|| Spiritual practices can also cause IBS ||
Acharya ji, i m suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. I started pranayama in june 2013 and it worked very good for me . It solved a no. Of my symptoms and i enjoyed doing it. I was practicing kapalbhati, anulom vilom bhramri n bhastrika. But since last 4-5 months i m facing problem with pranayama. Any deep breathing exercise start irritating my stomach and creates cramps and stress in abdomen. So i dropped pranayama for last 4 months. But now again i tried to start pranayama but the same thing returned. Even 5-6 simple breathing or 2 minutes of anulom vilom irritate my stomach highly. I m unable to understand why it is going so now while it was quite good ealier. I love pranayama and unable to do only because this stomach issue. Please answer me. – Hemant
Beloved Hemant,
Pranayama is primarily an energy process and not a physical exercise. It aims at giving the spiritual aspirants desired control over breath, prana shakti thereby mind. Also it (especially deep and fast breathing patterns) works on flushing out the residual blockages in the nadi-system (energy channels). I say residual blockages because if you are following proper system of Yoga (as prescribed in Vedas) you would have completed regime of Nadishodhan much before starting any pranayama. But that is not the case now a days, Gurus are promoting Pranayama as a health capsule and innocent lazy people take it up.
You know why people take up pranayama.. Because Gurus promise them of health benefits without much of physical straining and workouts and today’s majority of population is short of time, energy, will and discipline so it attracts them. Whatever any fast breathing ‘kriya’ or pranayama offers as benefits is because of proper oxygen supply to the body organs. Initial physical benefits and associated energetic state is due to the increased oxygen in the body. So superficially or on gross level any pranayama seems to be of benefit however due to clogged passages within the energy channels or nadis this increased flow starts creating a havoc. If your physical built is strong and generated energies are feeble (which mostly is due to lack of practices and discipline relating to energy conservation processes) not too much of damage is visible however especially in people below 42 years of age where they are still in the high/moderate energy band the risks are higher.
If you ask what is the cause of IBS, after ruling out the ‘stress’ as a prime cause, it is because of energy accumulation around Hara (the navel chakra and swadhisthana). This is the area of brahm granthi, and the stale energy which gets trapped near Hara creates inflammation and irritability of tissues in the area and whenever any additional stimulus is given it triggers the condition. Although you are doing pranayama for the physical benefit (without following the basics) but even with the sadhakas with spiritual intentions also suffer from many stomach ailments when they reach a stage of braham granthi stimulation. For those who are in to spiritual practices let me state that the abnormal behaviour of stomach is not always about granthi bhedan.
In fact it is not so uncommon in even in Tattva Shakti Vigyaan practices. Some people while working on 3rd chakra due to their intentions are not elevated enough (aimed at higher spiritual/energy centers or states) also at times feel IBS or constipation. Whenever any spiritual practice is done for material gains it is like using doctor’s surgical spatula for gardening! It is just an indication of whether our intentions are proper for a sadhana. Your body gives the signals about your misplaced aspirations. Any spiritual practice should be done with spiritual goal.. you don’t have to worry about the rest. Rest shall be taken care of!
When faced with troubles, issues or deadlocks in any spiritual sadhana perseverance is the key word. Suppose you are moving from city X to City Y in your car. On the highway you find a huge traffic jam or stretch of road full of pathetic potholes. What would you do? Instead of heading towards city Y will you take U-turn and come back? I hope not. The same is applicable in spiritual journey. If faced with the problem, hang on.. wait till traffic is cleared. If road conditions don’t permit you to use full throttle mode.. drive slow, but keep moving. Isn’t it?
Also See : 9 Questions on Negative Effects of Pranayama & Shortcut-Yoga practices
Hemant, First of all let me tell you your aspirations are only physical and not spiritual hence do not be guided by what is written in the above two paragraphs albeit stop your pranayama practices immediately. Regarding your issues you may visit the doctor and he shall prescribe certain drugs which will reduce the hyperactivity of tissues however the same drug will also affect other organs of your body and you may start feeling lethargy or cramps etc. as a side effect. So what is way out?
Following you should try –
Avoid chilly, spicy and oily food. Take fresh buttermilk everyday and also consume minimum of 25 gms cow-ghee everyday. Apart from that :
1. Cold Mud pack over abdomen for 30 mins to 1 hour each day shall bust the energy block. If you were practicing Tattva Shakti Vigyaan-I could have given some practices on Tattva balancing as well however mudpack works effectively and you should not doubt its efficacy.
2. Send smiling light energy to your abdomen area. See all the tissues in your Hara region smiling and healed. If you do know know about the process of “Smiling into organs” drop a mail to shakti.multiversity@gmail.com and team shall help you with the method. You can also take course in 5-D Shakti Healing* to further heal yourself at deeper levels.
3. Do something creative or service oriented each day till you feel reduction in symptoms.
4. Once a moderately healthy condition is achieved, start with Yogic-breathing of 3 minutes each day.
Hemant, I am happy you love pranayama. Now to keep your love with you it will require some efforts. Hope you understand your ‘love’s’ true nature and allow it to help you grow spiritually rather than keeping this body forever healthy. Trust me, body shall go away someday despite all, do something about that which will stand the test of time.. test of death.
Shivoham!
– Acharya Agyaatadarshan Anand Nath
*This 5D Shakti Healing methodology is world’s most comprehensive and holistic system. It is being revealed by Ma Shakti Devpriya Anand Nath to the world and is based on the ancient agamas & kriya yoga in sync with Karma principle.
Its all about you! 
आचार्य जी में आपसे नाड़ी शोधन के बारे में जानना चाहता हूँ।आपने बातया की बिना नाड़ी शोधन के प्राणायाम
शरीर की नाड़ियो में अत्यधिक ऊर्जा पृवाह करते हो और नाड़ियो मैं विकार होता है। नाड़ी शोधन की स्पश्ट विधि
बताये । क्या अनुलोमविलोम ही नाड़ी शोधन है।मेरे कपालभाति करने से सिर् दर्द और आँखों में पानी आना चालू हो गया है । मैं काफी साल से कमजोर पाचन की समस्या से ग्रस्त हूँ और मेरी रोग प्रतिरोधक शक्ति भी काफी कमजोर है । कुछ सालो से बार बार uti हो जाता है । मुझे इस बार तो prostatitis की भी प्रॉब्लम हो गयी थी।और 2 या 3 साल से लेफ्ट testis में epididymal cyst है ये सब मुझे लगता है मेरे masturbation की
आदत से हुआ है । बाबा रामदेव जी के अनुसार शरीर की सभी cyst कपालभाति से मिट जाती है।में जबकि काफी योगासन भी करता हूँ कृपया मेरी समस्याओ का समाधान करे। में जीवन से काफी निराश हूँ और कभी कभी तो ऐसा लगता है जैसे जीवन निर्रथक है। कृपया ऐसा कुछ बताये मेरा शरीर पूरी तरह सव्स्थ हो जाये मेरी उम्र33 है और मेरी शादी किभी इछा नहीं होतो है