The Hindu Business Line : Stretch!

Whatever affliction you may have been plagued by, decide with a fierce so-help-me-God determination to stand straight-spined, pain-free and fit this year. Cast out clutter from body and mind, for purity invites healing, inspiration and awakens initiative.

Stretch for purity. Thousands of toxins in the body flow from the bloodstream to settle in the joints. It starts as a heaviness, becomes stiffness, turns into a dull ache, finally to a full-blown pain. The body becomes like a steel cupboard placed on sandpaper - rigid and immobile. Stretching mobilises it by shaking out the unnatural obstructive toxins and you become as naturally limber as a newborn.

EASE THAT TENSION

The biggest form of toxin in the body is tension. Tension tightens muscles, inflames nerves, stiffens joints, paralyses physical and mental mobility. That is why stretching is our saviour.

The secret of successful stretching lies in approaching it in a relaxed - not strenuous - manner. Do not force it. Calm down. Then, do these:

Upper body stretch: Stand with feet apart. Raise arms toward ceiling. Clasp hands, then turn them inside out, so that the palms face the ceiling, fingers remain intertwined. Now, bend to your left until you feel a stretch on your entire right side. Pulse gently 20 times. Repeat on the other side. As you stretch, affirm: "I stretch joyfully to purify my muscles, nerves and joints."

Lower body stretch: Lie on your left side on the floor, head on left arm stretched out. Hold right arm straight upward, fingers pointing to ceiling. Raise right leg, knees straight, toes pointed, to a 90-degree angle from floor until your foot touches your right hand. Lower right leg without touching left leg. Raise-lower 10 times. Repeat on the other side. Each time, chant the above affirmation.

Know how it feels when you get a gigantic sneeze and suddenly your clogged head becomes clear and light? Well, that's the enormous freedom you feel in your body after stretching.

KEEP FIT WITH WRITING

Write to stretch. You aren't aware of how many strong emotions you're withholding and how they pollute or stunt your mind. When you read a spiritual passage or a howto- let-go piece, you feel good for a while. But, it does nothing for you if you don't do something with it. The best thing to do is to reflect on what you've read, then write it down -what it is, why it has made an impact on you, how it explains why you faced a certain situation yesterday. As you write, new ways of thinking whoosh through your mind, the fog lifts, the mental horizon broadens. Write for two minutes at the end of the day. Explore through this excellent medium your emotional processes. If nothing comes to mind, just copy down the passage you read and as the floodgates open and thoughts pour out, keep writing. Sometimes, you can do it para by para:

Para 1. Jot down the problem you want to feel easier about.

Para 2. Write `If I realize that by holding on, it is hurting nobody else but me, will I let go?'

Para 3. Delve deeper - `Am I willing to jeopardise my health and shrink my mind by holding on?'

Para 4. Ask: `When can I let go?'

Para 5. Direct : `How about now?'

Para 6. End with writing a beautiful spiritual line. For example: `All work is empty except when there is love, for work is love made visible'- Kahlil Gibran. You may need to research a lot to get one golden line, but the effort is well worth it. The mind, in stretching to new, higher ideas, releases all old congestion, all old staleness, and allows fresh, healing energies to frolic inside you in sweet soothing innocence.

CHOOSE TO LOVE

Stretch your intelligence. Think. Are there any issues to be resolved for you to heal? Healers feel that lack of love creates disharmony at a deep cellular level. Some examples of how emotions create illnesses:

Stiff joints: Resentment at being left alone.

Stretch with: Nothing shall disturb my natural inner harmony. All is harmonious inside me. I love myself and all others. I am not al-one, I am all-one.

Asthma: Suppression.

Stretch with: I choose to breathe deeply, evenly, freely. I am free now and always to follow my path, my purpose.

Obesity: Hypersensitive about oneself. Unable to forgive.

Stretch with: I take responsibility to make my destiny, my life beautiful. I float feathers of forgiveness on the lake of my mind.

Thyroid: Feel bypassed, waiting for one's turn that never comes.

Stretch with: I am that small pebble which when thrown into the ocean creates loving ripples. I have not been overlooked. Observe: I am all over the ocean.

High blood pressure: Hostility as a defence against the fear that the whole world is against oneself.

Stretch with: I believe in myself. I rise above all obstacles and calmly observe that all is well, all is beautiful. I am worthy.

Stretch for that balance between reason and passion, action and restfulness, and feel the gladness of "I am stretched, strong, supple" ring through you.

The writer is co-author of the book `Fitness for Life'

More Stories on : Health | Fitness First

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Delivery service

Stretch!

Unsung urban heroes

Look Ma, no career break

Frozen fortress

Caught mapping!