Q:

Many times when I lay down for shavasana, I start coughing or belching. I feel embarrassed if it is a group setting and even when I am doing relaxation by myself, I feel interrupted. Can you suggest something or say something about this? What is this and how can I control?

A:

Let me start by saying coughing and belching are normal. Holding or suppressing them is not.

1. Shavasana and yogic relaxation practices work by removing, resolving the tension, stress, blockages of vata, pitta, kapha from the body. The body has its own way of clearing up the pathways. Coughing, sneezing, belching, releasing gas are some of such ways. This is all blocked 'air' (apana) finding its way out. From Ayurvedic perspective, these responses fall under the natural urges category. Now the important and bigger question is: do you really want the practices to work or just follow the insturctions and somehow feel relaxed merely because of the psychological effect that you did it? If we really want the practices to work, we have to accept that the body might respond like this.

2. The whole purpose of practice (sadhana) is to let go. Such responses by the body are another way of letting go of what we have been holding physically, energetically, mentally and emotionally at various levels. Pls allow.

3. There is no room for embarrassment, shame and/or guilt in Yoga. The only space is to learn and grow. All these responses are natural responses of the body. It is body's innate intelligence taking a required action. Where is the question to feel shy or worry about what the other person would think, feel?

4. No, you won't disturb anyone if that is what is bothering you. We all are responsible for our own ability to guide, moderate and focus our minds. If that was not the case, we would need to stop the clouds from thundering, sky from lightening, traffic from moving, birds from chirping and people doing their daily chores before we start our practice. Instead, these are all a part and parcel of everyday life. Strengthen your mind and also know that anyone who is disturbed by it is because of their own weak mind and not because of you.

5. It is so important that we accept ourselves where we are, how we are and not try to paint a perfect picture for ourselves or for others. It is also important that we step out of our own way. The first person to judge us is we ourselves. Let the light of knowledge remove the darkness of doubt.

6. Having said all the above, you might want to make sure that there is nothing else going on needing the attention of an ayurvedic physician or your general physician

7. I would also suggest you to make sure that you do not practice when really hungry or immediately after having meals.

8. Try guided relaxation practices by yourself:

• Zen in 10
• Deep tissue relaxation
• Relax your senses

May you rest in the deepest chambers of your heart during relaxation and may each such practice release the knots, the ties, the creases, the folds of undue samskaras, vikalpas, vikrutis and vritts that arrests the progress in the path of Yoga.

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