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Yoga cuts depression by half in breast cancer patients

2009-03-16T05:02:00.001-07:00

Yoga not only provides emotional benefits to women with breast cancer, but also reduces their chances of depression, says a new study.
The study, published in a special issue of Psycho-Oncology focusing on physical activity, found that women undertaking a ten week programme of 75 minute Restorative Yoga (RY) classes gained positive differences in aspects of mental health such as depression, positive emotions, andSpirituality (feeling calm/peaceful) compared to the control group.
RY is a gentle type of yoga, which is similar to other types of yoga classes, moving the spine in all directions but in a more passive and gentle way. Props such as cushions, bolsters, and blankets provide complete physical support for total relaxation with minimal physical effort, and so people in differing levels of health can practice yoga more easily.
Forty-four women took part in the study, with 22 undertaking the yoga classes and 22 in the waitlist control group. All of the women had breast cancer; 34 per cent were actively undergoing cancer treatment while the majority had already completed treatment.
All participants completed a questionnaire at the beginning and end of the ten-week program, asking them to evaluate their quality of life through various measures. The results clearly showed that the women who had been given the RY classes experienced a wide range of benefits compared to the control group
"Evidence from systematic reviews of randomised trials is quite strong that mind-body therapies improve mood, quality of life, and treatment-related symptoms in people with cancer. Yoga is one mind-body therapy that is widely available and involves relatively reasonable costs
"Given the high levels of stress and distress that many women with breast cancer experience, the opportunity to experience feeling more peaceful and calm in the midst of breast cancer is a significant benefit," the expert added.
The study found that women who started with higher negative emotions and lower emotional well-being derived greater benefit from the gentle yoga intervention compared to the control group.
Women in the gentle yoga group also demonstrated a significant within-group improvement in fatigue, while no such change was noted for the control group.

Weight loss through yoga

2009-03-16T04:46:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCING ….ARTISTIC YOGA
artistic yoga reduce weight.INTRODUCING ….ARTISTIC YOGAt is an innovative, dynamic and powerful system of Yoga that affects the body like no other form of exercise. It combines ancient yogic techniques (asanas, pranayam, bandhas, kriyas & mudras), with modern cardiovascular-training and partner-stretches into a unique approach that works on the Individual at every level - the physical level, where flexibility, strength and endurance are the primary goal, to the mental and spiritual levels where awareness of the body, alertness and meditation help bring about a complete transformation.
People who had been practicing Yoga for 20 years, were still pot-bellied!” Realising that Yoga needed to be re-worked to suit modern man, he combined his training in Yoga and his education in modern Exercise Physiology to develop his own system - Artistic Yoga.
HOW IS ARTISTIC YOGA DIFFERENT?
Artistic Yoga is a thoroughly researched, ground-breaking system that helps modern man effectively deal with his ‘acute stress levels, obesity and lack of energy’he called his system ‘Artistic’ because he incorporated many new aspects into it that were very different from the traditional approach to Yoga.
Along with the creative use of Exercise and Yogasanas (physical yoga postures), and Partner-stretching techniques (that help in quickly improving flexibility), Bharat introduced Cardio-vascular training and the concept of Body-Part training into his yoga. While traditional schools of Yoga repeat the same Asanas every class, Artistic Yoga classes are unique each day and focus on only two body parts in a class, thereby achieving dramatic results in body-toning and weight loss (for those who need it). Overall you will experience a tremendous sense of physical well-being!

At the mental and spiritual levels, it works with breath (Pranayam) and meditation (Dhyaan), ensuring that you leave each class feeling energized, yet calmer and more peaceful within.
Artistic Yoga is complete as Yoga for the Body, Mind and Spirit. Each class is unique and challenging…. so you are never bored! Ambient music is played and the approach is casual and spontaneous, yet at the same time focused. People of all age groups and all levels of fitness practice Artistic Yoga.
Currently, Artistic Yoga is taught in India in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and internationally in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Russia. You can attend Artistic Yoga Group Classes at our various studios or request individual Artistic Yoga Personal Training at your home.
Some of the most recognizable Artistic Yoga students include Ratan Tata, Anoushka Shankar, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha Basu and Sachin Pilot.

Remove of heart disease

2009-03-12T03:51:00.000-07:00

Kaivalya yoga institute opening a programme which one may call THE OPENING OF YOUR HEART PROGRAMME is an adjunct to not a substitute for conventional medical therapy, both invasive and surgical. If you have a heart condition, consult your physician or cardiologist before beginning this program. The goal of writing this book is to strengthen the communication between two “Hearts”, your own and that of your doctor’s. Another motive to write this book is the preventive and promotive aspect of what?
If the heart disease can be reversed then it may be to preventable we do not have to wait for a new drug, surgical procedure or technological breakthrough
Yet through my experience and the research of the studies done by others. I have realized that our emotional and spiritual health is exceptionally important to the health of our heart.
Entrance age :- 58 years
Diet :- 15% Fat, 35% Protein Carbohydrates Calorie Adjusted diet
Exercises :- 3 hours week of areobic activity
3 hours week of yoga,mediation,pranayam
Follow Parameter Weight, B.P. Liquid profile No. of Medicines

Yoga tours in India

2009-03-12T03:37:00.001-07:00

Meditation and Yoga are same thing in India and the attainment of spirituality. If you want a truly blissful and spiritual experience then come for a Yoga and Meditation tour that will go far beyond a holiday or vacation you have experienced so far. The yoga and meditation tours, one of the theme travel tours in India, allow you to combine travel with the peaceful spiritual experiences.

Yoga was propounded by the ancient Indian sage Patanjali yog. Yog is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Yog' which means 'union,' presumably union with the divine being or God. It is a secular and scientific methodology to experience the integration of the mind-body-spirit. Some of the most often practiced types of Yoga are: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Tantric Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Raja Yoga.
Theme Travel In India
1. Tea Tourism in India
2. Yoga and mediation Tours
3. Ayurveda Tours India
4. Cultural Tours India
5. Cooking Tours India
6. Fitnes Tours India
7. Adventure Tours India
The yoga and meditation tour in India aims at offering an acquaintance to the tourists about the yoga centres in India and the teachings and training of Yoga at these centres like Madras (Chennai), Rishikesh, Kerala, and Bihar. Yoga tour at the Yoga centres in India detoxifies the body through purification of bowel, enemas, cleansing of the nasal passage and eyes.
The practice of meditation, regularly, gives the benefits like reduction of stress, tension, anxiety and frustration, as well as improved memory, concentration, inner peace and physical well being. Yoga and Meditation tours have also proved themselves to be highly effective in treating psychological problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorders, depression, schizophrenia and anxiety.

Yoga Therpy

2009-03-12T03:21:00.000-07:00

The Yoga institution, imparts a gentle form of Yoga that is energizing, relaxing and self-healing. Individualized Yoga training is imparted where each person is provided with a tailor-made schedule based on his/her needs. Complete Yoga is taught including all the eight types of Yoga. While prescribing a routine/chart to an individual, special emphasis is given to Asanas, Pranayam, Meditation and Relaxation. Handling physical stress and spiritual upliftment are the special features of this institution. Yoga Therapists of this organization have treated people for problems like unwinding, hypertension, asthma, arthritis, insomnia and a number of other ailments. The method helps reversal of the downward process of wear and tear of our physical and mental self. All persons work at their natural pace on their personal schedules in a collective community with no need to compete with co-partners. Regular review is conducted to examine the progress of every person. Lectures and consultation are conducted all over the world to explain this great method to the kingdom of healthy mind and body.

The benefits of Iyengar Yoga on those with ailments can be seen firsthand in our class.

2009-03-07T03:24:00.000-08:00

This New Year began with reaffirming my resolution to regularly attend the Iyengar Yoga classes conducted at Nirguna Mandir located at 4th Block Koramangala, adjacent to ST Bed Layout. Apart from the significant improvement in strength, stamina and concentration that my weekly classes have provided, my primary motivation has been the steadfast guiding presence that my yoga teacher provides.

Simple, unassuming, modest; these are the words that come to most of our mind when we think of K Mahadevaiah, our yoga teacher. But to me he epitomises all that is required to be an inspirational figure beginning with an unshakeable belief and faith in the work that he does. Inspite of successfully helping many of the students, he continues to be humble and modest - incapable of accepting even a 'thank you'. His focus is completely on students and how they can 'use' him to their benefit. He remains in the background - teaching, directing and correcting. He simply teaches you that greatness resides among us as long as we know where to look.

The system of 'Iyengar yoga' was created by BKS Iyengar based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. The significant difference in the practice of this form of yoga is the use of props such as ropes, belts, bricks and benches to help the student get the intended structural alignment in an asana. Iyengar Yoga puts specific emphasis on those suffering from ailments such as back problem, joints pain, asthma, blood pressure, stress associated with modern day living, among others.

The benefits of Iyengar Yoga on those with ailments can be seen firsthand in our class. One student who is in his forties and has been suffering from high blood pressure for the last 16 years says that he is able to control it with regular yoga and that his medications have been reduced by his physician. Another student, 34 years old and suffering from chronic asthma attributed to living in Bangalore, extols the significant improvement in stamina and 'easy breathing' that the classes have helped her with. Yet another student, Ajay, also in his thirties, came in just for 'general toning and building strength'. In his own words "he was surprised with the resultant benefits which included "greatly increased strength in the back, arms, legs, hands" and with the fact that his "back never gives [him] a problem now".

Last but not the least, the students of this class benefit from the Pranayama classes conducted by Nagaraja Rao, one of the students, on Saturday. Seven years ago, Rao was limping and was finding it difficult even to walk, having been diagnosed with Osteo Arthritis of the knee joints. After practicing asanas tailored for those with arthritis, he has gone on to win national and international level tennis tournaments in the Veterans Group of 65 years.

Those interested can attend the Iyengar Yoga classes at MNirguna Mandir at 6.30 AM on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and at 6.30 PM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The monthly fees for three classes a week is Rs. 400. The classes are for both men and women.

Benefits of Yoga - Why Yoga Exercise is Good for You

2009-03-07T03:13:00.000-08:00

Yoga books tell us that Yoga, as we all know, is aimed to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. Yogis view that the mind and the body are one, and that if it is given the right yoga kit and tools and taken to the right environment, it can find harmony and heal itself. Yoga therefore is considered therapeutic. It helps you become more aware of your body's posture, alignment and patterns of movement. It makes the body more flexible and helps you relax even in the midst of a stress stricken environment. This is one of the foremost reasons why people want to start Practicing Yoga - to feel fitter, be more energetic, be happier and peaceful.

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. Substantial research has been conducted to look at the Health Benefits of Yoga - from the Yoga Postures (Asanas), Yoga Breathing (Pranayama), and Meditation. The information on Yoga Poses & Benefits are grouped into three categories-physiological, psychological, biochemical effects. Furthermore, scientists have laid these results against the benefits of regular exercise
Physiological Benefits of Yoga

* Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium
* Pulse rate decreases
* Respiratory rate decreases
* Blood Pressure decreases (of special significance for hyporeactors)
* 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
* Endocrine function normalizes
* Excretory functions improve
* Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase
* Breath-holding time increases
* Joint range of motion increase
* Grip strength increases
* Eye-hand coordination improves
* Dexterity skills improve
* Reaction time improves
* Posture improves
* Strength and resiliency increase
* Endurance increases
* Energy level increases
* Weight normalizes
* Sleep improves
* Immunity increases
* Pain decreases
* Steadiness improves
* Depth perception improves
* Balance improves
* Integrated functioning of body parts improves

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

* Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
* Mood improves and subjective well-being increases
* Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase
* Social adjustment increases
* Anxiety and Depression decrease
* Hostility decreases
* Concentration improves
* Memory improves
* Attention improves
* Learning efficiency improves
* Mood improves
* Self-actualization increase
* Social skills increases
* Well-being increases
* Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
* Self-acceptance increase
* Attention improves
* Concentration improves
* Memory improves
* Learning efficiency improves
* Symbol coding improves
* Depth perception improves
* Flicker fusion frequency improves

Biochemical Benefits of Yoga

* Glucose decreases
* Sodium decreases
* Total cholesterol decreases
* Triglycerides decrease
* HDL cholesterol increases
* LDL cholesterol decreases
* VLDL cholesterol decreases
* Cholinesterase increases
* Catecholamines decrease
* ATPase increases
* Hematocrit increases
* Hemoglobin increases
* Lymphocyte count increases
* Total white blood cell count decreases
* Thyroxin increases
* Vitamin C increases
* Total serum protein increases

Yoga Health Benefits versus Exercise Benefits * Yoga Benefits
o Parasympathetic Nervous System dominates
o Subcortical regions of brain dominate
o Slow dynamic and static movements
o Normalization of muscle tone
o Low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments
o Low caloric consumption
o Effort is minimized, relaxed
o Energizing (breathing is natural or controlled)
o Balanced activity of opposing muscle groups
o Noncompetitive, process-oriented
o Awareness is internal (focus is on breath and the infinite)
o Limitless possibilities for growth in self-awareness

* Exercise Benefits
o Sympathetic Nervous System dominates
o Cortical regions of brain dominate
o Rapid forceful movements
o Increased muscle tension
o Higher risk of injury
o Moderate to high caloric consumption
o Effort is maximized
o Fatiguing (breathing is taxed)
o Imbalance activity of opposing groups
o Competitive, goal-oriented
o Awareness is external (focus is on reaching the toes, reaching the finish line, etc.)
o Boredom factor

Yoga poses to strengthen your ankles

2009-03-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

Despite being small and seemingly delicate, the ankle joint bears our entire body weight. Keeping it fit and functional is important for our general well-being. Since it is easily injured by overuse or disuse, it is crucial to keep it fit, with some yogic power moves.

Some unsuspected causes to ankle injury: repeated activity (as with running, especially on bad surfaces and even gardening); sedentary life-style that stiffens the joint; incorrect technique while doing some special activity; lack of movement that swells up the joint due to weak lymphatic drainage. Obesity also overloads the joint. A bad posture can also aggravate ankle problems. The sense of balance, which begins to wobble in most of us once we become sedentary, is also closely linked to ankle health.

Unlike with other parts of the body, the ankle needs specific moves to keep it healthy.

Shameem Akthar, yogaacharya trained with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center shows you five yoga practices that lubricate and power the ankle.

History of Yoga - A Complete Overview of the Yoga History

2009-03-07T02:43:00.000-08:00

The saying, "What's in the past, should stay in the past" - doesn't work here.

We might already have an idea of what yoga but to understand it better, we have to know what it has become as well as its roots and beginnings. A quick look at the history of Yoga will help us appreciate its rich tradition and who knows, it might help us incorporate Yoga into our lives.

Although Yoga is said to be as old as civilization, there is no physical evidence to support this claim. Earliest archaeological evidence of Yoga's existence could be found in stone seals which depict figures of yoga poses The stone seals place Yoga's existence around 3000 B.C.

Scholars, however, have a reason to believe that Yoga existed long before that and traced its beginnings in Stone Age Shamanism. Both Shamanism and Yoga have similar characteristics particularly in their efforts to improve the human condition at that time. Also, they aim to heal community members and the practitioners act as religious mediators. Though we know Yoga as focusing more on the self, it started out as community-oriented before it turned inward.

For a better discussion of the history of Yoga, we could divide it into four periods: the Vedic Period, Pre-Classical Period, Classical Period, and Post-Classical Period.

Vedic Period

The existence of the Vedas marks this period. The Vedas is the sacred scripture of Brahmanism that is the basis of modern-day Hinduism. It is a collection of hymns which praise a divine power. The Vedas contains the oldest known Yogic teachings and as such, teachings found in the Vedas are called Vedic Yoga. This is characterized by rituals and ceremonies that strive to surpass the limitations of the mind.

During this time, the Vedic people relied on rishis or dedicated Vedic Yogis to teach them how to live in divine harmony. Rishis were also gifted with the ability to see the ultimate reality through their intensive spiritual practice. It was also during this time that Yogis living in seclusion (in forests) were recorded.

Pre-Classical Yoga

The creation of the Upanishads marks the Pre-Classical Yoga. The 200 scriptures of the Upanishads (the conclusion of the revealed literature) describe the inner vision of reality resulting from devotion to Brahman. These explain three subjects: the ultimate reality (Brahman), the transcendental self (atman), and the relationship between the two. The Upanishads further explain the teachings of the Vedas.

Yoga shares some characteristics not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism that we can trace in its history. During the sixth century B.C., Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which stresses the importance of meditation and the practice of physical postures. Siddharta Gautama, the first Buddhist to study Yoga, achieved enlightenment at the age of 35.

Later, around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad gita or Lord's Song was created and this is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture. It is devoted entirely to Yoga and has confirmed that it has been an old practice for some time. However, it doesn't point to a specific time wherein Yoga could have started. The central point to the Gita is that - to be alive means to be active and in order to avoid difficulties in our lives and in others, our actions have to benign and have to exceed our egos.

Just as the Upanishads further the Vedas, the Gita builds on and incorporates the doctrines found in the Upanishads. In the Gita, three facets must be brought together in our lifestyle: Bhakti or loving devotion, Jnana which is knowledge or contemplation, and Karma which is about selfless actions. The Gita then tried to unify Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga and it is because of this that it has gained importance. The Gita was a conversation between Prince Arjuna and God-man Krishna and it basically stresses the importance of opposing evil.

Classical Period

The Classical Period is marked by another creation - the Yoga Sutra. Written by Patanjali around the second century, it was an attempt to define and standardize Classical Yoga. It is composed of 195 aphorisms or sutras (from the Sanskrit word which means thread) that expound upon the Raja Yoga and its underlying principle, Patanjali's Eightfold path of Yoga (also called Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga). These are:

Yama, which means social restraints or ethical values;
Niyama, which is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study;
Asanas or physical exercises;
Pranayam, which means breath control or regulation;
Pratyahara or sense withdrawal in preparation for Meditation;
Dharana, which is about concentration;
Dhyana, which means Meditation; and
Samadhi, which means ecstasy.

Patanjali believed that each individual is a composite of matter (prakriti) and spirit (purusha). He further believed that the two must be separated in order to cleanse the spirit - a stark contrast to Vedic and Pre-Classical Yoga that signify the union of body and spirit.

Patanjali's concept was dominant for some centuries that some Yogis focused exclusively on Meditation and neglected their Asanas. It was only later that the belief of the body as a temple was rekindled and attention to the importance of the Asana was revived. This time, Yogis attempted to use Yoga techniques to change the body and make it immortal.

Post-Classical Yoga

At this point, we see a proliferation of literature as well as the practice of Yoga. Post-classical Yoga differs from the first three since its focus is more on the present. It no longer strives to liberate a person from reality but rather teaches one to accept it and live at the moment.

Yoga was introduced in the West during the early 19th century. It was first studied as part of Eastern Philosophy and began as a movement for health around the 1930's. By the 1960's, there was an influx of Indian teachers who expounded on Yoga. One of them was Maharishi Mahesh, the Yogi who popularized Transcendental meditation. Another one is a prominent Yoga Guru Swami Sivananda. Sivananda was a doctor in Malaysia and he later opened schools in America and Europe. The most prominent of his works is his modified Five Principles of Yoga which are:

Savasana or proper relaxation;
Asanas or proper exercise;
Pranayama or proper breathing;
Proper diet; and
Dhyana or positive thinking and Meditation

Sivananda wrote more than 200 books on Yoga and Philosophy and had many disciples who furthered Yoga. Some of them were Swami Satchitananda who introduced chanting and Yoga to Woodstock; Swami Sivananada Radha who explored the connection between psychology Yoga, and Yogi Bhajan who started teaching kundalini yoga in the 70's.

Up to this day, Yoga continues to proliferate and spread its teachings, crossing the boundaries of culture and language.

As a meditation master and the spiritual head of the Siddha Yoga path,

2009-03-07T02:40:00.000-08:00

Siddha Yoga is a path of inner transformation and discipline. It is imbued with the grace of the Siddha Yoga Guru,Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. As a meditation master and the spiritual head of the Siddha Yoga path, Gurumayi guides students in their spiritual practice and study.

Spiritual practice on the Siddha Yoga path begins with initiation, shaktipat diksha. Through active and focused engagement with the Siddha Yoga teachings and practices students are able to experience and live in the awareness of the Self.

The Siddha Yoga master’s grace and the student’s steady effort are essential components for students to realise the divinity within themselves and the world they live in.

Siddhayogis around the world perform the practices and study the teachings in Siddha Yoga meditation centres and ashrams, in chanting and meditation groups, and in their homes. There are learning and teaching events and retreats as well as sadhana support tools available to aid seekers in their journey.

Siddha Yoga philanthropic expressions, created by Gurumayi, include The PRASAD Project and the Muktabodha Indological Research Institue , both of which have offices in Maharashtra, India. The PRASAD Project provides health, education and sustainable development programs for children, families, and communities in need. The Muktabodha Indological Research Institute preserves the Indian scriptures and ancient Vedic traditions.

The first Siddha Yoga Ashram, Gurudev Siddha Peeth,located in the Tansa Valley of Maharashtra, India, is a spiritual retreat site for dedicated Siddha Yoga students who wish to participate in retreats and serve the Siddha Yoga mission.

Once recovered it is best to find a good yoga class

2009-03-07T02:34:00.000-08:00

Natural healing is the best way for improved health. Even after a surgery the doctor advises you to move your body. Stagnant living is not recommended for a healthy body. Post surgery rest is advised but little exercises and rotation of joints is healthy so that the limbs do not get stiff. Once recovered it is best to find a good yoga class and enjoy the bliss in meditation, breathing ideas and yoga asana.
Yoga practicing makes you an yogi who is able to live in this material world, enjoy all the pleasures and exercise self control. Self motivation is necessary and a good guide can bring about drastic changes in your personality. There are numerous books and literature available on yoga which extol the facts of its existence many many years ago. India is a land of naturopathy and yoga. Many institutions are based abroad and it is surprising how many westerners have moved to practicing yoga asana and benefiting from it too.

Each persons body is different. If you have recently recovered from a major illness and just started to move, one may experience the problem of stiffness. Yoga offers excellent cure in jal neti for sinus and cold troubles. Firstly find an experienced teacher in your vicinity. Yoga centers and camps are set up all around the city and country and participation will only help you choose the correct batch. Choose the timing to suit your other commitments. As you practice yoga, erase your mind of other thoughts like household chores, official presentations and the outcome of the last PTA meeting.

The key is to dress well for yoga. Make up is to be avoided and the hair to securely placed. Yoga asanas allow perspiration and make up may result in harming the skin. For a few initial lessons it is best to watch others. You could be in awe about the experts there and one day you too will be positioned in the same pedestal.

Yoga classes are bonding times too. You can cultivate healthy friendships, partake in discussions and find a great guide in your yoga instructor. It is always not necessary that the yoga teacher in the yoga class be a very elderly person. Professionals are very young these days and do their job with utmost dedication and sincerity.

Invest in good yoga clothing, enquire about accessories and make time to fill the admission form. Meet the instructor to clarify your thoughts, your main illness and also carry your reports. Blood pressure to skin problems can be cured by yoga with loads of patience and discipline.

Yoga Courses Arogyadhama Resources Research

2009-03-07T02:30:00.000-08:00

Yoga Research and Yoga Therapy - two Yoga fields which SVYASA has poured life into!

Over the years, SVYASA has been substantiating scientific validation through Research @ SVYASA. We have successfully published more than 100 papers which have all been indexed in Medline and/or Psychlit/Psychinfo. SVYASA has carried itself as a Centre of Advanced Research (CAR) in Yoga and Neurophysiology accredited by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

SVYASA also houses one-of-its-kind Yoga Hospital with a 250-bed inpatient treatment facility called Arogyadhama. This is a Yoga Research Health Home which has been envisioned for prevention and treatment of Diseases, long-term rehabilitation and for Promotion of Positive Health.

Yoga Courses at our SVYASA Yoga University are recognised by the University Grants Commission, Government of India. We now have 50 PhDs 100 MScs and over 350 students in various branches. We have so far produced 6 PhDs and 2 MDs from our University, one from HUA, 6 from Bangalore University.

SVYASA campus is 32 kms away from Bangalore. The campus is called Prashanti Kutiram, the Abode of Peace. Lying in the lap of nature amidst greenery, the campus lies sprawling over 100 acres. The campus is about 15 kms from the bountiful Bannerughatta National Park.

SVYASA has an exhaustive Yoga Library with a good collection of 15000 books, videos and books SVYP (Swami Vivekananda Yoga Prakashan) is the publication wing of SVYASA. We have about 35 titles, Videos and Audios

Svyasa has, over the years, standardized such Advanced Yoga techniques as CM (Cyclic Meditation), PET (Pranic Energisation Technique), MSRT (Mind Sound Resonance Technique), MEMT (Mastering the Emotions Technique), MIRT (Mind Imagery Technique), VISAK (Vignana Sadhana Kausalya) and ANAMS (Anandamrita Sinchana)

International Yoga Conferences at SVYASA have been very popular in attracting some of the best Academia IJOY or International Journal of Yoga has been officially launched and will soon be indexed. On the IJOY website, one can read entire research papers published freely. We are hoping to make this journal a platform to bring together all researches by all Schools of Yoga!

SVYASA is a Yoga University established under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 vide Notification Number F.9-45/2001-U.3 dated 8/5/2001 of the Government of India

Fact about Sahaja Yoga International

2009-03-07T02:24:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that there are now a few web sites on the internet which contain allegations against Sahaja Yoga and its founder Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. We, on behalf of our organization are writing to assure you that we stand firmly behind the integrity of Sahaja Yoga and its founder. The teachings and practice of Sahaja Yoga, which are offered free of charge, have transformed and benefited the lives of over half a million around the world.

These web-sites are not there by random coincidence. Rather, they are there by way of an organized attempt by a small group of dissatisfied ex-practitioners of Sahaja Yoga. Most of these people were asked to leave Sahaja Yoga for reasons of immoral misconduct or financial impropriety. These people are now used by some fundamentalist groups and are trying to orchestrate an internet media campaign in an attempt to dissuade genuine seekers from finding the truth.

The allegations fall into a number of categories. One is that Shri Mataji personally makes a great deal of money through Sahaja Yoga. She has not gained financially through Sahaja Yoga at all and whatever money is collected at our seminars and Pujas is properly recorded and used to fund projects throughout the world. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi has Herself single-handedly funded over 35 projects in countries including India, Italy, UK, America, Canada and Australia and other parts of the world for noble and social causes. The projects include medical centers, music and art academies, schools, Sahaja Yoga ashrams, seminar retreats and centers to support and help destitute women.

There has never been a charge for Sahaja Yoga meditation programs and all types of people come into Sahaja Yoga because our doors are open to everyone. We receive no funding from charitable sources or from governmental agencies for conducting our programs. Obviously, renting halls, printing literature, preparing and running programs all cost money and Sahaja Yogis themselves contribute willingly and voluntarily whenever money is needed. That is how Sahaja Yoga is funded. No one in Sahaja Yoga has ever been forced to give money for the support of this work, or condemned for not giving. For the past 30 years, Shri Mataji Herself has been working tirelessly and relentlessly for the cause of Sahaja Yoga and has made no financial demands in the carrying out of Her work. We, Her followers are pleased to ensure that She travels in comfort and stays in accommodation befitting her years and status. On a personal level, She has sacrificed so much, both financially and in the forgoing of her family life. These people should be ashamed of themselves for attacking such a pure and noble personality who is full of love and compassion.

The fact is that the Sahaja movement, when seen in the context of comparable movements, owns barely anything. Perhaps a couple of houses across the world host community living or ashrams. Some schools and one hospital serve the community. If the association was in the business of making money, this would be a poor show indeed!

Other allegations are that, for example, practitioners of Sahaja Yoga are forced to send their children to Sahaja Yoga schools or are coerced into arranged marriages against their wishes. There are many more Sahaja children than there are places available in the few schools of the association. It is more likely that parents who want to register their children may not find a place available. With respect to marriages, some Sahaja yogis indeed, but not all, prefer the practice of arranged marriages as is still common in more traditional countries. They look for somebody sharing a comparable spiritual vision. The documented high rate of success of marriages in Sahaja Yoga suggest their choice was sound. The practice of Sahaja Yoga results in inner balance, increased discrimination and the ability to think for oneself. The idea that people were coerced is at odds with the the very basis of Sahaja Yoga, a fundamental principle of which is that one is encouraged to take responsibility for one's own life and spiritual growth. These incorrect perceptions likely originate from the earlier days of Sahaja Yoga when the schools were initiated and parents were first invited to make use of them.

Shri Mataji has made us aware that all the religions are from the same principle and are to be respected by all of us. She has founded a global religion, Vishwa Nirmala Dharma, which is the innate pure religion, relating to the core experience at the roots of all religions, and She grants this experience to those who ask for it. It is Self-Realization. As a result of Her teaching, many rituals, dogmas or prejudices about religion have been corrected. We respect all the incarnations, prophets and the realized souls of the past. The universal character of this worship can be seen in the Sahaja Yoga publications such as Bible Enlightened, Islam Enlightened and Geeta Enlightened and this culture of spiritual tolerance and understanding can be verified from thousands of Shri Mataji's speeches.

From the ability of Shri Mataji to grant en masse Self Realization, we are profoundly convinced that She is a Being of exceptional spiritual stature, an Avatar. There are so many signs in thousands of Miracle photographs taken by Sahaja Yogis verifying the existence of divinity in this era. There are scientists in many countries who have verified scientifically that Shri Mataji is emitting cosmic energy.

It is shown in historical records that evil spirited people have in the past tormented the great incarnations, sufis, saints other great souls. They were the kind of people who fought Mohammed, killed Zarathustra, crucified Christ or poisoned Socrates. For some time now, many of us who practice Sahaja Yoga have been asking Shri Mataji's permission to take legal action against authors of such defamation and calumnies but She has been constantly compassionate even towards these evil-minded people. The mediocrity expressed in making false allegations on the internet web-sites by a few disgruntled ex-yogis must be recognized for what it is: failed yogis who want to prevent others from achieving what was beyond their reach! People should trust their own experience and not anonymous slander.

The work of Sahaja Yoga is so tremendous that it cannot be described in this short letter. This is the first of many articles that we want to publish to bring forth the simple facts about Sahaja Yoga and Her Holiness Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. So great is her compassion that, even though we know those who are writing these false articles against Sahaja Yoga and their motives behind it, Shri Mataji has asked us not to mention their names because, as she has reminded us, once they too called her "Mother".

Despite the distraction of false allegations, we remain focused on spreading this great knowledge, to help people enlighten and transform themselves throughout the world. The time has come and seekers ask for it. There are over half million people around the world who practice Sahaja Yoga. The quality of their renewed life speaks for the purity and integrity of Sahaja Yoga. If you have any questions, please visit our web site at sahajayoga.org or visit any of our local centers.

Yoga Postures exercise asana

2009-03-07T02:13:00.000-08:00

Postures

Bridge, Cobra, Corpse, Dog,/Cat, Downward Dog, Forward Bend, Half Shoulderstand, Head to Knee, Mountain, Sit/Easy Position, Triangle, Warrior I, Warrior II

Be kind to yourself when you practice yoga. Go slowly, especially in the beginning, and listen to your body. It knows what it can do. If it says "stop," stop. Don't push it. Yoga is not a competitive sport. You don't win points for matching a picture in a book (or on a website). If you push too hard, you probably won't enjoy it, and you may hurt yourself. Whenever possible, work with a teacher, and use books, videos and websites to supplement your classroom instruction. Most of all, stick with it. If you practice, you will improve. And you will feel better. Jai Bhagwan.

The chart below describes some of the fundamental yoga postures. The sequence can be performed in order. When you are familair with the psotures, try some of the vinyasas, or yoga flows, listed to in the column to the right.

Vinyasas

A vinyasa is a flow or sequence of postures

Sun Salutation

Triangle/Warrior II

Great Salutation
Classic Postures Sit/Easy Position - Sukhasana

A starting position that helps focus awareness on breathing and the body; helps strengthen lower back and open the groin and hips.

Sit cross-legged with hands on knees. Focus on your breath. Keep your spine straight and push the sit bones down into the floor. Allow the knees to gently lower. If the knees rise above your hips, sit on a cushion or block. This will help support your back and hips. Take 5-10 slow, deep breaths. On the next inhale, raise your arms over your head. Exhale and bring your arms down slowly. Repeat 5-7 times.
Dog and Cat --

Increases flexibility of spine

This is really two poses, one flowing into the other. Begin on your hands and knees. Keep your hands just in front of your shoulders, your legs about hip width apart. As you inhale, tilt the tailbone and pelvis up, and let the spine curve downward, dropping the stomach low, and lift your head up. Stretch gently. As you exhale, move into cat by reversing the spinal bend, tilting the pelvis down, drawing the spine up and pulling the chest and stomach in. Repeat several times, flowing smoothly from dog into cat, and cat back into dog.

Mountain - Tadasana

Improves posture, balance and self-awareness.

A deceptive pose in that it appears so simple that some students may ask - "why bother?" But just as there's more to breathing than meets the eye, there is more to standing, too.

Stand with feet together, hands at your sides, eyes looking forward. Raise your toes, fan them open, then place them back down on the floor. Feel your heel, outside of your foot, toes and ball of your foot all in contact with the floor. Tilt your pubic bone slightly forward. Raise your chest up and out, but within reason - this isn't the army and you're not standing at attention. Raise your head up and lengthen the neck by lifting the base of your skull toward the ceiling. Stretch the pinky on each hand downward, then balance that movement by stretching your index fingers. Push into the floor with your feet and raise your legs, first the calves and then the thighs.

Breathe. Hold the posture, but try not to tense up. Breathe. As you inhale, imagine the breath coming up through the floor, rising through your legs and torso and up into your head. Reverse the process on the exhale and watch your breath as it passes down from your head, through your chest and stomach, legs and feet.

Hold for 5 to 10 breaths, relax and repeat.

On your next inhale, raise your arms over head (Urdhava Hastasana) and hold for several breaths. Lower your arms on an exhale.

As a warm up, try synchronizing the raising and lowering of your arms with your breath - raise, inhale; lower, exhale. Repeat 5 times.

Forward Bend or Extension - Uttanasana II

Stretches the legs and spine, rests the heart and neck, relaxes mind and body

Begin standing straight in Mountain pose or Tadasana. Inhale and raise the arms overhead. Exhale, bend at the hips, bring the arms forward and down until you touch the floor. It's okay to bend your knees, especially if you're feeling stiff. Either grasp your ankles or just leave your hands on the floor and breathe several times. Repeat 3-5 times. On your last bend, hold the position for 5 or 10 breaths. To come out of the pose, curl upward as if pulling yourself up one vertebrae at a time, stacking one on top of another, and leaving the head hanging down until last.

Variations

1. Follow the instructions for the basic pose described above, but instead of holding the pose for several breaths, come up on the inhale. Extend your arms forward as your rise until you are standing straight and your arms are overhead. Exhale and bend forward. Repeat the process 5 times.

2. Go into the pose and take 3 deep breaths. Inhale and raise your head, but keep your hands on the floor. Hook each index finger around each big toe, exhale and come down. Hold for several breaths

3. Inhale and raise your head, again keeping your hands on the floor. This time, slide your hands under your feet so that the tips of your toes are touching heel of your hands. Hold for several breaths.

4. After bending forward, fold your arms and hang for as long as is comfortable. A very relaxing pose.

5. To come out of the pose, curl upward as if pulling yourself up one vertebrae at a time, stacking one on top of another, and leaving the head hanging down until last.

Trikonasana - the Triangle

Stretches the spine, opens the torso, improves balance and concentration.

Start with your spread 3-4 feet apart, feet parallel. Turn your left foot 90 degrees to the left and your right foot about 45 degrees inward. Inhale and raise both arms so they're parallel with the floor. Exhale, turn your head to the left and look down your left arm toward your outstretched fingers. Check that your left knee is aligned with your left ankle. Take a deep breath and stretch outward to the left, tilting the left hip down and the right hip up. When you've stretched as far as you can, pivot your arms, letting your left hand reach down and come to rest against the inside of your calf, while your right arms points straight up. Turn and look up at your right hand. Breathe deeply for several breaths. Inhale, and straighten up. Exhale, lower your arms. Put your hands on your hips and pivot on your heels, bringing your feet to face front. Repeat the posture on the other side.

Warrior I I - Virabhadrasana II

Strengthens legs and arms; improves balance and concentration; builds confidence

Begin in mountain pose with feet together and hands at side. Step your feet 4-5 feet apart. Turn your right foot about 45 degrees to the left. Turn your left foot 90 degrees to the left so that it is pointing straight out to the side. Slowly bend the left knee until the thigh is parallel with the floor, but keep the knee either behind or directly over your ankle. Raise your arms over head. Then slowly lower them until your left arm is pointing straight ahead and your right arm is pointing back. Concentrate on a spot in front of you and breathe. Take 4 or 5 deep breaths, lower your arms, bring your legs together. Reverse the position.

The Cobra - Bhujangasana

Stretches the spine, strengthens the back and arms, opens the chest and heart.

Lie down on your stomach. Keep your legs together, arms at your side, close to your body, with your hands by your chest.

Step 1: Inhaling, slowly raise your head and chest as high as it will go. Keep your buttocks muscles tight to protect your lower back. Keep your head up and chest and heart out. Breathe several times and then come down. Repeat as necessary.

Step 2: Follow the steps above. When you've gone as high as you can, gently raise yourself on your arms, stretching the spine even more. Only go as far as you are comfortable. Your pelvis should always remain on the floor. Breathe several times and come down.

Downward Facing Dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana

Builds strength, flexibility and awareness; stretches the spine and hamstrings; rests the heart.

Start on your hands and knees. Keep your legs about hip width apart and your arms shoulder width apart. Your middle fingers should be parallel, pointing straight ahead. Roll your elbows so that the eye or inner elbow is facing forward. Inhale and curl your toes under, as if getting ready to stand on your toes. Exhale and straighten your legs; push upward with your arms. The goal is to lengthen the spine while keeping your legs straight and your feet flat on the ground. However, in the beginning it's okay to bend the knees a bit and to keep your heels raised. The important thing is to work on lengthening the spine. Don't let your shoulders creep up by your ears -- keep them down. Weight should be evenly distributed between your hands and feet. Hold the position for a few breaths. Come down on and exhale. Repeat several times, synchronizing with your breath: up on the exhale and down on the inhale.

Head to Knee -- Janu Shirshasana

Stretches and opens back and hamstrings, improves flexibility

Sit on the floor with legs extended in front of you. Bend one leg, bringing the heel of the foot as close to the groin as possible. You may want to place a pillow under the bent knee for comfort. Make sure your sitz bones are firmly grounded on the floor and that your spine is straight. Turn your body slightly so you face out over the extended leg. Inhale and raise your arms over head. Exhale and begin to move forward slowly. Try to keep the back as straight as possible. Instead of bending at the hips, focus on lifting the tailbone and rolling forward on your sitz bones. Inhale and lengthen and straighten the spine. Exhale and roll forward, however slightly. To get a bit more forward movement, engage your quadriceps (thigh muscles) as you move forward. This releases the hamstrings, giving you a bit more flexibility. When you've moved as far forward as you can, lower the arms and grasp your foot, or leg. Hold the position for a moment and breathe. Then on the next exhale gently pull yourself forward. Go slowly and remember to keep the back straight. When done, straighten up and do the other side.

Half Shoulderstand -- Ardha Sarvangasana

Promotes proper thyroid function, strengthens abdomen, stretches upper back, improves blood circulation, induces relaxation

You probably remember doing this as a kid. Lie on your back and lift your legs up into air. Place your hands on your lower back for support, resting your elbows and lower arms on the ground. Make sure your weight is on your shoulders and mid to upper back -- not your neck. Breathe deeply and hold for at the posture for at least 5-10 breaths, increasing the hold over time. To come down, slowly lower your legs, keeping them very straight -- a little workout for your abdominal muscles.

The Bridge - Sethu Bandhasa

Increases flexibility and suppleness; strengthens the lower back and abdominal muscles; opens the chest.

Lie on your back with your knees up and hands at your side Your feet should be near your buttocks about six inches apart. To begin, gently raise and lower your tail. Then, slowly, raise the tailbone and continue lifting the spine, trying to move one vertebra at a time until your entire back is arched upward. Push firmly with your feet. Keep your knees straight and close together. Breathe deeply into your chest. Clasp your hands under your back and push against the floor.

Take five slow, deep breaths.

Come down slowly and repeat.

The Corpse -- Savasana

Relaxes and refreshes the body and mind, relieves stress and anxiety, quiets the mind

Possibly the most important posture, the Corpse, also known as the Sponge, is as deceptively simple as Tadasana, the Mountain pose. Usually performed at the end of a session, the goal is conscious relaxation. Many people find the "conscious" part the most difficult because it is very easy to drift off to sleep while doing Savasana. Begin by lying on your back, feet slightly apart, arms at your sides with palms facing up. Close your eyes and take several slow, deep breaths. Allow your body to sink into the ground. Try focusing on a specific part of the body and willing it to relax. For example, start with your feet, imagine the muscles and skin relaxing, letting go and slowly melting into the floor. From your feet, move on to your calves, thighs and so on up to your face and head. Then simply breathe and relax. Stay in the pose for at least 5-10 minutes.

yoga camps, create yoga awareness

2009-03-07T01:57:00.000-08:00

Yoga Bharati welcomes you to discover the treasures of Yoga. Yoga Bharati is working for the promotion of Yoga and related activities in the United States of America.

The basic guideline of Yoga Bharati is to conduct yoga camps, create yoga awareness, spread word of ancient Indian philosophy relevant to the entire humanity and to build a team of motivated volunteers. We will invite learned Yoga Gurus both from India and locally here in the USA to conduct the camps for us. Apart from the camps, we will bring various yoga related activities such as workshops, lectures, demonstrations to benefit yoga enthusiasts at various levels.

What is Yoga?
Developed in India, Yoga is a psycho-somatic discipline with roots going back over 5,000 years. Today, most Yoga practices in the West focuses on the physical postures called Asanas, breathing exercises called Pranayama, and Meditation. However, there's more to it than that, and the deeper you go the richer and more diverse the tradition becomes. The word Yoga means union. Traditionally, the goal of Yoga is union with the Absolute, known as Brahman, or with Atman, the true self. These days the focus is often on the more down-to-earth benefits of Yoga, including improved physical fitness, mental clarity, greater self-understanding, stress control and general well-being. Spirituality, however, is a strong underlying theme to most practices. The beauty of Yoga is in its versatility, allowing practitioners to focus on the physical, psychological or spiritual, or a combination of all three.

International Journal of Yoga

2009-03-05T02:42:00.000-08:00

Yoga is essentially practiced as αsanas, and αsanas are addressed as an alternate to exercises for a workout. To sweat out, a common feature of workouts, is evident in Yoga studios. No wonder that the Vikram Yoga is the hot spot. In India, traditionally Yoga is known as one of the six systems of Philosophy called Sat Darωanas - Nyaya, Vaisesika, Sankhya, Yoga, Pürva Mimamsa, and Uttara Mimamsa. Taking into consideration the very meaning of Yoga (Yujyate anena iti Yogah) [Slide 1],

Swami Vivekananda expanded the scope of Yoga to encompass all streams - Jòαna, Bhakti, and Karma - also to lay the foundation for the four main streams of Yoga [Slide 2].

And the purpose of all Yoga is to realize, be in tune, and ultimately merge with Reality; call it Perfection, Pure Consciousness, Parmatman, Nirvaοa as Buddha called it, Kaivalya as Pataòjali presented, Mokúa as Uttara Mθmamsa designates, or Reality which all scientists aim at, in all their research. He, without hair-splitting the semantic controversies, unifying them with an emphasis on the real spirit of Yoga as unification, to reach perfection, said that all paths mentioned above lead to the same goal in his famous proclamation, "Do it work or worship or psychic control or philosophy, by one or more or all of these and be free" [Slide 3].

That holistic definition of Yoga is most relevant to the modern society where the matterbased paradigm has become the truth of the times. Yoga postulates Consciousness-based paradigm and emphasizes that we are not robots governed by a set of physical laws driving us as machines. If we are more efficient than a robot sometimes or work haphazardly, we do it consciously with intelligence. This power of consciousness is featured by the freedom in all of us to choose - kartum, akartum, or anyatha va kartum - to do, not to do, or do it differently. Yoga is to enhance this freedom to choose the way to absolute freedom - freedom from all tensions and stresses, diseases, miseries - to move toward positive health, leading to perfect health.

Systematized and well-worked-out systems of Yoga, time tested for at least a few thousand years, aim at releasing us from all bondages - bondage of thoughts to begin with. We are bound by the thinking process right from the time we wake up till we sleep in the night, having no respite. This is the first bondage - says Pataòjali, the master of Yoga Darshana. Bondage of emotions - being tossed up and down in emotional upsurges, responding to the inner and outer inputs as if we are bound to respond like a stone falling down due to gravity determined by the three laws of classical mechanics. We realize in Bhakti Yoga that we can respond to inputs in our own chosen way - using the innate freedom for which we are known as human beings. In Karma Yoga again, we use this freedom to work without tension while discharging our duties, responsibilities, or even meeting our targets; who has pronounced the mandate that we should get tense when we need to meet a tough target? Working in relaxation, tension-free is the first lesson in Karma Yoga. Acting with a limited set of laws of the physical world while addressing more sophisticated multi-dimensional challenges of the modern era is called Ajòαna, and to work with a higher set of laws is Jòαna. Realization of the limitations of the matter-based paradigm is the first step. Jòαna is featured by freedom. We move from one truth to the higher truth, from one level of freedom to the next level of higher freedom in our journey in Jòαna Yoga. The ultimate is the release from even the bondage of the body and its laws.

Let me end with an incident in the life of Sri Ramakrishna. Mathura Babu was a brilliant modernized man, well-educated, and having the fullest faith in the matter-based paradigm. He said that the laws of the physical world are fixed and none can change the case of a stone falling down under the action of gravity. In his simplistic style, Sri Ramakrishna asked as to who made these laws? Mathura Babu said - none, no person, we call it nature. SR said, if that nature wants to change its laws, can it? No sir, straight came the answer. SR asked him to come next morning to the spot where there was a rose creeper. Next morning, Mathura Babu sees the usual red flowers in that creeper with a new white flower amidst!! Was Sri Ramakrishna working with the higher laws of creation - or of the creator? Mathura Babu was dumbfounded; all his belief got shattered about the faith in science. But the modern scientists, in their ignorance, would never accept the same. New generations of young scientists are coming up to fathom the higher levels of reality. Yoga raises us to higher levels of freedom with total understanding of the mechanisms and laws of creation.

To consider Yoga as yogasanas and yogasanas as physical exercises is to work with limited if not wrong knowledge of Yoga. Similarly, to use the terms "Yoga" and "meditation" is like saying Maths and arithmetic. Even the Yoga masters in India also have started using this phrase forgetting that meditation is the seventh limb of the Asûαρga yoga of Pataòjali. At least, shall we correct this wrong usage of the term "Yoga"?

Department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha

2009-03-05T02:02:00.000-08:00

Concepts and Principles

Basic Concepts

The tradition of Yoga was born in India several thousand years ago. Its founders were great Saints and Sages. The great Yogis gave rational interpretation of their experiences about Yoga and brought a practically sound and scientifically prepared method within every one’s reach. Yoga philosophy is an Art and Science of living in tune with Brahmand- The Universe. Yoga has its origins in the Vedas, the oldest record of Indian culture. It was systematized by the great Indian sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra as a special Darshana. Although, this work was followed by many other important texts on Yoga, but Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is certainly the most significant wherein no change is possible. It is the only book which has touched almost all the aspects of human life.

Unlike earlier, Yoga today is no longer restricted to a privileged minority of hermits; it has taken its place in our every day lives and have undergone a world wide awakening and acceptance in the last few decades. The Science of Yoga and its techniques have now been re-oriented to suit modern sociological needs and lifestyle. Experts of various branches of medicine including modern medical science are realizing the role of these techniques in the prevention of disease and promotion of health.

Swami Vivekananda defines Yoga as "It’s a means of compressing one’s evolution into a single life or a few months or even a few hours of one’s bodily existence". By Yoga, Sri Aurobindo, meant a methodological effort towards self perfection by the development of potentialities latent in the individual.

Yoga is a science as well an art of healthy living physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. It’s systematic growth from his animal level to the normalcy, from there to the divinity, ultimately. It’s no way limited by race, age, sex, religion, cast or creed and can be practiced by those who seek an education on better living and those who wants to have a more meaningful life.

Yoga is not a religion; It’s a philosophy of life based on certain psychological facts and it aims at the development of a perfect balance between the body and the mind that permits union with the divine i.e. perfect harmony between the individual and the cosmos.

Many different interpretations of the word Yoga have been handed down over the centuries. One of the classic definition of Yoga is "to be one with divine." It does not matter what name we use for the divine-God, Allah, Ishvara, or whatever- anything that brings us closer to understanding that there is a power higher and greater than ourselves is Yoga. When we feel in harmony with that higher power, that too is Yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga :

Yoga is one among the six systems of Indian orthodox philosophy. Maharishi Patanjali, rightly called as the "Father of Yoga" compiled and refined various aspects of Yoga systematically in his "Yoga Sutras" (aphorisms). He advocated the eight fold path of Yoga, popularly known as "Ashtanga Yoga" for all-round development of human personality. They are – Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi. These eight limbs are so perfectly designed that there is absolutely no scope for any addition or alteration since these are formulated on the basis of multifarious psychological understanding of human personality.

The practice of Yamas – Niyamas i.e. harmlessness towards all living beings, truthfulness, honesty, celibacy, non-hoarding of wordly objects, cleanliness, contentment, austerity, control of lust, anger and infatuation, study of holy books and practice of Japa and selfless action – all these pave way for increasing the power of concentration, mental purity and steadiness.

Hatha Yoga :

Svatmarama, who wrote a treatise on this subject after experiencing the nectar of samadhi (absorption of the soul) as Hatha Yoga Vidya or Hatha Yoga Pradeepika. It gives guidelines from the practical point of view for a beginner to begin Yoga, which leads the students gradually from the culture of the body towards the sight of the soul and God-realisation. Hatha Yoga Pradeepika is divided into four chapters or Prakaranas. The first chapter expounds Asanas, the second is on pranayama, the third is on Mudras and Bandhas and the fourth is on Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and samadhi. In between these, the author introduces satkriyaas or the six cleansing processes. As the text begins with asanas, Satmarama’s Yoga is called Sadanga Yoga or the six aspects of Yoga beginning with asanas and ending in Samadhi.

A set of Asanas, Mudras and Pranayamas practised with faith, preseverance and insight rejuvenates the brain, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bowels, nerves, muscles, tissues & glands of the body by ensuring oxygenated and balanced blood supply, kindles up the appetite, bestows control over seminal fluid, senses & mind and imparts increased vitality, vigour & longevity to the practitioner.

Streams of Yoga :

There are a large numbers of methods of Yoga catering to the needs of different persons in society. They are broadly classified into four streams. Swami Vivekananda puts them as Work, Worship, Philosophy and Psychic control.

Karma Yoga, the path of work, involves doing action in a skilful way. In other words, it can be said as a way of enjoying work, doing it effortlessly. The success or failure should not be allowed to cause ripples in the mind.

‘Bhakti Yoga’ the path of worship is a systematic method of engaging the mind in the practice of divine love. This attitutde of love softens our emotions and tranquillises our mind.

Jnana Yoga, the path of philosophy, is a systematic way of tutoring the mind about the realities of life by contemplation. This will strip off the garb of Avidya (ignorance) from our mind and the mind goes to its natural state of rest.

Raja Yoga, the path of psychic control, is a systematic process of culturing the mind. It is based on the 8-limbed Yoga of Patanjali.

Yoga is a science as well as an art of healthy living. It is no way limited by race, age, sex, religion, caste, creed and any other boundaries and can be practiced by those who seek an education on better living and those who want to have a more meaningful life.

Principles

Yoga means a holistic approach towards the cause and treatment of disease.

According to Yoga, most of the diseases Mental, Psychosomatic and Physical originate in mind through wrong way of thinking, living and eating which is caused by attachment.

The basic approach of Yoga is to correct the life style by cultivating a rational positive and spiritual attitude towards all life situation.

Yoga does not treat gross body alone, it takes into consideration all the five Kosa’s (Sheaths) i.e. Manomaya Kosa, Annamaya Kosa, (grass Sheath) Pranamaya Kosa (Extral Body) (Psychic Body), Vijyanmaya Kosa (intellect Sheath) and Anandamaya Kosa (Bliss sheath).

Like Ayurveda and Naturopathy Yoga also takes up the cleansing of the body as the first measure to fight disease. While Ayurveda performs its pancha karma through the help of ametics purgative Yoga performs them without the help of any drug i.e. by developing full efficiency and control of eliminative systems of the body. Which no other system of health care can do.

All the systems of medicine at their best aim at curing the disease whereas Yoga aims at preventing the disease and promoting health by reconditioning the psycho-physiological mechanism of the individual.

Yoga emphasises the development of brotherhood, hormony, fraternity and equality not only towards all human beings irrespective of colour, caste, nationality, age and sex but towards all living beings also. This attitude renders the thinking so positive that man is liberated from all mental malice and also all the mental, psychosomatic and physiological diseases arising thereof.

The approach of Yoga is not confirmed to various disorders, it aims at bringing under perfect control of the mind, senses and pranic energy and direct them towards healthier channels with a view to aquire mental purity, intellectual stability and spiritual bliss.

Yoga is very wide and comprehensive system embracing all walks of human life. It is unlike Ayurvedic, Unani and Homoeopathy. It is not merely a system of treatment but has potential to develop alround health i.e. physical, social, mental and spiritual. For social health, it prescribes the practice of Yama & Niyama and Karma Yoga. A man devoted to karma Yoga looks all the living beings as his bretherens and helps them getting rid of painful situations. This concept of "Vasudhaiv Kutmba Kama" is the basic Philosophy of Yoga.

Yoga emphsises the practitioners to withstand the environmental influences both external & internal as well as physical & mental processes. This practice cultivates strong immunity in them and make them capable of offering a effective ressistance to various environmental pressures and thus, maintains behavioural equanimity and intellectural stability.

The practice of Yama – Niyamas purifies the heart of practitioner from vices like attachement, aversion, avarice and infatuation etc. and generates higher ethical qualities like sincerity, honesty, straightforwardness, cheerfulness, courage, detachement, patience, perseverence, tranquility, self conrol, truth, harmony and uprightness.

Our ancient seers have very sagaciously designed the Yogic practices to invigorate the entire psychosomatic consitution of man. A set of Asanas, Mudras and Pranayamas practised with faith, perseverance and insight rejuvenates the brain, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bowels, all nerves, muscles, tissues, glands of the body by ensuring oxygenated and balanced blood supply, kindless up the appetite, bestows control over seminal fluid, senses and mind and imparts increased vitality, vigour and longevity to the practitioners.

Develoment and its Status

In our country, generations of Yogis and Scholars have contemplated their life in timeless fashion to realize that there is a meaning to life and some purpose beyond the human sufferings. They were even convinced that there is a way to escape the tragic problems of life by diverting our mind to something more interesting and everlasting. They were also moved by the suffering they saw around them and wanted that the human being should be free from sufferings & ignorance, to set him on the road to freedom and live healthy . In ancient days, most of the Yogis & Sages used to live in forests. They use to eat whatever is provided by the Nature in its natural form. Not only that the ever changing climate could not harm them a bit. They use to apply holy ash of Havana on their body to keep away the germs & bacteria. The great Yogis and Scholars gave rational interpretations of their experiences and brought these within every one’s reach by making a practically designed and scientifically prepared method of healthy living. Hence, the science of Yoga emerged to counter all these problems and human sufferings.

In the ancient days, Medicine was dominated by magical and religious beliefs which were an integral part of almost all ancient cultures and civilizations. Although primitive man may be extinct, his progeny - the so called " Traditional Healers " , are found everywhere. They live close to the people and their treatment are based on various combinations of religion, magic and empiricism.

The greatest Physician in Greek medicine was Hippocrates, who is often called the "Father of Medicine". He studied such things as climate, water, air, clothing, habits of eating & drinking and the effect they have in producing diseases. The Greeks believed that matter was made up of four elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water and the same is applicable to body also. They also believed that the equilibrium among these elements maintains normal health status.

Medicine has moved from organism to organ and from organ to cell and from the cell to molecular properties. Despite spectacular bio-medical advances and massive expenditures, the death rate and the life expectancy in the developed countries have remained unchanged. Medicine, as practiced today has begun to be

questioned and criticised. High technology medicine seems to be getting out of hand and leading health systems in wrong directions. There is an increasing concern about the cost and allocation of health resources, but the efficacy of modern medicine is fundamentally questioned through various points of view. Contemporary medicine is no longer solely an art and science for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. It is also the science for prevention of disease and promotion of health. With increasing recognition of the failure of existing health services to provide health care, alternative ideas and methods to provide health care have been considered and tried in large scale in the recent past.

The sacred land of India, from the time immemorial contributed in its own way to the better living of mankind. Yoga & Naturopathy are the two of its kinds which can be the only answer to the rising levels of health care problems.

In recent times there is a growing awareness among the people about the efficacy and utility of Yoga and Nature Cure in keeping one fit at physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual planes. These systems are emerging as the effective methods and means to improve the total personality and to build a healthy society. Above all, these systems are adopted as a way of life rather than a mode of treatment.

Ashtanga Yoga, the eight steps of yoga

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Ashtanga Yoga

Yoga is more than just a physical discipline. It is a way of life—a rich philosophical path. And the yamas (restraints) and niyamas (observances) are ten good common-sense guidelines for leading a healthier, happier life for bringing spiritual awareness into a social context. They are for you to think about and ponder over with a rational mind, because yoga is not about mindlessly accepting externally imposed rules—it is about finding the truth for yourself—and 'connecting' with it.
Yamas: There are many interpretations of and opinions about the yamas and niyamas. While the ancient Indian text, the Bhagavata Purana assigns 12 yogic restraints the Parashar Smriti, another text, puts forward ten. But the yamas as described in Patanjali's yoga sutra are only five, which are also known as the great universal vows or the sarvabhauma maha vratas, because they are not limited by either class, creed, time or circumstances. They are the guidelines for how we interact with the outer world, the social disciplines to guide us in our relationships with others. These five are:
• Ahimsa (non-violence),
• Satya (truthfulness),
• Asteya (non-stealing),
• Brahmacharya (celibacy) and
• Aparigraha (non-covetousness)
According to the Yajnavalkya Samhita, ahimsa or non-violence is the awareness and practice of non-violence in thought, speech and action. It advocates the practices of compassion, love, understanding, patience, self-love, and worthiness.

Patanjali describes truthfulness as: "To be in harmony with mind, word and action, to conduct speech and mind according to truth, to express through speech and to retain it in the intellect what has been seen, understood or heard." A perfectly truthful person is he who expresses in his speech exactly what he thinks in his mind and in the end acts according to it.

Non-stealing or asteya is the third constituent of the yamas of ashtanga yoga It upholds forgoing the unauthorized possession of thought, speech and action. Asteya stands against covetousness and envy. It advocates the cultivation of a sense of completeness and self-sufficiency in order to progress beyond base cravings.

The Vedas, Smritis and Puranas all glorify the fourth constituent of celibacy. It is believed to be a behavior, which brings man nearer to the Divine. This yama believes in avoiding all sensual pleasures, whether mental, vocal or physical.

The literal meaning of apigraha, the fifth yama, is the non-accumulation of worldly objects, caused by covetousness and attachment. The commentator Vyasa says that this last state of yama is attained when one remains totally detached from sensual pleasures of all kinds and so effectively refrains from committing himsa or violence of any sort.

Niyamas:
The niyamas are the second constituents of Ashtanga Yoga. How we interact with ourselves, our internal world. The niyamas are about self-regulation—helping us maintain a positive environment in which to grow. Their practice harnesses the energy generated from the cultivation of the earlier yamas. According to sage Yajnavalkya, there are ten niyamas and the Bhagavad Gita lists 11 constituents. But Patanjali names only five:

• Shaucha or purity,
• Santosha or contentment,
• Tapa or austerity,
• Swadhyaya or self-education and
• Ishwar-Pranidhan or meditation on the Divine

Shaucha implies both external as well as internal purity. In the words of sage Manu, water purifies the body; truthfulness the mind; true knowledge the intellect and the soul is purified by knowledge and austerity. It advocates the practices of intellectual purity, purity of speech and of the body.

The second niyama is that of contentment, which is described as not desiring more than what one has earned by his honest labor. This state of mind is about maintaining equanimity through all that life offers. Santosha involves the practice of gratitude and joyfulness—maintaining calm at all costs. This state of mind does not depend on any external causes.

Austerity, the third niyama, is described in Yoga philosophy as power to stand thirst and hunger, cold and heat, discomforts of place and postures, silent meditation and ritual fasts. It also maintains that the perfect man is he who practices both mental as well as physical austerity.

According to the commentator Vyas, self-education or swadhyaya consists of scriptural studies. The scripture being, the Vedas and Upanishads together with the recitation of the Gayatri Mantra and the Om mantra.

Commentators describe Ishwar-Pranidhan, the last of the niyamas, as the dedication of all our actions, performed either by intellect, speech or body, to the Divine. The results of all such actions are by definition, therefore, dependent upon Divine decision. The mortal mind can simply aspire to realize the Divine through dedication, purification, tranquilization and concentration of the mind. This Divine contemplation spills over to all aspects of the yogi's life.
The Benefits of Practicing Yamas and Niyamas:
The yamas and niyamas help in managing our energy in an integrative manner, complementing our outer life to our inner development. They help us view ourselves with compassion and awareness. They help in respecting the values of this life, in balancing our inner growth with outer restraint. In short they help us to lead a conscious life.

Yamas and niyamas are not about right and wrong. They are about being honest with the true Self. Living according to these principles are about living our lives in a better way, about moving towards an understanding, about making it possible to 'connect' with the Divine.
YOGASANA
A yogasana is a posture in harmony with one's inner consciousness. It aims at the attainment of a sustained and comfortable sitting posture to facilitate meditation. Asanas also help in balancing and harmonizing the basic structure of the human body, which is why they have a range of therapeutic uses too.
Functions of yogasana
Asanas basically perform five functions:
• Conative,
• Cognitive,
• Mental,
• Intellectual and
• Spiritual.

Conative action is the voluntary exercise of the organs of action. The asanas being the main yogic instrument of balancing the body, they consist of various physical postures, which are designed to release tension, improve flexibility and maximize the flow of vital energy. The purpose of the asanas is to create a flow of positive energy so that our concentration is directed within ourselves and the mind is able to perceive (parokshya jnana) the effects of our purposive action. That is cognitive action.

When the earlier two actions are fused, our mind's discriminative faculty guides these organs to perform the asanas more correctly. The resultant rhythmic energy flow and awareness leads to a mental state of pure joy (ananda). Physical postures, therefore, end up affecting the various interrelated channels (nadis) of the mind-body complex. And ultimately the performance of a perfect yogasana leads to the absolute intellectual absorption of the mind on a single task (dharana), which in turn leads to the fusion of the individual spirit with the Divine Self (dhyana).
Benefits of Yogasanas
The regular practice of yogasanas has an immense amount of therapeutic value. Besides various physiological benefits, they positively affect our minds, our life force energies as well as our creative intelligence.

Regular practice helps to keep our body fit, controls cholesterol level, reduces weight, normalizes blood pressure and improves heart performance. Physical fitness thus achieved leads to reduction of physical stress and greater vitality. Asanas harmonize our pranic ability and mental energy flow by clearing any blockages in the subtle body leading to mental equilibrium and calmness. They make the mind strong thus enabling our human body to suffer pain and unhappiness stoically and with fortitude.
Various Categories of Yogasanas
Consummate mastery over the entire gamut of asanas is no doubt time-consuming, but what is of vital importance is the will to remain in the present moment and to let both the mind and body relax completely.

The various categories of asanas are:

• Standing Asanas,
• Forward Bending Asanas,
• Supine Asanas,
• Inverted Asanas,
• Abdominal and Lumbar Asanas,
• Twisting Asanas,
• Back Bending Asanas and
• Balancing Asanas.

Standing Asanas:
Beginners should start with these as they bring elasticity in joints and muscles and build up stamina and physical stability. This constitutes the most basic training in the early stages of yoga practice. Some basic standing poses are

Standing Asanas:
Beginners should start with these as they bring elasticity in joints and muscles and build up stamina and physical stability. This constitutes the most basic training in the early stages of yoga practice. Some basic standing poses are, Tadasana, Utthita Trikonasana, Virabhadrasana, Ardha Chandrasana and Utthita Parsvakonasana.

Forward Bending Asanas:
In these postures the posterior half of the body is stretched. These prepare you to proceed further in yoga and bring consistency in the development of physical and mental pliability. Examples of such asanas are, Upavisthakonasana and Paschimotanasana.

Sitting and Supine Asanas:
Sitting upright and supine extending positions help a sadhaka prepare physically and mentally for pranayama. Some of them are, Baddhakonasana, Supta Baddhakonasana, Supta Padangusthanasana, Padmasana, Vajrasana, Simhasana, Virasana and so on.

Inverted Asanas:
These help recover from everyday stress. They give vitality, mental balance and emotional stability. These are Adho Mukha Svanasa and Urdhva Mukha Svanasa.

Abdominal and Lumbar Asanas:
These tone and massage the abdominal organs and strengthen the pelvic and lumbar areas. Bharadvajasana and Marichyasana are some examples of such asanas.

Twisting Asanas:
It consists of lateral stretching and twisting of the spine, toning the internal organs and reaching new horizons while tranquilizing the mind. These are, Ardha Matsyendrasana and Jathara Parivartanasana.

Back Bending Asanas:
These bring physical and mental sharpness and alertness. The postures are the opposite of forward bends as are the effects. In forward bends the posterior spine is extended, bringing consistency and mental peace, whereas in back bends the anterior spine is extended and stretched. The effect is invigorating and enlivening. Such asanas are, Ustrasana, Bhujangasana and Matsyasana.

Balancing Asanas:
These strengthen the arms and wrists and exercise the abdominal organs. They also make the body feel light and help attain a good bearing. Salamba Sirsasana, Niralamba Sarvangasana and Salamba Sarvangasana are some of the balancing asanas.
PRANAYAM
'Pranayama' is a compound term ('prana' and 'yama') meaning the maintenance of prana in a healthy throughout one's life. More than a breath-control exercise, pranayama is all about controlling the life force or prana. Ancient yogis, who understood the essence of prana, studied it and devised methods and practices to master it. These practices are better known as pranayama. Since breath or prana is basic to life, the practice of pranayama helps in harnessing the prana in and around us, and by deepening and extending it, pranayama leads to a state of inner peace.

According to Hatha Yoga, pranayamas can be classified under:

• Sahita Kumbhaka,
• Surya Bhedi,
• Ujjayi,
• Sitali,
• Bhastrika,
• Bhramari,
• Murchha and
• Kewali.

The first is a breath retention technique, which gives agility, strength and flexibility to the body. They also quieten the mind and the sense organs besides enabling the meditator to control his hunger and thirst.

The Surya Bhedi pranayama consists of inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left. This practice promotes good digestion and through perspiration, it purges the body of all its impurities.

Ujjayi pranayama involves the travel of breath between the nose and the heart only. It acts like an expectorant and increases digestion together with removing all impurities of nerves as well as thoughts.

Bhramari pranayama involves a very concentrated and fixed breathing exercise. It helps in strengthening one's breath besides quietening the mind and increasing the powers of concentration. This breathing technique is very helpful in the last meditative stage of samadhi.

Murchha pranayama is an extreme form of breath retention, which only experienced yogis can achieve. This practice quietens the mind and helps it to reach the near-unconscious state.

The last technique of Kewali pranayama, is a breath retention technique in which, the yogi stops both inhalation as well as exhalation. This form balances inhalation and exhalation besides helping the mind to concentrate better.
Benefits of Pranayama
The practices of pranayama—the correct breathing technique helps to manipulate our energies. Most of us breathe incorrectly, using only half of our lung capacity. Pranayama is a technique, which re-educates our breathing process, helps us to release tensions and develop a relaxed state of mind. It also balances our nervous system and encourages creative thinking. In addition, by increasing the amount of oxygen to our brain it improves mental clarity, alertness and physical well being.

When practiced along with yogasanas the benefits of pranayama are more pronounced. According to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, pranayama enables the mind to acquire the capacity to concentrate on any given object of attention. It also says that scientific breathing helps in unveiling true knowledge from the darkness of ignorance. But it is eminently advisable to be aware of all the do's and don'ts of pranayama before practicing them.

Various Stages of Pranayama
The following are the stages of pranayama:

• Inhalation or puraka,
• Exhalation or rechaka,
• Stambhavritti pranayama and
• Bahyabhyantarakshepi pranayama.

Puraka or inhalation techniques are about regular and controlled inhalation. It also teaches regulating the entire breathing process and reducing the number of inhalations per minute. Rechaka or exhalation exercises teach slow and ordered breathing besides reducing the number of inhalations and exhalations per minute. The third stage consists of retaining the breath after stopping natural inhalation and exhalation. The last stage of pranayama is about converting both exhalation and inhalation into retention and storing the retained breathe in various internal organs for various lengths of time.
PRATYAHARA
Pratyahara involves rightly managing the senses and going beyond them instead of simply closing and suppressing them. It involves reining in the senses for increased attention rather than distraction. Pratyahara may be practiced with mantra meditation and visualization techniques.

Benefits of Pratyahara
It is essential to practice pratyahara for achieving the three meditative stages of dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Perfecting this technique of yoga is also essential in order to break out from the eternal cycle of rebirths.
DHARANA
The last three limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are the three essential stages of meditation. Dharana involves developing and extending our powers of concentration. This consists of various ways of directing and controlling our attention and mind-fixing skills, such as concentrating on the chakras or turning inwards.
DHYANA
Dhyana is the state of meditation, when the mind attains the ability to sustain its attention without getting distracted. Strictly speaking, unlike the other six limbs of yoga, this is not a technique but rather a state of mind, a delicate state of awareness. This state rightfully precedes the final state of samadhi.
SMADHI
Samadhi, or total absorption, is the ability to become one with the True Self and merge into the object of concentration. In this state of mind, the perceiver and the object of perception unite through the very act of perception—a true unity of all thought and action. This is the acme of all yogic endeavors—the ultimate 'yoga' or connection between the individual and the universal Soul!

Patanjali's Yoga Sutra categorizes and grades the levels of samadhi in the first chapter or Samadhi Pada:

• Samprajnata Samadhi or distinguished contemplation and
• Asamprajnata Samadhi or non-distinguished contemplation,
• Savitarka Samadhi or deliberated absorption and
• Nirvitarka Samadhi or non-deliberated absorption,
• Savichara Samadhi or reflective meditation and
• Nirvichara Samadhi or non-reflective meditation,
• Sabija Samadhi, where the mind continues to carry seeds of earthly impressions and
• Nirbija Samadhi, where each seed of earthly impressions have been erased

Yoga Poses & Yoga Exercises

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In Sanskrit, the word “pose” is “asana” (pronounced as “ah-sah-nah”). Each asana helps you become more aware of your body, mind, and environment. While beginning your yoga exercises, experiment with the poses, moving in and out as you feel comfortable. If you approach the poses with playful curiosity, feeling of frustration and competitiveness will not enter your mind. While practicing your yoga exercises, make sure that you don’t feel any discomfort or pain.

Yoga Poses and breathing

Breathing is an essential part of practicing yoga exercises. You should never hold your breathe during a pose. Also make sure that your breath is never forced or strained. Labored breathing is sign that you you’re working too hard and should come out of the pose slightly. When one starts practicing yoga, one can hold for three full breaths through most yoga poses. If you feel comfortable in the pose, hold for longer, if uncomfortable, you should come out of the pose immediately.

Types of Yoga Poses

seated poses - Seated poses are useful for practicing breathing exercises and relaxation or meditation techniques. Seated poses are also often used as a warm up or as a starting point for other poses. Performing seated poses can help improve your posture and open your hips.

standing poses - Standing poses are often used as warm up or as a starting point for other poses. Standing poses are beneficial for strengthening your legs, opening your hips and improving your sense of balance.
Inversions – Inversions are excellent poses to perform to improve your blood circulation, quiet your mind and improve your overall health. Inversions are also believed to reverse the ageing process and reduce the effect of the gravity on your body.

Relaxation and restorative poses – It is important to take time to perform relaxation or restorative poses at the end of each yoga practice. You can use this time to relax your body and mind and allow energy released by the poses in your practice to move freely throughout your body.

Counter poses – A counter pose is a yoga pose that stretches your spine in the opposite direction from a previous pose or returns your spine to a neutral position.

Twists – You can perform twists to stretch and strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, increase the flexibility of your spine and improve your circulation. Twists improve the functioning of your internal organs by providing them with a fresh supply of blood as you twist and release your body.

Balancing poses – Balancing poses are great for improving your balance and coordination as well as developing your ability to remain grounded in a pose. Keeping your body balanced encourages you to focus, quiet and balance your mind.

Forward bends – Forward bends stretch the entire back of your body, especially your hamstrings. Forward bends are also often used to release tension, calm your mind and soothe your nervous system. Similar to back bends, forward bends help keep your spine strong and supple.

Back bends – Back bends are among the most challenging poses in yoga. Bending backward helps strength your back and keep your spine strong and supple. Back bends also open the front of your body, especially your chest.

Sahaja Yoga. The absolute Meditative path

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Man in his search of joy and happiness is running away from his Self, which is the real source of joy. He finds himself very ugly and boring because he doesn't know his Self. A human being seeks joy in money or possessions, in power or human limited love, and ultimately in religion that is also outside. The problem is how to turn one's attention inward.

The inner being, which is our awareness, is an energy. I call it the energy of Divine Love. All evolution and the manifestation of material energy is guided by the supreme energy of Divine Love. We do not know how powerful and thoughtful this unknown energy is. The silent working of awareness is so automatic, minute, dynamic, and precious that we take it for granted. After Self-realization, this energy appears to us as silent throbbing vibrations flowing through our being. But we have been unable to achieve Self-realization because we cannot fix our attention on something that lacks form (abstract Being). Instead, our attention wanders outside on forms.

Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Schools of Thought

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Yoga is a way of life. It is predominantly concerned with maintaining a state of equanimity at all costs. All yoga school of thought emphasize the importance of the mind remaining calm, because as the saying goes, only when the water is still can you see through it. Yoga Darshan or yoga philosophy also happens to be a valid discipline of Indian metaphysics (Brahma Vidya). It is the result of human wisdom and insight on physiology, psychology, ethics and spirituality collected together and practiced over thousands of years for the well being of humanity. The basic idea of yoga is to unite the atma or individual soul with the paramatma or the Universal Soul. According to Yoga philosophy, by cleansing one's mind and controlling one's thought processes one can return to that primeval state, when the individual self was nothing but a part of the Divine Self. This is the sense encapsulated in the term samadhi. The aim of the yogi is to be able to perceive the world in its true light and to accept that truth in its entirety.

In Sanskrit, the term 'yoga' stands for 'union'. A yogi's ultimate aim is to be able to attain this 'union' with the Eternal Self with the help of certain mental and physical exercises. It is often said that Hiranyagarbha (The Cosmic Womb) Himself had originally advocated the traditional system of yoga, from which all other yoga schools have evolved. But for all extant knowledge of yoga and its practices, such as yogasanas and pranayam, the entire credit goes to Maharishi patanjali.
Patanjali systematized the various yogic practices and traditions of his times by encapsulating them in the form of aphorisms in his yoga sutra.In this momentous work, he describes the aim of yoga as knowledge of the self and outlines the eight steps or methods of achieving it. These are:
eternal vows, observances,withdrawal of the senses from distractions of the outside world concentration on an object, place or subject,the continuance of this concentration-meditation and the ultimate stage of yoga meditation

Yoga Asanas Pranayam

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Yoga is a way of life, an art of righteous living or an integrated system for the benefit of the body, mind and inner spirit. This art originated, was perfected and practiced in India thousands of years ago. The references to yoga are available in 'Upanishads' and 'Puranas' composed by Indian Aryans in the later Vedic and post- Vedic period. The main credit for systematizing yoga goes to Patanjali who wrote 'Yoga Sutra', 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 Sutra' is the most important basic text on Yoga. It is through this basic treatise that the essential message of yoga spread throughout the world.
Aim of Yoga is the attainment of the physical, mental and spiritual health. Patanjali has recommended eight stages of Yoga discipline. They are

Yamas- Yamas (abstentions or restrains)
Niyamas- Niyamas (observances)-austerities, purity, contentment, study, surrender of the ego
Asanas Physical postures or exercises
Pranayam Control of vital energy (Breathing control)
Partyahara- Withdrawal of the senses
Dharana- Concentration of the mind (Contemplation)
Dhyana- Meditation
Samadhi- Attainment of The super conscious state

yoga courses

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Ashtanga: Learn your practice without injuries. The asanas are guided individually before learning the full sequence. Special attention will be given to postures student find challenging, as in marichyasana, padmasana and back bending.
Foundation course - In the foundation course, you will learn a combination of sequences and asanas tailored for beginners and intermediate students. Throughout the course, you will also learn about yogasana therapy.
Advance course - Asana Photo To apply for this course students will need some asana experience. Ashtanga Vinyasa students finding difficulties in certain asanas will be given help on an individual basis
The hip opening course will help students sit longer for meditation (For Intermediate and Advanced Students).

Yoga and its Benefits

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Everyday people are reporting their wonderful experiences on health benefits of Yoga, the transformation of being, taking you beyond the here and now. In one wonderful session of Yoga, people get to practice a number of things, some (asanas) breathing exercises (pranayama), meditation and chanting. In Yoga you get to learn basic terms like Mudras, Bandhas and Chakras. Best of all, Yoga is fun and relaxing while, at the same time, being delectably challenging to beginners.
The intermediate and advanced students, who insist on continuing their practices, get more and more of the taste of this great 5000+ year old wondrous way of life. Yoga is for the body, mind and spirit. You learn to use your body, breath and mind to stretch, relax and energize yourself. So get up and go!
Yoga is all about feeling good; feel the blood surging through your veins, the energy pulsating through your nerves, the bliss coursing through your whole being.
Best of all, Yoga is apt for all, regardless of age, color, caste, creed or religion; from the healthiest to the sickest, from the richest to the poorest, from the whitest to the blackest. And here are some of the specific – and immense – benefits of yoga:

Benefits of Yoga

Brings down stress and enhances powers of relaxation
Boosts physical strength, stamina and flexibility
Bestows greater powers of concentration and self control
Inculcates impulse Control
Helps in rehabilitation of old and new injuries
Intensifies tolerance to pain and enhancing mental clarity
Boosts functioning of the immune system
Enhances posture and muscle tone
Improves blood circulation
Results in healthy, glowing skin
Cleanses and improves overall organ functioning
Bestows peace of mind and a more positive outlook to life
Infuses a sense of balance and internal harmony

Best of all, Yoga is highly therapeutic. Some of the ailments proven to be relieved, reversed and even healed through the practice of Yoga are acidity , allergies, alzheimer disease, anemia, anger, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, bronchitis, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, colitis, common cold, constipation, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, eye problems, facial wrinkles, gastro-intestinal disorders, headaches, heartburn, hemorrhoids, hepatitis, high blood pressure, hypertension, immune-deficiency, impotence, menopause, menstrual cramps, migraines, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, nervous tension, obesity, osteoporosis, prostate, enlargement, sciatica, skin problems, sleep apnea, slipped disk, sterility, stiffness, stress, insomnia, intoxication, thyroid problems, kidney stones, stuttering and stammering, urinary tract disorders for women, vaginal infections and many more...

So, if Yoga has varied and immense physical benefits, what exactly is Yoga?

Yoga is a 5000 year old science whose teachings were first imparted not in a classroom or Gurukul, but on the battle field. In the epic Mahabharata, the sage, Lord Krishna is first said to have imparted the teachings of Yoga to his despondent student Arjuna. Around 1500 years later, another sage, Patanjali, went on to enunciate, for the benefit of humankind and eternity, the way to reach the summom bonum of life through a series of 195 aphorisms (sutras) in his epic treatise The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Derived from the Sanskrit root “Yujir Yogey” meaning to unite, to yoke, to join, to put together, Yoga is not about mind over body. On the other hand, Yoga is about developing harmony between them. In Yoga, you use your mind to perceive (diagnose) and guide (heal) your body. Never control, let alone force it!

Yoga is a way of life, a conscious act, not a set or series of learning principles. The dexterity, grace, and poise you cultivate, as a matter of course, is the natural outcome of regular practice. You require no major effort. In fact trying hard will turn your practices into a humdrum, painful, even injurious routine and will eventually slow down your progress. Subsequently, and interestingly, the therapeutic effect of Yoga is the direct result of involving the mind totally in inspiring (breathing) the body to awaken.

Contrary to popular – or unpopular – perception, Yoga positions are not about how far you can reach to touch your toes or how many repetitions you can perform. It is all about paying attention to how your body feels; how it moves without that excruciating pain or agony! Yoga is all about breathing correctly about integrating that breath into your being. Conscious Yoga doesn’t call for you to force or strain your never or sinew. Meaning to say, right Yoga is learning how to do things right, do less that gets you more!

Ironically, by doing less – correctly – Yoga enhances your strength, energy, vitality, flexibility and levels of endurance. Accordingly, your body and mind start to become more balanced until, eventually, you find it takes so much less energy to move through the day. Yes, any and everyone can do less…and get a lot, lot more!

Do I have to change my lifestyle to practice yoga?

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One does wonder before starting yoga that if we need to change our lifestyle to practice yoga. The answer is NO. Yoga is not a religion. It doesn't require that you fast or abstain. You don't have to become a vegetarian or change your eating patterns. Nor do you have to give up drinking or smoking.

However, you might notice that your tastes change after you begin to practice yoga. As you become healthier and in tune with your body, you may feel differently about the impacts overeating, smoking and drinking alcohol have on your body.
The word Yoga comes from Indian philosophy, it literally means union, and in this context refers to the union of the individual's soul with the universal.

Yoga is an ancient philosophy of life as well as a system of exercises that encourages the union of mind, body, and spirit. In the words of Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras, "yoga is the ability to focus the mind on a single point without distraction." Yoga is a physical discipline; it uses the body and breathing to develop self-awareness and mental clarity.

Yoga

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Yoga (Sanskrit, Pāli: योग, IAST: yóga, IPA: [joːgə]) refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India.[1] The word is associated with meditative practices in both Buddhism and Hinduism.[2][3] In Hinduism, it also refers to one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy, and to the goal toward which that school directs its practices.[4][5]

Major branches of yoga include Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Hatha Yoga.[6][7][8] Raja Yoga, compiled in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and known simply as yoga in the context of Hindu philosophy, is part of the Samkhya tradition.[9] Many other Hindu texts discuss aspects of yoga, including the Vedas, Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Shiva Samhita and various Tantras.

The Sanskrit word yoga has many meanings,[10] and is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning "to control", "to yoke" or "to unite".[11] Translations include "joining", "uniting", "union", "conjunction", and "means".[12][13][14] Outside India, the term yoga is typically associated with Hatha Yoga and its asanas (postures) or as a form of exercise. An accomplished practitioner of Yoga is called a Yogi (gender neutral) or Yogini (feminine form).