Bandhas are an indirect, yet the best and most powerful method of taking care of your emotional state. The following exercises will help you maintain a sense of balance and calm and prevent bouts of anger, anxiety and agitation.

Caution: Those with cervical spondylosis, vertigo, high blood pressure or heart diseases should avoid exercise one. Pregnant women and those with heart problems or high blood pressure should avoid exercise two. Those suffering from backache or severe arthritis of the knee joints should not attempt exercise three.

EXERCISE 1

•  Sit with your legs stretched out and back straight

•  Bend one leg, place the ankle on the opposite thigh, close to the groin. Bend the other leg and place that ankle on the thigh of the bent leg, close to the the groin. Place your hands on your knees

•  Inhale deeply, keeping the chest high, hold your breath and press your chin against the chest

•  Hold the position as long as comfortable

•  Release the chin, look up and exhale.

•  Repeat thrice.

Exercise 2

•  Sit in padmasana, as directed in steps one and two of exercise one

•  Take your hands behind your back and grasp one wrist with the other hand

•  Close your eyes, relax the body and inhale

•  Exhale as you bend forward and rest your forehead on the floor

•  Hold the position for 10-30 seconds, breathing normally

•  Inhale as you raise the body back to the starting position.

Exercise 3

• Sit in padmasana, as directed in steps one and two of exercise one

• Exhale completely, pull up the genital space and close the anal space. Keep the abdominal muscles tight

• Relax and inhale

• Repeat only thrice.