Mahamudra - Stretching is most important for Heart health

Summary

December 7, 2018, 13 min

Trunk stretching for heart health, drawing on a study that tied trunk flexibility to elastic arteries. Explains how arteries and veins squeeze and release blood, then demonstrates a variation of Lahiri Mahasaya's Mahamudra: a forward bend over each leg and both legs with the breath held and the head curled toward the knee.

In this video

Teaches

StretchingMahamudra

Mentions

Lahiri MahasayaFive Breath States

Key moments

00:00Stretching as the best exercise for the heart 00:31Japanese study: touching the toes shows trunk flexibility 00:47Why the arteries and veins need a flexible trunk 03:26Muscles must squeeze and let go; calcium and magnesium 04:21Strength and cardio don't change artery elasticity; stretching does 05:13The one stretch for a busy householder 06:04Demonstration: left leg, right leg, both legs with breath held 07:35How the stretch reaches the lungs, arteries and nerves 08:55Three sets twice a day; Lahiri Mahasaya's 50 sets 11:02Two takeaways: hold the breath, curl the head toward the knee 12:01Surging forward, peace, and the five breath states