'Sudarshan Kriya' is an ancient but potent
breathing technique, reintroduced to the society, by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
through Vyakti Vikas Kendra in 1982.
This includes two simple yoga techniques -- Pranayama and
Poornayoga. Pranayama is a technique to govern the breathing process and
Poornayoga includes practise of simple yoga postures.
Sumana Kamath of Vyakti Vikas Kendra, Mangalore Information
Centre, says the practice of these two techniques known as 'Sudarshan Kriya experience',
brings about rejuvenation of mind and body, balance of mind and thought and
emotional intelligence.
Kamath points out that breathing is normally an unconscious
process. Through the practice of Pranayama, a person will learn to consciously
govern the breath to bring harmony into the body, mind and spirit.
She says that human existence can be broadly divided into
three categories -- thinking, feeling and being conscious. The common link
between all these activity is 'attention or awareness'. "But our attention
either remains at one place in the case of continuous concentration or it moves
between various places. Longer attention in one particular part of the body,
helps build up stress in that part. This leads to physical malfunction and
irregular breathing". Kamath adds that Sudarshan Kriya normalises
breathing by concentrating on breathing systematically.
Explaining the process of practising Sudarshan Kriya, Kamath
said first the eyes have to be shut to cut off external stimuli so that one
concentrates on him/herself. Then shift to 'Vajrasana' position which
straightens the spinal cord and makes the movement of attention between the
brain and spinal cord hindrance free. It also helps in breath freely.
The three positions of Pranayama, which incrementally takes
arms from down to up, physically engages muscles in the neck and shoulders,
thereby relieving pressure built-up in them due to stress.
The 'Ujjai' breathing technique concentrates attention in
the spinal cord, which controls breathing in normal circumstances also. In
'Bhastrika' position, breathing out forcefully, the respiratory tract gets
purified and expands.
The final stage of sudarshan kriya technique is 'Sukasana' position which
involves rhythmic inhalations and exhalations of long, medium and short
duration.
Kamath said that it takes only about 30 to 45 minutes to do the short Sudarshan Kriya. It can be practiced at any time during the day, except when stomach is full. Spending some time doing the kriya away from one's busy schedule, is a great stress reliever. Coupled with light physical exercises, its benefits are manifold.
