|
|
10 Steps to Getting What You Want
There is a well-known saying, ‘Ask and you shall receive.’ Young children often have this theory perfected to a fine art. They keep asking till they get what they want. This demonstrates our innate determination, faith and expectation. Asking for...
Chakras & Flowers
How do you connect chakras, the energy centres of the body in Eastern tradition, and flowers, pretty, ephemeral, bright, cheerful manifestations of nature?
...by way of color therapy.. yoga energy balancing techniques...meditation... and a...
Daily Rituals as a Doorway to the Higher
If you have a longing to connect with something higher, whether it be your higher self or higher powers and beings, one of the simplest ways to connect is by creating a daily ritual for yourself. Whether you meditate, do yoga, read inspirational...
Dealing with Post-Holiday Blues
Copyright 2005 Mary Desaulniers
After the usual pre-Christmas and post holiday celebrations, I
found myself feeling a bit depressed and lethargic. The house
has become too quiet; friends and family have returned home.
It is not uncommon...
Will Yoga Help You Lose More Weight?
I suppose it was only a matter of time before the mass marketing about diet and fitness and weight loss caught up with Yoga. After all, Yoga is certainly going through a period of resurgance - not the first, as these things typically move in...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neti Pot – You Want Me to Stick it Where?
I LOVE my Neti pot. It is the first thing I use each morning when I wake up and it is also the first thing I pack when I am going on a trip. As a matter of fact, I can’t imagine living without my Neti pot. For me, it is the difference between being congested and having a pounding headache or being able to breathe easily and living pain-free. With those two choices, it is easy to see why my Neti pot holds a favored spot in my life.
You may be asking yourself, what is a Neti pot? It looks like a small teapot with a spout and it is often used in yoga in the practice of Neti or nasal washing. In yoga, deep breathing is an essential part of the practice. It is very difficult to breathe deeply through your nose if the nasal passages are dry, inflamed or constricted.
Your nasal passages provide a very important function for maintaining your overall health. The lining of your nose produces mucus which traps dirt, dust, pollen, and other particles and moves it to the back of your throat where it begins its journey out of your body. However, sometimes this system contains a glitch and the mucus becomes too thick or dry to do its job properly. This creates an optimum environment for bacteria to thrive and cause all sorts of havoc in your body. Your nasal passages can become swollen and inflamed and you can become congested. You might have difficulty breathing, or worse, develop a sinus infection.
Here comes the Neti pot to the rescue. It helps cleanse nasal passages of dust, allergens, pollen, and other irritants and it moisturizes and can help reduce inflammation of the membranes. The end result –your nasal passages are soothed and you are able to breathe more easily.
Here are some questions you might have about using a Neti pot.
Why do I need one? Why can’t I just sniff some water from the palm of my hand – won’t I get the same result? - For a long time, I resisted using a Neti pot. I used to tell people who suggested that I use one that I was getting a similar result using water in the palm of my hand. Then I tried the Neti pot and realized how wrong I was. There is absolutely no comparison between using a Neti pot and sniffing water from the palm of your hand. When you use a Neti pot, you are actually inserting the tip into your nostril and allowing water to clean out the nasal passage. You cannot possibly accomplish the same thing with your hand.
Are there different types of Neti pots? - Although all of them look like an open teapot with a spout, they usually come in various sizes and are made of different materials. The most common materials are ceramic and plastic. Ceramic, while it might look nice, has a greater chance of breaking and because it is porous, can harbor bacteria. Plastic ones are usually not very attractive, but they clean easily and thoroughly and you can throw them into your luggage when you travel. There are
also Neti pots made out of cooper and stainless steel. Do I use plain water to wash out my nose? - No. Plain water is too irritating to your membranes. You make a saline solution of approximately ¼ teaspoon of plain salt (not iodonized) and a pinch of baking soda added to one cup of warm water. Dissolve the salt and baking soda thoroughly. Make sure the water isn’t too cold or too hot. You can test it with your fingers before using it to make sure it is the right temperature. I find the warm saline solution extremely soothing to my nasal passages when they are swollen and congested. The warm solution offers almost immediate relief to my poor nose.
How do I use it? - Pour the saline solution into the Neti pot. If it doesn’t hold all of the solution at one time, you can refill it and repeat the process with the rest of the saline water. (I mix up a very big batch of saline solution and use it several times in a row in order to clear out my nose.) Insert the spout into one nostril and tilt your head so you are looking into the sink. Make sure that the spout creates a seal in your nostril. Open your mouth and let half of the solution flow through your nostril and out the other side. Remove the spout and keep your head tilted to allow any extra water to come out. Repeat the process on the other side. Gently blow your nose to clear out any remaining water. Make sure you clean your Neti pot thoroughly after each use to minimize the risk of any bacteria growing on it.
How often do I use it? - It depends. If you have chronic allergies and sinus problems as I do, you will probably use it at least once a day. I use it first thing in the morning and then during the day if I feel like I am beginning to get a headache from congestion. Many ear, nose, throat specialists (including mine) encourage using nasal washing several times throughout the day to promote nasal health for those individuals who have problems. If you don’t have any allergy or sinus problems, you might want to use it just before your yoga or meditation practice. One note of caution – a Neti pot is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are experiencing continual nasal inflammation, you should get an evaluation from your healthcare provider.
Once you begin using a Neti pot, it is just as routine and easy as brushing your teeth. It may take a little while for you to become adept at using it, but you will love the result. As for me, as I sit here writing this, I feel my nasal passages swelling and my head begin to pound. Now where did I put mine?
About the Author
Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast who has been involved in fitness for over thirty years. Her website http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/ is filled with practical information about how you can make yoga and fitness a positive part of your life. Visit the site and get your free meditation e-book.
|
|
|
|
|
Learning Meditation Home Page |
Introduction to the basics of meditation and the reduction of stress. |
www.learningmeditation.com |
  |
Meditation Room |
Choose freely and feel free to perform more than one meditation. ... Allow some time for your meditation. These meditations last from 3 - 10 minutes. ... |
www.learningmeditation.com |
  |
Meditation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
An introduction to different traditions, forms, techniques, and benefits. Includes links to other resources. |
en.wikipedia.org |
  |
World Wide Online Meditation Center |
Contains colorful, clear, concise meditation instruction on a variety of meditation methods from various spiritual teachings, plus tranquil meditation tapes ... |
www.meditationcenter.com |
  |
The Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program - Official website. How ... |
Meditation validated by over 600 scientific studies. The best meditation against stress. Online video! Personal instruction and lifetime follow-up. |
www.tm.org |
  |
Vipassana Meditation Website |
Homepage of the organization which offers Vipassana Meditation courses as taught by SN Goenka. |
www.dhamma.org |
  |
Welcome to Meditation Mount |
Meditation training programs and group meditation as a service to humanity. Worldwide organization based in Ojai, California. |
www.meditation.com |
  |
Guided meditations on mindfulness, peace, the 23rd Psalm, the way ... |
Come into the present moment with this 10-minute mindfulness meditation narrated by ... Experience a flow of positive energy with this meditation on peace ... |
www.beliefnet.com |
  |
Meditation Station Presented By The Meditation Society Of America |
Meditation Society of America's web site. Dedicated to sharing meditation techniques and concepts from all traditions. |
www.meditationsociety.com |
  |
Wildmind | Learn Meditation Online |
Wildmind provides a complete guide to simple meditation techniques. |
www.wildmind.org |
  |
Meditation |
An article By Dr Tom J. Chalko explaining the process and stressing the need for a spiritual teacher. |
www.thiaoouba.com |
  |
Free Learn to Meditate, online meditation - Meditation Australia. |
Details of activities, events, and classes in Wollongong University, Australia. Also offer a free online Meditation course. |
meditation.org.au |
  |
Meditation, Home, what is meditation, types of meditation ... |
Meditation Meditation is an alternative therapy. It can be broadly classified under the mind-body medicine. More and more doctors are prescribing meditation ... |
1stholistic.com |
  |
Sivananda Yoga - Meditation |
Introduction to the Official Web site of the Internationa Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. Lots of information on Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, ... |
www.sivananda.org |
  |
Stress Reducers: Articles index |
yellow arrow button, Choose a Virtual Meditation Slide Show for Your ... yellow arrow button, Meditation and Relaxation: 20 Minutes A Day Can Make A ... |
www.selfhelpmagazine.com |
  |
Zen Mountain Monastery: Zen Meditation Instructions |
Detailed instructions from Zen Mountain Monastery on how to practice Zen meditation. |
www.mro.org |
  |
Meditation and concentration |
meditation concentration ability. ... Online fire meditation use it and develop concentration ability; Online flash meditation look at the screen and ajust ... |
www.ababasoft.com |
  |
Siddha Yoga path - Gurumayi - Swami Muktananda founder |
Under the guidance and teachings of Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, Siddha Yoga meditation students embrace the spiritual practices of yoga. |
www.siddhayoga.org |
  |
Meditation Handbook |
Survey of seven meditation techniques for beginners. |
home.att.net |
  |
Healing Music|Meditation Music|Self Help products |
Healing Products offers healing music for your Mind, Body & Soul at low prices. Use sound and music to heal and relax. |
www.healingproducts.com |
  |
|