Now, where does the air go?

[Guest guest]

Hi List-

 

I am hoping someone can help me answer a questions about

how to do a K-yoga exercise called "Vatskar Dhouti".

It is included by a 3HO German author in a set

having to do with the digestive system.

 

Here is the description as translated by me (be scared)

from the German.

 

"Sit in easy position, hands on the knees.

Breathe in, out, in, and drink the air in little sips

into your stomach.

 

With retained breath, circle the stomach first in one, then the

other direction. Then breathe out, in, out, and repeat this cycle

twice more."

 

Text ends with a caution to do this no more than twice a day.

 

Okay, my question. Where does the air go? Am I "swallowing"

the sips of air into the lowest parts of the lungs in the belly, or am I

really

swallowing air into my stomach?

 

This particular set was taught in my class last night, and I think

a student asked the exact same question I am now asking, and

I think the instructor clarified the matter, but she did so

in rapid colloquial German, and I had not a chance to grasp it.

 

I thought perhaps if I heard eruptions of burps from

my classmates, that would resolve the mystery for me (even if it didn't

clear the air), but then, I was in a all-women's class and women

are fairly good at burping on the sly, not that they

always choose to do so, and I actually only heard one wee

belch, which could be explained simply by all the belly rolling.

 

Thank you for any help-

 

Ardas

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam Ardas!

The Vatskar kriya is included in a series of elimination (Apana)

exercises at p. 72 of Relax and Renew by Gururattan.

If you don't have the book, this is what it says:

" Sir in Easy Pose with hands on the knees. Make a beak of the mouth

and "drink" as much air as you can into the stomach, using short,

continuous sips, as if you were swallowing. Pull in and hold, applying

neck lock. Roll the stomach to the left until the breath has been held

for half its maximum time, then reverse directions and continue for as

long as possible. When the breath cannot be held any longer, straighten

the spine and exhale slowly (not powerfully) through the nose. Repeat

the exercise 2 more times. Always do this on an EMPTY STOMACH, and NOT

MORE THAN TWICE a day. Adjusts acid.base balance in the stomach but it

must be done regularly without missing a single day.

Good luck!

Blessings, Sat Sarbat Kaur