Posts by shadowgardener12

It might actually help. It did more for my gastritis than those standard prescription pills ever could. Forget the chemicals... just stick with nature.

#WildCard said:What happens when the energy flows are gone for good?

I haven't really been there myself... but at that point, even Yoga won't help much since you can't really practice it anymore. We're talking about states like extreme physical immobility in old age, terminal illness, or severe unconsciousness from brain trauma.
But usually, those energy flows aren't permanently lost, provided you can still move around and eat or drink somewhat normally—it's all about how that energy gets distributed. In those cases, they’re just blocked or out of balance.

Plus, you’ve probably heard about the internal fire—that biological clock hardwired into our cells via our DNA. It’s essentially a countdown that starts at a certain stage of life. By practicing Pranayama, you can actually slow down your entire metabolic rate and the way your body burns fuel. Of course, you can't really pull that off if your system is bogged down by heavy stuff like meat or toxins.
Yogis aren't just making things up when they say every minute spent in Pranayama adds another minute to your lifespan. 🙂

The effects of Yoga run much deeper than what modern science is capable of measuring. Science can only track the physical results—and it does!—like all those regenerative bodily changes. But those are just shadows cast by much subtler energetic flows. 😉
And most of us? We usually only identify with the tangible stuff. 🙂

#WildCard said:Could you elaborate on that a bit more?
What’s the actual mechanism here? How do you supposedly clear or mitigate congenital diseases that have already taken hold? Are you saying Yoga is somehow more effective than modern medicine? 😉

Well, that’s what I was getting at—Yoga works best as prevention, or when dealing with symptoms where the energetic flow hasn't been permanently disrupted. It acts regeneratively and balances things out on a physical level... say, by regulating endocrine/hormonal output, influencing red and white blood cell production, bone density and structure, and so on.

It works through a principle of "intervention"... 🙂

targeting those processes that would otherwise just follow inertia—driven by genetics or external factors. With Yoga, you're acting against those degenerative cycles. This version of Yoga we know today evolved over millennia through direct experience with human energy. The ultimate goal was liberation. Maintaining health is a prerequisite for that, so plenty of focus has been placed there.

Oleander Somniferum said:Isn't it just a catch-22? You can't practice Yoga because you're sick, but Yoga is what makes you healthy, so you could get better if you actually did it? 😕

Fair question, even if it's a bit blunt. Yoga isn't just movement; it’s built on a specific philosophy and lifestyle... the pain which has yet to come can be avoided.

Essentially, through Yoga, you're preempting issues—improving your "karma," so to speak. Specifically, addressing genetic predispositions or those self-inflicted ailments caused by ignoring our own needs. If we didn't use Yoga to clear the underlying causes, those problems would hit us much harder later on. How you "go against your genes" gets into the weeds of how Yoga actually functions...

When you're sick, though, it depends. It all comes down to your energy levels and where the blockages are. What you can handle varies. Personally, I managed to clear up some minor issues by sticking to specific movements. They were nagging enough that I couldn't even manage a Sun Salutation, let alone Pranayama...
But Yoga isn't just about Asanas or Pranayama. It’s about mindfulness and maintaining the entire energetic system of the body and mind. Diet, lifestyle—it's all part of it. It’s not about following strict rules or prohibitions; it's more about feeling the energetic impact. When you practice, you start to sense exactly what disrupts your flow. For instance, if you overexert yourself, you won't be able to reach those depths of energy during Pranayama or meditation...

There are very specific exercises designed to balance particular blockages.
And through those specific practices, a healthy lifestyle can actually be restored.
By choosing exercises that don't strain the blockages but instead move them. This helps immensely with symptoms where the psychosomatic connection is strong—though that applies to almost everything. The real question is whether you have enough energy left to maintain that balance.

My point about Kundalini was that without consistent practice, we stay at a low energy level. At that stage, we aren't capable of raising Kundalini or handling those intense psycho-physical energies. It’s the same logic as being sick: when you're at a low energy state, you can't perform the heavy-duty exercises meant to spike your energy, because those require a balanced system—or at least one without severe physical or mental distress. Using balancing exercises to heal instead... that's highly recommended.

restlessmarlin6 said:Just asking without any judgment or moralizing here.🙂

I'm wondering if there's any way to reach those elevated states of consciousness—the kind people get from drugs—through more "natural" means?

Are there specific meditations, exercises, or something similar?

Looking for simple, layman answers.

Thanks. 🙂

And who said that? 😁 😁 Calling drug-induced states "elevated"...
Drugs just shift your state of consciousness. It’s not even really an "elevation," at best it's just a qualitative change. You might experience some cognitive shifts, but usually, it's just accidental. And honestly, the negative side effects of drugs far outweigh any perks by wrecking your psyche... and your body. I get the motive, though. It's a basic human drive, wanting to feel better. There are plenty of paths, but most are just external traps. 😉
Not saying the physical world is a trap—it's necessary.

But there are other ways. I wouldn't call it "elevating" consciousness so much as expanding it. But you have to understand what consciousness actually is and how it functions first. That process itself is part of the expansion. 🙂
There's the system of Yoga, which points exactly in that direction, but the foundations and practices are too massive to go over here. You start practicing Yoga, you start digging into the theoretical assumptions—psychological, philosophical, the eightfold path of Patanjali.

The philosophical assumptions of Yoga are very similar to Buddhism (not by accident 😉). It takes time. But Yoga is a reliable path for expanding awareness... people want everything all at once, but they aren't even aware they couldn't handle it. Trying to trigger the rise of Kundalini in someone untrained and unpurified—physically or mentally—is like running 20,000 volts through a lightbulb... you know... (not 🙂),
For example: you can't even do basic Yoga energy work if you have minor health issues... let alone the heavy stuff. You have to "heal" yourself first and clear the blockages. If you don't, building up energy just leads to pain and sickness. The goal is to let it flow. Start small, bit by bit... then maybe eventually, a little Kundalini. The goal is human evolution.
Even small awakenings and balancing the chakras give you a greater sense of freedom, energy, and sensitivity. 😉

fadedfalcon11 said:It’s true, trying this without a teacher is tough. I’ve been hitting my local yoga studio for a while now, so I’m pretty familiar with most of the asanas we run through in a standard class.
But some days, my focus just isn't there. Not every session is a win. Even when I feel like I nailed something, the instructor usually steps in to tweak my alignment...
Plus, going to classes helps you actually progress in your asanas. There’s always room to improve, right? It’s a constant process of refinement.
That’s how I learned—as soon as I walk into the studio, I find this peace. At home, though... I just can't seem to settle in like that.

Yeah, that’s a huge part of it—finding a way to step away from the daily grind... and cultivating a different relationship with yourself. A break from everything being shoved in our faces every day. That’s what Yoga is really about.

Hehe yeah, Lisa White80 was right about the spelling for the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

Sure, you can find websites with decent descriptions of beginner asanas. But, like the name suggests, they’re just descriptions. Yoga is serious business... it's about confronting yourself, those physical blockages. With asanas, the real struggle is how to actually get into the pose, how to hold it, how to breathe—and why. It’s incredibly individual. One person might be physically stiff, while someone else is dealing with completely different hurdles...

The real question is how you approach asanas, and why. What are we focusing on? What are we "letting go" of? How do we react to whatever pops up during practice? You learn all that from someone who's already been through it, or at least has enough experience to guide you. Once someone shows you the ropes, then you can practice on your own at home.
The thing is, these are all new positions for the body—and especially for the mind. We aren't even aware of what we're doing wrong... 🙂

There are great books out there, too, but even they can't replace practicing with a teacher.
Anyway, if you're trying asanas from the internet, as long as you don't overdo it, it'll probably help. But it leaves you with endless questions that a static webpage just can't answer. In that case... find a Yoga instructor. 😉

You might want to double-check your spelling... homage is spelled with two "m"s 😉 since you're going out of your way to quote it 🙄 such a genius 😁

And the movie is just full of these little bits... like starting off with a Klingon proverb 😉 if you actually find that serious 😁
Or that fight scene in Japan with the samurai swords, while Mexican guitars are playing in the background... ó-le! It's enough to make you die laughing... 😁 😁 Complete mockery of that kind of thing... but done with style 😁

Scary Movie is just pure trash, whereas Kill Bill works as this subtle parody...
With all those nods to Kung Fu movies, the Squad stuff, and those action sequences—if someone actually takes it seriously, then they're really 😁 😁 especially that part where she's standing alone against 100 Samurai in the hall 🙂 nah, it's definitely not meant to be taken seriously 😁

Jessica Nguyen85 said:You're really playing dumb...

That's the thing... I already said it. It’s basically a Charles Bronson flick mixed with some standard Hollywood style kung fu. Everything we're seeing here was done better years before Tarantino...

Yeah, or... maybe not... 😁 😁
It’s not like anyone didn't realize... the whole movie was basically built as a parody of it anyway...
That's just sad. Honestly, you wouldn't even know if you hadn't pointed it out... don't mess around. You wouldn't even think of it, even though there's an explicit thanks to Bronson in Kill Bill... 😁 🙂
And David Carradine is playing the lead!! Ha! Seriously... now that's a business move. Just don't try telling me this has anything to do with those Hollywood style kung fu movies... 😁 😁 Man, some people are just ridiculous...

Sound isn't really about the bloat, it's limited to maybe two things at most... besides, the whole thing is just a heist, from Morricone all the way to the Japanese stuff...👍cheesy vibes...

This film is pure Tarantino. Finally something decent after that stupid Foxy Brown mess... the colors, the style, the taste... he finally dared to go all out like he did after Pulp Fiction, and now Josh is doing even more...😁

That’s great, now I actually get what this was all about. But hey, tell me... who was the lead actress?😕

The movie is awesome! 👍 Though that black-and-white bloodbath felt unnecessary... really killed the tension for me.

Who? The Chemical Brothers? Heh...
Come on, don't tell me you're into that intellectual dub stuff...😁 😁 Go read a book instead🙂

man, the dub scene is absolutely killing it today at the ACDC venue where The Beatles are playing... feeling high on speed, just pure vibes... highly recommend it...

Thanks a ton! 😁 😁 🙂 --> immortality and the first thought of cancer! There are some different ideas in there, 🙄 like works by Mircea Eliade, though they don't really have anything to do with biology...

But I think I get it now—how one of the most vital processes in Yoga actually works, and why it slows down aging. It’s pranayama, or breath control. In pranayama, you aim to slow the breathing as much as possible, shortening the inhale moments while extending the pauses between breaths, eventually reaching those long holds. All this happens while keeping the body and brain fully functional. Basically, pranayama is about "nourishing" the cells and slowing down the entire metabolic turnover. You can only pull that off if the whole system is highly energized—meaning the entire body needs to be in peak condition to achieve it. That’s why it’s nearly impossible without clearing out obstacles first (illness, various blockages, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, heavy food). You need to slow down oxygen absorption and metabolism, allowing for a deep relaxation of the entire organism.
Just a quick thought 😉 the regenerative effects of Pranayama are vast and numerous... 🙂

I’d take an extra lifetime right now. You really think all those dictators lived through another full life cycle? They didn't. They were gone. Just ask 😁. If they’d stuck around even 30 years longer, God knows what kind of mess the world would be in today... 😲 😲 sorry guys...

It’s not just about growth hormone. I mean, sure, that plays a part, but we're talking about a completely different mechanism here.

It's tied to the cell's biological clock and its genetic code.

Some cells are hardwired to regenerate—we actually know which transmitters trigger that process. But when you try to flip that switch on cells that aren't naturally built for it, you run right into cancer, or at least a massive spike in risk.

That’s the core issue. Theoretically, we could try to force other cells to regenerate, but it leads straight to malignancy. (Growth hormone is one thing, working on a hormonal level... this is deeper, at a much lower level. I'm not sure how deep, though I'm sure hormones and transmitters are involved too. It also involves gene editing... if I remember correctly.)
It kind of leaves you with the impression that the rest of our cells don't matter. Like they're just there to keep reproductive cells functioning, while everything else is left to wither away. 😉 It all comes down to their programmed expiration date—for real—and whatever external factors hit them along the way.

🙂 Mitochondria handle that, but there are different kinds of "free radicals." Someone ought to know the difference... maybe darkbison81...
But they aren't the "main" culprit behind aging. 😉

The how and why of aging isn't going to be fully explained anytime soon.

See, some cells don't age—they just constantly renew themselves, like sperm cells. Scientists have more or less figured out that mechanism, but trying to "turn it on" in other cell types leads straight to cancer. Everything has its limits, and everything serves a purpose in the evolution of a species... what kind of species would we even become? If every idiot on the planet didn't age... the species wouldn't survive. It brings us back to those theories where individual development is secondary to the survival of the species.

On an individual level, you'll have to look into other methods of cellular regeneration 😉