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have been spending a particular amount of time on asanas such as matsyasana, halasana, sarvangasana and kandharasana. We are also working on a number of other postures which stimulate the adrenals and, therefore, have a secondary, knock-on effect on the thymus. These include such practices as paschimottanasana, ushtrasana and many others.
In addition to the practices of asana, pranayama is also very important. Of all the students with whom I have worked in the last 23 years or so, these HIV positive people seem to have more intuitive understanding of the importance of the breath. So, from the very beginning, we have been integrating breath awareness into our various practices. Learning the various stages of breathing has brought relief to the students in terms of helping them to sleep better, and to generally deal with the tensions associated with AIDS.
I have learnt that oxygenation is an important factor for HIV positive bodies. Therefore, we have spent a lot of time on dynamic breathing - abdominal breathing, complete breathing, bhastrika and kapalbhati. I am encouraging the students to build up these powerful pranayamas according to their capacities, and it is proving to be most effective for them.
We are also practising the hatha yoga cleansing practices, specifically kunjal and both the short and the long forms of shankaprakshalana. Many of the students have completed these practices and are coming back session after session in order to de-toxify the body. So this has been most encouraging.
The practices oa meditation, starting with yoga nidra, are absolutely crucial in helping to bring about balance, calmnes peace of mind and clarity of thought. In yoga nidra we are using the sankalpa, the positive resolution, and certain visualizations which are constructive and encouraging to the students. We are practising the wonderful meditation which Swami Janakananda spoke about yesterday, antar mouna, the value of which can never be over-estimated. We are also using the practices of ajapa japa, particularly concentration in the rontal psychic passage between manipura and vishuddhi chakras. I have also introduced the practice of trataka to help to improve concentration and bring about a balance between the activities of the two hemispheres of the brain. Concentration helps to develop willpower which is something that you definitely need if you are HIV pösitive and you wish to con
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