Epilepsy is characterized by seizures that can be undetectable and minor or have vigorous shaking for long periods. Epileptic seizures are a result of abnormal and excessive cortical nerve cell activity in the brain and they can happen once a year to several times a day. In nearly all of the cases the underlying cause is unknown. Some of the known causes of seizures are oxygen deprivation, brain infections, traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumours, neurological diseases and certain genetic disorders. Often these seizures are accompanied by loss of consciousness and control of bladder or bowel. It is one of the oldest recognized conditions and it is still surrounded by fear, social stigma, misunderstanding and discrimination. People with this condition often have fractures, bruising, anxiety and or depression.

The World Today

• Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological condition worldwide.
• One in 26 people will develop epilepsy.
• About 48 of every 100,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy each year. Epilepsy statistics worldwide

• About 470,000 children have active epilepsy in the United States. (CDC, 2020)

• About 3 million adults in the United States have active epilepsy. (CDC, 2020)

• The incidence of epilepsy in U.S. seniors is up to 240 per 100,000 per year. (Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 2016)

• Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide. (World Health Organization, 2019)

• The prevalence of idiopathic (unknown cause) epilepsy increased 6% from the year 1990 to 2016. (The Lancet, 2016)

Source:

https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/epilepsy statistics/#:~:text=One%20in%2026%20people%2 0will,Get%20updated%20epilepsy%20stats%20he re.&text=Epilepsy%20is%20one%20of%20the%2 0most%20common%20neurological%20disorders %20worldwide.

• People of Hispanic descent are more likely to have epilepsy than non- Hispanic people. (Epilepsy Foundation, 2014)
• Active epilepsy is more common in white people than in Black people. (Epilepsy Foundation, 2014)
• In 2014, about 3 in 200 Asian Americans were living with epilepsy. (Epilepsy Foundation, 2014)
• About 375,000 African Americans have active epilepsy. (Epilepsy Foundation, 2015)

Technique

1. Come to stand in Tadasana, stand firmly on both the feet with the hands in a prayer position at the heart

Technique

• 2. Inhale Inhaling, gracefully sweep the arms up over your head and gently arch the spine backwards into Urdhva Hastāsana

Technique

• 3. Exhale Exhaling and bending from the hips, sweep the arms forward and down so the hands touch the floor close to the feet and the forehead comes in close to the knees into Uttanāsana. Bend the knees to allow for greater ease in doing this.

Technique

4. Inhale - Step the left foot back as far as you can and as you inhale, lift your heart center up

Technique

5. Exhale - Step the right foot back and assume the plank position with spine, neck, and head in a straight line, hands placed directly under your shoulders.,

Technique

• 6. On the exhale, lower the knees, chest and chin to the floor assuming aśṭānga namaskār. Point the toes.

Technique

7. Inhale, raise the head and chest off the floor by engaging the lower back and gently pushing with your hands. Keeping the elbows bent at a 90-degree angle, come into bhujangāsana.

Technique

• 8. Exhaling, push with your hands, raise your hips into the air and back and assume Gajāsana. Push your heels towards the floor.

Technique

• 9. Gently look forward at your hands and step the right foot forward as far as you can, close to the hands. Inhale, lift your heart.

Technique

10. Step the right foot forward to meet the right hand. Bend your knees if you need, exhale, and bring the head in close to the legs.

Technique

11. On an inhale, sweep your arms up over your head and gently arch the spine, saluting the Sun.

Technique

12. Exhale, bring your arms down and your hands back into prayer position in front of your chest

Repeat the entire sequence with the interchanging of legs; Do this as many times as possible (max 108 times).

Part 2: Nithya Kriya

ॐ पगन म् दद पगन न्मदन पगन ््ागु म् दुणूे पगन त् पगन म् ्द्च पगन म् वे्वकृिू े॥ ॐ ृ्नपद ृ्नपद ृ्नपद ॥

oṁ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṁ pūrṇāt pūrṇamudacyate | pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate || || oṁ shānti shānti sāntiḥ

"From the space of Completion only Completion comes out. Even when Completion comes out, Completion remains as Completion. When the Completion goes back, Completion remains as Completion".