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  • Yoga Health Secrets August 31, 2010
    Health and happiness Happiness is in the mind, and the mind is supported by the body - a healthy mind lives in a healthy body. Your happiness depends on your mind and it depends on your body. Without... […]
  • Runners Yoga 30-Minute Home Program August 31, 2010
    Called "The world's most advanced home-fitness program", the Runner's Yoga Program will help you: Dramatically increase your FLEXIBILITY. Build your CORE STRENGTH. Improve your BAL... […]
  • Easy tips to keep your yoga mat spotless August 31, 2010
    Cleaning your yoga mat is quite simple, but there are certain things that should be kept in mind if you want to get the best life from your mat. The most obvious thing is to read the manufacturer's in... […]
  • Yoga Clothing for Men: The Significance August 31, 2010
    Yoga clothing for men has been a trend setter. These days due to a stressed lifestyle, more and more people have taken the spiritual path and hence, the interest in yoga, meditation and other forms of... […]
  • New trend of home sports yoga together with vibram five fingers perfect human body August 31, 2010
    Doing sports is the best way for people to release pressure in mordern society. Pressure from work can cause the situation of sub-health. In early times, people do not recognize this big problem bu... […]
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Origins of Yoga

February 2nd, 2009

99507598_33a4e69b23_mToday’s society is much faster paced that ever before. People have more stress problems which lead to more health problems, mental and physical. There are more concerns with toxicity in the food we eat and the air we breathe. Millions of people today live a sedentary lifestyle, which is associated with obesity. The body, the cavities of our soul, was not meant to deteriorate in such a way that leads to disease. Yoga was developed over 5,000 years ago in India and it included spiritual beliefs, physical techniques, and scholarly philosophy.

There is a growing trend to practicing Yoga for many different reasons, which include attaining the yoga body or physique, relaxation and peace of mind, or to prevent injury and ailments. People mainly practice Hatha Yoga, which focuses on postures and stretching the body.

Yoga, which is derived from the sacred Sanskrit language of India, meaning *union* or *to yoke or harness*. Yoga is a way or path to transcendence and liberation from the self and the ego by purifying the mind and body. Practicing yoga leads to a union with the mind and body or the individual and universal consciousness. In other words, yoga is the union with the Individual Self and the Universal Self. Yoga predates all other religions and has influenced and inspired many other traditions and philosophies. Yoga is better understood as a union of the physical, physiological, mental, emotional, and intellectual bodies, which leads to a purposeful and balanced life.

There is simply no other discipline quite like yoga because it utilized the body, mind and spirit, all in one practice. Yoga is indeed a spiritual path that is based on ancient sacred philosophy, but one does not need to make an ethical decision when practicing yoga, rather finding your own path is wholly accepted. The holistic benefits of yoga are suitable for the young or old, sick or well, with any religious background. The secrets of yoga are inwardness, concentration, and purification of mind and body with cleansing thoughts and food. Indian philosophy states that within man is the spirit that is the center of everything. *Internal equilibrium is the basis and the ground for the higher illumination,* The cultural Heritage of India (Vol. I) – published by The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, India

More information on the Origins of Yoga….

The Origins of Yoga in the Vedic Age | Babeled – A brief but thorough exploration of how the Vedas, the Upanishads, and Vedantic philosophy influenced the development of Yogic thought and practice.

The origins of yoga – Pantanjali, an Indian philosopher, wrote what is thought of as the “bible of yoga” approximately two thousand five hundred years ago. While certain aspects of yoga were being done well before Pantanjali, his writing “encouraged” the …

Origins of Yoga – Even today in India it is a vibrant living tradition, it is also seen as a means to attain enlightenment. In other parts of the world especially the west, where yoga is popular it is seen as a [...]

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Kripalu Yoga – Joining Forces

August 30th, 2010
kripalu yoga.
Image by sleepjunky via Flickr

Learn about Kripalu yoga, and what makes it different to other forms of yoga. Discover how to make the experience of self perception through yoga more authentic.

Intertwining the mind, body, and energy is the primary goal of Kripalu yoga. Those who practice it believe that the body contains energy pulsations in a flow that are called prana, which is sometimes referred to as life force. The idea is that the smallest thought or worry can cause problems with the prana in your physical body. That is why Kripalu is important; it is a way of being aware of the prana and using breathing with thought to prevent blockage or disturbance of the life force in your body. In turn, you will feel an increased level of mental clarity and emotional control.

Boiled down to its essence, Kripalu yoga is about looking at yourself in order to free you. Kripallu yoga followers believe that by simply examining and experiencing physical, emotional, and mental processes, you begin to erase blockages in the prana. In turn, this creates a better flow of life force inside you and invokes a feeling of physical and mental well-being.

Why Kripalu?

Yoga, in all its forms, has been shown to be highly effective in honing the physical human body. This is much of the reason for yoga’s immense popularity. What Kripalu does, though, is use the physical body and yoga’s benefits to it as a vehicle for pursuing the greater good of mental and emotional stability and clarity. Hence, many believe it to be the most complete and beneficial form of yoga. The idea is that as you release your emotional and mental impurity, you increase the amount of prana in your system which in turn also helps with physical healing and performance. Of course, when all yoga practices and meditation are prefaced with techniques, such as the Maharic Seal (Azurite Press), that seal the body’s energy fields from external influences, the experience of self knowledge is both clearer and authentic. Kripalu yoga does not teach this, however.

Many use this popular form of yoga to combine physical fitness with self growth and the empowerment of the self. In Kripalu, you will learn to lead yourself through self-examination rather than through a leader or instructor. In this form of yoga, leadership is there only to help you turn yourself into your own leader. Your sensitivity to self, others, and your own body will increase from the focus you will receive when you look inside. To take it deeper, many believe that you are using your body to as a temple to attract the presence of those powers greater than yourself. Though some may be skeptical, many more feel such presences when led there through their own self-examination.

When you learn Kripalu from an instructor, you will find that it usually does not matter what your level is in yoga. The classes are generally conducted in the same way for new yoga practitioners and veterans alike. The emphasis, remember, is on looking inside yourself and seeing what is there. Though there are postures and a “right” way to do them, you will likely be encouraged to concentrate on your mental state and on increasing the flow of your prana.

Moreover, Kripalu is truly about life change. You will learn to focus on your spiritual well being outside of the classroom as well as while you’re on the yoga mat, contributing to your overall well being and helping you on your way to being the best person you can be.

Kripalu is a unique form of yoga. With emphasis on looking at the self and ridding it of all that has gone awry, this form of yoga is about more than just fitness of the body. It is about fitness of emotions, spirit, and even a little bit of the soul.

1993 Kripalu Yoga demonstration part 1

This is one of the most thoughtful and articulate descriptions of three stage Kripalu Yoga written and choreographed by Christopher Baxter. This 1993 demonstration was in honor of Gurudev’s (Yogi Amrit Desai’s) 60th birthday. The yogis in the demonstration are Jayant (Bradley Tryon) Rajen (Scott Morley) Ramdas, Murali, Vinai (Tom Gillette) and Justis Hatch. In attendance are many gurus, including Bikram Choudhury. Other Kripalu ashram notables show up including Devanand, Krishnapriya, Brahmanand (Don Stapleton) Shantipriya (Marcia Goldberg) Vasudha (Joyce Orr) and others. This video will also give you an inside peek of how Kripalu ashram used to be, everyone dressed in their Bhakti best whites. Its sweet.

1993 Kripalu Yoga demonstration part 2

This is one of the most thoughtful and articulate descriptions of three stage Kripalu Yoga written and choreographed by Christopher Baxter. This 1993 demonstration was in honor of Gurudev’s (yYogi Amrit Desai’s) 60th birthday. The yogis in the demonstration are Jayant (Bradley Tryon) Rajen (Scott Morley) Ramdas, Murali, Vinai (Tom Gillette) and Justis Hatch. In attendance are many gurus, including Bikram Choudhury. 0Other Kripalu ashram notables show up including Devanand, Krishnapriya, Brahmanand (Don Stapleton) Shantipriya (Marcia Goldberg) Vasudha (Joyce Orr) and others. This video will also give you an inside peek of how Kripalu ashram used to be, everyone dressed in their Bhakti best whites. Its sweet.

KRIPALU NY – NEW LIFE RAW FOOD & YOGA EXPO 2009 – NYC

NEW LIFE RAW FOOD & YOGA EXPO 2009 at the New Yorker Hotel, NYC. Teachers from Kripalu Yoga NY conduct classes and seminars at this holistic weekend event. www.nykripalu.org Music: “Midnight Raga” by John de Kadt — from SEVA CD 2008 music compilation by Kripalu Yoga Teacher’s Association.

Kripalu Yoga Dance with Carol Morehead

Kripalu Yoga Dance is a powerful way to integrate body, mind, and spirit. It’s a unique fusion of flowing yoga, breath, and natural movement. Everyone can awaken the unique dancer you already are, and discover a deeper connection with your body’s wisdom and joy. We experience a new way to honor and love our body while awakening our natural inner rhythms.

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Improve Your Eyesight With Trataka

August 17th, 2010
Trataka is the practice of staring at a candle...
Image via Wikipedia

Eyes are the windows of the soul and you can see what a person is up to by looking into his eyes. Hence, it is important to have clean eyesight. In yoga, trataka is a technique devised by the ancient sages to improve eyesight.

It is a shuddhikriya or a purification process to cleanse the eyesight and help in the silencing of the mind in concentration.

Sit with your back straight. Keep your eyes fixed on an object without winking till tears start streaming down your face. The small object can be the flame of an oil lamp, or an image or a picture or the letter ‘AUM”. This object should be placed in the line of sight at a distance of about four to six feet. You can also do this kriya without any object in front of you. Having an object is not necessary. Just stare in front of you at the wall without moving the eyeballs or eyelids. Ensure that you stare at a certain point on the wall.

Before starting this exercise, you can start off by moving the eyes without moving the head, where you roll your eyeballs up and down, sideways and from corner to corner diagonally. Initially, you can make this movement with open eyes and then repeat them with closed eyes. This will give the requisite exercise to the eye muscles. This is then followed by trataka. Trataka makes the eyes clear, improves eyes and silences the mind. Over a period of time, you will experience the silence of the mind. If you want to meditate, start with trataka to silence the mind and then go to the meditation. This way, you will reap the benefits of meditation. Since you are exercising the eye muscles, they become stronger. You can perform this kriya daily without any harmful effects.

Benefits Of Trataka Practice

www.yogaindailylife.org http www.yogaindailylife.org.au Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, founder of Yoga in Daily Life system speaks about Resonance and the benefits of Trataka practice. Dungog 26/12/2009 Australia

Meditation Music, Yoga, 3rd Eye Chakra

www.encognitive.com Your third eye is hungry for awareness !……. The meditation technique which you are going to read is ‘Trataka’ (also known as third eye meditation). In the belief system of ‘Tantra’ and ‘Hatha Yoga’ there is a concept of Kundalini . [ Have you ever heard of Tantra or 'Hatha' Yoga ? If not then let me tell you very briefly that 'Tantra' is a sort of esoteric spiritual path that involves doing a number of activities which seem bizarre and odd to many people. Soon I'll write a separate article on Tantra. Keep watching ' New Articles' 'Hatha' Yoga is a branch of Yoga and it involves indulging in various physical exercises and breathing routines (known as Pranayam.) Many things in 'Hatha Yoga' and Tantra are common' . In this article, without going into the details of Tantra, Hatha Yoga or Pranayam, I have tried to present a simple meditation technique of third eye. The topics of Tantra, Hatha & Pranayam will be covered in other articles soon] It has been discovered that there are seven chakras (or points of consciousness) in our body. These Chakras (literally Chakra means rings) are situated at different points in our body. Among these Chakras, the 6th Chakra is known as ‘ Aagya Chakra’ located between the eyebrows and is said to be the seat of the mystical “third eye”. The physical location of this chakra is at the center of our forehead. Just above the place between our eyes. It is believed that Kundalini (the energy field) travels from the first

Hatha Yoga Kriyas-Trataka Concentration Technique Part 1

www.yogaindailylife.org http system.yogaindailylife.org Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda is founder of Yoga in Daily Life system Uma Puri is guiding us and explaining in detail the Hatha Yoga Kriya Techniques Hatha Yoga is the path of practice and purification – internal, as well as external. It is therefore an additional Yoga path to the four traditional paths. Regular practice of these exercises requires willpower and discipline and that is why this path is called Hatha Yoga. HA-THA, also means sun and moon. This refers to the union and harmony of the sun and moon principles, which result from the practice of Hatha Yoga. There are six purification techniques that pertain to Hatha Yoga, called Shat Karma Kriyas or Shat Karmas. 1. JALA NETI 2. DHAUTI 3. NAULI 4. BASTI and SHANKA PRAKSHALANA 5. KAPALA BHATI PRANAYAMA 6. TRATAKA Caution: All the techniques which are reviewed here should initially be practiced under the guidance of a Yoga in Daily Life Teacher. Strilky 15/11/2009 Czech Republic

Hatha Yoga Kriyas-Trataka Concentration Technique Part 2

www.yogaindailylife.org http system.yogaindailylife.org Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda is founder of Yoga in Daily Life system Uma Puri is guiding us and explaining in detail the Hatha Yoga Kriya Techniques Hatha Yoga is the path of practice and purification – internal, as well as external. It is therefore an additional Yoga path to the four traditional paths. Regular practice of these exercises requires willpower and discipline and that is why this path is called Hatha Yoga. HA-THA, also means sun and moon. This refers to the union and harmony of the sun and moon principles, which result from the practice of Hatha Yoga. There are six purification techniques that pertain to Hatha Yoga, called Shat Karma Kriyas or Shat Karmas. 1. JALA NETI 2. DHAUTI 3. NAULI 4. BASTI and SHANKA PRAKSHALANA 5. KAPALA BHATI PRANAYAMA 6. TRATAKA Caution: All the techniques which are reviewed here should initially be practiced under the guidance of a Yoga in Daily Life Teacher. Strilky 15/11/2009 Czech Republic

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Got Only 15 minutes to exercise? Then try this from Yoga.

August 16th, 2010

Admittedly, we live in a sound-byte age where our daily demands leave us with little time for exercise. However, for those who may be in a rush but still feel the need for some kind of exercise to warm them up for the day in a short period of time, Yoga offers a unique sequence. Let’s go over it.

We live in a sound-byte age where our daily demands leave us with little time for exercise, at least in the mornings when it may perhaps be most efficient.

However, Yoga offers a systematic combination of poses, deep breathing and meditation that you could practice in 5-10 minutes-or less depending on your choice-and will also leave you invigorated and eager to step into the day feeling more energized.

So what is this quick routine I am talking about? It is known as the Sun Salutations.

They are very simple to learn and just about anyone, regardless of their fitness or flexibility levels can learn these simple exercises. In actuality, if you are familiar with “burpies” (the calisthenics exercise), they do derive their origin from them.

Besides being an exercise routine, they are quite indispensable as they do the following.

-They alleviate disorders of the skin and waist.
-They mildly exercise the legs and arms at the same time increasing the circulation and restoring flexibility to the limbs.
-They are one of the best ways to burn calories and reduce weight and are often recommended for obesity and depression.
-They are an effective way of loosening up, stretching and massaging all joints and internal organs of the body.
-They stimulate and balance all the systems of the body including the endocrine, circulatory, reproductive and digestive system.

For directions on how to perform them, study, memorize and practice the following:

1. Stand straight with the palms together as in a prayer position.

2. Inhale and stretch the arms above the head.

3. Exhale and bend forward while touching the toes.

4. Inhale and stretch the right leg away from the body in a big backward step and keep the hands and left foot firmly on the ground. Bending the head backward the left knee should be between the hands.

5. Inhale and hold the breath. Move the left leg from the body and, keeping both feet together and the knees of the floor, rest on the hands (arms straight) and keep the body in a straight line from head to foot.

6. Exhale and lower the body to the floor. In this position, only 8 portions of the body come in contact with the floor: the two feet, two knees, two hands, chest and forehead.

7. Inhale and bend back as much as possible bending the spine to the maximum.

8. Exhale and lift the body of the floor. Keep the feet and heels on the floor.

9. Inhale and bring the right foot along the level of the hands; left foot and knee should touch the ground. Look up, bending the spine slightly (same position as #4)

10. Exhale and bring the left leg forward. Keep the knees straight and bring the head down to the knees as in the third position.

11. Raise the arms overhead and bend backward inhaling. As in Position 2.

12. Exhale and drop the arms and relax.

You have now completed one round.

Perform as many rounds as possible in multiples of 3. Ideally you want to aim for 6 rounds minimum and up to a maximum of 30. It only takes about 5-10 minutes, depending on your speed and intensity and is best practiced with as little clothing as possible before an open air window first thing in the morning.

So when you’ve got little time to spare but need to be energized the way perhaps only physical exercise can, why not try the Sun Salutations. Your body will be glad you did and so will your mind.

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Yoga Mats

July 8th, 2010

Mary was anxious. Mary suspected that as the only woman on the board her job was more at risk than most peoples. She was a director of her company and she was under a lot of stress because her firm was about to be taken over and there was a lot of rumor around that there would be redundancies. She had been been moody recently, having sleeplessness and headaches and her husband, Bob had pointed out to her that she should go and see her doctor and try to find a way to calm down. Mary knew she was givinbg him a hard time and didn’t mean to take it out on him but knew she did. Her mother had always said that you always hurt the one you love and here she was proving it.

She did go to see her doctor and was surpriused when he suggested yoga as the answer to her problems. “Isn’t that where you have to twist your limbs into funny positions and hum?”She asked seriously. The doc laughter.”It’s not like that anymore”, he said. It’s all about relaxation. I want you to get home from work and forget everything about it, get out your yoga mat, sit on it, close your eyes and think about nice things. Do not even think about work. Take yourself to a desert island or wherever you want to go and spend at least 30 minutes there initially, then gradually increase it to one hour. “Bob will understand” he added. He might even prepare dinner or take you out to eat. It’s extremly important that get some relaxation Mary or the result will be driving yourself to an early grave.

I took his advice. Bob and I went out the next day and I bought a yoga mat and I followed doc’s instructions. Now I look forward to getting home, rolling out my yoga mat, and entering into a world of my own relaxation.

 


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Yoga Standing Poses: Gives You More Balance In Life

July 7th, 2010

Kamloops Health

Yoga has various types of movements and poses and it has its own benefits. Combination of several poses will give you more benefits. All of us have our own choices but we should always integrate yoga standing poses in our regular routine. These yoga poses involves backward bendings, balance postures and twisting. Flexibility and strengthened muscles are some of the benefits of standing yoga poses.

In general, yoga helps us relax our mind and body. When we say relaxation, the first thing comes to our mind is lying down, or sit in any comfortable chair. So how can we say that yoga standing poses provides relaxation?

Try to think of all the things that make you stressed out, like your job, studies, time, family, kids, and money. Let‘s say you will be given the opportunity for an hour not to think any of those mentioned. That is the greatest thing yoga will give you, yoga is the opportunity that will free yourself from all the pressures in life. What yoga will do is, it will let you concentrate on an actual point and will free your mind to any other things. You will not have a full relaxation because of these other things. You will have a greater mental ability if you are already concentrated on a particular point and you can handle more complicated things and situations.

These standing yoga poses gives us more element of balance. Some says that not all of us have a great balance. Medical studies says that we have a natural ability to balance things, but the problem starts when our brain catches some negative thoughts. This is the time that you need to do the standing yoga poses which allows your body to concentrate on positive things.

Standing yoga poses helps us improve our posture as well. Having bad postures is one of the causes of back pains, muscle spasms, headaches and other digestive problems. Our spinal cord will be more flexible because of yoga standing poses. If our spine is back to normal and the muscles are strengthened, it will not cause any damage in our body system.

Additionally, our overall physical and mental health is improved in yoga standing routines. When our spine is aligned correctly, we will increase our flexibility and strengthen our muscles. We are more prone to accidents if we have tight muscles especially if they are not that strong to handle tension. We should perform these standing yoga poses to stop us from any back injuries in the future. Also, it will give you calmness and give you more balance.

Fitness kamloops | Transform Your Body with 5 Health, Exercise and Yoga Suggestions | Yoga And Its Amazing Effect On Body Fitness


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