Benefits of Stretching the Skeletal System through all five Koshas

Annamayakosha (Physical Body)
- Stretching helps us expand the muscles and get out of our contracted states. When muscles are constantly contracted because of stress (physical, mental/emotional), the arteries to the bones are compressed, resulting in reduced nutrient flow or starvation. This process reduces the ability of the bones to produce new blood cells.
- Stretching increases flexibility. Flexibility increases the range of motion of the joint it crosses
- Separation is seen in the lack of awareness of the physical body: posture, alignment and damaging activities at work and play
- Stretching is just as important as exercise. Stretching is a good warm up to more aggressive forms of exercise. Longer holds move out of the muscle and work into the fascia. Exercising too hard before the body is warmed up, lifting too heavy weights, fast and jerky movements, and not cooling down properly can injure the fascia,
- Proper nutrition is also important for flexibility. Health, resilience and elasticity of connective tissue is effected by nutrition, When we are stressed we secrete cortisol. Cortisol damages connective tissue

Pranamayakosha (Energy Body)
- Lack of consistent stretching and limited mobility in the physical body can lead to stiffness and pain.  Misused joints can become frozen and immovable physically and energetically.  The breath also can be diminished as a result of immobility.
- Body and outside temperature can effect flexibility and mobility.  Warming up will help flexibility and help prevent injury in yoga and other activities.
- Age and weight can diminish energy.  We should chose age appropriate physical activities and be mindful of our energy level at the present moment not what we did yesterday,
- Conscious breathing can add in flexibility.  It is important to breath consciously when stretching.
- Warming down is as important as warming up.
- Lengthening and stretching the spinal column allows for proper functioning of sushumna, ida and pingala nadis
- Stretching and lengthening the spine opens the chakras,

Manomayakosha (Psycho-Emotional Body)
- The stress hormone cortisol is detrimental to bone growth and health which may lead to poor mobility and inflexibility.
- Chronic stress can lead to hypercorisolism which contributes to osteoarthritis and inflexibility.
- People with flexibility issues may feel anger, emotional restriction and stress.  Pain may lead to negative emotions.  Negative emotions may lead to inflexibility and pain.
- Mental attitudes of those around you can effect our flexibility.
- Connective tissue is effected by out emotions and causes stagnation and armoring
- Trauma can be stored in the body as armoring or inflexibility
- A relaxed state can aid in flexibility.
- Stretching should be done slowly with as much relaxation as possible.
- Consistency in stretching can help in flexibility

Vijnamayakosha (Witness Body)
- Stretching should be done slowly without expectation of quick results.
- The stretch should be held for time to cause the muscles to be accustomed to the new length.
- Stretching the skeletal system activates the both physiological and energetic sensations. As we get more familiar with our skeletal system through stretching we learn to approach the body as it is now and not as it was or we would like it to be.  We experience the present moment as we are right here right now. We cultivate the witness
- We also learn to balance between what we want and where we are.

Anandamayakosha (Bliss Body)
- We are not this body we are not this mind.
- Stretching the skeletal systems removes the blocks that are keeping us from our true nature
- Stretching is a way to expand ourselves and remember that we are the universe and the universe is us.

BHAJO RAADHE KRISHNA
BHAJO RAADHE SHYAAMA (2X)
OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM (2X)
SOHAM, SOHAM, SOHAM SlVOHAM (2x)
I AM THAT I AM, I AM THAT I AM (2X)
I AM NEITHER BODY NOR MIND IMMORTAL SELF I AM (2X)
I AM NOT THIS BODY, THIS BODY IS NOT MINE
I AM NOT THIS MIND, THIS MIND IS NOT MINE
OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM (2X)
I AM NOT THIS PRAANA, THIS PRAANA IS NOT MINE
I AM NOT THESE SENSES, THESE SENSES ARE NOT MINE
I AM NOT THIS INTELLECT, THIS INTELLECT IS NOT MINE
I AM NOT THESE EMOTIONS THESE EMOTIONS ARE NOT MINE
I AM THAT I AM, I AM THAT I AM I AM THAT I AM, I AM THAT I AM
I AM WITNESS OF THREE STATES EXISTENCE ABSOLUTE
I AM WITNESS OF THREE STATES KNOWLEDGE ABSOLUTE
I AM WITNESS OF THREE STATES, BLISS ABSOLUTE I AM WITNESS OF THREE STATES, BLISS ABSOLUTE
I AM SATCHIDAANANDA, I AM SATCHIDAANANDA EXISTENCE, KNOWLEDGE, BLISS ABSOLUTE
I AM MIND OF ALL MINDS PRAANA OF ALL PRAANAS
I AM SOUL OF ALL SOULS, SELF OF ALL SELVES
SOHAM, SOHAM, SOHAM SIVOHAM (2X)
BHAJO RAADHE KRISHNA
BHAJO RAADHE SHYAAMA (2X)