= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Art Of Living News Letter = June 17^th, 2009

<= span style=3D'mso-bookmark:"LETTER\.BLOCK16"'>Yoga: The Science of Being

<= span style=3D'mso-bookmark:"LETTER\.BLOCK16"'><= strong>Ka= palbhati <= span class=3DSpellE>Kriya: A Powerful Detox to Bring Enthusiasm in Living

Kapalb= hati is a powerful breathing technique that is proven to help overcome blues, negativity, st= ress and depression - in a matter of minutes!

The Sanskrit words "Kapal" means the skull and "bhati&quo= t; means polishing or shining. "Kapalbha= ti", as the name suggests, is a method to make the head "sparkl= ing clean" and devoid of toxins.

Benefi= ts of Kapalbhati

It improves the blood circulation, respiration and the capacity of the lungs. It can even cure respiratory diseases like bronchit= is and asthma.
Kapalbhati can improve digestion and can cure stomach-related diseases like flatulence and indigestion. This exercise can also help to treat diabetes.
Kapalbhati can burn abdom= inal fat resources and help you lose weight. It is said to tone= up the muscles of the abdomen.
Kapalbhati can soothe the mind and help you to purge negative feelings like anger, jealousy, and hatred. So, this breathing exercise can help= you attain emotional balance and increase the level of energy.=
If you want to become energetic, healthy and refreshed, then Kapalbhati is good for you.

The Method<= br> Sit in a comfortable position with spine erect. = You can sit either cross-legged pose or in Vaj= rasana. Breathe normally for about a minute. Once composed, you can beg= in. First, exercise the diaphragm by exhaling suddenly and quickly through both nostrils, producing a "puffing" sound. D= on't focus on inhalation. It will be automatic and passive.

The air is exhaled completely from the lungs with a sudden, vigorous stroke while simultaneously drawing inwards the abdomi= nal muscles. The breath should be expelled fully. Inhaling is autom= atic - the abdominal muscles will relax automatically. This exercise should be done in three rounds, each consisting of 20 to 50 strokes.
A little rest can be taken in between the rounds at your convenience. Throughout the exercise, the chest should be kept still without expansion or contraction. Only the diaphragm is u= sed for breathing and not the upper chest.

Over a month, the number of strokes per minute can be gradually increased from 11 to about 30.

For maximum benefit, do the practice regularly, twice a day. Th= is technique should be done on an empty stomach or at least 2 hour= s after eating.

= Who Should Not Do It?
If you= 're suffering from cardiac problems, nasal obstruction, cold any severe respiratory infection, it = is advisable to consult your physician. It should also be avoided = if you suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes or abdominal ulce= rs.

<= span style=3D'mso-bookmark:"LETTER\.BLOCK17"'>Knowledge Section

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

A story is told a l= ong time ago, a King called upon all of his wise men and asked them, "Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstance, in every place and in every t= ime. Something which can help me when none of you are available= to advise me?" All wise men got puzzled by the King's question. One answer for all questions? They thought and thought.

After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them. They went to the king and gave him something written on paper. But the condition was that king can read it only in extreme danger= , when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no other way. The King put the paper under his Diamond in his ring.

After a few days, the neighbouring king attacked the Kingdom. T= he king and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. The enemies were chasing the king, when his horse took him far away in the jungle. He could hear many troops of horses followi= ng him and the noise was coming closer and closer. Suddenly the Ki= ng found himself standing at the end of= the road - that road was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it, he would= be finished and he could not return because it was a small road. T= he sound of enemy's horses was approaching fast. The king became restless and there seemed to be no way.

Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the paper and read the message. The message was very small= but very great. The message was that "This too w= ill pass." The King read it again and again. Suddenly something struck him- Yes! It too will pass. Only a few days ag= o, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. = Yet today, the Kingdom and all his pleasure have gone. I am here tr= ying to escape from enemies. However when those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. The felt relaxed. = He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place = was also a part of his Kingdom. The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forgot about those following him.
After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part = of the mountains and were not on that path. The King was able to reorganize his army and defea= t the enemy and regained his lost empire. When he returned to his empire after victory, the whole capital was rejoicing in t= he victory.

People were dancing and singing.= For a moment King said to himself," I am one of the bravest and greatest King. It is not easy to def= eat me". With all the pomp and grandeur of the celebratio= n he saw an ego emerging in him. Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He ope= ned it and read it again: "This too will pass" He became silent. His face went through a total change -from the egoist he moved to a state of utter humbleness.

If this too is going to pass, it= is not yours. The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours. = You are just a watcher. Everything passes by. We are only the witness of all this. We are the perceiver. Life comes = and goes. Just like the passing seasons, Happiness and Sorrows also change. <= /o:p>

Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life. Think of the mome= nts of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow = and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and pass away. Life j= ust passes away. There were friends in the past. They have gone. Th= ere are friends today. They too will go. There will be new friends tomorrow. They too will go. The same applies to our enemies as well.
There is no= thing permanent in this world. Everything changes except the law of change. Think over it from your own perspective. You have seen = all the changes. You have survived all setbacks and surpassed all t= he joys. If you are facing some downtimes today, remember that "this too will pass away". Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin: "opposites are complementary&q= uot;. They both will pass away.

Who are you= in reality? Know your real face. However, there is something= in you, which will not change. It will remain unchanged. What is t= hat unchangeable? It is nothing but your true self. You are just a witness of change. Experience it. Explore the spiritual dimensi= on behind this truth.