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Each and every asana has its own specific effect on the body.
Bhujangasana,
for example,
is good for the liver and spine;
sarvangasana is good for the thyroid and the abdomen; halasana
together with paschimottanasana influences the pancreatic glands;
garudasana is good for strengthening the ligaments of the whole
body. There are certain asanas which improve eye sight,
others
improve digestive power,
and there are those which improve
memory. Some asanas increase height and weight and others bring
control into the mind. This control of mind is most important for
students because without it they cannot study properly. And when
they cannot study properly,
they have to do some dishonest
business during examinations.
Practice of pranayama
Then you should learn how to stop your breath. After inhalation,
hold your breath for five seconds; if this is not possible,
then hold it
for three seconds. Stopping the breath for this short period of time
is very useful for the improvement of intelligence and memory. If
the breath can be easily held for longer periods then so much the
better,
but there should be no strain.
Yogic practices to concentrate the mind are also very essential for
children and students. Concentration is of two types: on one point
and on a series of objects. For the second type you should sit down
quietly with eyes closed and remember a number of items,
which
you should know by heart,
and try to visualise them. You can
visualise anything,
whether a banana leaf,
an apple,
the rising sun,
the half moon,
tidal waves and so forth according to your choice.
However it is much better to select things from nature which are
soothing to your mind like the sky,
the stars,
flowers,
fruits,
birds
and animals,
and not such things as a motor car,
a factory or an
engine. Choose as many things as you wish; ten,
then twenty,
then
thirty and then forty. You can go up to one hundred items.
Quality of mind
How did Swami Vivekananda do it? There are two ways: one is
through the mind and the other is through what we call intuition.
The first method utilises the lower mind: you read all your lessons
and try to understand and remember them. The second method
requires that you look at the reading matter and mentally
photograph it. This is only possible when you are able to
concentrate and meditate.