Calming Agitation of the Nerves: An Exercise

Most people get ‘wound up’ occasionally or frequently. This leads to what is called in Ayurveda ‘deranged vata’. Vata is the dosha that represents the air element in the being. The symptoms can include nervous tics, headaches, indigestion, insomnia, and a general feeling of lack of ease or peace. This can be occasioned by worry, anticipation, or nervous exhaustion, overloaded senses, and in today’s modern world, perhaps one of the biggest culprits is interfacing with various electronic devices, such as TV sets, cell phones or tablets, computers, etc. Additionally certain foods or beverages have been known to accentuate nervous energy, in particular coffee or tea containing caffeine, particularly if indulged in excessively.

By taking steps to begin addressing the primary causes, an individual can notice the various aspects of the being becoming more calm. It may also be necessary to engage in specific types of exercises to aid this process. Meditation can be helpful, but an excited state of the nerves is antithetical to meditation. Frequently, deep breathing techniques or the use of certain mantras while focusing on the breath can be of immense help. The Mother recommends a simple technique below, as an example of the type of exercise one can undertake to calm the nerves and bring a measure of peace to the being. Similarly, walking in the forest, or along the oceanside may act as a calming aid. Whichever method one chooses, there should still be an effort to address the actual underlying causes.

The Mother notes: “These are phenomena of self-identification. Only, they are involuntary. And this is also one of the methods used today to cure nervous diseases. When someone cannot sleep, cannot be restful because he is too excited and nervous and his nerves are ill and weakened by excessive agitation, he is told to sit in front of an aquarium, for instance — an aquarium, that’s very lovely, isn’t it? — before an aquarium with pretty little fish in it, goldfish; just to sit there, settle down in an easy-chair and try not to think of anything (particularly not his troubles) and look at the fish. So he looks at the fish, moving around, coming and going, swimming, gliding, turning, meeting, crossing, chasing one another indefinitely, and also the water flowing slowly and the passing fish. After a while he lives the life of fishes: he comes and goes, swims, glides, plays. And at the end of the hour his nerves are in a perfect state and he is completely restful! … But the condition is that one must not think of one’s troubles, simply watch the fish.”

Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, Living Within: The Yoga Approach to Psychological Health and Growth, Disturbances of the Body and Physical Consciousness, Healing the Nerves, pp. 101-107