The COPIS of Thoppukaranam / Kaan Dhand !

Disclaimer: 

1. Read this blog after reading my article "The Yang side of Love", which is a 5 part series, and this blog is sort of sequel for the earlier article. URL to Part 1/5 is here... http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com/2010/06/yang-side-of-love-part-15.html

2. COPIS - Acronym for "Customer -Output - Process - Input - Supplier", a very popular mapping tool in Six Sigma studies is slightly modified for my topic as follows:

"Conditions - Output - Process - Input - Symptoms".

3. I am going to explain what I have learnt and I am practising. I am not an expert and I  strongly urge that this article be seen as a motivator for you take this up in your life. Its always advisable to approach a Yoga teacher / Pranic healing foundation and take this formally through a guru.

4. Though this is recommended for all, there are some exceptions which is written below.

This blog shall primarily deal with dos and don'ts of "Thoppukaranam" and how to benefit from that. Lets start with "Conditions", which are like to preconditions before you start this.

• Conditions - This is the set of dos and don'ts to start with. Never proceed to next stage unless you understand this follow and are prepared to follow it.

1. Be more sensitive to yourself and your body - Most of us are not sensitive and not aware of the changes in the body. We have taken our body for granted. We are talking about movement of subtle energies in the body and hence we need to be more sensitive to ourselves.
2. Avoid using a cell phone or listening to iPod during this 60 seconds just like we do it when we are jogging or in a tread mill. This takes our awareness of our body.
3. Energy moves freely when there are no blocks hence it is always advisable to do a little bit of stretching and if possible deep breathing before doing this. (It is ideal to practice Thoppukaranam after a brief session of Pranayama on an empty stomach.)
4. Its ideal to be a vegetarian as meat and pork eaters have significant amount of dirty energy in their bodies and hence do not practice this till you predominantly survive on a vegetarian diet. We are what we eat.
5. Never over do. Prescribed is 7 squats a set and a maximum of 2 sets per day, ie. 14 squats. Problems of over doing this are discussed in the symptoms sections. I am highlighting it here also since this is very important.

• Output - Actually don't worry about. Most of us should feel mentally fresh with more energy (at the top of our head) instantly. If you are not feeling so, don't worry. In few days you should feel the difference. Please ensure that you don't increase the count just because you are keen to see the results. This may end up with some undesired problems. So, never ever over do.
• As discussed extensively in the last blog the prime outputs for this activity are as follows:
• Partially awakens Kundalini energy.
• Cleans the chakras in a quick way and balances the energies in the chakras.
• Energy from Mooladhara / Basic chakra moves up to the brain and hence mentally we are fresh and more active. As I understand since it is balancing  energy also moves the other way. Hence it is recommended after doing meditation too.
• Quite a number of studies are available now that it helps mental disorders, autism and increases grades for dull/ weak students.

• Process - How to do it
1. Wear something comfortable. Remember you are going to squat. 
2. Face East direction. People about 40 years can face North.
3. Stand comfortably and keep your feet shoulder width apart. Spine straight but not tense. Look straight. There is normal tendency to look down and hence the upper torso bends / curves to the front. Avoid this.
4. Connect your tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth palate. This is a very important step and I shall blog the importance of this separately. At this point of time understand that the energy circuits in the body gets connected properly when we do this. (I have added this link later.. read about this here http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com/2010/06/tricks-with-tip-of-tongue.html)
5. Hold the ears with alternate hands as shown in the following URL. Ensure that the right hand is outside and the left is inside. Also please ensure that if I stand in front of you I should be able to see your thumbs.                                                       http://www.pranichealing.org/SuperBrain/SuperBrainYoga.html
6. Now squat fully without bending your upper torso (try as much as possible), as you squat (sit), inhale softly and as you try to get up exhale softly. Inhaling and exhaling are through the nose only. It is important to get the sequence right, "SQUAT - INHALE, GET UP - EXHALE". Please note that in our normal exercises this sequence shall be in reverse. When you squat please ensure your heal is still on the ground.
7. Do it 7 times to start with a day and increase it to 14 times. NEVER EVER OVER DO.   

• Inputs - The inputs for this activity are the following:
• Our faith in yogic science. Faith moves mountains (within us).
• Will power to adhere to a schedule and not to over do it.
• Sensitivity to our own body.
• And of course a vegetarian diet and little bit of physical exercise.
• Do it in front of your pooja room and thinking of Lord Ganesha. It helps in your spiritual development also. Atheists and non-Hindus can still practice without this step. This isn't a religious activity but a yogic exercise without any chanting.

• Symptoms
• Normally there are benign symptoms as described above. I would strongly encourage to see videos in you tube or articles in the internet to fully convince yourself of the benefits.
• Over doing it may lead to undesired results like Insomnia, over heating of the body, weakening of the body, pain and discomfort, skin rashes and some times excessive or unregulated sex drive. Experts say that Non-vegetarian diet practitioners and over doers of this exercise,  some may experience "Kundalini Syndrome", which needs specialized treatment. I really don't know what this means but it certainly is not a desired state to be in.
• People with high blood pressure, knee / joint problems, underwent hip surgeries please consult a doctor or a qualified yoga teacher before doing this.
• Any signs of discomfort is seen, please discontinue and consult a doctor or a qualified yoga teacher / Pranic healing practitioner.
• This is not advised for females during the monthly period and not certainly for pregnant women. 
• I believe, kids from the age of 8 years can practise this. Again ensure that they don't over do this.
• I am aware of the practise in India to do this 108 times in the Ganesha temple. If you notice people who are doing this are doing it mechanically and incorrectly. I believe, we can do 108 squats mechanically there is nothing wrong it that. But avoid doing more than 14 times if you are practising it in the correct procedure.

The objective of this article is to share the good things I have learnt with others... யாம்பெற்ற இன்பம் பெறுக இவ்வையகம் ... This article is certainly not written from a position of an authority or as an expert but as a friend sharing his experience. Hope you liked it...

Happy reading :)

PS: I am initiated to this correct process through the Pranic healing course and hence my due gratitude to them.