Yoga | Yoga sutras | Yoga Postures | Yoga Asanas - All about Yoga

Best tips to be followed in Yoga Class

2011-09-16T23:27:00.002+05:30

Here are some tips for beingmannerly on your mat:

On arriving late (or leaving early)

The main thing here is, try notto do either. But, things happen, and the best-laid plans often go awry.

In some private studios, the doorwill be closed and quite possibly locked, thus taking care of what to do aboutlate-comers. Pounding on the door would not be a viable option here. In gymsettings, or in studios where walking in late is possible, be respectful of themeditative yearnings of the rest of the class who showed up on time — open andclose the door quietly, tiptoe in, open and lay down your mat as delicately asif you were handling TNT.

Be as unobtrusive as apickpocket. And if you must leave early, best to inform the teacher beforeclass starts, and leave with the utmost quietness. Getting up during savasana(final resting pose) is a no-no.

Taking up space

Avoid wedging your mat in wherethere is insufficient space Your teacher can help rearrange the layout of mats.That way you won't have to incur the wrath (wrath is unyoga-like, yet notuncommon in such situations) of participants who are already deep into theirown inner as well as outer space.

Do not tread on others' mats

This should go without saying,but I am saying it anyway because I see it happening all the time. This istantamount to inviting yourself into someone else's home. Step over anyone'smat that's not your own.

Come to class clean . . .

Body odor is a big distraction.If your routine is to work out vigorously and then come to yoga class, wash offthe sweat and use a deodorant. Hand sanitizers should be liberally employed.Offer to share with your neighbors, especially in flu season. If you are ill,stay away from class; others do not need to be exposed any more than isnecessary, and you can always practice at home.

. . . but not too clean

Avoid finishing off your aurawith perfumes and colognes. Many people are sensitive to fragrances.

Wear appropriate clothing

Yoga is not about fashionstatements. Comfort and practicality rule. Please, leave your shirt on. I haveon two occasions witnessed practitioners strip during class. I suppose that onemay ask permission before doing so in an unusually warm setting.

On doing your own thing

Don't. Even if you have a betterpractice than the teacher, or anyone else in the room. This kind of thing leadsto a free-for-all, which is definitely not conducive to a mind-body-spiritbalanced class. If there is a pose that you just have to do, and the teacher isnot offering it, wait until the end of class and go do it to your heart'scontent. Now, if you are pregnant, that is a whole other matter. You do need tomodify poses and avoid certain ones as well.

Breathing too loudly

Uijayi pranayama (ocean-sounding, or victorious breath) is awonderful practice, even if you have not been invited by the teacher to use it.But it can be distracting to others. Properly performed, it should be audibleonly as far as the next mat over. And please, no grunting; if the pose is toostrenuous, simply back off and pause in prayer or child pose.

Thank your teacher

Simply repeat "namaste"after she says it at the end of class, even if you are a bit unsure of exactlywhat it means. And perhaps you might take a moment to expand upon the sentimentby saying a bit more about how great the class was, etc. Teachers lovefeedback.

Clean up

That means wiping off your mat,especially if you are using one that belongs to the facility. Put away yourprops too — neatly. Be like a Boy Scout and leave the place a little betterthan you found it.

B.K.S.Iyengar is a living legend

2011-07-06T23:26:00.001+05:30

Yogacharya B.K.S.Iyengar (Guruji) is a living legend who has taught yoga in a unique way to all his students. B. K. S. Iyengar introduced Iyengar Yoga, a form of Hatha Yoga known for its use of props, such as belts, blocks, and blankets, as aids in performing asanas (postures). Iyengar Yoga is firmly on the traditional eight limbs of yoga as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, which includes yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi.

Yoga for Fitness

2011-07-02T13:33:00.000+05:30

Yoga is all the rage for its combined physical and mental benefits, as well as the fact that so many of us look downright sexy in those groovy yoga pants and bare, recently pedicure feet.

Hatha Yoga is the most commonly practiced form, and it's ideal for beginners, focusing as it does on slow stretching and simple poses. Like all fitness trends, more intense forms of Yoga are the ones you hearing people talking about—Iyangar, Vinyasa, Tantric and Hot Yoga are in vogue with the same people who were all about Pilates a couple of years ago. If you're looking to increase your strength, balance and flexibility in a calm atmosphere, look for a generic, beginners' Yoga class instead of going with one of the trendier forms: you'll find it satisfying and you'll be less likely to suffer strains.

Some Yoga classes focus on spiritual work with a lessened emphasis on fitness. There may be meditation and chanting. Yoga at the gym or health club will probably be fitness oriented, but if you study at an ashram or another place dedicated to Yoga, you may find the classes more comprehensive.

If you're looking for a more challenging workout and want to shake things up a bit, you may want to try Iyangar Yoga, which can be fluid and fast paced. Iyangar is not for the out-of-shape: you'd be surprised at the muscles you can pull if you just jump into an already-moving Iyangar class. While Hatha Yoga doesn't generally use props, Iyangar uses some of the same bands and bricks as Pilates.

There are as many types of Yoga as there are people who teach it. Hot Yoga is especially popular because it's fun to do Yoga in a 95 degree room full of sweating students. Okay, that doesn't sound like fun, but people love it because it combines a Yoga workout full of stretching and bending with a room heated to bring waxy flexibility to even fairly stiff muscles and joints. Hot Yoga isn't for everyone—if you have health issues like heart trouble, if you're pregnant or out of shape, you shouldn't attempt Hot Yoga. But if you're in good health and especially if you live in the cold North and want a warm winter workout, Hot Yoga is the way to go.

There are various ways of becoming certified to teach Yoga, so before you join a class, find out about the instructor's educational background. You want a teacher who's been doing Yoga for a long time, and it never hurts if that person also has a degree in something like exercise physiology. Yoga is a specialist sport: your gym shouldn't be training Yoga instructors in 3 or even 6 months: Yoga takes years. And once you've ascertained that your instructor does indeed know her or his stuff, you will still want to look for the hallmarks of a good instructor. Instructors should be happy to answer questions, should provide demonstrations and feedback during class, and should never push you into doing things you aren't ready for. Because Yoga is about stretching and gaining flexibility, people who are in a hurry to get fit may feel impatient. That impatience can lead to injury if you stretch too far, bounce in your stretching or attempt poses that hurt. Don't expect to be able to do it all at first: over time, you'll get stronger and will be able to hold poses longer and take on new challenges in the form of more extreme poses.

Restorative Yoga

2010-08-21T12:54:00.001+05:30

The word yoga comes from Sanskrit, the scriptural language of ancient India, and means "to yoke" or "to unite." Dating back to the Indus Valley civilization of 2000 to 4000 B.C.E., yoga practices are designed to help the individual feel whole. Ancient yoga texts present teachings that include the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of the practitioner. The physical aspects of yoga--poses (asana) and breathing techniques (pranayama) are the most popular in the West.

Restorative Yoga poses help relieve the effects of chronic stress in several ways.

1. The use of props as described in this book provides a completely supportive environment for total relaxation.

2. Each restorative sequence is designed to move the spine in all directions. These movements illustrate the age-old wisdom of yoga that teaches well-being is enhanced by a healthy spine. Some of the restorative poses are backbends, while others are forward bends. Additional poses gently twist the column both left and right.

3. A well-sequenced restorative practice also includes an inverted pose, which reverses the effects of gravity. This can be as simple as putting the legs on a bolster or pillow, but the effects are quite dramatic. Because we stand or sit most of the day, blood and lymph fluid accumulate in the lower extremities. By changing the relationship of the legs to gravity, fluids are returned to the upper body and heart function is enhanced.

Psychobiologist and yoga teacher Roger Cole, Ph.D., consultant to the University of California, San Diego, in sleep research and biological rhythms, has done preliminary research on the effects of inverted poses. He found that they dramatically alter hormone levels, thus reducing brain arousal, blood pressure, and fluid retention. He attributes these benefits to a slowing of the heart rate and dilation of the blood vessels in the upper body that comes from reversing the effects of gravity.

Fourth, restorative yoga alternately stimulates and soothes the organs. For example, by closing the abdomen with a forward bend and then opening it with a backbend, the abdominal organs are squeezed, forcing the blood out, and then opened, so that fresh blood returns to soak the organs. With this movement of blood comes the enhanced exchange of oxygen and waste products across the cell membrane.

Finally, yoga teaches that the body is permeated with energy. Prana, the masculine energy, resides above the diaphragm, moves upward, and controls respiration and heart rate. Apana, the feminine energy, resides below the diaphragm, moves downward, and controls the function of the abdominal organs. Restorative yoga balances these two aspects of energy so that the practitioner is neither over stimulated nor depleted.

Yoga for Fitness, Wellness, Mental health

2010-06-21T21:04:00.002+05:30

Guidelines for Yoga practice

2010-03-11T22:12:00.001+05:30

Yoga is a methodical System of physical and mental excellence which requires agreement to certain rules, principle and methodology in order to acquire adequate results. If these rules and principles are not followed correctly it may causes harm and injury to the body. Some of the guidelines for practicing Yoga are as follows.

There is no exact time for doing yoga. But is advised to Yoga in the morning hours, because is always better as you will be free for the rest of the day.
Whatever time you have selected, attach to the same time of practice every day.
Practice yoga regularly and you will not get good results with asymmetrical practice.
Practice only once per day.
Do yoga at least 15 minutes per day, for 5 days a week. You can increase workout time 15 minutes to a maximum of 1 hour.
You have to maintain the place of yoga practice neat, clean and airy. It will give motivation for you.
Practice Yoga with blank stomach in the morning.
Women should not practice yoga during their menstrual periods.
Pregnant women should take care to practice moderately.
If you have taken food, wait for two or more hours before practicing.
Avoid hot and spicy food and try to eat a balanced diet.
Relax in between asanas for 6 to 8 seconds. Take 2 or 3 normal breaths between asanas.
Rest at the end of the asana session. The general principle is to rest 1/4th of the time of actual practice. For example if you practice asanas for 20 minutes, your rest time is 5 minutes.
Wear clean and light cloth while practicing.
Avoid excessive drinking of coffee, tea, alcohol and drugs.
Try to keep the mind free from anxiety, worries and any strenuous involvement while you are practicing Yoga.

Yoga Benefits

2010-03-11T22:08:00.000+05:30

Yoga is a science that has been practiced for thousands of years. It is consists of Ancient Theories, observations and principles about the mind and body connection which is now being proven by modern medicine. Studies show that regular yoga regimen involving a variety of Yoga Postures (Asanas), Yoga Breathing (Pranayama), and Meditation can offer relief for patients suffering from asthma, chronic back pain, arthritis and obsessive compulsive disorder, among other problems.

The most important benefit of yoga is physical and mental therapy. According to medical scientists, yoga therapy is successful because of the balance created in the nervous and endocrine systems which directly influences all the other systems and organs of the body. Yoga acts both as a curative and precautionary therapy. The regular practice yoga helps in getting mental peace, improved concentration powers, a relaxed state of living.

Benefits of Yoga:

It increase Muscle flexibility and joint range of motion increase
Breath-holding time increases
Eye-hand coordination improves
It improves the dexterity skills
Posture improves
Strength and resiliency increase
Yoga increases Endurance and energy levels
Yoga regularizes the weight of our body
Yoga decreases insomnia and increases Immunity
Yoga improves blood circulation in our body and it provides healthier organs, skin, and brain.
Daily Yoga practice decreases blood pressure through better circulation and oxygenation of the body.
Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases
EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)
EMG activity decreases
Cardiovascular efficiency increases
Respiratory efficiency increases
Gastrointestinal function normalizes
It normalizes the endocrine function
Yoga reduces spinal density and helps overall body alignment to reduce back pain.
Integrated functioning of body parts improves
Yoga has been used for disorders such as addictions, Asthma, Backache, Bronchitis, Cancer, Cold, Constipation, Depression, Emphysema, Eye strain, Flatulence, Headache, Heart Disorders, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Indigestion, Insomnia, Menstrual disorders, Migraines, Neurasthenia, Obesity, Premenstrual Tension, Prostate troubles, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Sexual debility etc.

Mental Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has a positive effect on learning efficiency and a better memory.
Through yoga self-acceptance and self-actualization increases
Social adjustment increases
Anxiety and Depression decreases
Regular practice of Yoga can result in better concentration and more motivation.
Well-being increases with yoga practice. The combination of creating a strong mind-body connection, creating a healthy body, and focusing inward can all lead to improvement in your mood.
Yoga reduces anxiety and depression
Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
Depth perception improves
Through Yoga meditation techniques calmness increases

Biochemical Benefits of Yoga

Yoga reduces the Glucose levels in the body
It reduces sodium levels in your body
Yoga promotes a strong lymphatic system and reduces toxins in your body
Yoga reduces cholesterol through increased blood circulation and burning extra fat. It is a great tool to fight against harmful cholesterol levels.
Triglycerides decrease
Yoga helps to regulate and control hormone secretion. An improved endocrine system keeps hormones in balance and promotes better health for you.
Cholinesterase increases
Catecholamine decrease
Hemoglobin increases
Lymphocyte count increases
Yoga increases the level of red blood cells in the body. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen through the blood. It decreases white blood cell count
Thyroxin increases
Vitamin C increases
Total serum protein increases. Yoga routine increases the vitamin C in your body. Vitamin C helps boost immunity, helps produce collagen, and is a powerful antioxidant.

Siddha Yoga

2010-03-11T21:57:00.000+05:30

Siddha Yoga is a religious path of discipline, of mastering the mind and senses with teachings and practices instilled with grace. The Siddha Yoga was founded by Gurumayi's ancestor and Guru, Swami Muktananda in 1970’s.

Siddha Yoga was previously used as a Sanskrit term. The term ‘siddha yoga’ is documented in 1948 by Swami Vishnu Tirtha. The yoga of Kundalini is known as ‘Mahayoga’. It is also sometimes called ‘Siddha Yoga’ because it can be acquired only through the favor of a perfect master (Siddha Guru) without any effort on the part of the initiated.

The teachings of Siddha Yoga are stated in the scriptures like ‘Bhagavad Gita’, ‘Yoga Sutras’ of Patanjali, ‘Bhakti Sutras’, the ‘Mahabharata’, ‘the Ramayana’ etc. The main practices of Siddha Yoga include meditation, chanting, seva, dakshina, satsang and intensives. The form of meditation practiced is the silent focusing on a mantra and on the flow of breath. The mantra used for meditation is ‘Om Namah Shivaya’.

Siddha Yoga is a new religious movement that is based in part on the Hindu spiritual traditions of Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism. It has ashrams and meditation centers in several countries like India, the United States, Australia, Great Britain and Japan.

Purna Yoga or Integral Yoga

2010-03-11T21:53:00.000+05:30

The word Purna means ‘complete’ or ‘full’ in Sanskrit and sometimes it is also called ‘Supramental yoga’. Purna Yoga was initiated by Bengali philosopher and sage Sri Aurobindo in 1990’s. Integral Yoga is the process of the union of all the parts of one's being with the Divine, and the change of all of their harsh elements into a harmonious state of higher divine consciousness and existence.

Sri Aurobindo describes the nature and practice of integral yoga in his work ‘The Synthesis of Yoga’. The integral yoga is yoga of synthesis, proposed to tone the paths of karma, jnana, and bhakti yoga as described in the ‘Bhagavad Gita’. It regarded as an amalgamation between Vedanta and Tantra, and even between Eastern and Western approaches to spirituality.

Purna Yoga offers wisdom and techniques for the union of the body and the mind with the spirit. Using awareness, precision, and concentration, Purna Yoga inspires the evolution from our lower nature to our Divine. It is the art of loving yourself by living from the heart. Purna Yoga or integral yoga is said to be an improvisation over the traditional Yoga systems of India. Purna Yoga is a world-assenting and body-positive spirituality that joins self-transcendence with love, compassion, and worship for all life.

According to the Integral Yoga the ultimate goal of life is complete self-incorporation. This self-integration involves other important elements like action, love, wisdom and peace.

Tantra Yoga

2010-03-11T21:48:00.000+05:30

The word ‘tantra’ means ‘expansion’ and Tantra focuses on the dynamic aspect of divinity called ‘Shakti’. Tantra yoga is one of the several types of yoga; it is a holistic approach to the study of the universe from the point of view of the individual. Tantra is a living system which is designed to promote rapid growth towards enlightenment.

There are many sciences which are included in Tantric Yoga, such as astronomy, astrology, numerology, physiognomy, physics, chemistry, alchemy, Ayurveda, psychology, mathematics, geometry, and more.

The goal of tantra yoga is to awaken and harmonize the male and female aspects within each person in order to spiritually awaken and realize the whole universe as an expression of the divine life force, or Spirit.

The Tantras are not books of sorcery, witchcraft, magic spells, and mysterious formulae. They are wonderful scriptures ‘Mahanirvana’ and ‘Kularnava Tantras’ are the important books in Tantra Sastra. Yoga Kundalini, Upanishad of Krishna Yajurveda, Jabala Darsana, Trisikha Brahmana, and Varaha Upanishad are useful for getting knowledge of Kundalini Sakti and the methods to awaken it and take it to Sahasrara Chakra at the crown of the head.

Tantra Yoga helps to cross the obstacles to our development, particularly those cropping up from ignorance, intolerance, attachment to our rudeness, and selfishness. By following the Tantra Yoga techniques we can learn to create peace, harmony, and order within ourselves.

Mantra Yoga

2010-03-11T21:42:00.000+05:30

Mantra-Yoga is an important aspect of Tantra Yoga but it also be practiced as a separate path. It is considered the easiest in all forms of Yoga because it involves no complex practices. The essence of Mantra-Yoga is the regular and extensive recitation (japa) of one or more potent sounds (mantra), which awaken the chakras in our body.

The word mantra is related to manas (the mind) and is a sound or word. It is generally used to help focus the mind on a single thought until selfish. Mantra Yoga means to unite using the utensil of mantra. This process is called concentration and Meditation.

There are many mantras which can be used and are mainly in Sanskrit. The most common and used worldwide is the ‘Ohm’ mantra which helps in creating that feeling of ease and calmness. The chanting Mantra is the only thing that remains in your mind, which increases your concentration and self-awareness level.

According to the Mantra-Mahodadhi (Ocean of Mantras), Mantra Yoga has fifteen limbs:

Devotion
Purification
Posture
Serving the five limbs, the daily ritual of reading the Bhagavad-Gita, and the Sahasra-Nama, and declaiming songs of praise, protection, and heart-opening. These five are thought of as the "limbs" of the Divine.
Conduct
Concentration
Serving the divine space
Breath ritual
Gesture or seal
Satisfaction
Invocation
Offering
Sacrifice
Recitation
Meditation

Jnana yoga

2010-01-23T23:15:00.000+05:30

The word ‘Jnana’ in Sanskrit means ‘knowledge’, ‘insight, or ‘wisdom’. Jnana yoga is one of the types of yoga mentioned in Hindu philosophies. According to ancient Greeks, the word gnosis means a special kind of liberating knowledge or intuition. Actually, both the terms ‘jnana’ and ‘gnosis’ are related through the Indo-European root ‘gno’, which means ‘to know’.

The path of Jnana-Yoga, which has been described as a straight but steep course, is outlined with elegant conciseness by Sadananda in his ‘Vedanta-Sara’, a fifteenth-century manuscript. Sadananda lists four principal means for attaining liberation.

1. Viveka - Discrimination: This is the capability to differentiate between what is real/eternal and what is unreal/ temporal (everything else in the universe.)

2. Vairagya-Dispassion: After practice one should be able to separate her/himself from everything that is temporary.

3. Shad-sampat - The 6 Virtues: Tranquility (control of the mind), Dama (control of the senses), Uparati (renunciation of activities that are not duties), Titiksha (endurance), Shraddha (faith), and Samadhana (perfect concentration).

4. Mumukshutva – the cultivation of the spiritual impulse

Bhakti Yoga

2010-01-23T23:10:00.000+05:30

In Hinduism Bhakti Yoga is a term which indicates the spiritual practice of nurturing loving devotion to God, called ‘bhakti’. Traditionally there are nine forms of bhakti-yoga. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to liberation, or moksha. The other paths include Karma, Raja and Jnana Yoga. In Bhagavata Purana, bhakti is portrayed as a perfection stage in itself which surpasses even moksha as a level of spiritual realization. Hindu movements in which bhakti yoga is the main practice are called bhakti movements.

Bhakti Yoga is the system in which love and devotion are highlighted. Bhakti Yoga traditions do not teach about main aspects of yoga like asana, pranayama, mudra or meditation. Love of God, love of God in man, and surrender to God's will are the major points in Bhakti Yoga approach.

There are no certain ways to execute Bhakti yoga. Some people find that external abets can contribute to a devotional attitude. For instance an altar used during prayer and meditation; using of pictures of Gods to serve as inspiration; chanting or singing of mantras to help in creating a mood as preparation for meditation.

Bikram Yoga

2010-01-23T23:06:00.000+05:30

Bikram Yoga is also known as ‘Hot Yoga’ because it is practiced in a hot room between the temperatures of 36-37 degrees Celsius/ 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat produced is said to encourage purification of toxins through perspiration and loosens up the muscles. Hot Yoga comprises a set of 26 poses done repeatedly. The various styles of yoga consequently present various challenges. Whichever form of Yoga you opt for, it depends on how much you wish to confront yourself.

Iyengar Yoga

2010-01-23T23:02:00.000+05:30

Iyengar Yoga, generated by B.K.S. Iyengar, is a form of yoga known for its use of supports, such as belts and blocks, which helps in performing asanas (postures). It is strongly based on the traditional Astanga yoga as explained by Patanjali in his ‘Yoga Sutras’. The yoga sutras accentuate the development of strength, stamina, flexibility and balance, as well as concentration (Dharana) and meditation (Dhyana). Iyengar has regulated over 200 classical yoga Asanas and 14 different types of Pranayamas from the simple level to the incredibly difficult.

Iyengar Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga and it focuses on the structural alignment of the physical body through the development of asanas. Through the practice of a system of asanas, it aims to unite the body, mind and spirit for health and well-being. Iyengar founded the use of struts such as cushions, benches, blocks, straps, and even sand bags, which assists in allowing novice to experience asanas more easily.

The regular practice of Iyengar Yoga controls various ailments like chronic backache, immunodeficiency, high blood pressure, insomnia, depression and menopause. The Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute located in Pune, India.

Karma Yoga

2009-11-25T19:49:00.001+05:30

Karma yoga also called ‘Buddhi Yoga’ or the "discipline of action" is based on the teachings of Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita, a holy Sanskrit scripture of Hinduism. The word ‘Kri’ means 'to do' in Sanskrit and the karma means action, and yoga indicates to union. Therefore ‘Karma yoga’ means ‘the path of union through action’. It is portrayed as a way of acting, thinking and willing by which one acts in accordance with one's duty (dharma).

Karma yoga is one of the four pillars of yoga and hubs on the adherence to task (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It utters that one can experience salvation (Moksha) or love (bhakti) of God by executing their duties in a generous manner in order to get the pleasure of the God, which is the welfare of the world. Karma Yoga is an intrinsic part of many derivative types of yoga, such as Natya Yoga.

Karma Yoga is a system which develops immunity to the reactive and negative components of an action. This awareness of action leads to a greater ability to manage mental associations in the form of desires, ambitions, ego and other personality complexes.

The main endeavor of Karma Yoga is to achieve liberty from the repression of karma which restricts and inhibits dynamic, creative and constructive expression in life. In the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ lord Sri Krishna has accentuated the need for action as a means to become truly human and achieve celestial grace. Karma Yoga is a sadhana and not a practice. The state of Karma Yoga can be attained through seva.

Dhyana Yoga

2009-11-25T19:44:00.001+05:30

Dhyana Yoga is one of the eight limbs of Astanga Yoga proposed by Sage Patanjali in his ‘Yoga Sutras’. The word ‘dhyai’ comes from Sanskrit, which means “to think of”. A popular form of Dhyana Yoga is the Kundalini Yoga. The Dhyana Yoga system is specifically described by Lord Sri Krishna in chapter 6 of the famous ‘Bhagavad Gita’, wherein he explains the key Yoga systems to his disciple, Arjuna in the battleground of Kurukshetra.

In the Ashtanga Yoga, Dhyana is practiced together with Dharana and Samadhi comprises the Samyama. In Dhyana, the mediator is not conscious of the act of meditation but is only aware that he exists (consciousness of being), and aware of the object of meditation.

There are different forms of Dhyana Yoga. The aim is to withdraw all senses from various objects of interest and focus on one object. Dhyana Yoga produces a state of calm. The main objective Dhyana Yoga is to cleanse the subconscious, develop concentration, clear the mind, and bring about various stages of unified unity with God.

Kundalini Yoga

2009-11-25T19:32:00.001+05:30

Kundalini Yoga is a physical and meditative facet of Yoga. It consists of a supple set of Yoga techniques that engages the mind, senses and body in a tender to develop an amalgamation of the body and mind. The main focus of Kundalini Yoga is more on psycho-spiritual growth besides one’s body's ability to mature. At the same time, due consideration is given to the role of the spine and the endocrine system in the realizing Kundalini awakening.

Kundalini is a concerted form of prana or life force, lying inactive in chakras in the body. The word 'kundalini' means awareness and hidden potential of that awareness. The word kund, means ‘to burn’ and kunda means ‘to coil’ or ‘to spiral’. Kundalini Yoga is based on the 7 chakras (psychic centers) in the body. The attempt to release a Yogic power is known as Kundalini Shakti (energy). This power has the ability to spring awake when activated by Yogic disciplines.

Kundalini Yoga is one of the complicated practices. It consists of many physical poses (asanas), expressive movements and incantations, breathing exercises, and practice of meditation.

The main benefit of Kundalini Yoga is obtained from through inner experience. For this reason, Kundalini Yoga is also called Yoga of Awareness as it awakens the inactive Kundalini. This is an infinite potential existing within each and every one of us. Once this unlimited potential energy has been awakened and released in your body it rises up the 7 physical chakras and rouses the higher centers. This gives you greater intuition and mental clarity as well as creative potential.

Kundalini Yoga gives happiness by balancing the glandular system, strengthening the nervous system. It promotes better functioning of our bodily systems, increases our radiance, emotional balance and enhances intuition.

Hatha Yoga

2009-11-25T19:22:00.001+05:30

Hatha Yoga is also known as Hatha Vidya is a system of Yoga introduced by sage Yogi Swatmarama, of 15th century India, and author of the ‘Hatha Yoga Pradipika’. Hatha Yoga is a strong practice for physical purification of the body. The word Hatha is the combination of the words ‘Ha’ and ‘Tha’ in Sanskrit. The word ‘Ha’ means sun and ‘Tha’ means moon.

The word "hatha" means forceful. Hatha yoga follows the same principles as the Raja Yoga and it’s including moral restraint yama and spiritual observances niyama.

Hatha Yoga is combination of a series of asanas, or postures and pranayama, or breathing. The main purposes of Asanas are to prepare the body in one position for long stages of meditation. They are also intended to purify and regulate the flow of energy in the body. There are more than two hundred different asanas that related to every area of the body. Vivid postures may involve sitting, reclining, inversions, forward and back bends, twists, and positions held for long periods of time for balance.

Another facet of Hatha Yoga is pranayama, or breathing. Different breathing techniques include abdominal breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and Ujjayi breathing.

Hatha Yoga has several benefits. It promotes focus, concentration and relaxes tense muscles. It increases strength and flexibility. The regular practice of Hatha yoga poses strengthens your internal organs, and helps to prevent the diseases like diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension. You can get good physical, ability, spiritual, and mental results with Hatha Yoga.

Vinyasa Yoga

2009-11-24T12:51:00.002+05:30

The word ‘Vinyasa’ means ‘flow’ in Sanskrit. It is a breath-synchronized movement in this style. Vinyasa Yoga is a dynamic posture that creates a flow between the more static traditional yoga postures. It connects movement and breath. Essentially the breath dictates the movement and the length of time held in the postures. When compared to Hatha yoga, attention is also placed on the journey between the postures not just the postures themselves. This is different Surya namaskar-the Sun Salutation. The entire practice is done by six specific series of postures, always done in the same order, combined with specific breathings like ujjayi breathing

The main purpose of Viṅyāsa Yoga is to increase the body temperature, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. It also improves flexibility, tendon and hard tissue strength.

Pranava Yoga

2009-11-24T12:46:00.001+05:30

Pranava Yoga is the classical method of meditation summarized in the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and sage Patanjali’s ‘Yoga Sutras’. It is also called ‘Ohm yoga’ or ‘Ohm yoga meditation’.

The practice of Pranava yoga involves chanting of mantra “Ohm”. The mantra is constantly repeated in harmony with the breath. The main function of pranava yoga is to become free from suffering and limitation.

Pranava is beginning of Yoga is the way of joining with the divine. When Yoga allows a person to join with the beginning he becomes part of the origin itself.

Raja Yoga

2009-11-20T20:41:00.001+05:30

Raja Yoga is also known as ‘Classical Yoga’, ‘Royal Yoga’ or simply ‘Yoga’. It is one of the six traditional schools of Hindu philosophy, abridged by the sage Patanjali in his ‘Yoga Sutras’. The word ‘Raja’ means ‘king’ in Sanskrit and this form of yoga is called Raja yoga because the mind is believed to be the king among the organs.

Raja Yoga follows consists of chanting of mantras, transcendental meditation, Meditation on music, trataka (Concentration method), mirror gazing, humming, visualization vipassana, kriya yoga, chakra breathing and sound etc.

Some people consider that the practices of raja yoga, was known as long ago as the Neolithic Age and were practiced in the Indus Valley culture. Raja yoga is concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using meditation (dhyana).

The term Raja Yoga is introduced in the 15th-century in Hatha Yoga Pradipika’s fourth chapter to distinguish the school based on the ‘Yoga Sutras’ of sage Patanjali. The term was later used to describe the entirely unrelated meditation practice of the Brahma Kumaris, which involves the focus of one's mind and surrender to a striated body they believe to be the Supreme Soul.

Raja yoga refers to the state-of-being characterized by perfect equilibrium, in which nothing is lacking. Some times Raja Yoga is referred to as Astanga Yoga because there are eight aspects to the path to which one must be there.

Yoga

2009-11-20T19:55:00.001+05:30

The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit language ‘Yujir Yogey’, which means ‘to unite’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to join’. Yoga is about extending accord between mind and the body. Yoga is a 5000 year old science whose teachings were first imparted not in a classroom or Gurukul, but on the battle ground of ‘Kurukshetra’. In the epic ‘Mahabharata’, the sage, Lord Krishna is first said to have expressed the teachings of Yoga to his disciple Arjuna.

Yoga related to conventional physical and psychological disciplines originating in India. Yoga is one of the six orthodox disciplines of Hindu philosophy. Yoga is a technique to revitalize the mind. The stress and pressure which the physical body undergoes over a span of life ultimately results in polluted mind and abnormal breathing system. Yoga is a way of life, a conscious act, not a set or series of learning principles. Yoga requires no major effort. In fact trying hard will turn your practices into a routine, painful, even injurious routine and will eventually slow down your progress. Subsequently, and interestingly, the healing effect of Yoga is the direct result of involving the mind totally in inspiring the body to awaken.

The guru Patanjali is considered to be the Father of Yoga because he systematized the knowledge of previous sages and collected this in the form of a manuscript called the ‘Yoga Sutras’, two thousand Years ago. He described the principles of the full eight fold yogic discipline. He composed the treatise in brief code words known as 'Sutras'. 'Yoga Sutras' is the most vital basic text on Yoga. It is through this basic thesis that the essential message of yoga spread throughout the world. Many other Hindu books discuss aspects of yoga, including the Vedas, Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Shiva Samhita and various Tantras.

Sage Patanjali has counseled eight stages of Yoga discipline. They are

Yama- Yamas (abstentions or restrains)
Niyama- Niyamas (observances)-austerities, purity, contentment, study, surrender of the ego
Asana- Physical postures or exercises
Pranayama- Breathing control
Partyahara- Withdrawal of the senses
Dharana- Concentration of the mind (Contemplation)
Dhyana- Meditation
Samadhi- Attainment of the super conscious state

There are different types of yoga that are practiced such as the following:

Raja Yoga
Pranava yoga
Vinyasa Yoga
Ashtanga Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Dhyana Yoga
Iyengar Yoga
Bikram Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
Jnana Yoga
Karma Yoga
Mantra Yoga
Tantra Yoga
Purna Yoga
Sidha Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga- the eight limbed yoga

2009-11-16T22:07:00.000+05:30

The first mention of Ashtanga yoga seems to have occurred in Pantanjali's yoga Sutras. The literal translation is "eight-limbed yoga." Ashtanga yoga embraced eight spiritual principles including moral restraint, posture, breath control, and meditation.

The eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are:

Yama - code of conduct, self-restraint
Niyama - religious observances, commitments to practice, such as study and devotion
Asana - integration of mind and body through physical activity
Pranayama - regulation of breath leading to integration of mind and body
Pratyahara - abstraction of the senses, withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects
Dharana - concentration, one-pointed ness of mind
Dhyana - meditation (quiet activity that leads to samadhi)
Samādhi - the quiet state of blissful awareness, super conscious state.

However, as practiced today in the West, ashtanga yoga has come to mean something different. Today, ashtanga yoga is sometimes referred to as power yoga. Its emphasis is less on the spiritual than on the physical ability to assume a set of complicated postures, such as the sun salutation, swiftly and gracefully. Ashtanga yoga places a strong emphasis on breathing techniques. Because if provides a full-body workout, it has found favor among many athletes and other celebrities who must keep their bodies strong and flexible.

Ashtanga yoga requires many difficult movements. Amateurs and even professionals may inadvertently injure themselves by pushing too hard or by forcing themselves into a posture they are not sure how to do. Therefore, people wishing to try ashtanga yoga are advised to take several classes to master the principles before trying to practice alone. It is also a good idea to purchase a yoga sticky mat or a rug to keep from slipping and falling while performing the postures. Some practitioners prefer rugs for doing ashtanga yoga, because the rugs absorb sweat better than mats do.

This Yoga style is also athletic, intense and rather demanding. In Sanskrit Ashtanga means “eight-fold path or eight limbs”. Here, every time the students do a series of postures in the same order. Ashtanga Yoga is rigorous because of the constant movement from posture to posture.