The practice of yoga helps anyone to gain good health, mental peace, emotional equanimity and intellectual clarity.
With a healthy body, clear mind and pure emotions, any one can learn to excel in his chosen career.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
What Are The Stages Of Patanjali Yoga?
Maharshi/Sage Patanjali
"Sage Patanjali" has penned the ancient Indian heritage of Yoga through his treatise “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”, which is a complete study of the subject which consists of just 196 sutras (dictums). Sage Patanjali's exposition consists of just 196 concise yoga sutras which cover all aspects of life.
The eight aspects (ashtanga) of yoga are :
(yama & Niyama are 2 different aspects)
- Yama and Niyama : depicts moral and social conduct.
- Asanas : adjust the body in various postures
- Pranayama : regulation of breath
- Pratyahara : internalization of the senses of perception
- Dharana : concentration
- Dhyana : meditation
- Samadhi : the ultimate state of self realization.
What Are The Results You Can Expect?
Yoga helps in :
1. Regaining flexibility in the spine and limbs
2. Improving grace, balance, poise, concentration and self-confidence.
3. Controlling and redistributing body weight according to the physical structure.
4. Strengthening and reconditioning the body.
5. Releasing tension from its many hiding places in the body.
6. Being relaxed during tensed situations.
7. Storing & then releasing of energy and vital force when necessary.
8. Increasing resistance to many common diseases
9. Controlling your emotions and mind.Improvement in all your activities
1. Regaining flexibility in the spine and limbs
2. Improving grace, balance, poise, concentration and self-confidence.
3. Controlling and redistributing body weight according to the physical structure.
4. Strengthening and reconditioning the body.
5. Releasing tension from its many hiding places in the body.
6. Being relaxed during tensed situations.
7. Storing & then releasing of energy and vital force when necessary.
8. Increasing resistance to many common diseases
9. Controlling your emotions and mind.Improvement in all your activities
When Do You Practice Yoga?
You need about 25-45 minutes to practice Yoga. It can be either on a stretch or divided up over the day as necessary.
Practicing before meals is ideal and advisable too. Even a piece of fruit taken before practicing can hinder with your performance. But if you have to eat first then you should wait for a minimum of 90 minutes after a light meal and 3 hours after a heavy meal, before you start.
Yoga can be practiced at any time of the day, though some asanas should be done in the morning hours while some should be done in the evening hours for greater benefits. Some pranayams can be done at any time while some should be strictly done on an empty stomach.
Practicing before meals is ideal and advisable too. Even a piece of fruit taken before practicing can hinder with your performance. But if you have to eat first then you should wait for a minimum of 90 minutes after a light meal and 3 hours after a heavy meal, before you start.
Yoga can be practiced at any time of the day, though some asanas should be done in the morning hours while some should be done in the evening hours for greater benefits. Some pranayams can be done at any time while some should be strictly done on an empty stomach.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
What Do You Need To Practice Yoga?
1.You only need a space where you can stretch out flat. It could be a room(with sufficient airing), or outdoors(preferably the early morning hours when there is hardly any disturbance). Plenty of fresh air is mandatory.
2. You will need to cover the area with a blanket, rug, large towel, mat or anything you can imagine of. Nowadays you find good Yoga mattresses in the sports outlets, these are superior to the earlier mentioned as these are slip free- i.e. they stay firm on the ground and do not move/slip while doing some particular asanas like the ‘Sooryanamaskar asan’.
3. You will also need a watch or a clock to read the seconds. This is necessary only for the beginners. After some time you will notice you’ve stopped looking at the watch and have a mental clock working for you.
4. You need to dress up in a very comfortable clothing, which provides for free movement of all body parts and allows you to stretch as well. Shorts, slacks, leotards, gym clothing should be fine. Anything that is tight fitting should be removed. Shoes, belts, glasses, wristwatch etc. too should be removed.
Who Is A Yogi And Who Can Practice Yoga?
Who Is A Yogi?
A Yogi is a person who practices Yoga. The Yogi considers ‘Old Age’ as we know it, to be un-natural!
Who Can Practice Yoga?
Anyone can start practicing Yoga. Neither age nor the physical condition is a barrier to practicing Yoga. In fact the more out of condition or stiff or weak you are the more it becomes necessary for you to start practicing Yoga.
There is a common belief that children should not practice Yoga. This is not true. Actually they can perform better as they are more flexible and can easily and perfectly attain the postures. Some concentrating postures may not be very easy for children as their minds are still development stage. Children love to move their bodies in the positions of Yoga postures and if they are encouraged to start early, they will be forever thankful to you for doing so. Once they establish the patterns of Yoga they would never want to give up. Actually it would come naturally to them. Remember, Yoga does not excite, on the contrary it calms- thus benefiting children who are nervous in nature.
There are people who shy away from doing Yoga due to many reasons. Some people haven’t done any kind of work out all their lives and are so stiff they do not want to be embarrassed. Another category of people are those who think they are too overweight to even think of Yoga. It does not really matter how far you get, all that matters is whether you are doing it. Each physical organism is as individual as its owner and the conditions of no two bodies are the same. You are in competition with no one while practicing Yoga. Only remember the physical and mostly the psychological benefits you will reap after practicing Yoga. So it really doesn’t matter how well you are able to perform in the beginning slowly but surely, you shall realize after a while) you will receive in full benefit according to your particular structure. And how much you weigh has nothing to do with your performance of the Yoga techniques. Of course there are some asanas which may not be for the over weights, but that problem too can be overcome after some time. There are many overweight people who are more flexible than many of their counterparts who have near perfect weights! So overweight people too needn’t feel embarrassed about themselves, especially regarding their flexibility.
Pic - Link
A Yogi is a person who practices Yoga. The Yogi considers ‘Old Age’ as we know it, to be un-natural!
Who Can Practice Yoga?
Anyone can start practicing Yoga. Neither age nor the physical condition is a barrier to practicing Yoga. In fact the more out of condition or stiff or weak you are the more it becomes necessary for you to start practicing Yoga.
There is a common belief that children should not practice Yoga. This is not true. Actually they can perform better as they are more flexible and can easily and perfectly attain the postures. Some concentrating postures may not be very easy for children as their minds are still development stage. Children love to move their bodies in the positions of Yoga postures and if they are encouraged to start early, they will be forever thankful to you for doing so. Once they establish the patterns of Yoga they would never want to give up. Actually it would come naturally to them. Remember, Yoga does not excite, on the contrary it calms- thus benefiting children who are nervous in nature.
There are people who shy away from doing Yoga due to many reasons. Some people haven’t done any kind of work out all their lives and are so stiff they do not want to be embarrassed. Another category of people are those who think they are too overweight to even think of Yoga. It does not really matter how far you get, all that matters is whether you are doing it. Each physical organism is as individual as its owner and the conditions of no two bodies are the same. You are in competition with no one while practicing Yoga. Only remember the physical and mostly the psychological benefits you will reap after practicing Yoga. So it really doesn’t matter how well you are able to perform in the beginning slowly but surely, you shall realize after a while) you will receive in full benefit according to your particular structure. And how much you weigh has nothing to do with your performance of the Yoga techniques. Of course there are some asanas which may not be for the over weights, but that problem too can be overcome after some time. There are many overweight people who are more flexible than many of their counterparts who have near perfect weights! So overweight people too needn’t feel embarrassed about themselves, especially regarding their flexibility.
Pic - Link
Saturday, June 2, 2007
What Is Yog?
The word "yoga" originates from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’ meaning Union. Union of the individual self with the Divine, Universal Spirit, or Cosmic Consciousness. Yoga is the union of the body, mind, emotions and intellect.
Maharshi Patanjali penned down this subject in his exposition known as Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Physical and mental exercises are designed to help achieve this goal.
On the physical level, yoga postures, called asans, are designed to tone, strengthen,and align the body. These postures are performed to make the spine supple and healthy and to promote proper blood flow to all the organs, glands, and tissues, keeping all the bodily systems healthy. On the mental level, yoga uses breathing techniques called 'praanayaam' and meditation called 'dhyaan' to calm, clarify, and discipline the mind.
Contrary to some misconceptions, yoga is not a religion, but a way of living with health and peace of mind. Some people think it is simply some postures, or just by chanting "AUM" you are practicing Yoga. And the there are some who believe it is some form of exercise which has very slow movements (This may be true to some extent, but that is not all).Some people even believe it is standing on top of a bed of nails and wierder things!! There is more to yoga than just "AUM" or Postures.
Maharshi Patanjali penned down this subject in his exposition known as Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Physical and mental exercises are designed to help achieve this goal.
On the physical level, yoga postures, called asans, are designed to tone, strengthen,and align the body. These postures are performed to make the spine supple and healthy and to promote proper blood flow to all the organs, glands, and tissues, keeping all the bodily systems healthy. On the mental level, yoga uses breathing techniques called 'praanayaam' and meditation called 'dhyaan' to calm, clarify, and discipline the mind.
Contrary to some misconceptions, yoga is not a religion, but a way of living with health and peace of mind. Some people think it is simply some postures, or just by chanting "AUM" you are practicing Yoga. And the there are some who believe it is some form of exercise which has very slow movements (This may be true to some extent, but that is not all).Some people even believe it is standing on top of a bed of nails and wierder things!! There is more to yoga than just "AUM" or Postures.
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