Spine and Nervous System

Balancing Head and Heart

There is a place where the cold clarity of the mind and the warm certainty of the heart stop fighting each other and start working as one current. This kriya goes straight for that union. It works on the brain itself, altering the chemistry of the fluid that bathes it, so the head no longer rules the heart and the heart no longer drowns the head. Practice it and you balance the two thrones inside you.

Pose 1

Sit in Easy Pose. Extend the arms straight out to the sides from the shoulders, bend the hands up at the wrists to a 90 degree angle, palms facing out, fingers held together. The movement has 4 parts and begins in the starting position, call it A. On count 2, rotate the hands at the wrists so the fingers point straight forward, position B. On count 3, return to the original position A. On count 4, rotate the wrists so the fingers point straight backward, position C. Let the elbows rotate with the motion. Move in a steady rhythm of one full cycle every 4 seconds. Keep the arms straight throughout and continue for 6-7 minutes, inhaling in position A, exhaling in positions B and C. This changes

Time: 4 seconds
Benefits: This exercise changes the chemistry of the brain fluid.

Pose 2

Stay in Easy Pose. Extend the arms straight out to the sides, palms facing out, position A. Inhale as you raise the arms up into an arc so the palms cross over and slightly in front of the top of the head without touching, position B. Exhale as you lower the arms back to the original position A. Inhale and raise the arms again, this time crossing the palms over and slightly behind the top of the head, position C. Keep the motion powerful, and whenever you return to position A keep the arms parallel to the floor. Continue for 1-2 minutes. Then stand up and add Crow squats to this arm movement.

Time: 1-2 minutes

Pose 3

As you exhale, drop down into Crow Pose, a crouch with the knees drawn into the chest and the soles of the feet flat on the floor, position A. As you inhale, bring the arms up over the head and rise into a standing position. Keep alternating, squatting down into Crow Pose and standing back up with the arm movement, for 3-4 minutes at a speed of 1 second per movement.

Time: 3-4 minutes