanas. As one can not hold the breath for a long time, one could have a number of breaths with breath holding, either after inspiration or expiration, as the case may be. In normal conditions one could continue with natural breathing in every asana.
Sequential Practices
4. Sequential practices like Surya-namaskaras have been found to be
useful for those patients who have obsessions and fixations. Changing asanas one after the other will help to break the tendency of the mind to remain fixed to one thing. This will work if the individual could remain aware of what one is doing and what is happening during any sequential technique.
Condition of the Eyes
5. If the patient shows tendency to go within, then keeping the
eyes open during the whole session of yoga practices proves useful. On the other hand if one feels that the mind of the patient wonders out-side the body, then keeping the eyes closed and feeling of the touch of air within the nostrils proves beneficial.
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