There's also a meditation technique mentioned by a famous Buddhist monk that includes smiling during the breathing process.
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <LEnglish5@...> wrote: > > I agree that the first 3 examples are purely physical or at least could be. > There's also always the possibility that some arbitrary syllable takes > advantage of some hardwired connection in the brain so that vocalizing that > sound will produce activity in the brain in close proximity to the related > body part. Of course, both scenarios might apply in some cases, or perhaps > there's a neural connection that is established simply because of the > physical effects that you mention creating a pavlovian response in the > nervous system. Or whatever. > > Shrugs elaborately. > > L. > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <jstein@> wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <LEnglish5@> wrote: > > <snip> > > > Even forced laughter is said to have positive effects, according > > > to ayurveda. > > > > > > One of Chopra's exercises from the good ole days was to use > > > different syllables to produce specific beneficial effects. > > > > > > Ha-ha-ha, ho-ho-ho, hee-hee-hee, over and over again for 30 > > > seconds or a minute (?) or so, was thought to help alleviate > > > stomach troubles. > > > > > > Humming a vocalized "nnnnnnnnnnnn" loudly (as long as you > > > didn't hurt your throat) was thought to help alleviate earaches. > > > > > > Humming a vocalized "mmmmmmm" loudly (as long as you didn't > > > hurt your throat) was thought to help alleviate sinus issues. > > > > But these would be purely physical effects, not due to any > > mystical resonance woowoo, no? I mean, it's easy to see how > > "Ha-ha-ha" etc. would massage the stomach and trigger a > > belch to relieve gas, simply because it moves the diaphragm > > in and out repeatedly. And "Mmm" and "Nnn" would set up > > vibrations throughout the structures of the skull that might > > break up phlegm or stimulate fluid to drain from the > > eustachian tubes. > > > > > There's an entire tradition that relates every syllable in > > > sanskrit to some part of the body in some therapeutic way. > > > I don't recall which syllable relates to the knee, but > > > apparently tradition holds that there is one. > > > > A percussive sound that impacts the patellar tendon, perhaps? > > >
