Exercise - What we need to know
To look back on evolution theory what differentiated ape and a human is the structural change.
Starting with the movement of Mandible (lower jaw)and extending this is different abilities and derived from different structural alignment which has roots in genetics and habits.
It can be achieved only internally with the help of the brain - an all-powerful repository of information both genetic and acquired, and tapping it is the only solution.
Now given the origin of the structure from a single molecule also confirms that there can be only one way to structurally align which can tap the brain to undertake the repair as well as progress.
To reiterate again...
The human system is an integrated structure and only one posture can unite all joints to bring in harmonious function. To tap it we need to correct the skeletal system which is the base for all other systems ..
Present hatha yoga system deals part by part and is not suited for human structural arrangement. Can be proved. scientifically. We find many debates because of injury and many dropouts. Hatha yoga success comes more from meditation and not from presently practiced postures.
The skeletal system forms the base for all the functions. Skeletal joints form the core of activity. What needs to be done is to align the skeletal system through aligning the principal joints from Skull Joint, Shoulder blade joint, Hip joint, Knee Joint, and Ankle Joint to coordinate all our internal systems functions.
Now all the present systems are oriented towards using the muscular system which runs in all directions thus giving to many formats and forms of posture, Be it Hatha Yoga or other flexibility exercises. Gym too relies only on muscle mass as strength and while achieving it harming skeletal system
Skeletal joints and its directions
Five principal joints and their directions.
Skull joint
Is directed upwards. i.e., the only movable part is the mandible.-lower jaw is joined to the skull upwards and stretching and strengthening of the skull is lifting the chin upwards against the gravity and looking at the sky or ceiling.
Any exercise which does not fall in line results in misalignment of the skull with the vertebral column.
An example of a wrongly designed popular asana is Sirasasana. The Neckbone region does not have the surface area to bear the weight of the entire body. Practicing this asana for any practitioner will only bring in great harm.
In day-to-day life, when we recline or while lying in bed using pillows, compresses the mandible and results in respiratory problems.
We restrict the flow of air to the brain because of this compression and sleep more and finally we get up tired.
Shoulder blades ...
...are attached to the rib cage and its direction is understood more when we keep the palms facing downwards when stretching forward.
Twisting in any other direction without stretching arms with palm downside activity will result in shoulder dislocation.
Most of the cricket bowlers, tennis players, and anyone who twist with palms upwards without twisting palm facing the ground and even sleeping like it will result in shoulder pain and extending to dislocation when twisted beyond the angle. Even hanging with palm facing ourselves will result in shoulder dislocation.
3. Hip Joint (pelvic girdle)
It is Semi-Circle in shape i.e., bones converge and muscles are rotatory in this joint. Major bone junction with bone mass introducing convergence and divergence in appendicular skeletal structure.
Hence only sitting with folded legs without leaning is the only suitable exercise for this joint. and everything else is abuse.
In day-to-day life, we sit in a chair with lower limbs of the legs hanging and hence we get pain in the knee joint. Post this misalignment, when we undertake other activities it percolates to other joints - to back and neck. Origin of the neck, back, and knee pain is sitting in a chair for a long time. Prolonged sitting brings in permanent damage.
Not even Padmasana is helpful when it twists the legs below the knee and is not warranted.
4. Knee joint.
The femur or thigh bone is converging from the hip to the knee. Hence what applies to the hip applies to the joint.
Irony even walking which is an absolute necessity is abused and gets aligned only with just sitting with folded legs without leaning. i.e., when we walk more we get pain everywhere.
Marathon walkers - if you observe - will walk only in a straight line.
5. Ankle joint.
The direction of the bone from knee to ankle moves outwards. This results in pain even when we walk. i.e., skeletal joint from hip to knee is converging while knee to ankle is diverging in direction.
So when we walk first we diverge and when we do it extensively without sitting with folded legs we misdirect the bone from hip to knee and along with it the muscles. This is the root cause of knee pain to sportsmen, runners, and anybody who uses legs more be it for even walking or standing.
The only remedy is to sit with folded legs without leaning on anything.
If we do not align our exercise with skeletal direction as above we will get only pain. Just because we can stretch more at a few joints we should not, especially in skull and shoulder blade joints which have a profound effect on the central nervous system.
We can change our routines into Exercise if we design our activity based on the skeletal joints.
Pain is the biggest problem facing us. Pain is also an input that says something is wrong.
Pain killer drugs is the biggest harm and we should never have it.
Right Postures stretch and strengthen muscles,
improve blood circulation, respiration, and ultimately improve immunity.
1. Sitting
Sitting straight without leaning with folded legs is a very very good position for the hip and back.
Reclined postures in a chair compress the back muscles and wrongly positioned hip and thigh results in pain of neck, back and knee.
Students must only sit on the floor at home and in the Centre to improve the Central Nervous system and memory power.
Working people when sitting in a chair if they try to sit with at least one leg folded below the thigh, will reduce the stress in the back hip and thigh muscles and will reduce knee pain.
No surface can exactly match the shape of the vertebral column to recline as each individual anatomy is different and hence it is wise not to lean.
The worst practice adopted by humans practiced in the west and now everywhere. In the east sitting on the floor is a common practice that is now dwindling. Even children get knee pain and twist the legs wrongly because of constant sitting in chair. This practice is everywhere and is the root cause for many of the ills faced.
2. Walking
We all walk with leg muscles diverging from the Hip ie first we position one foot at an acute angle and the other leg in an obtuse angle. i.e., criss-cross which drags the muscles from knee to ankle diverging which is normal but muscles from hip to knee should converge.
When the foot diverges along with it dragging muscles from hip to knee which should converge results in great stress to the muscles from hip to knee.
This is the cause of knee and back pain.
The only remedy is to walk in a straight line which diverges knee to ankle muscles and converges hip to knee muscles.
At least 20 min at home in the morning and before going to bed will be good preventive exercise.
3. Standing.
We stand most of the time with legs apart in a criss-cross manner. This strains all the muscles from neck to ankle ..
Standing with legs together ie feet together align the muscles and gives less strain.
If standing for a Long time periodically bending to the extent with knees touching each other will be a great pain reliever from back to knee .
4. Sleeping,
We sleep using pillows that bends the neck
The lower jaw which is the only moving part in the skull should be stretched and made to look upwards which is the natural position and all else is a strain.
When our neck is bent, it compresses neck muscles and results in respiratory issues. We sleep more and still get up tired. Eight hours of abuse of the neck region affects blood flow to the brain.
Sleeping flat without pillows is the only remedy allowing natural position.
Sleeping posture with stretched legs is not good for the vertebral column but we have no choice as sleeping with folded legs with flat back needs a great practice. But even for few minutes before and after sleep Will give great relief.
Asanas, Aerobics....
Asanas do not consider the alignment of the skeletal framework. It works on the stretching ability of muscles and is directed in all directions. That is, in asanas we have twisting, bending, stretching of arms and legs in all directions without considering the directions of the joints.
Aerobic exercises also cause the same harm excepting the burning of calories.
Fitness Centres and tools help only to build muscles mass which restricts bone and joint movements and not flexibility.
We need an exercise that aligns the skeletal joints, strengthens muscles, improves neural connectivity, and integrates and exercises all muscles and joints from head to toe.
There is only one posture Elixir -Only One Exercise.
Simple and Easy to do by one and all.