Yoga in the Times of COVID-19

Slow down, you’re moving too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da-da da-da da-da, feeling groovy   

–The 59^th Street Bridge Song (Simon and Garfunkel) 

Meeting deadlines after deadlines, we were all looking forward to slow down, and make the morning last. Alas! COVID-19 did it for us in a way that we never wanted. First, it slowed us down, and then, it did the unthinkable­­­­– brought us to a standstill.

 This stillness is heart breaking. Our hearts writhe in pain, as each passing day, we silently mourn the loss of our fellow-beings. This eriee stillness is also isolating and maddening, yet, we have no option other than to play by the rules, if we are to win the war against this deadly virus.

Losing one’s fellow beings, not getting a chance to say the final good-byes, waiting anxiously for the pandemic to end…if you let your mind to rule you, it will just take over with no end in sight. Unprecedented times like these call for unprecedented mental strength and wisdom.The numbers could be disheartening, our spirits should never be. What I mean here is that we should be careful that by the time this is over, secondary illnesses including depression, anxiety, etc which are waiting in hind sight to spread their deadly tentacles do not set off another life-draining cycle.

Yoga is India’s invaluable inheritance, when it comes to balancing and harmonising our body, mind and emotions. One such calming asana is the Shashankasana. It can be easily practiced by anyone.

Pregnant women, and those suffering from high blood pressure, slipped disc, or vertigo should refrain from practicing this asana. Regular practice of 3 to 5 rounds of this asana does wonders for our general health and well-being. I am listing down the sequence below:

• Sit in vajrasana, and gently place your palms on the thighs.
• Keep your head and spine as straight as possible.
• Drawing a deep breath, raise the arms above the head, keeping them straight, and shoulder-width apart.

• Exhale while bending the trunk forward from the hips, keeping the arms and head straight and in line with the trunk.
• At the end of the movement, the hands and forehead should rest on the floor in front of the knees.
• If possible, the arms and forehead should touch the floor at the same time.
• Bend the arms slightly so that they are fully relaxed and let the elbows rest on the floor.
• Retain the breath for up to 5 seconds in the final position.

• Then, simultaneously inale and slowly raise the arma and trunk to the vertical position. Keep the arms and head in line with the trunk.
• Breathe out while lowering the arms to the knees.
• This completes one round.
• Practice 3 to 5 rounds.

(Courtesy: My Yoga Guru, Bihar School of Yoga)