Thorpe = Hand, Karanam = Ear

“Thorpi Karnam”” is the actual terminology, but is thoppukaranam in its changed slang. “Thorpi”” means with the hands, and “”Karnam”” means ears in Tamil language. Hence “Thorpikarnam ” means holding the ears with the hands.

Steps

1. Stand in standing “Sthithi pose” facing east side  and tongue touch the upper palate and take a deep breath 2 times.
2. For women, take your right hand and hold your left earlobe and with your left hand hold the right ear lobe.
3. For men, the other way, use the left hand to hold the right ear lobe first and hold the left earlobe with the right hand.
4. Make sure your thumb is on the front of the earlobe and your index finger on the back, press it gently.
5. Holding and lightly pressing your earlobe will increase blood flow to the head, making you feel more alert and awake.
6. Keep your arms as close as you can to your body.
7. Keep your heels together and your toes apart, essentially forming a v-shape on the toes.
8. Exhale, squat down as far as you can, heels do not lift up off the ground and your back straight.
9. Inhale and come to the standing position.
10. Repeat this process 7 to 21 times (start with 7 and gradually increase to 21 at your own pace).
11. When the right ear lobe is squeezed pituitary gland to become energized and activated, when the left ear lobe is squeezed pineal gland to become energized and activated.
12. The left brain is for logical reasoning and the right brain makes decisions based on emotions/intuitions. For a healthy balanced life, the working of both sides of the brain should be balanced and this is exactly achieved by Thoppukaranam.
13. In India, it has been used as a form of fun punishment for students in schools to improve focus and concentration, also parents will make their kids do as many times as they make mistakes on their studies which actually help kids a lot on their concentration.

Tips

1. If you are raising your heel to go down, you can move your feet a little more apart and go down. It will help you easily go down.
2. If you are not able to go down with your legs apart, don’t worry, just try to go down as much as possible for you initially.
3. You will benefit even from trying this posture out,  so try with the hope that you will be able to do the full pose in a few weeks.

Reasons to change position

The reason to change position while holding the ears during Thoppukaranam.

Men should use left hand first and the right hand.

Mens predominant is Surya Nadi. So when we hold through left hand which is moon energy. The right nostril become active. (Now check yourself hold your right ear with left hand you can feel breathe happening in right and change hand see for your self)

Women hold right hand first. As right nostril is heat and by holding with right hand your left nostril is active.

Also any imbalances in heat and cold be balanced by holding alternatively.

As for the men’s is sun energy by holding through left which moon the imbalances geta balance. Same way for women by holding right hand first will balances anything if there.

Precaution: If you have any severe knee problem you should avoid practicing this pose.

Benefits

1. Holding the ear lobes activates the pressure points that stimulate brain cells, improves memory thus helping those with learning disabilities.
2. Improving coordination between the right and left lobes of the brain, leading to enhanced calmness and concentration.
3. Spiritually, it activates the Mooladhara chakra which is our base chakra corresponds to the earth element in our body.
4. Physically, this pose cures respiratory disorders since your lung muscles get squeezed when you go down with exhalation. Regular practice prevents cold, cough and flu.
5. Reduces the fat in the stomach, thighs & hip.