Ms. Fharzana Siraj is a Holistic Health Consultant, Yoga therapist/ Acupuncturist, and 1 of the top 16 powerful Yoginis of India 2019. In her never-ending journey, she recently graduated PN’s Level 1 Nutrition Coaching Certification rated as the #1 Nutrition Coaching Certification by Business Insider in 2022.
A proud student of Guruji BKS Iyengar she has done her post-graduation in Yoga Therapy from SVYASA University, Bengaluru & is the founder of Orange Ray, a holistic health clinic housing Ayurveda, Yoga Therapy, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Nutrition, Counselling, etc (www.orangeray.in).
Ms. Namita Nayyar, President, Women Fitness caught up with Ms. Fharzana Siraj, the founder of Orange Ray, a holistic health clinic as a part of the upcoming International Yoga Day 2022.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
You are a Holistic Health Consultant, Yoga therapist/ Acupuncturist, and one of the top 16 powerful Yoginis of India 2019. Walk us through your journey.
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
It all started with my lumbar disc prolapse and chronic pain which followed thereafter. Not finding complete relief from western medicine and the inability and struggle to do my day-to-day chores pushed me into depression. My prayers were answered when I met Guruji BKS Iyengar in Pune. When he examined me and suggested a few asanas, I was more than compliant and very consistent in my practice. A week later, I knew I was on the road to recovery, surely and steadily. After 2 months of therapy, I was leading my normal life. The curious cat in me wanted to learn more of this great science as I felt this was the missing link in healthcare. What followed was years of lessons and practice in Iyengar yoga and certification by Guruji. I was now ready for doing a master’s in Yoga and studying acupuncture as well. Having done both, I am now about to complete my Ph.D. Armed with knowledge, passion, and intuitive abilities, I started treating patients suffering from acute/chronic pain and other lifestyle disorders. Having the knowledge of complementary sciences like Acupuncture and Nutrition has given me the advantage to bring a 360-degree perspective to holistic health and thus results are far quicker and better in patients.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Challenges you faced initially? Also, what inspired you to choose this path?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
Honestly, there was no challenges, only hard and consistent work. My own pain became my asset as I am able to understand my patients’ psychological frame of mind. My inspiration is the innate belief that destiny has chosen me for alleviating the pain and suffering of the people and the smile on their faces and the love they shower on me prods me on to do my work with renewed passion and sincerity.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Does yoga therapy treat injuries like fractures and health issues like osteoporosis?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
Yoga may be useful for people suffering from osteoporosis as it is a low-impact exercise when done with support or props. Practicing yoga definably increases your range of motion conditions the muscles and strengthens the bones which in turn prevents fractures. Treatment of fractures cannot be handled by yoga in the early stages but once the bone heals, Yoga therapy is useful for rehabilitation.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
5 Yoga asanas for posture correction and re-alignment of body, a common lifestyle issue in today’s world?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
- Tadasana or mountain pose
- Marjarya asana or cat pose
- Bitilasana or cow pose
- Adho mukha svanasana or downward-facing dog pose
- Paschim namaskar asana or reverse prayer pose.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
What does the different aspects of a yoga therapy class?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
Yoga therapy is a four-pronged approach – Chaturvyuha
- Heya – What is the problem? symptoms, severity, duration, etc.
- Heya Hetu- Cause of the problem? genetics, infection, deficiency, lifestyle
- Hana- Freedom from suffering / Goal of the treatment or what patient requires or wants to achieve
- Hanopaya- The tools/means to achieve relief or freedom from suffering/ mode of treatment.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
What are the effects of Meditation on the Brain? Can it help to manage infertility?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
Research suggests that people who practiced meditation for many years have more folds in the outer layer of the brain. This process is called gyrification and it may increase the brain’s ability to process information. Studies also suggest that meditation may slow, stall, or even reverse changes that take place in the brain due to normal aging. Meditation can affect activity in the amygdala (a part of the brain involved in processing emotions), and that different types of meditation can affect the amygdala differently even when the person is not meditating.
Some studies also suggest that meditation activates certain areas of the brain in response to pain and may increase a person’s tolerance to pain.
Regarding infertility, if the cause is stress then definitely it may help in infertility but if it’s another cause then meditation may not provide the solution.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Please advise me on the yogic management for Backache?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
Backache is a very broad-based term. As always one needs to find the cause. It could be muscle spasm due to stress, misalignment due to bad posture, injury due to a fall, etc., or disc prolapse, scoliosis, nerve impingement, or even sciatica. Only after assessment of the patient and correct diagnosis one can prescribe a yogic line of treatment. Hamstring stretches, hip flexor movements, extension and flexion of the spine, twists, and lateral stretches. will definitely give relief.
Some of the asanas one can do is
- Suptapadungusthasana
- Adhomukhasvanasana
- Bharadwajaasana
- Trikonasana
- Shalabhasana etc.
the important key here is to use props for support and only do these in amid way and not stretch intensely. A gentle practice done twice daily will be very helpful.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
From your experience can you suggest a sound methodology for using yoga exercises in reducing pain felt in primary dysmenorrhea?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
In yoga, it is advised that menstruating women practice a sequence-specific to their condition rather than do general yoga. This is because the body and mind are in a different states at this time. The body is directing its energy to shed the lining of the uterus. This causes many women to feel physically uncomfortable, suffer abdominal cramping, backache, breast swelling, and tenderness, and generally feel fatigued and depleted. The brain may feel as though it is vibrating or throbbing and the woman may feel irritable and emotional.
All inversions are contraindicated during menstruation – meaning, they should not be done until menstruation is over. This is because the lining of the uterus is meant to come out of the body as waste material and not be retained.
Inversions will check or slow down the flow of this waste material from the body. If inversions are done regularly during menstruation, particularly over the longer term, it could compromise menstruation and reproductive health possibly leading to conditions such as fibroids, cysts, endometriosis, or even cancer.
Similarly, any poses that tighten or constrict the abdomen should not be done during menstruation. This group of poses includes abdominal asanas, closed twists, ‘body knottings’ (leg behind the head poses), unsupported backends, and hand balancing pose. These poses will only harden the abdomen and the reproductive organs and bring heat into the body. The effect is to increase or worsen the symptoms such as cramping, aggravating the nervous system creating irritability, and increasing the duration of the menses.
During the first one or two days of the period cycle, the symptoms are usually worse. The practice sequence for these days should be restful; involving supported supine postures, supported forward bends, followed by savasana. ( Supta Baddhakonasana on the bolster, Adhomukha Virasana on the bolster. )When followed correctly and the asanas are held for the requisite time, this sequence can really relieve all of the symptoms. The groins are softened which reduces abdominal cramping. The legs are rested which quietens the brain. The nervous system is soothed and cooled. The poses are restful and the woman feels restored at the completion of the sequence.
As the menstruation flow lightens, usually from days three to five, the woman may wish to reintroduce supported standing poses against the wall. ( eg Ardhachandrasana) The purpose of using the wall is to give the woman support when doing the asanas and to ensure that the chest and abdomen are opened. Supported Adhomukasvanasana and Supta Virasana on bolster are also recommended during this period.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Busting myths that Yoga does not help in digestive function?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
The Mind-Body Link:
Ancient yogis understood that good digestion is key to radiant health. The digestive system is a very sensitive mirror of the mind, solely under the influence of the autonomic nervous system, governed by the limbic area of the brain. The digestive process is governed by the autonomic nervous system, largely under our subconscious control. Emotions and mental processes act directly on the limbic area of the brain and via the nervous system; they affect the stomach and digestive organs. The parasympathetic nervous system (dominant in a relaxed state) turns on digestive juices, speeds up peristalsis, and opens the sphincters. science has proven that yoga through asanas, pranayamas, bandhas, mudras, and dhyana activates the parasympathetic nervous system and in turn, regulates all the other systems of the body, especially the digestive system. There is also a lesser-known part of our body’s nervous system located in our gut. It’s called the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system’s network of nerves, neurons, and neurotransmitters extends along the entire digestive tract – from the esophagus, through the stomach and intestines, and down to the anus.
Because the enteric nervous system relies on the same type of neurons and neurotransmitters that are found in the central nervous system, some medical experts call it our “second brain.” The “second brain” in our gut, in communication with the brain in our head, plays a key role in certain diseases in our bodies and in our overall physical and mental health.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Is Kapalbhati suitable for the person suffering from Hypertension or not? Can you share an experience with your patient?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
Kapalbhati is a rapid breathing technique and is like forced hyperventilation. Though kapalbhati is contraindicated for hypertensive patients, research says that systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate increase significantly during kapalbhati but when compared pre kapalbhati data with post-kapalbhati data; the increase was insignificant. This is what I have discovered in my practice too. In fact, gentle and monitored kapalbhati practice helps in reducing stress and emptying the mind of its thoughts (reducing the ‘vega’ or speed of thoughts). I have used Kapalbhati not at the beginning of pranayama practice but sandwiched in between two nadi shuddhi practices. This has helped many hypertensive patients get rid of their hypertension medications.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
How far does one’s diet influence yogic healing? Foods one should omit from the diet? Tips to follow when opting for therapeutic yoga?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
Diet is the centerpiece of yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda. India’s traditional system of medicine characterizes foods based on their taste and makes dietary recommendations based on how foods with different tastes affect people of different constitutions.
For example, people with fiery pitta constitutions might be advised to refrain from overly spicy foods in favor of foods with bitter, astringent, and sweet tastes.
Hyperactive vatas, Ayurveda suggests, benefit from eating warm, nutritious meals on a regular schedule, emphasizing sweet, salty, and sour tastes.
Kaphas, with their tendency toward inertia, may be told to cut back on sweets and high-fat foods, opting instead for spicy, bitter, or astringent foods. Ayurveda’s analysis of diet is intricate and subtle but as a thumb rule and to make it simple one must follow the sattvic diet. In general, sattvic foods are ripe, raw, or lightly cooked and freshly prepared.
Foods that are old/stale or not prepared properly are not sattvic. GMO foods are not sattvic . Processed and fried foods are not sattvic. Animal meat is not sattvic.
The sattvic diet is high in nutrient-rich plant foods. It includes:
Sprouted whole grains, whole grains, Fresh fruit, Land and sea vegetables, nuts and seed milk, Cheese, Legumes, Nuts, Seeds, Sprouted seeds, honey, Herbal teas, and Ghee.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Orange Ray is a center for holistic fitness and wellness founded by you? The best feedback you received to date?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
This is from Ms. Ananya Rane– copied as received on Google.
‘I had been suffering from a no. of long Covid symptoms for more than 7 months when I got in touch with Dr. Siraj. No allopathic medication or treatment was working. Not only did Dr. Siraj help me with my long Covid symptoms, but she helped me with a lot of other health issues I was dealing with, not only physical but mental and emotional as well.
Dr. Siraj’s approach to healing is unique and mindful. As she says, she treats from the outside to the inside. It’s not a one-dimensional treatment, but a holistic approach to healing. Not only does she take the time to understand your physical symptoms, but she makes time to understand you as a person, which I found was extremely effective in diagnosing and treating my problems.
I spent 14 weeks under Dr. Siraj’s watchful eye, and I can safely say, that a lot of my problems have been addressed and taken care of and my health is back to almost normal
I will be forever grateful to Dr. Siraj for taking me under her care and giving me the support I needed during some of my toughest times. And her team at Orange Ray was nothing short of amazing. Their response time was quick and even though it was over texts, I always felt they were extremely polite and helpful, no matter what my request may have been.
To the entire team at Orange Ray & the most fantastic Dr. Siraj, “a heartfelt THANK YOU for getting back on track! I will forever be grateful for everything you have helped me with!”
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Please share the difference between Acupressure & Acupuncture? How far does it help in healing? Many find it a fad, a Problem that can be healed with both the methods
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
Acupuncture and Acupressure are forms of Traditional Chinese medicine that focus on Qi, which is the body’s life force energy. Studies link the two treatments with a plethora of health benefits involving everything from digestive problems to mood disorders, to pain relief and stress relief.
Traditionally, acupuncture attempts to stimulate the meridians or energy pathways in the body so it can balance itself. Needles are inserted into acupuncture points throughout the body which are connected by the meridians.
It re-establishes the body’s ability to transmit messages as it clears the blocked meridians which in turn allow it to balance and heal itself. Acupuncture is invasive while Acupressure is not. Acupuncture requires skill and training while anyone can do Acupressure. Since I am a licensed Acupuncturist and have seen the results which are very quick, especially for pain reduction and elimination I can vouch for its efficacy.
Acupressure on the other hand can be painful as the muscles become sore for a few days. Of course, Acupressure is very useful for myofascial release and other disorders though the process may be slower and more painful compared to Acupuncture. Both of these are very useful in low back pain, neck pain, etc.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
How far have we been successful in making people understand the true essence of yoga practice?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
This is a good question. Yoga is too big a sphere and understanding its full potential is very difficult albeit not impossible. The good news is that people are accepting it more easily than ever before because of its sheer efficacy to treat their health issues and bring about well-being. It’s a 5000-year-old science and is still relevant today and that tells us about the life-changing impact it has had on human beings. Hoping in times to come more and more people are able to adopt it as a lifestyle.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Please share your message for the upcoming International Yoga Day 2022?
Ms. Fharzana Siraj
To the people out there, Yoga is not only done on the mat but should be practiced in every aspect of your life. Allow it to come into your lives and watch it slowly and steadily transform each one of you into happier, healthier, better humans.
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