Mind and Emotion

Building the Nervous System

The nervous system is the wiring through which prana moves. Build it strong and the body becomes a clean channel, the brain comes online through the fingertips, the lymph clears, the spine sets into alignment, and the mind is washed. This kriya tunes the instrument so the current can run without resistance. Work it with grit and you give the body endurance and the spine the strength to hold under shock.

Pose 1

1. Sit in Easy Pose with the arms straight out to the sides

Sit in Easy Pose. Stretch the arms straight out to the sides, palms facing up. Open and close the hands, moving only the four fingers and never the thumbs. Begin Breath of Fire. Inhale as the hands close, exhale as the hands open. Keep the movement of the hands locked to the powerful breath, rhythmic, for 4 minutes. Then keep the same movement going with the palms facing down for 1 minute more. This works on the brain. The brain's control system sits in the fingertips.

Breath: Breath of Fire
Time: 4 minutes

Pose 2

2. ln Easy Pose extend the arms straight out to the sides and parallel to the ground.

In Easy Pose, extend the arms straight out to the sides, parallel to the ground. Tuck the thumbs inside the hands and close the hands into fists. Cross the arms alternately in front of and behind the head, returning to the original out-to-the-sides position between each crossing. Keep the movement locked to powerful breathing, rhythmic, for 4 minutes. This works on the lymph nodes and removes calcium deposits from the shoulder area.

Time: 4 minutes
Benefits: This exercise works in the lymph nodes end removes calcium deposits from the shoulder area.

Pose 3

3. Remain sitting and extend the legs and arms straight out in front of you

Stay seated and extend the legs and arms straight out in front of you, hands parallel to the floor, thumbs locked together. Keep the head up, the spine straight, no bend in the elbows or the knees. Stretch forward as you exhale, return upright as you inhale. Continue with fast, powerful breathing for 4 minutes. This works on bringing the body into proper alignment.

Time: 4 minutes
Benefits: This exercise works on putting the body into proper alignment.

Pose 4

4. Sit with the legs stretched out in front of you.

Sit with the legs stretched out in front of you. Place the palms on your temples, fingers held together, thumbs separate, hands pointing toward the back of the head. Twist the whole upper body from left to right. Breathe powerfully, inhaling left and exhaling right, for 2 minutes. This removes calcium deposit from the shoulders and neck. You may feel pain in the armpits, where the balance of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems is adjusted.

Time: 2 minutes

Pose 5

5. Remain sitting with the legs stretched out in front of you.

Stay seated with the legs stretched out in front of you. Come into Yoga Mudra: interlace the fingers in Venus Lock behind the back, elbows straight. Inhale in 4 parts as you bend forward, raising the arms up as high as possible. Exhale in one breath as you return upright. Keep the movement locked to the breath, rhythmic, for 2 minutes. This gives endurance and grit.

Time: 2 minutes
Benefits: This exercise gives endurance and grit.

Pose 6

. Stand up with the hands locked behind you in Venus Lock

Stand up with the hands locked behind you in Venus Lock as before. Lower yourself down as though sitting in a chair of standard height and hold there. Inhale in 4 counts and bend forward, raising the arms up behind you. Exhale in one breath and return to the original upright sitting position. Keep the movement locked to the breath, rhythmic, for 2 minutes. This works on the knees.

Time: 2 minutes
Benefits: This exercise works on the knees.

Pose 7

7. Sit down with the left leg stretched out straight in front of you.

Sit down with the left leg stretched out straight in front of you. Press the sole of the right foot firmly against the inside of the left thigh, so the heel creates a closure in front of the genital area. Reach forward and catch the left toe or foot, whichever is more comfortable. Pull the neck back and bend forward as you exhale. Inhale and come up. Continue with powerful breathing for 3 minutes. Then change legs and continue for 3 minutes more. This is for the spine. The closure, the gate the heel creates in front of the genital area, lets the body remove its toxins and heal itself.

Time: 3 minutes

Pose 8

8. Sit in Easy Pose.

Sit in Easy Pose. Fold the arms right over left, hands grasping the biceps. Rock forward slightly and bounce up and down on the buttocks like a Mexican jumping bean. Jump hard and breathe powerfully. Continue rhythmically for 4 minutes. This breaks up deposits and unwanted fats in the body. It stimulates the circulation and builds strength in the spine to resist injury in case of trauma.

Time: 4 minutes

Pose 9

9. Remain sitting in Easy Pose with the hands folded at the chest in Prayer Mudra.

Stay seated in Easy Pose with the hands folded at the chest in Prayer Mudra. Chant aloud with a long devotional mantra, copying the sound exactly. Continue for 15 minutes. If such a recording is not available, breathe long and gently for 7 to 11 minutes. This works on cleansing the mind.

Time: 15 minutes
Benefits: This exercise works on cleansing the mind.