Spiritual Benefits of Yoga

[HisServant]

So recently I found out I have anterior pelvic tilt. It's a very noticeable curve in the lower back area. The main cause is usually sitting, poor posture etc. I want to fix this because it leads to occasional lower back pain. It does not lead to pain often but it will most likely get worse over time. 

I have decided I want to start yoga to correct it. Does anyone have anything in mind? I've heard yoga can help spirituality as well, so are there any types of yoga that could aid spirituality while correcting the posture problem?

 

My other question from this is what are the spiritual benefits of posture type yoga's? How do they work internally? I've had this question for a while. 

[Ragmaala]

This is a good topic and a good reminder to correct my anterior pelvic tilt too.

You will find tons of information on spiritual benefits of keeping certain postures like having an erect spine or certain mudras or asanas. Two trusted sources on youtube for me are Sadhguru and Swami Rama. I like Swami Rama better because he is a traditionalist and provides solid advice. Although he can be a bit dense to get through. Yoga Sutras by Swami Rama is highly recommended. He also was in touch with Sant Waryam Singh .

2 hours ago, HisServant said:

I've heard yoga can help spirituality as well

Also with time you will learn that Yoga is indeed spiritual only. What we see these days is a distortion of yoga.

Following is a video where Sadhguru talks about importance of keeping a straight spine. I am sure you can find the related links from youtube for you own benefit.

Here is a link for Swami Rama. This is good for learning spirituality & Yoga, as you seem to be interested in this topic.

https://www.youtube.com/user/swamiramahimalayas

All the best!

[Ragmaala]

And this is a good video that explains Anterior Pelvic Tilt and exercises that one can do stretch flexors and strengthen core & hamstrings.

 

[BhagatSingh]

Good posts!

Welcome back @Ragmaala

[Ragmaala]

5 hours ago, BhagatSingh said:

Good posts!

Welcome back @Ragmaala

Yes its good to be back with alias 'Ragmaala'. I kind of missed it so couldn't hide forever.:)

[Ragmaala]

When you do the lunges stretch even for 30s you notice an immediate effect on your sitting posture. I have tried glute bridge exercises in the past. Thanks for the reminder @HisServant  need to get back to it again :)

The following are your Hip flexors muscles. These get tight due to excessive sitting on chair as students or during work. The lunges really help stretch these and make a big difference.

[HisServant]

I need to fix my sleeping posture as well. I tend to be on my side/stomach a lot. But the bend makes sleeping on my back uncomfortable. Any way around this?

[paapiman]

@Ragmaala - Bro, can a Chiropractor fix this condition (anterior pelvic tilt)?

 

Bhul chuk maaf

[Ragmaala]

2 hours ago, paapiman said:

@Ragmaala - Bro, can a Chiropractor fix this condition (anterior pelvic tilt)?

Bhul chuk maaf

Yes.  

[HisServant]

The next thing I want to work on is being able to sit back straight with no wall. Any tips to strengthen the back so there's no pain during sadhna?

 

[Lucky]

Good topic man.

I can't stress enough about the importance of proper posture and the "no no no" about anterior pelvic tilt. You've  got to understand your body and learn to listen to it. ......Bad posture and misaligned  balance will ALWAYS lead to other physical problems. Most simple knee problems are due to knock-on effects from mistreating your own back...---> leads to unbalanced contractions in lower torso and legs --->leads to pull or push on knee ligaments --->PAIN!!! ...For eg, classic pain on the outer medial knee is most commonly due to a tight IT-band....  A few weeks ago a bajurg was in the gym and was mentioning the pain on his outer knee. After monitoring a few of his few movements and posture, my trainer was pretty sure that his IT band was tight. He demonstrated few stretches for the old baba to try .......and a week later ...Volia! .....he was cured. He couldn't believe it as he had suffered months and months with stomach problems from anti-inflammatories that his doctor was prescribing.....

I think that if we do anything that can in some way hinder our spiritual progress, then our body will try telling us with warning signs, one way or the other.  The body knows that our purpose in life is to find our own jyot....and if you start misaligning your back and making spiritual blockages, then you will suffer body symptoms due to the physical blockages caused in return.

Off the top of my head, I know that core exercises like the planks, lunges.squats whilst keeping back straight by looking straight ahead in mirror...etc.. will help with pelvic tilt. Also many stretches like downward dog, cat stretches, and even quad stretches.   It is important to push and strengthen your legs because that is the direction negative energies from your bad posture will go. I used to do a lot of cycling and I would recommend this or if you wanna do it in gym then use a spin-bike rather than the other sort.

My personal all time tip is to keep that naval slightly tense and pulled in at all times and chest out like a big palwaaan!!!  Yeh, the macho look of chest out and holding your belly flab in,.. is very very healthy and a very good protectant for your back. Did you know that you won't injure your back muscles by lifting something awkward from floor, if your navel is pulled inwards and slightly taught?

Even when sitting down to do simran, ..naval in,,chest out,  a few deep slow breaths..and go!  You wanna be able to feel all your energy travelling up and down from muldhara up to your head and back down with every breath.

There are loads more tips and ways to avoid these postural problems and I tend to just use my initiative as I go along. I recommend you don't sit too much on comfy couches and sofas where your back is not straight. A yoga ball is excellent to sit on and there are numerous exercises that you can use it for.

 

As for Yoga, I can only talk about the kundalini yoga that I have been doing for a few years. ... Yes, It does definitely help, ..and if done properly, it will help clear the mind, heighten your inner and outer awareness, strengthen and help elongate your spine, strengthen your body,teach stamina and endurance......and best of all... it can help achieve unforgettable moments of transcendent joy and spiritual ecstasy! :)  .  There is nothing better for me than to have Yoga as an art of extending my spiritual prayer and devotion into physical discipline. 

 

[CuriousSeeker]

41 minutes ago, Lucky said:

As for Yoga, I can only talk about the kundalini yoga that I have been doing for a few years. ... Yes, It does definitely help, ..and if done properly, it will help clear the mind, heighten your inner and outer awareness, strengthen and help elongate your spine, strengthen your body,teach stamina and endurance......and best of all... it can help achieve unforgettable moments of transcendent joy and spiritual ecstasy! :)  .  There is nothing better for me than to have Yoga as an art of extending my spiritual prayer and devotion into physical discipline. 

 

@Lucky

Waheguru, I've had horrible posture pretty much my whole life.  Have a forward head tilt,  can't keep my spine perfectly straight for more then a 20-30 mins,  and that's with my forward head tilt.  I've been trying to work on it and do a few stretches, but fall back into the lifetime of bad habits.  

I'm thinking of starting kundalini yoga , and am wondering how long generally do you think before I can expect results? Physically? Spirtually?  How much does the instructor make a difference? Not really sure how to go on about finding one in eastern cgy.  

Also one thing that's holding me back is currently I am out of shape, not over weight but I would maybe out of breath if sprinted a short distance,  so not sure how physically taxing it is.  

[HisServant]

Is there anywhere you can learn yoga online? Do you know anything that's good for stabilizing the mind?

 

@Lucky

[Lucky]

@CuriousSeeker@HisServant

you can try any kind of yoga that is more accessible for you. Most of the core components are the same except for the active fitness yoga workouts which are physically demanding.

There is no measurement of benefits in terms of time. It all depends on dedication and kirpa. Spiritual efforts and results NEVER depend on quantity. However, physical results do and when your physical thann starts align then the  sukham sareer will find it easier to follow

Going online to do yoga is never the same. I only noticed the physical significance of sangat energy in  yoga class environments. Everyone directs their inner energies towards the same goals and you begin to realise that you can reach heights and levels that you thought you never would!!  If you try the same thing at home in front of a screen, then it just won't happen I'm afraid.

 

22 hours ago, HisServant said:

Do you know anything that's good for stabilizing the mind?

Bhagat Kabir ji says-

ਮਨ  ਹੀ  ਮਨ  ਸਿਉ  ਕਹੈ  ਕਬੀਰਾ  ਮਨ  ਸਾ  ਮਿਲਿਆ  ਨ  ਕੋਇ  ॥੩੨॥
Man hī man si▫o kahai kabīrā man sā mili▫ā na ko▫e. ||32||
Only the mind can deal with the mind; says Kabeer, I have not met anything like the mind. ||32||

The MIND is the ONLY part of ourselves that can cure and fix itself.

All you have to do is hold it still. Practice holding it still. 

Great heights are only reached when we hold that stillness that is instigated by a hold of breath. Just think that in every sport or event where a player takes the vital shot for a goal, he holds his breath momentarily for that instant. When a basketball player leaps to dunk,... soccer player swings his leg..., snooker player takes a strike....etc..  They all hold the breath for that instant moment. This involuntary and subconscious action is us trying to 'hold' the mind. Somehow, the auto-response knows that mind will be steady and fully focused when held and holding the breath will help.

Heights are only achieved when you 'hold'. The darshan of waheguru only happens when you can 'hold' and exit thru the dasam.  Therefore, I can say that taking part in activity that involves you holding breath-mind to achieve full focus for a goal, is also going to be helping stabilize your mind.  In this regard, You realise the meditative component in sports and especially in skills like sniper target shooting where they have to be so steady prior to holding their breath at the moment of the vital shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[paapiman]

On 5/11/2016 at 10:30 AM, HisServant said:

So recently I found out I have anterior pelvic tilt. It's a very noticeable curve in the lower back area. The main cause is usually sitting, poor posture etc. I want to fix this because it leads to occasional lower back pain. It does not lead to pain often but it will most likely get worse over time. 

Bro, a chiropractor may also help you to fix your problem.

This guy is amazing.

 

Bhul chuk maaf