Yoga for Diabetes

Yoga and Nature Cure to Diabetes

Diabetes is supposed to be a lifelong disorder as allopathic medical therapy. But
don’t be tense, or disappointed. Be hopeful and act wisely to cope with it. It is not
only controllable but also curable if you go through some regulation of lifestyle, diet
and thinking.

What exactly is diabetes?

It is a disorder of digestive system, which can be controlled by changes in life style,
regular practice of yoga and diet regulations. It is considered to be a disease of the
people who have no place for physical exercise or physical labor. In this disease
amount of insulin produced by pancreas is reduced quantitatively, which results in
the increase of sugar in blood and excess sugar eliminates outside through urine.

There are beta cells in pancreas to secrets, which are the key to absorb glucose
(commonly called sugar) by cell to produce energy for body function. Beta cells need
nutrition to function properly. Lack of nutrition supply to beta cells of pancreas cause
lack of insulin production. Lack of insulin causes less absorption of glucose by the
cells so that extra glucose remain in blood that flows all over the body with
damaging effects on vital organ. Categorically there might be two reason of lower
supply of nutrition to pancreatic beta cell: First you may not be taking proper
nutrition second the digestive system is unable to supply nutrition to pancreas. Diet
regulation will definitely give you solution if you are not taking proper nutrition. If
there is second reason then we need to go through the process of cleansing and
activation followed by re-generation process. Be sure it is possible now.

Cause: The cause of diabetes is better to understand in common language for larger
benefits. Lack of physical labor; severe pressure of mental work and stress.
Unnatural ways of living, irregular and faulty diet patterns are among the root causes
of this disease. Heavy and regular use of fat and sugar products makes the digestive
system weak and disturbs the process of metabolism on the body causing not only
diabetes but also much more disasters. It is also believed as a heredity disease,
which used to appear in old age but nowadays it is common among young
generation. A major factor responsible for this is badly changed life style.

Treatment: While treating diabetes it should be kept in mind that the patient is
made to do adequate physical labor, his diet is controlled, he is kept free from
stress, his digestive system is tackled to work properly and diabetic complications
are also controlled. The diseases i.e. retinopathy, neuropathy, kidney disorder, etc.
are considered as the complications of diabetes.

Yogic and naturopathic treatment of diabetes: -

1. Pranayama: Pranayama should be done early in the morning after being fresh on
empty stomach while sitting in comfortable position with spine and neck erect.
• Bhastrika: -Deep breathing exercise for 2-5 min with positive autosuggestion that
the body is being healed.

• Kapalbhati: - Exhalation of breath by force at the same time contracting

abdominal area. At the same time one should feel the increased flow of blood
circulation, detoxification and vitalization of the body along with activation of vital
organs viz. kidney, small intestine, large intestine, prostate gland, liver, gal bladder,
pancreases, spleen and lungs etc. Practice it for 15 min.

• Bahiya: - Take deep breath exhale it slowly removing all the air out and practice
three lock called Uddiyan Bandha (abdominal lock), Jalandhar bandha (neck lock)
and mul bandha (anus lock).Uddiyan bandha is bone by contracting abdominal
muscle pulling them into ribs while exhaling and hold breath. Jalandhar bandha is
done by locking neck by pressing with chin after uddiyan bandha. Mul bandha is
done by pulling the anus muscle and hold as more as possible. When you feel that
you need to inhale then slowly open neck lock then abdominal lock along with
inhalation and finally open anus lock. Practice it thrice.

• Anulom vilom (Alternate breathing): - Lock your right nostril with right thumb
then inhale through left nostril, lock left nostril with middle and ring fingers of the
same hand and then open right nostril by removing the thumb. Exhale through right
and again inhale through right, exhale through left and again inhale through the
same by exhaling through right. In this way do it for 15 minutes. You may take rest
in between by changing another kriya.

• Bhramari: - Close your ears with thumbs and eyes with middle, ring and small
fingers while putting index finger on fore head. Close your mouth and inhale through
nostril and chant OM with bee sound inside by listening to the effect of vibration
within. Do it for 5-11 times.
2. Asanas:
• Mandukasana: sit in comfortable position and put your left palm on your navel
and right over it then exhale forcefully by removing all air out and bend forward
while looking upward. Do it for 15 times.

• Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): - Lie down on stomach and put your palm on the
ground under shoulder. Lift your body while inhaling up to navel with arm making
the position of the body like snake. Come to the ground while exhaling; touch your
chin first to ground then nose and finally forehead. Repeat it for 5 times.
• Paschimotasana (forward seated bend): This asana is good for those suffering from
diabetes. It is known to stimulate the functioning of the internal organs like liver,
pancreas and kidney.

Steps
• Sit on a yoga mat in a comfortable position with legs outstretched in front.

• Bend your head to touch your knees and exhale completely.

• Grasp the toes with your fingers. Maintain this position for a few breaths and
inhale when you return to the original position.

• Repeat this asana 2-3 times.

• Mayurasana-The peacock pose: This asana tones up the internal organs like the liver,
pancreas and kidney. It also helps to cure stomach disorders, which improves digestion.
 Steps
1. Lie on your abdomen.

2. With the support of the palms on the floor, lift the whole body above the ground.
The body remains parallel to the ground

Note: This asana may appear daunting to a beginner, but with guidance from a yoga
expert and regular practice, the asana becomes child's play.
• Shalabhasana- The Locust: This asana helps to cure acidity. It is also known to
relieve nervous tension and indigestion.

Steps
1. Lie on the floor with the abdomen touching the mat.

2. Rest your chin on the floor with arms at the sides. The heels and toes must be held
together.

3. Inhale and lift both the legs above the floor. While lifting the legs, pressure must
be applied on the fists.

4. Maintain this position for a few seconds and come back to the original position.

5. Relax and feel the stretch on the muscles of the back.

Note: Always use a yoga mat for sitting postures.

• Half Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana): The Spinal Twist Yoga Pose, which takes
its Sanskrit name from the great Yogic Sage Matsyendra, is one of the few Yoga Poses in the
basic session that rotates the spine. Most bend the spinal column either backward or forward,
but to become truly flexible it must be twisted laterally as well. The movement also tones
the spinal nerves and ligaments, and improves digestion. Keep your spine erect and your
shoulders leveled in the position. Breathe steadily. Twist a little more each time you exhale.
Twist first to the left, as below and then repeat the sequence twisting to the right.
Steps
1: Kneel and sit on your feet with your heels pointing outward.
2: Then sit to the right of your feet, as illustrated.
3: Lift your left leg over your right, placing the foot against the outside of the right knee. Bring
your right heel in close to your buttocks. Keep the spine erect.
4: Stretch your arms out to the sides at shoulder level, and twist around to the left.
5: Now bring the right arm down on the outside of the left knee and hold your left foot with
your right hand, placing your left hand on the floor behind you. As you exhale, twist as far as
possible to the left. Look over the left shoulder.
3. Sat karmas:
• Kunjal: - Drink 4-6 glass of lukewarm water with small pinch of salt with tear like
test on empty stomach. Bend your body, Put your three fingers into mouth and move
it all the water comes out with vomiting taking toxic matter and activating internal
organs. It is best to cure cold, cough, and sinus as well to increase memory power.

• Nauli: - In standing position exhale breath and slightly bend forward while putting
your palm of both knees. Try to rotate your abdomen while pressing right and left
side.
4. Contemplation Meditation with autosuggestion of healing experience.
5. Brisk walking (Jogging) for 15-30 min.
6. Diet Therapy for diabetes:
the diet of a diabetic patient is of utmost importance. The age of patient as well as
weight, occupation and type of diabetes must be kept in mind for the diet
prescription. The patient, whose weight is reduced, requires some more calories than
other diabetic patients and the patients having above normal weight should take
food of fewer calories so that their fat could be reduced. Diabetes patients may
maintain their strength by taking curd as a part of their food.

Daily diet schedule for a diabetic patient:

Morning: A cup of bitter guard juice or sprouted methi or one teaspoon of its
powder.

Breakfast: Skimmed milk or Amritahar-sprouted grain, moong, methi + amala

Lunch: Rice, Indian Bread(chapatti)(mixed with wheat (75%) gm 15%, soyabean

9% and methi 1%) plenty of vegetables, salads, moong dal and curd.

Evening: Vegetable soup or one glass of milk.

Dinner: As in lunch but use of curd is not advisable in night.

Foods beneficial in diabetes:

Soybean, Cucumber, garlic, Lauki, Bitter guard, Spinach, Bethu, Fenugreek, Amala,
Jamun, Bel, Moong Soup, Jau, Kodo, Maiz, Chana, Bitter vegetables prepared in
mustard oil, Til, Parval, Dates, Water melon.

Food to avoid by diabetic:

All the sweet products, vanaspati ghee, too sweet fruits, fine flour (Maida) and its
product, preserved and packed food products, smoking, chewing of jarda, gutkha,
consumption of alcohol is completely prohibited for diabetic patients.

What does Curd (Yoghurt) do?

There is good news for diabetes eating home made curd (two small bowls a day) is
good for you. It slows down the progression of diabetes, lowers bad cholesterol and
raises good cholesterol. The findings of the study conducted by the NHD Research
Institute (India) are reported in the International journal nutrition. The study
examined the effect of bacteria found in home made yoghurt made from skimmed
cow or buffalo milk on blood glucose, insulin, lipid levels and liver glycogen. The
results confirmed that the bacteria contained in curd could bring about a delaying
effect on the progress of diabetes induced by high fructose administration.
The study also prevail that a curd supplement diet delayed the onset of glucose
intolerance, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulineminia and dyspidemia in diabetic. It also
reduces the risk of diabetes. At last but not the least regular long walks are highly
beneficial for diabetic patients