On Shrimad Bhagwad Gita: Those who cannot work on the mind must work on the body

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिबाहातान्तरे भुवो।

प्राणापानो समो कृत्वानासाभ्यन्तरचारिणो।। 5.27 ।।

sparśhān kṛitvā bahir bāhyānśh chakṣhuśh chaivāntare bhruvoḥ

prāṇāpānau samau kṛitvā nāsābhyantara-chāriṇau

यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिमुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः।

विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः।। 5.28 ।।

yatendriya-mano-buddhir munir mokṣha-parāyaṇaḥ

vigatechchhā-bhaya-krodho yaḥ sadā mukta eva saḥ

Keeping the external objects outside, the eyes at the juncture of the eyebrows, and making equal the out-going and in-coming breaths that move through the nostrils, the contemplative one who has control over his organs, mind, and intellect, should be fully intent on liberation and free from desire, fear, and anger. He who is ever, is verily free.

~ ~ Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, Chapter 5, Verses 27, 28

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Question: Why is Shri Krishna recommending us to do physical acts of control such as fixing gaze between eyebrows, or breathing in equilibrium? Do such actions have any value in spirituality?

Acharya Prashant: Yes, they do have value in spirituality. The body and the mind are obviously related.

One of the ways to bring the mind to stillness

is to bring the body to stillness;

many times this is the only way.

Why?

Because the body is gross and easy to perceive.

The movement of the body…