Page:Hatha yoga - or the yogi philosophy of physical well-being, with numberous excercises.djvu/150

150 can act directly upon nearly every cell in their body. And even some of the so-called Yogis of the cities of India—those little more than mountebanks, who exhibit their performances for so many coppers from each wandering traveler—are able to give interesting exhibitions of this control, some of the exhibitions, however, being disgusting to persons of fine sensibilities and painful to the real Yogis, who mourn to see a noble science prostituted in this way.

The trained will is able to act directly upon these cells and groups by a simple process of direct concentration, but this plan requires much training on the part of the student. There are other plans whereby the will is called into operation by the student repeating certain words in order to focus his Will. The auto-suggestions and affirmations of the Western world act in this way. The words focus the attention and Will upon the center of the trouble and gradually order is restored among the striking cells, a supply of Prana also being projected to the seat of the trouble, thus giving the cells additional energy. At the same time the circulation to the affected region is increased, thereby giving the cells more nourishment and building material.

One of the simplest plans of reaching the seat of trouble and giving a vigorous order to the cells is the one taught by the Hatha Yogis to their students, to be used by them until they are able to use the concentrated Will without any aids. The plan is simply to "talk up" to the rebellious organ or part, giving it orders just as one would a group of school boys or a squad of recruits in the army. Give the order positively and firmly, telling the organ just what you wish