Political technology of the body

Historians started writing about the body as a biological system in the field of demography and pathology.  How it behave or react in when attached with germs or viruses; effect of externals on its physiology and metabolism; on the biological aspects on which the existence is based upon. But the body is also directly involved in a political field; power relations have an immediate hold upon it; they invest it, mark it, train it, torture it, force it to carry out tasks, to perform ceremonies, to emit signs. This political investment of the body is in accordance with complex reciprocal relations, with its economic use. Its constitution as labour power is possible only if it is caught up in a system of subjection (in which need is also a political instrument meticulously prepared, calculated and used); the body becomes a useful force only if it is both a productive body and a subjected body.
 

This subjection is not only obtained by the instruments of violence or ideology; it can also be direct, physical, setting force against force and yet without involving violence it may be calculated, organized, technically thought out; it may be subtle, make use neither of weapons nor of terror and yet remain of a physical order. That is to say, there may be a 'knowledge' of the body that is not exactly the science of its functioning, and a mastery of its forces that is more than the ability to conquer them: this knowledge and this mastery constitute what might be called the Political Technology of the body.

 

Of course, this technology is diffuse, rarely formulated in continuous, systematic discourse; it is often made up of bits and pieces; it implements a disparate set of tools or methods. In spite of the coherence of its results, it is generally no more than a multiform instrumentation. Moreover, it cannot be localized in a particular type of institution or state apparatus. For they have recourse to it; they use, select or impose certain of its methods. But, in its mechanisms and its effects, it is situated at a quite different level. What the apparatuses and institutions operate is, in a sense, a micro-physics of power, whose field of validity is situated in a sense between these great functionings and the bodies themselves with their materiality and their forces.

 

Now, the study of this micro-physics presupposes that the power exercised on the body is conceived not as a property, but as a strategy, that its effects of domination are attributed not to 'appropriation', but to dispositions, maneuvers, tactics, techniques, functionings; that one should decipher in it a network of relations, constantly in tension, in activity, rather than a privilege that one might possess that one should take as its model a perpetual battle rather than a contract regulating a transaction or the conquest of a territory. In short this power is exercised rather than possessed; it is not the 'privilege', acquired or preserved, of the dominant class, but the overall effect of its strategic positions - an effect that is manifested and sometimes extended by the position of those who are dominated.

 

Knowingly or unknowingly every body try to practice this knowledge to survive in this system which civilization has given to us. Be it is of our children or it is of our own, it is normal to use the body as a resource.  We are selling these bodies of ours in this big market which drives the economy. This is a general rule accepted as a natural law of our times, which is not older than 5-7 thousand years. This self-governing law of our times is regulating the system with a balance and shifts the powers from one unit to the new one, when the previous one completes and falls. This is applicable to Governments, Institutions and economy systems.

 

With the knowledge and prevalent practice of this Political Technology the scarcity of necessities are first being created and then the same bodies are being exploited. These Covid times are the perfect examples where on one hand there are victims of virus or business loss and on the other hand are the opportunists who are directly or indirectly exploiting the first ones. But it is good to see people coming out for help directly breaking these cob webs of ill practices of the systems of unsocial regime.

स्किल्ड वर्कर और ९९ का चक्कर....

दहिया जी हमारे साथ वाली सीट पे बैठते हैं।  दवाइयों की फैक्ट्री के डिज़ाइन/ड्राफ्टिंग एक्सपीरियंस में लगभग २५ साल का तजुर्बा है जो की काफी Rare Skill Set है। दहिया जी दिल्ली के पास रोहतक से हैं । २० साल दिल्ली में काम करने के बाद जब Pharmaplan Consultancy बंद हो गई तो उन्हे मजबूरन हैदराबाद हमारी कंपनी में जॉब ज्वाइन करनी पड़ी। अपनी बीमार माँ और परिवार से दूर रहते हुए, बढ़ते ऑफिस के वर्क लोड के चलते दहिया जी बीमार रहने लगे। दोने बेटियों की चिंता जिनका दाखिला हाल ही में इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेज हुआ और अब वे भी दूर के हॉस्टल में थीं । रात को ठीक से नींद न आना, सोचते रहना की समय कैसे बदल गया।  सारा परिवार बिखरा हुआ दिखाई देता।  

दहिया जी और मैं १२ साल पहले एक साथ Pharmaplan में सहकर्मी थे । तब उनका रुबाब देखते ही बनता था। थोड़ी सी भी Confusion या Design Inputs की कमी होने पर काम बंद कर दिया करते थे।  लेकिन नौकरी की मज़बूरी ने उनको असहाय बना दिया। ऐसी स्तिथि के चलते उन्होने काम छोड़ने का फैसला किया और मुझे बताया की वे सब कुछ छोड़ के रोहतक में अपनी दूकान में बैठना चाहते है।  

दिवाली की छुट्टियों पे से जब वे रेहताक से वापिस आये तोह वे फिर से विडंबना में दिखे। रोहतक में उनके एक ख़ास दोस्त से मिलने के दोहरान जब दहिया जी ने उन्हें नौकरी छोड़ने की बात बताई, तो इस बात पे उनके दोस्त ने झटक के बोला - "पागल हो गया है तू।  इतनी अच्छी नौकरी छोड़ के घर बैठे गा।  बेटियों की तोह सोच कम से कम।  रिश्ते वाले क्या सोचेंगे ?"

ऐसा नहीं था की दहिया जी ने इस बारे में पहले सोचा नहीं रहा होगा।  लेकिन दोस्त की इस बात ने उन्हे फिर से दुविधा में डाल दिया।  अब वे इसी दुविधा में जी रहे हैं, और ९९ के चक्कर में ध्याड़ी लगाए जा रहे हैं। अब इतना पैसा इकठ्ठा हो जाए तो तब नौकरी छोडूं या बेटियों का रिश्ता होने के बाद छोडूं।  

Skilled workers और non -skilled workers दोनों सह-पीड़ित हैं।  हमारा हैदराबाद ऑफिस हो या हमारा जर्मनी में स्टुटगार्ट ऑफिस,  ५० % से अधिक Skilled workers अपने परिवार से दूर रहते हैं। वे केवल weekend में या त्यौहार की छुट्टियों के दौरान ही अपने परिवार से मिल पाते है।  बहुत से लोग अगले ३ महीने के सारे वीकेंडस की ट्रैन टिकटें पहले से ही बुक कर देते थे। कोरोना काल में कुछ समय के लिए work from home के चलते परिवार के संग थोड़ा लम्बे समय तक रहने का मौका मिला।    

Progress-Development from children’s perspective

 

·            About more than 50 people of different age group are required for nurturing and development of a child normally. African proverb tell, for a good childhood more people are required.

Social circles are squeezing with Progress & development in our times. Nuclear families are common now. Just Mother & child is reaching the peak of progress. Imbalanced temperament of mother and father due to work related stress and lack of social circle is sowing bomb inside the child.

 

·            In past, it was a tragedy for a child born with the silver spoon to bear with the people with no heartstrings attached in-between. Estranged behavior, Self-respect, falsehood of the constrained caretakers was the feed for the ruthless-cruel behavior of the prince in the castle.

With carving out husband-wife-child as a social unit, Progress-development is also increasing the compulsion for a wife to work in addition to her husband. Handing over her child to the person who works for money is a compulsion for a working-woman. Increasing waves of crookedness-ruthlessness-cruelty in young ones is one of the result of Progress & development.

 

·         Time is the symbol of Progress & Development. Lack of time is scale of success. Lesser the time you have more successful you are. If unemployed, you are in filth. Success and Quality time are complimentary. To save themselves from the guilt of not having time for their child, parents are giving Quality Time to them. Quality time is a protective shield for the parents and it is making children crooked unknowingly-subconsciously.

·      Rejecting-hiding-controlling the naturals are the reflections of Progress-development-civilization.  “Chi-Chi Poo Poo…. Chi-Chi Potty…. Shame-Shame” are common censures now. Time and place are fixed for natural human body urges like eating, sleeping, defecation, urination, etc. Holding natural urges cause lot of disease. “Shame-Shame” is bearing mental disease.

·               Concrete houses, electricity, electronic devices, table-chairs are the products of Progress-Development-Civilization. Such place is a torture room for a child. To save child from the stove fire is the only precaution required in a mud house. Concrete house is full of nagging at every step of a child. Worry of getting hurt or expensive item breakage, Fear of electric shock keeps parents watchful & stressful.

Nagging makes the child impulsive and civilization has made this expression a compulsion… this is sowing of the bomb inside child’s mind. Size of the house does not matter much for this issue.

According to the God of this age Science, house and workplace made of concrete and steel are harmful. This is the reason for 60% of respiratory disease in UK.

 

·           Speed, is another symbol of progress and development. Roads are reaching everywhere and vehicles are omnibus, jail with all facilities inside. Vehicles with high-speed are the traps outside the torture rooms (houses) for the children in order to keep them inside always. Gone are those days when speed of the cycle was considered dangerous.

“Outside” is not in the sphere of children now. How to let children play on roads. ….there are other public places but they are with lot of rules and regulations. In this case, children have to watch TV for entertainment.

There is a lot of progress made in the field of painful-sponsored competitive entertainment like Wrestling, Boxing, Films, etc. TV is delivering this sponsored painful entertainment everywhere. Progress-Development has converted the physical activities (of personal joy) into mental pandemic. Becoming a suicidal bomber, to shoot 18-20 people in schools at the age of 10-12, is a symptom.

 

·              Child’s attraction toward mud and sand is natural at first sight. Worry of adults toward sand-mud is a matter of concern. A Serious Contemplation is required about making of situation more adverse and miserable in the name of our children’s future.

 

English translation of “Shishu ki Dulattiyan” Faridabad Majdoor Samachar publication - Nov 2007 written by Sher Singh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Intensive Yoga Course : Iyengar School

Iyengar Yoga techniques focus on Asanas, which is the 3^rd limb of Astanga Yoga. Most of Yoga school focus on Pranayama but Asana is Important preceding step for them as well. Unlike Buddhist techniques like Vipassana or Zen Meditation which do not explore the variations of Asanas and skip them for direct psychological experiences, Iyengar is a very strict physical technique to first get the aligned body then the mind.  If someone wants to achieve the inner peace in a perfect Yoga asana poses, Iyengar is one of the best school to go with. Correct usage of props (like chair, ropes, pillows, etc.) makes asana so easy that any injured person can also achieve the alignment of the pose perfectly. I chose Rishikesh because I wanted to visit my village also in the same trip, which is 4hrs drive from there, otherwise Pune is the best place to learn Iyengar Yoga. Intensive course focusses on developing the intelligence toward the body so that one can feel what is the best posture or alignment in order to get a soothing, balanced and divine connection between mind and body. Balance and aligned body maintains the internal organs healthy and regulate the flow of energy properly.

View from Ganga Sadan

I was feeling so positive about myself that without considering a beginner or intermediate course, I Directly landed up for the advance intensive course of 8days. For which they asked for at least 3year of regular practice. They offer 12 sessions for Asanas/Pranayama and 2 sessions for Philosophy.  Morning session 8:30 to 11:00 and evening 5:00 to 6:30. Due to corona, Ganga Sadan stay (by the Ganga River) was almost empty. People told me that during normal times, strength goes to 60, and you get no place to spread your arms. 50% of learners were foreigners. 

Soon I realized that I was sitting among yoga teachers, about 18 in numbers. Some of them were practicing this style from last 5-10 years. Usha Devi, was our teacher, a Swiss woman (and very much Indian by practice) who learnt Iyengar yoga (Medical) after having 23 surgeries, after two major accidents.  Below is a brief account of what I learn during the course. Intention is to give an idea how they carry out this course at Rishikesh. Although DVDs of Intensive Course carried out by BKS Iyengar himself are already there on youtube.

Day 1

Session 1:

Tadasana

First Session opened up with very a basic pose Tadasana for which we were told that how a balance should be achieved while standing at the base of the foot with the mindfulness  about each inner mound of the toes, heel and edge of the foot. How mounds should role from smaller toe to big toe. How foot arch should be stretched up with the extension of the knee. Then the same awareness was maintained through Virbhadraasana, Trikonasana and Urdhva Uttanasana.

Every time when she used to call call for a new asana, I use to go very slow, so that I can copy from others, I did not even know the terminologies.

Same basis was applied to the palm as a base. Wrist should be put to the ground first and then palm should be rolled upward. Inner knuckles should spread apart same with the fingers. Middle finger should point forward. Try to touch each mound of the finger on the ground. All mounds of the palm should be pressed with a stretch to form a vacuum. Strong and wide base at the palm and fingers allow a proper transfer of the weight and balance is achieved with this mindfulness. Then the same awareness was maintained through Adho Mukha Svanasana.

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Session 2:

Bhardwajasana

This slot was for hips. Usage of ropes holding with one hand for opening and alignment of the hips by dropping the hip with the movement of raised leg (by rotating) against the wall. Once we learned the rotation of the hip, then same intelligence could be used for other asanas like Trikonasana and Parsvottanasana. 

Another very under rated asana called Bharadwaj Asana was taught using blankets under one hip for spine alignment.

Day 2

Session 1:

Swastikasana

Swastik Asana was explained in detail. With basic alignments, three important locks were explained. Lock at the femur sockets, shoulder blades in to the body and lock in the temples (gates of the mind). Eyes, forehead skin moving outward and backward. Do not curl or move the eyes while closing.  Why we tie our head tightly during headache explained to reason the Position of head. 

Hip opening during the Ardhchardra asana were practiced in a sequence with Virbhadrasana 1 and Utthita Trikonasan.

Session 2:

Sarvangasana

My usual practice was to directly get into the Pranayama in the morning before any yogasan. But there is a preparation required before it. Series of asana to erect the spine straight. Prasarita Padottanasana, Legs wide open in standing position with the head down on the folded blanket on ground. Adho Mukho Veerasana straightening of arms over the pillow, Shirshasana and then last Sarvangasana on the chair. These all helps blood to rush to the head and opens the chest. Then ultimately we did the pranayama Sitting over the bolster pillow and pranayama pillow on the thighs and chanted for 20min and  Shavasana  after that to complete.

Day 3

Session 1:

Session opened with different kind of sitting asanas, like Padamasana, Veerasana, Baddha Konaasana (butterfly pose) for offering the prayer. And then again extreme extensions in Adho Mukha Svanasana using blocks against wall. That was the preparation for Veerbhadraasana 3.

Self-practice in the evening.

Day 4

Session 1:

We started with the warming up doing Suryanamaskar a quick circuits including Utkhatasana, Dandasan and Adho Mukha Svanasana with belt tied on middle thighs together. And then also extended to Utkhatasana 1 & 2 and rolling back and fro to massage the back, which drenched my T-Shirt with the sweat at 7 deg celcius. Adho Mukha Svanasana is the resting asana in Iyengar yoga. 

All asana, Trikonasana, Utthita Prashvakonasana, Ardhachandra asana with jumping, six times each.  Jumping was introduced to bring the intelligence that how foot reaches the right position.

Session 2:

Stupa Baddha Konasana

This was a pranayama class. We just started with the Baddha Konasana using a belt around our feet and hips resting our spine over the Bolster pillow. Head resting over the folded blanket. Arms wide long relaxing, open palm facing sky rolling outward. With deep inhaled breath sternum was going high ribs were widening and with exhalation pelvis was reclining down. 

Day 5

Session 1:

Pincha Mayurasana

Morning was cold without sun so we started with the handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana) and Elbow stand (Pincha Mayurasana). Hands align to the shoulders, eyes on the corner of the wall and jump. We realized jump with another leg was difficult. Buttocks away from wall head straight and eyes looking front. For Elbow stand, elbows should be narrow than palms, chest coming out and side ribs widening.

Then we moved to Utthanasan. Hand straight up while standing, small toes aligned with heel, palm facing each other, bend forward without bending the lumbar & knees and with stretched spine touch the pinky finger on the ground to expand the ribs and extend the torso more. Hold the ankles all finger backward, expand the elbows to stretch the hamstring more and bend forward. Then without moving hips, swipe to one leg to stretch it more and then to another, rest for a while and then take a breath and come up. Same principles for Pashchimutthanasana.

Upavista Konasana

Upavista Konasana, sitting little high on the blanket so that sacrum should erect straight, foot fingers towards the sky, hamstrings touching the floor, take a brick block between palms, raise it high turn the arms and stomach right and put the block down behind the foot and stretch the right hamstring without moving the left buttocks. Get back with the inhalation and do the other side.

Parivrtta Trikonasana, one of the variation of Trikonasana. We were taught how to align the hips (which is foremost important to achieve) and legs of the partner using belt. This can be done with the bed, wall, wall corner, ropes on the wall, etc.

Session ended with Setubandh on the bench and using Bolster Pillow to counterbalance the hips.

Self-practice in the evening.

 

Day 6

Session 1:

Urdhava Mukha Svanasan, forearm perpendicular to the ground, blocks below the palms & middle thighs, all the toes touching on the floor, back of the foot should not touch the ground as it makes stomach harder. Heels pointing to the sky (can spread legs little wide). Now push the chest up and roll the shoulder back and down, there should be a gap in armpit. Hand finger sharp and hands stretched. Thighs hard and long, sacrum to be pushed vertically up, pinch the buttocks inside and push the pelvis down.

Halasana with Chair, bolster pillow and blankets. And this time I did halasana in a slightly different way. And I don’t know why Usha devi pointed me out and praised my expression on the face so much. She showcased me in front of the whole class and asked everybody to look at the face. The forehead, eyes, lips and facial skin everything was stretched to the back of the head and there were no thoughts in my mind.

Session 2:

Gaumukhasana, sitting on heels, toes on the ground. Pair of knees, toes and heels joined together. Raise one arm then bend the arm, palm on the back to hold another arm from behind, upper hand should not go outward. Do the both side.

Stupa Baddha Konasana with palm on the eyes, and then hand stretch wide with inhalation making torso wide and strong.

Vipreetkarni asana with bolster pillows.

Day 7

Session 1:

Utthita Prashvakonasana

Trikonasana, Virbhadrasana-1 and Utthita Prashvakonasana against (perpendicular to) the wall, further details were explained, that legs should start bending from the back leg and hands on the femur head should guide the bend. Against the wall help us to extend the pelvis more outward. While against the wall, the mounds of the front foot should be on the wall, all mounds of the toes should touch the wall, check if we can lift, the toes while mounds are touching the wall. Brick block should be used to get more length away from the wall.

Dandasana, more details explained, the front thigh joints should be pressed more deep in order to get the more extension in the sitting bones, back legs and lower back.

Urdhava Dhanurasana (using chair)

Urdhava Dhanurasana (using bench), put bench against the wall, lay down and bring hips closer to the bench, feet on the bench, arms next to the head, lift the body up to rest the head on the crown, now lift the body further up to raise the hips, hips should be sucked & pinched. Other variation using a block between the legs and Shirsasana while being on the crown.

Session ended with Halshavasana.

Self-practice session in the evening.

 

Day 8

Session 1:

Trikonasana

The session started with lot of discussion over deep breathing . I contradicted by mentioned that Zen breathing technique is different from Pranayama. Tanden is a point located below the navel, and the idea is to hit that point with the breath. Tanden (Zen) technique is similar to Diaphragmatic breathing which helps us relax our Vagus nerve (which connects all the vital organs to the brain) and makes out abdomen soft. Some of the students were having similar opinion with supporting example of infant breathing with stomach. During Pranayama we expand our chest, and in Tanden(Zen) Technique the expansion of chest is not allowed.

Trikonasana was the main focus of this session and I realised that Usha Devi, during the complete course was trying to develop our understanding and intelligence toward this asana including its variations. There is a complete book on Trikonasana called "Alpha & Omega of Trikonasana" which describes the importance of it.

Session 2:

Ultimately, we were resting upside down on those intriguing ropes tied to the wall like Spiderman. We were doing Baddha konasan, the rope and gravity was pulling our upper and lower body apart from the hip joint. We also learnt dual asanas (Sarvangasana & Halasana) on two chairs, which counter balance each other for the chest posture.

Baddha konasan on ropes

List of Asanas taught:

Swastik Asana

Dandasan (Staff pose)

Tadasana

Adho Mukha Veerasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Down Dog)

Urdhava Mukha Svanasan (Up dog)

Shavasna

Virbhadraasana, 1,2&3

Trikonasana

Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide stance forward bend)

Utthita Prashvakonasana, (Extended side angle pose)

Ardhachandrasana

Shirshasana 1&2

Suryanamaskar

Utkhatasana 1 & 2

Padamasana,

Veerasana,

Baddha Konaasana

Bharadwaj Asana

Bhishmasana

Pincha Mayurasana

Adho Mukha Vrksasana

Utthanasan (Standing Forward bend)

Parivrtta Trikonasana

Setubandh with bench

Setuband with blocks and bolster pillow

Pashchimutthanasana (Forward bend)

Gaumukhasana (Cow face)

Vipreetkarni asana (Legs up the wall)

Urdhava Dhanurasana (using bench)

1.