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COVID 19 Blogs

Mar 20, 2020

Covid 19 and Pranayama

Location : Nong Khai, Thailand

Covid 19 Scare
The world is gripped by its balls with Covid 19. Social media, mainstream media, water cooler talk...it's all about the Covid 19 pandemic that is sweeping the planet by storm. Airports, schools, offices, public events are on global lock-down to stem the virus from spreading. Media fuels the panic by showing clips of people physically slugging each other over toilet paper in a grocery run. Alcohol, face masks and hand sanitizer are hoarded for black market sale. The panic is viral and frenzied.

Not to sound insensitive or arrogant, but with my PRANAYAMA practice, I feel protected. I say "my" because I only speak for my practice.

What is Pranayama?
In a nutshell, Pranayama is a technique of regulating the breath. That's it! Seriously, it's that simple! No god, no rites, no ritual, no devotion, and no clever men of the cloth. Just breathwork. It is also one of the 8 limbs of yoga. The 8 limbs are the stages to enlightenment. But you don't have to aim for enlightenment to benefit from pranayama. In energetic terms, pranayama controls and moves the prana vayu - the life force that keeps us alive, and the life force the sustains the universe. It is said that when we become sick (e.g. kidney failure), it is because prana is blocked in that part of the body. With unblocked energy channels (thru asana and shatkriya), pranayama moves prana vayu within its respective nadis (energy channels), fortifying and strengthening the body and immune system. You become so strong your immune system practically becomes impregnable. But don't mistake pranayama as a substitute for healthy habits - you still have to eat right, sleep right and think right. After years of practice, I don't get sick anymore. I just don't! Not only that, but on certain practices, I also become insanely strong. So strong I experienced the Superman-Effect.

impregnable immune system through Pranayama

Ending Thoughts
Imagine a healthy vibrant life without medication, without doctors, without hospitalization, without Big Pharma ripping you off! Why slug it out to get more toilet paper? Why even panic and start hoarding supplies for a post-apocalyptic earth? Why fear social contact with others? All you have to do is harness the power of the breath - and nothing can touch you. Air is free, air is abundant and air is accessible.

Granted, my practice is already advance, but anyone...ANYONE can benefit from the basic anuloma viloma / kapalabhati / bastrika. I'm not making this claim because I read it in a book. No! I live it. I practice it every day. I hardly ever get sick, I don't even remember the last time I saw a doctor. I'm no spring chicken but I'm under NO medication. I eat what I want to eat - no diet restriction whatsoever. I keep a bounce on my stride and I feel the strength of a raging locomotive (sometimes).

Am I saying you won't get Covid 19 if you practice pranayama? Look, there are no guarantees in life. But let me put it this way. With pranayama, you chances of contracting it are slim. If healthy people had been diagnosed to have had contracted it and came out of it without any symptom, I could just imagine your odds are even better. You may contract the virus without even feeling the symptom until the virus goes away - but in the process, you develop your immunity from the virus. That's how we survive as a species anyway.

If you are locked-down within your house, then you have the time for pranayama. What do you have to lose? Absolute beginners, 10 minutes. Intermediate, 20 minutes. Don't exceed 20 minutes, even if you're just doing basics. Have a qualified teacher with you if you plan to exceed 20 minutes - pranayama can seriously mess you up too if you're not ready. Stay safe!

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

Full Pranayama session 1 by Michael Bijker

Reader Comments:

Ray

(Mar 22, 2020) An introductory instructional sample video would greatly help, as video messages are far more popular than text messages, in the fast digital age with a short attention span. I am sure many people would be interested; "An Idea Whose Time Has Come" ?!?!❤🙏

Jason

(Mar 21, 2020) Superman effect! I remember this! Nice write up Git!

Rosemarie Canada

(Mar 21, 2020) Maybe you would have time to put together an instructional video?

TheLoneRider
(Mar 21, 2020) ...maybe a workshop, but a video? Never crossed my mind...until now 🙂

Nong Khai with Cheng

(Mar 18 - Apr ???, 2020) The surfer girl from Singapore who helped me out in Siargao in July 2013 showed up in Nong Khai. This unexpected rendezvous took many surprising turns.....more »»

Nong Khai Map

Vientiane to Nong Khai by bus

At the Khua Din Bus Terminal, you can board the #14 bus bound for Buddha Park. It will make a stop on the Friendship Bridge border - 15 mins, B8000. Go to Laos Immigration to exit. Board the special bus to cross the Friendship Bridge, Kip 4,000 or Baht 20. It will stop at Thai Immigration. Get processed. From there, board a tuk-tuk for Nong Khai, 5kms.

Nong Khai Attractions

Nong Khai Aquarium -
Salakaewkoo (Wat Khaek) -
Issan Rum Distillery -
Wat Pho Chai -
Lan Phaya Nak -
Tha Sadet Market -
Nong Khai Muay Thai Gym -
Phrathat Bang Phuan -

Nong Khai

Nong Khai - Chiang Khan Roadtrip June 18, 2020

Life in Nong Khai Mar 13 - June 18, 2020

Peoplescape of Nong Khai Jun 17, 2020

Exploring Nong Khai's Cafe Culture Jun 10, 2020

Nong Khai Street Art June 4, 2020

Sirsasana A & B May 20, 2020

Yogic Morning Ritual: Structured Water, Water Therapy and Nauli May 1, 2020

Visiting the Salakaewkoo (Buddha Park) in Nong Khai, Thailand Apr 23, 2020

Fitness in Quarantine Times Apr 20, 2020

Covid 19: Lion - Buffalo Analogy Apr 13, 2020

Covid 19 and the Conspiracies Mar - Apr, 2020

Nong Khai with Cheng Mar 18 - Apr ???, 2020

Covid 19 and Pranayama Mar 20, 2020

Giant Mekong Catfish at the Nong Khai Aquarium Mar 19, 2020

Drawn to Nong Khai, Thailand Mar 12, 2020

Travel Tips for Thailand

How to Get a 60-Day Thai Tourist Visa and then Extend by another 30 Days

This process is BEFORE Covid 19. Not sure what it is now.

60-Day Thai Tourist Visa

NOTE: There is no need to go back to your country to get the Thai tourist visa. Any major city with a Thai Embassy will do. Apparently there is also no need to have an invitation from a Thai establishment to justify the visa.

Bring the following to the Thai embassy:
a) proof of money (bank statement will suffice)
b) flight booking to Thailand
c) onward flight back to your country from Thailand
d) filled-in tourist visa form
e) 2 passport pictures
f) hotel booking in Thailand (they didn't ask me for this but better be safe)
g) passport with at least 6 months validity
After handing over all the documents, they will ask you to come pick your passport with the visa the following day from 4 to 5pm. That's it!
NOTE: after 2 successful attempts, I was already questioned the 3rd time.

30-Day Extension

NOTE: When your 60-day visa is close to expiry and you want to extend your stay. No need to leave Thailand.

bring the following to the Immigration Office:
a) passport (make sure your Tourist Visa hasn't expired yet)
b) Baht 1900
c) photocopy of your passport + visa duration date stamp + TM6 card (white immigration card) and sign all the copies
d) completed TM7 visa extension form (available at the Immigration Office)
e) one 4cmx6cm passport picture
submit the above to the Front Desk. They will give you a stub with your number on it. Take a seat and wait for your number to be called
when your number is called, your picture will be taken. Then go back to your seat. They will call you again.
when they call you again, they'll give you your passport with your extended visa. That's it!
when there are no lines, the whole process can take only 10 minutes

Book Train Tickets in Thailand

Book Train Tickets in Thailand Online by Train36.com

General Travel Tips

arrive early - in case there is a snag (visa snag, documentation snag, transport ticket snag, etc.), you will have ample time to troubleshoot the problem if you arrive early (to the airport, to the bus terminal, etc.)
put detailed itinerary on the Calendar apps of your smart-phone according to timelines - this is where you do all your thinking and planning. Once written down, you don't have to think anymore while you are on the journey...you just follow the steps. This frees your mind for something else that might happen while you are already en route
avoiding scams - as a general rule, I ignore the touts or anyone I don't know who call out to me. The calling comes in many forms - "Hi! Where are you from?", "Excuse me! Excuse me!", "Where are you going?". I don't look them in the eye and I remain non-verbal with them. If you reply to them, you just gave them an 'in' to hound you. In order not to look rude, I smile and wave the 'not interested' hand to them, without looking at them.
power bank - hand-carry your power bank. Do not check it in. You can be called in when you are already inside the plane to go all the way to the loading dock so you can personally remove the power bank...and chances are, you'll have to surrender it to them. And you might delay the plane departure!

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