Benefits of yoga: Kriya for the stomach

By Yogi Ashwini Ji of Dhyan Foundation

Benefits of yoga: Kriya for the stomach

Kriya is a physical action. In Yog it is referred to as an action which is directed towards a complete being, towards attaining a balance. When an imbalance occurs in the body a specific energy is required to bring the body in balance.

With the help of a kriya we force a balance in an imbalanced state. We give you here the kriya for the stomach - since elimination is one of the most important activities of the body for removing the waste or toxins (called ama as per Ayurveda) or the congestion in the body.

GHERANDA AMHITA:

Nabhi granthim meruprsthe satavaram ca karayete agnisaram iyam dhautir yoginam yogasiddhida

Udaryam amayam tyaktva jatharagnim vivardhayet.

( Press in the navel knot or intestines towards the spine 100 times. This is Agnisaar or fire or the essence of fire. It gives success in the practice of Yog, cures all the diseases of the stomach and increases the internal fire).

In our bodies faulty elimination of waste matter is the primary cause of disease. This waste, if not eliminated at the right time, causes congestion, thereby creating an imbalance in the system, which manifests itself in the form of a disease.

Here it is important to realise that the maximum imbalance starts due to congestion in the stomach. The kriya recommended for correcting this congestion or imbalance in the stomach is the Agnisaar Kriya, which rekindles the digestive fire thereby aiding in smooth elimination of waste, which further results in decongesting the stomach and bringing about a balance.

Agnisaar Kriya:

Sit in Sidhha asana with your back absolutely straight. Hold your knees with your palms as shown in the figure. Then slowly exhaling completely make a chin lock doing Jalandhar Bandha (slowly push your chin down towards the throat pit forming a lock without putting pressure on the nape and without curving the spine). Then holding this position and your breath, move your stomach in and out 5 times; then slowly inhale releasing the Bandha. Gradually, depending on your comfort level, you may increase this to 14 times.

Caution: The kriya should always be done on an empty stomach.

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See also: Benefits of yoga, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)