The Yoga Review

Adorable Kitten Loves Vinyasa Flow Yoga (video)

2013-02-21T09:37:00.001+08:00

Aw, adorbs! Watch this little kitten be led through a short vinyasa flow sequence with the help of a trusty and calming yoga teacher. Maybe not as active as Macaroni’s kitty cousin in Sun Salutes, but we’ve all felt this yoga snoozasana at some time. Enjoy the purrrrrfect practice.

How To Meditate In A Moment (video)

2013-02-21T09:34:00.004+08:00

Need a moment? This is like those Twix ads except it’s zero calories and you won’t get chocolate all over your face. mmm…chocolate.

If you’re looking for extra patience in line at the grocery store, communicating with your darling children or have ever seriously considered tossing your computer out the window if the rainbow wheel of death doesn’t stop spinning, then perhaps you might benefit from this short how-to video. Besides, it’s adorable! Thanks to creator and author Martin Boroson (he’s got a book: One-Moment Meditation: Stillness for People on the Go and a website www.onemomentmeditation.com).

Martin suggests that if we can learn to meditate in a moment, a fraction of time, then we can learn to meditate when and wherever we need it.

Start with this basic minute, or “moment with handles on it” and see where it takes you. Then maybe a little chocolate. Won’t hurt anyone.

Love Is Like Yoga...

2013-02-21T09:31:00.000+08:00

Love is like yoga, the more you practice, the deeper the understanding.

www.yogasync.tv

The Anusara Yoga Invocation

2013-02-21T09:29:00.000+08:00

When you unfold the treasure of the Anusara® Yoga Invocation, you see within it the philosophy that informs freedom and awakening which is the reason hundreds of thousands of people have been drawn to this path of celebrating and refining the self.

Anusara yoga has its roots deep in the soil of ancient tradition. The chant itself is very old, and carries with it a resonance of powerful wisdom and transformation. Yet, while this school of hatha yoga joyfully honors that which has comes before, it also opens up to the unlimited possibilities of evolution.

One of the many strengths of Anusara yoga is its innovative spirit. There are Universal Principles of Alignment™, which guide both the thought and action of the yoga. Using these guiding principles, you can do anything! Invention happens daily. Creative expression and beauty are a part of every practice, on and off the mat.

So let’s take a look at how a relatively short little song can describe an entire system of thought and practice.

The Anusara Invocation

The Words

One of the first things I tell new students in my class is that the English translation you see below is just one possible phrasing of what these words mean.

It is most important that the mantra supports what you already believe in your heart, so feel free to shift the words some so they feel comfortable. As long as you stick to the overall meaning it’s fine. And as we explore each part in more depth you will have more understanding with which to create your own translation if you wish to do so.

Namah Shivaya Gurave

I offer myself to the Light, the Auspicious One,

Who is the True Teacher within and without,

Saccidananda Murtaye

Who assumes the forms of Reality, Consciousness and Bliss,

Nisprapancaya Shantaya

Who is never absent and is full of peace,

Niralambaya Tejase

Independent in existence, the vital essence of illumination.

Om Namah Shivaya Gurave

The very first part of the chant is a Maha mantra, or great mantra. Om Namah Shivaya is one of the most widely used mantras in the world of yoga. It has been given to students by gurus and teachers throughout time. It is extremely effective to use in meditation, and a powerful phrase to recall when you need support.

OM, of course, is the primordial sound. It is the sound of the Universe experiencing itself. It is vibrating within everything. When you sing or chant OM, you are simply participating in something that always is.

OM contains within it all beginnings, every end, and all things in between. AUM is another way to write it. There are three parts to it: The ‘Ah’ sound signifies creation, or beginnings. U, or the ‘oooh’ sound is the sustaining factor, while ‘mmmm’ is the dissolution or end. So these three parts are contained in each moment, because OM is always present. The fourth aspect of OM is silence.

NAMAH is a deep honoring. It means to bow, yet it is a bow like no other – one that comes fully from the heart. It’s the awe you feel when you see great beauty like an ocean sunrise or a sparkling mountain lake. It is the gratitude within divine love, or the wonder and miracle of a perfect starlit night.

SHIVAYA comes from the word Shiva, which literally means ‘auspicious’. Shivaya describes the intrinsic goodness that exists within all things, because it is the nature of the energy that pulses and penetrates, creates and absorbs, all that is. Truly, at the essence of every being and every part of creation, there is this auspiciousness. That is Shiva.

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA, then can be described in many ways, but here are some of my favorites:

I honor the goodness in myself and in the universe.
May I reveal and express the highest part of my heart.

I bow to Shiva – I bow to all of creation
I bow to the goodness within myself
I honor the goodness of my True Self

At its essence, everything is good
I respect myself

And you could continue along this line of meaning for quite a while.

GURAVE contains the word GURU, which is generally translated in two distinct ways:“Weighty One” and “That which brings light to darkness”.

Gurave refers to the Guru Principle, which lives as us, through us, and in everyone else. This is the highest self; the light at the seed of every heart. And it shows up everywhere!

“If you know how to listen, everyone is the guru.” – Ram Das

So, Om Namah Shivaya Gurave teaches the foundational principles: Consciousness is in everything. One energy pervades all, its essence is goodness, and it is constantly guiding us.

Sachidananda Murtaye

This line describes the elements that compose all that is. The first word combines the three aspects of the energy of the universe – Sat Chit Ananda – which we’ll get into in a moment.

MURTAYE describes taking form. It derives of the word Murtie, which can be thought of as a form, image, or manifest thing of divinity and power. So the line basically says that Sat Chit Ananda has taken form.

SAT, CHIT, and ANANDA are the elements which comprise the all pervading goodness referred to in Om Namah Shivaya. Let’s break them down individually.

Some ways to think of “Sat”:

Being
Reality. That which is real (Satya means truth)
The power to BE. Existance.

Some descriptions of “Chit”:

Consciousness
Pure being with awareness
The power to Know

Attempts at describing “Ananda”:

The highest, supreme bliss
Pure delight – beyond happiness
The power of ecstasy itself

Now, these three concepts could be explored for a few lifetimes, but that should give you a decent grasp on their meaning if you weren’t already familiar with them. They are truly everywhere.

A more helpful approach to their understanding is to recognize them as you see them in your own life. By melting experience, feeling, and intellectual knowing together, you enter the realm of wisdom.

Nisprapanchaya Shantaya

This line is a deep comfort to me. It affirms that this guiding goodness that is reality, consciousness and bliss, is never absent. It is truly ALWAYS there. We sometimes forget, but that doesn’t change the fact that we ARE this energy, and it never for a moment ceases to support us.

NISPRAPANCHAYA describes transcending limitation. In this line it is a formless quality that surrounds and penetrates all with Shantaya.

SHANTAYA is a deep, abiding peace. Shanti is peace. Shantaya is a realm of peace; an ultimate peacefulness that is complete and all pervading. Isn’t that nice?

Niralambaya Tejase

This line is just as mysterious and revealing as the others. It further describes Shiva, or the auspicious energy that Is, as completely free and illuminated.

NIRALAMBAYA means without support. Source has no outside support because there is nothing other than Source. It is a stable ‘ISness’, if you will; completely free from limitation for it is all that is.

TEJASE is a light that is always present, even if we can’t see it. It is the fire of passion, the luminous divinity that is in every heart. It is the spark of the conception of a new being, the sparkling beauty that shines out through all of creation and within the meditative realms. It is the purest, most powerful light, and it is beaming its goodness within you!

Putting It All Together

We sing the Anusara yoga Invocation as a way to connect to the deepest truth, most profound peace, and brightest light of who we are and what we’re a part of.We sing to align with the highest intention, to remember who we really are, and to celebrate the wonder of life.

By opening your ears to hear the voices around you (if you’re with others), or the silence between the words, this listening helps you become more spacious and receptive, expanding your awareness. By focusing on the sounds, feelings, and meaning of the Invocation, it helps you become more present.

May your experience and understanding of this beautiful song continue to lead you on a journey of delight!

Namaste.

If you’d like to go deeper into the philosophy of Anusara yoga via the Yamas and Niyamas, you might enjoy explore this series of the guiding principles of yoga, and learn much by shifting the way you look at these basic and essential aspects of yoga.

Sources:

My own understanding of this mantra comes from years of singing it and exploring its mysteries with amazing guides.

Much of the information here is compiled from notebooks full of illuminated recordings from trainings with Anusara yoga founder John Friend, whom I am tremendously grateful to call my teacher.

Of course, many of the Anusara yoga teachers I’ve studied with have shed light on different fascets of the gem of this Invocation. At the same time, I would like to mention that Elissa Gumushel, a Certified instructor in BC, Canada, was the first to explain the invocation to me in a way that I really understood, going beyond the simple translation that generally accompanies the Sanskrit words.

Lastly, online I found some lovely articles by Lake Center Yoga which go into each line individually. If you’d like to take a look at them, check out:http://www.lakecenteryoga.com/html/class_notes.html

Above article from: http://www.yogawithkatrina.com/the-anusara-yoga-invocation-an-exploration/

Yoga Asana Championship - Scoring for Judges

2013-02-19T13:02:00.001+08:00

As we approach the 2013 USA Yoga Asana Championship on March 2nd, we'd like to introduce a 6 part series that can help give a better understanding of how the judging process works.

Adult Compulsory Postures
Part 1 - Standing Head to Knee Pose
Part 2 - Standing Bow Pulling Pose
Part 3 - Bow Pose
Part 4 - Rabbit Pose
Part 5 - Stretching Pose

2 Advanced Optional Postures
Part 6 - Degree of difficulty for the 2 Advanced Optional Poses

Yoga Asana Championship - Judges Guidelines For Degree Of Difficulty

2013-02-19T10:30:00.000+08:00

Footnotes:

1. a) These point values are a guideline for the maximum number of points to be awarded

to a competitor who demonstrates technical mastery of the posture. A competitor

should not be awarded the maximum point value for a posture unless he/she has achieved

the traditional final position of the posture. For postures which may be completed in

different ways, please refer to the Final Position column for the traditional final position(s).

b) Judges may add 0.5 point to any competitor's maximum score because of extraordinary

depth, consistent with the integrity of the posture. 'Flourishes' added to a the final position of

a posture shall not receive any extra points but may be subject to deduction.

c) Competitors are encouraged to choose a combination of optional postures which

covers all three skill categories. Judges may make a deduction of one full point for

for each skill category not included.

d) When called upon to score a posture which is not listed, judges shall find the closest

related posture which is listed and make an appropriate adjustment to the maximum

point value.

2. These categories are for ease of reference only and have no bearing on judging or scoring.

Please note that a posture may belong in more than one category but is only listed once.

3. The Final Position notes are meant to clarify frequently asked questions regarding the traditional final

position of the posture and are not intended as a complete description of the posture itself.

4. Full Wheel may also be finished with both elbows on floor, hands holding ankles or interlocked,

with chin and throat on the floor between feet. From standing, elbows must be lowered to the floor in a

controlled manner, otherwise it shall be considered a fall. For example, if there is an audible

sound when elbows touch the floor, indicating lack of control, it shall be considered a fall.

5. This posture may not be appropriate for international competition.

FAQ's

Question: For Full Cobra and Full Bow, if the competitor brings the feet under chin and let's go with both hands, would this be considered exceptional depth of a pose or a flourish?

Answer: It would be considered a flourish. Letting go of the hands is not consistent with the integrity of either posture. See the Final Position comments for more information on the final position of those postures.

The 7 Chakras for Beginners

2012-12-20T12:28:00.003+08:00

The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through. Blocked energy in our 7 Chakras can often lead to illness so it's important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely.

Here's our quick summary of the 7 Chakras:

1. Root Chakra - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.

Location: Base of spine in tailbone area.

Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money, and food.

Yoga For Everyday Athletes

2012-12-01T13:30:00.000+08:00

Whether you're a new runner, total gym rat, or summer-only tennis fanatic, a yoga instructor can tell. That's because workouts that emphasize running, lifting, and swinging movements leave the telltale signs of tight hamstrings, quads, and shoulders—the trifecta of treacherous spots in fit females.

Left alone, they can lead to muscular imbalances, injuries, and stalled results. Here's what can help: yoga for athletes, a practice specifically designed for active people. "Yoga gives you the power to better understand your body," says Emilie Smith, a yoga-for-athletes instructor in New York City. "You learn where you're strong or weak, tight or flexible." By correcting those problems, you can raise your game. That's why so many pro athletes and Olympians are devotees. Plus, it strengthens your core and builds a lean, sculpted physique. (Not a bad bonus.)

This sequence, created by Smith, has three phases: dynamic poses that warm up your muscles and loosen your joints; passive holds, which relax the body as you stretch your muscles deeper; and a restorative pose, a critical element that Smith says helps you recover and prepare for your next workout.

Add this to your regular weekly routine—keeping in mind that it should complement, not compete with, your workouts. "If you're recovering from a killer workout or injury, move through each pose extra gently," says Smith. "But if you're in a down period or an off-season, you can take a more energetic approach to build strength."

Watch yoga instructor Emilie Smith demonstrate the sequence:

Article by Jen Ator from Women's Health

Good or Bad Stretch?

2012-11-23T12:15:00.001+08:00

Article By: Lissa Rankin

A Crossroads

Not long ago, I was at a crossroads in my life, and as often happens at crossroads, I felt a bit of pain. Down one of four potential roads lay strange but exciting newness. Down another, loss, but with possibility. A third would have required potentially painful growth. A fourth, complete uncertainty. None would be easy. All would require a stretch, and with stretching, we tend to hurt.

Avoiding Pain

When something starts to hurt, we have a tendency to pull back. After all, hurt is something to avoid, right? But what about taking a yoga class? Don’t you find yourself in poses that are, at once, completely liberating but hurt like the dickens? I know I do. It’s tempting to stretch too far- to let your ego get caught up in “success,” while you push yourself beyond safe limits and wind up with a torn hamstring. So how do you know where that limit lies? What’s the difference between good stretch and bad stretch?

Wisdom of the Body

I’ve found that my body tends to know. There’s a stretch that feels invigorating. It’s a challenge, and stepping up to the plate feels fantastic when you achieve it. By stretching gently, you slowly surrender more deeply into the pose, freeing your mind and unleashing your spirit. But there’s another type of stretch that just feels wrong. You tweak something, feel pain biting into you, and get a sense of dread about what’s happening. One is to be celebrated. The other is best avoided.

How can you tell the difference? You have to listen to your body, mind, and spirit. When you’re stretching, you know the difference between a good stretch and a bad one. It’s when we ignore the messages that suffering happens.

Resting in Child’s Pose

In my life, three of the possible roads felt like good stretches. One felt like a bad one. But I kept standing at the crossroads for a while, resting, rejuvenating, growing, and getting clarity about what lies ahead. I came out of that stretching yoga pose and rested into child’s pose until I felt strong enough, limber enough, to keep stretching. And that’s okay.

Stretching Out Of Our Comfort Zones

Maybe you’re finding that being vulnerable on the forum is stretching you. Maybe another person says something to you that stings and stretches you. Maybe you don’t feel met in just the way you might wish. Maybe you feel overstretched, like you’ve put too much of yourself out there. You might wonder if this is a bad stretch. And it could be- for you. Or it could be that liberating stretch that comes just before you are set free. Only you can know the difference, and you must honor where you are in your process.

It all comes back to being true to where you are. There is no right and wrong. Just like there is no right or wrong road at my intersection. My body just needs to feel which stretch feels like growth and which one feels like a pulled muscle.

What about you? What stretches you?

More articles by Lissa Rankin here

Understanding Yoga Holidays

2012-11-16T16:16:00.002+08:00

Understanding Yoga Holidays

We all understand that there's work and after some time, there's a need to get away from work. Which is why we holiday. The idea is to get involved in "unwinding" activities that take us away from our workplace with the resultant diversion serving as a stress buster . So whether we ski, trek or camp, it is the diversion that helps us in de-stressing.

But whatever we do, we'll have our desk waiting for us when we get back. While some of us feel quite low on returning to work, others begin work with gusto but soon get into a downward spiral of stress.

Try a Yoga Holiday or Retreat and you just may find the desk disappear (or at least the concept of work as we see it). A yoga retreat other than serving the purpose of rejuvenation helps you to discover a new meaning to life.

How can a Yoga retreat help you?

In such holidays, you are exposed to a whole new philosophy to life. Modern medicine now recognizes that over 90% of all health disorders are psychosomatic in nature - they have their origin in the mind.

Yoga recognizes this holistic aspect of health and a yoga retreat serves a perfect medium for understanding this mind-body connection for health management.

A yoga holiday can help you learn tips and techniques on self-health management - Why feel dependent on external help to set yourself right?

More importantly, a yoga retreat provides a clearer direction towards a peaceful way of existence. We develop an increased capacity to resolve our inner turmoil and anxieties that we experience every single day.

A Yoga holiday serves as a guide for a fitter lifestyle through an all-round focus including attention to food and diet.

In all, while serving as a pleasant diversion, a yoga holiday helps you appreciate nature and surroundings in a way you have never before while providing you invaluable tools for independent life management that you will continue to cherish forever.

What to look for in a Yoga retreat?

A lot of casual holidays pass of as Yoga holidays when in fact they teach you nothing more than just some odd yoga routines in a good serene setting. However, there is much more to a Yoga retreat.

Firstly, be clear what you are looking for. You could either be a beginner seeking to be exposed to a yoga way of life management. Or you could be a practicing yogi seeking to explore advanced techniques and practices in physical postures. These 2 kinds of retreats could be quite different.

If you are a beginner, you should choose a yoga retreat that exposes you to various facets of yoga including some enlightening talks that will help you get familiar with the yoga way of life. Meditation techniques that help to harmonize the mind-body connection are a must. Qualified yoga teachers must conduct the retreats with a comprehensive understanding on various aspects of yoga and not JUST yoga exercises. It goes without saying that the yoga retreat should be conducted in a suitable, serene place that fits into the spirit of yoga. A place with tremendous spiritual energy would work best for such retreats.

If you are the one looking for advanced yoga practices, seek out a retreat organized by teachers with considerable experience in Ashtanga, Hatha or Iyengar Yoga, as they will be best suited to teach you advanced practices.

Either way, Yoga retreats are something that must be experienced as they provide that "something" that will serve as a helpful guide and something that you will always hold close to you - something that other kind of holidays can rarely provide.

Courtesy: http://www.healthandyoga.com A popular website that helps you find natural solutions for complete health and detoxification. Discover health and beauty…. Naturally!!


	Look for Yoga Retreats Here: RetreatPlace

Avian Flu and Neti

2012-11-16T12:09:00.000+08:00

By Arun Goel

Recently, a fear psychosis has been gripping the world regarding a possible flu pandemic arising out of Avian Flu. Scientists have gone so far as to resurrect the deadly flu virus of the 1918 world epidemic that claimed close to 50 million lives. Though of clearly different strains, due to some similarity of symptoms, these scientists have concluded - and quite alarmingly - that the present virus can mutate into a deadly one. Moreover, there is no available vaccination (external help) to guard us from a possibly impending calamity. All of this has served to further the paranoia and people are clearly worried.

How do we tackle this?

As yoga students and enthusiasts, we should be able to use this as an opportunity to become more aware and take charge of our own lives.

This is a time to remind ourselves that over 90% of disorders are psychosomatic in nature. We should remember that fear / anxiety lowers our immunity and provides a fertile ground for disease.

According to yoga philosophy, our entire being is organized into sheaths or layers. Disease arises in the Manomaya Kosha (mind sheath); this disturbs the energy balance in the Pranamaya kosha (energy sheath). This disturbance percolates down and causes subsequent malfunction in the organs, nerves and bodily systems - the Annamaya Kosha.

The task before us is to 'reverse' this vicious cycle of fear (negative thinking) resulting in the lowering of immunity, which in turn leads to disease.

Specifics

Besides the usual precautions of keeping your hands clean and body hydrated, it has been found that the nasal irrigation practice of Neti can be very effective in the prevention and treatment of Flu symptoms.

One of the primary causes of Flu and colds is the Rhinovirus and about 80% of all virus enters through the nasal passages. The sinuses offer the first line of defense and it follows that healthy sinuses can nip the problem in the bud.

What does Neti (nasal cleansing) do?

Neti keeps the first line of defense clean and fit enough to kill the virus at the first instance of its growth cycle when it is relatively at its weakest.

Neti keeps the sinuses humid and the mucus thin. This helps drain out the viruses and inhibits them from getting a hold onto the membranes.

Neti is especially effective against the rhinovirus, which is a major contributor to the flu.

The subsequent drying action after Neti is a very effective yoga practice for the oxygenation of the brain and keeping the mind relaxed. But, more importantly, from a flu perspective, it increases the temperature within the sinuses greatly. An increase in the temperature by even a few degrees dramatically increases the body's ability to kill these viruses, by increasing the activity of immune system cells in the nose.

With these practical benefits, Neti not only boosts the physical immunity, but also provides a boost to your psychological defense by helping you know that you are one up in the battle.

To read more on the nasal cleansing technique of Neti, click here

To read 'never-ending' testimonials on Neti, click here

In fact coupled with other internal detox techniques such as stomach cleansing (kunjal) & colon cleansing (enema), you can lend your natural defense mechanism a BIG helping hand - both physical and psychological. This will automatically & dramatically reduce the risk of contracting disease.

We can't guarantee ourselves freedom from disease, but by taking charge of our own health, we can ensure that we are on the right side of Darwin's theory in the various battles that lie ahead.

All the best,

Arun

Courtesy: http://www.healthandyoga.com A popular website that helps you find natural solutions for complete health and detoxification.

Discover health and beauty…. Naturally!!

"Lock - in" your Life Force with Bandhas

2012-11-16T12:06:00.000+08:00

Energy or the Life force flows through us, to keep us alive. It is the flow of this energy, which regulates our bodily and mind functions. Irregularity in this flow or pattern leads to various ailments and mental tensions.

Life Force is like water; it has to flow through our body and provide a certain amount of energy to each of our cells. Some times, due to our lifestyle or thinking, these flows get disturbed. Certain parts of our body get either too much or too less of energy. The energy may not be reaching some places and at other parts there may be stagnation of energy. Such imbalances lead to headaches, backaches, constipation, sexual disorders, stomach ailments or any other disorder depending on one's imbalance.

Besides Pranayama, Bandha is another yogic practice to regulate this life force.

Pregnant women, people suffering from high blood pressure, peptic and duodenal ulcers or heart ailments should not practice Bandhas.

Bandha in Sanskrit means 'to lock or tighten'. In Bandha practices, the breath is locked or concentrated in a particular area of the body. The body is tightened to retain the energy in that part for some time. This locking of life force has a lot of beneficial effects.

Bandhas help in massaging of the internal organs and removal of stagnant blood. Besides, the practice of Bandhas regulates the nervous system, delays aging , increases vitality and leads to spiritual development.

Bandhas help to release the psychic knots. Psychic knots are like whirlpools of energy created in the wrong areas of our body, over years because of our lifestyle. These knots prevent the natural flow of energy, leading to imbalances.

Jalandhara Bandha (Jaa-lun-dhaar Bun-dh) or The Chin Lock

Sit comfortably in Vajrasana or Padmasana (cross legged) with knees touching the floor.

Place palms on knees.

Inhale deeply, filling your lungs. Retain and hold your breath inside.

Now keeping your back straight, bend your head forward, so that the chin touches the notch between the collar bones. Keep the chin tightly pressed to create the lock

Straighten the arms, hunch the shoulders upwards and forwards, so that the arms too are tightened.

Hold the lock for as long as you are comfortable. Feel the pressure of air, and the blood flow in your chest.

Then relax the shoulders, bend the arms, release the chin lock, slowly raise the head and exhale.

Never exhale or inhale during the chin lock. Do so only after release of lock and with head upright.

Practice 5 rounds with breath retained inside (after inhalation with lungs filled up) and then 5 rounds with breath retained outside (after exhalation with empty lungs)

Jalandhar Bandha has many benefits-

Mentally- It helps in management of anger and stress.

Spiritually- It works at the level of Vishuddi Chakra.

Sit comfortably in Vajrasana or Padmasana (cross legged) with knees touching the floor.

Place palms on knees.

Inhale deeply, filling your lungs. Hold your breath and contract muscles of the perineum/cervix area by drawing them upwards.

Hold the lock for as long as comfortable. Feel the tightening of your muscles.

Release contraction and exhale slowly.

Repeat this 10 times and may be increased to 30.

Anal Lock may also be done in conjunction with Chin Lock -

Sit erect. Inhale deeply.

First do the Chin lock, and then the Anal lock.

Hold as long as comfortable. Become aware of the pressures in your entire body.

Relax, by first releasing the Anal lock and then the Chin lock.

Raise your head and exhale.

Practice 3 rounds.

Also practice 3 rounds with external retention.

Moola Bandha has many benefits-

Mentally- It helps in sublimation of sexual energy.

Spiritually- It helps in awakening of Kundalini.

Physically -It helps in managing throat problems, excess mucus and thyroid imbalance. It also improves the quality of voice and stammering.

Moola Bandha or the Anal Lock

Physically -It helps in managing problems of sexual organs, constipation and piles. It tones the pelvic area. It also strengthens the sphincter muscles of the anus and stimulates the intestinal peristalsis.

Just like, with all yogic practices, with Bandhas too one should keep his awareness high. You must keep listening to your body during the practice and stop at any indication of discomfort. Patience and practice will lead to wonderful and blissful results.

Courtesy: http://www.healthandyoga.com A popular website that helps you find natural solutions for complete health and detoxification.

Discover health and beauty…. Naturally!!

Why Do We Sing?

2012-11-16T12:02:00.000+08:00

By : Irene de Lucas Ramòn

The power of Mantras in Yoga practice - Part I

For seven years I have been practising Yoga without chanting more than a single syllable: OM. Not that I consider myself a person who doesn't enjoy singing, I sing with headphones, in the shower, at concerts and sometimes with friends, but mostly when I'm alone and always when I'm in a good mood. However, when it came to introducing mantra chanting in my yoga practice I considered it unnecessary and ignored the ultimate benefits it could entail both for my yoga praxis and myself. As many people do, I strongly linked the mantras strictly to a devotional dimension of Yoga that I did not wholly profess, chants where a different form of pray for me and thus I was not appealed by their nature nor by their symbolism, and was clearly driven off by the essence of religious alienation I had reduced them to. Talking to, and observing other Yoga students throughout these years, I have found that this perspective is far from being uncommon. We tend to identify chanting only with its religious dimension, ignoring its spiritual benefits but also the physical, emotional and mental effects it can have on us -from an Occidental point of view- and letting ourselves be pushed away by a bunch of prejudices we unmistakably associate to its devotional nature and its group-practice. I was no exception.

It took me seven years to reconsider such judgement and start reflecting on the effects and importance of singing in my daily life, in my character and in my mood. I then realised that I tend to sing more when I'm alone and only when I am already in a good mood, that singing made me feel happier, and that it felt even better when someone else sang along with me. These are objective conclusions that I draw solely from personal observation; meaning that, regardless of any symbolical, religious or social implication, of anything I could read or hear, I was aware of the fact I enjoy singing and that it has a positive effect on me. Again, I am no exception. We all acknowledge from personal experience that we mostly sing when we are happy, that we are usually self-conscious about our voice, so we tend to sing more when we are alone, and that, alone or along with someone else, singing unquestionably uplifts our mood. Still, we incomprehensibly refuse to consider singing as an intentional regular practice and instead we content ourselves with its spontaneous and occasional occurrence in our lives. It seems to me that, if regardless of any other consideration we recognise that singing occurs naturally in our daily routine and that it has a positive effect in ourselves, we should be open enough to consider its regular practice as a useful tool to improve our mood, our spirits and ultimately our lives. Starting from our Yoga practice, we must allow ourselves to put aside the prejudices, the religious aspects and the preconceived, and be determined to experience chanting solely from the observance of its effects in our body, mood and mind. Only then we will give mantras a chance to demonstrate their inherent power.

The OM journey

When first introducing Yoga students to chanting, it is common practice to start them with the OM chant and get them used to it before introducing any mantras at all. This established initiation procedure not only responds to the founding and essential nature of this syllable in Yogic philosophy and texts (OM is the cosmic syllable, the eternal, unity and source, the seed of any idea, word, thought, or thing in nature. OM is everything we can and cannot touch, see, feel and think. Everything is OM and OM is All) but also to the fact that our prejudices and shyness are not as strongly grounded for OM chanting as they are for mantras. OM being a single syllable allows us to be less self-conscious of our singing skills and the abstract and complex nature of its meaning and translation allows us to detach from its devotional or praying nature. These two aspects clearly helped me in introducing OM in my Yoga practice almost from the start though at first I remained somewhat suspicious of its hypothetical positive effects. I accepted it as a ritual feature, an ornament, but I didn't recognise the purpose or the importance it could have in my personal Yoga practice, not until I read about the physical and medically proved effects it has in our bodies.

Looking back, I know consider this the first turning point from my reductionist approach towards chanting in Yoga. Religious devotion and mysticism aside, I realised that singing OM on a regular basis has numerous positive physical effects in our bodies mostly due to the internal vibration of the sound in itself. It has been scientifically proved that singing OM has invaluable vibratory effects in our bodies, helps to achieve slow, regular and complete exhalation, aids to control and relax our breathing system and has several soothing effects in our minds. However, stating such benefits is frequently insufficient, it seems to me that it is essential to understand the physical explanations than underlay these benefits for a change in perception to occur in our western epistemological minds. Thus, we are now going to take the time to develop each of them separately, in order to understand why and how when we are chanting OM we aren't just singing, nor praying, but enabling a series of positive physical changes to occur in our bodies and mind, making us feel better than we did before.

Of the above mentioned, the most powerful physical benefit of chanting OM is related with its vibratory effects. The sustained 'O' -formed by the 'AU'- sound makes all the bones of the thoracic cage vibrate, proving that vibration is communicated to the mass of air contained in our lungs and that the delicate membrane of alveolus in contact with this air vibrates too, this stimulates the pulmonary cells and enables an optimum gaseous exchange in our lungs. Furthermore, the latest research of many Western physiologists has also shown how this vibration produces very accentuated effects in the endocrine glands, to which Science is gradually attributing an increasing importance.

More specifically, Dr.Leser-Lasario dedicated 25 years of study to the effects of vocal vibrations in the human body and his work has concluded, with an absolute scientific rigor, that the emission of vowels during exhales causes a vibratory auto-massage of the internal organs. These vibrations reach the deepest tissues and nervous cells, intensifying blood circulation in the target tissues and internal organs. Internal secreting glands are equally stimulated to secrete their hormones directly into the bloodstream and the lymph (pituitary, pineal, thyroids, thymus, adrenals and gonads), and this vibration of the vocal chords similarly influences both the sympathetic and vagus nerve. The musculature of the breathing apparatus is both relaxed and strengthened, expanding the thoracic cavity and thus the pulmonary capacity, an enlarged breathe which translates in an increase of oxygen supply to the whole body. Besides, the vibrant internal massage resulting from the emission of the vowels 'au', acts especially in the abdominal organs and the organs of the thoracic cage, whilst the vibration of the 'mmm' in our skulls induces a vibration of the cranial nerves.

The OM being chanted during the exhalation, it directly contributes to make it slow, regular and complete. The emission of the 'Au' sound limits the pace of the expired air, and the benefits of slow breathing are numerous and well known by Yoga practitioners (increased lung capacity results in a higher supply of oxygen, increased vitality, cleansing of the bloodstream and toxins in the lungs, and calming of the brain, amongst others). Regular exhale is a direct result of a uniform emission of the 'au' sound, which, if prolonged until the end of our capacity, assures the complete emptiness of our lungs. This complete, regular and slow breathing enables us to totally expel the stale air from our lungs and reduce as much as possible the volume of residual air. As an immediate and direct consequence of this integral emptying of the lungs, our inhale enlarges and deepens progressively, increasing our lung capacity and oxygen supply with the previously stated beneficial effects.

Chanting Om correctly will also help us to relax and gain control over our breathing apparatus. Since the exhaling is produced by a relaxation of the muscles in our breathing system, the OM sound will not be emitted uniformly unless this relaxation is fully under control. Thus, should there be any tension at the throat or muscles of the thoracic cage, the sound will exit our bodies in jolts, whereas, if the sound is continuous and smooth, it will indicate a perfect control of progressive relaxation of all the breathing muscles and subsequently a comfortable and ease inhale. This appreciation of the quality of our sound emission during our OM chanting enables us to learn how to eliminate latent and unconscious contractions in muscles of our body that we do not fully control.

And last of all, the OM chanting produces direct effects in our minds that are just as important as the effects it has in our body. The abstract and complex meaning of the syllable OM makes its way into our minds intercepting the flow of thoughts we are constantly submitted too. Our mental stuff is made out of words, when we think, talk, dream and even when we talk to ourselves internally; we use words in detriment of images. However, when the air is expelled from our lungs, accompanied by the sound OM and the vibration of the vocal chords, it occupies entirely our conscience inhibiting the process of sentence construction in our minds. Gaining the control over our minds to restrain this continuous flow of thoughts to which we are constantly subjected is the ultimate goal of Yoga practice and it can only be achieved through meditation -liberating the mind of all thoughts, what we would define as leaving the mind blank for a sustained period of time-, but gaining mastery of the mind is a long and difficult process. Therefore, the OM reveals itself as the first taste of this sensation for a new practitioner, it provides a sort of parenthesis to our minds in which we experience a preliminary detachment of this flow of thoughts that we are so used to having we can no longer conceive as possible to restrain. The fact is, OM chanting on its own will not restrain it, but it aids in achieving the first step: slowing it down. As a result of this temporary vacation from our thoughts, the mind is calmed, and because the mind governs the whole body, its calm state will in turn reflect in a further relaxation of the latest too. Furthermore, concentration becomes easier and your mind is awaken, while the electromagnetic waves produced by the vibration are spread throughout all the body increasing dynamism and vitality. The experiences of Dr. Leser-Lasario greatly proved how the entire body is relaxed by the internal vibrant-massage, which mentally liberates us from our inhibitions, depressions and complexes, harmonising our psyches.

Learning these scientific explanations underlying the benefits of OM chanting in my body was a crucial step for me to change my preconceived judgement. From then onwards I started to consider it another Yoga exercise, freed from any suspicion, this enabled me to observe its effects in my body, in my breath, in my mood. Devotion may or may not arrive with practice, but the fact is, the effects of OM chanting in our practice are just as obvious as the asanas' if we allow ourselves to experience it from the certainty that its effects greatly exceed its mystical nature and have a logical scientific base. And in order to do this, learning and understanding this base is essential for Western practitioners. Everything is ineffective if we approach it with the inner conviction that it will not work, and vice versa, placebo treatments in medicine rely strictly on this principle. Our minds are so powerful that if we convince ourselves something will be useless, even a medical treatment, we will inhibit its positive effects. Thus, liberating the OM from my doubts and prejudices was my first acknowledgment of the benefits of chanting in my Yoga practice, in fact, the Om would become the one and only chant I would perform for the following five years, before the mantras finally made their way into my practice.

The Power of Mantras - Part II

It took me some years to realise that the benefits the OM chanting had in my body and mind where all applicable to mantra chanting too. In fact, if we look closely at the Sanskrit wording of the mantras we can observe that they are always composed of syllables with long vowels and strong vibrant sounds, just like the OM is. I guess the difference for me was that these words had a clear translation to devotional prayers and thus I identified them completely with the nature of religious practice. Furthermore, the constant repetition of each mantra, the use of malas in Buddhism - like rosaries in Catholicism or tasbihs in Islam- strongly reminded me of ritual and religious practices I was not interested in.

However, during my TT course I came across the book of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and I found a statement of Swami Satchinanda in the introduction to the book that made me change my mind and open myself to mantras chanting too. When Swami Satchinanda taught Raja Yoga he often said "if there is something useful for you in my words take it and make use of it. If there is anything that is not useful, leave it". I then understood it was not a case of accepting the whole package, but of being open to experiencing it, take what it's useful to you, and just leave the rest aside. I directly related this to my attitude towards mantras, the fact I did not profess a particular devotion to a certain Buddhist deity when I chanted a mantra did not imply I had to disregard all the other purposes and effects mantra chanting offers to us. First of all, because the physical benefits and mental effects are still there, the impact of singing in our moods and the benefits of the inner vibrations of these syllables in our bodies is even more obvious with mantra chanting than it is with the OM. And second, and most importantly, because Yoga has such a broad and open perspective of life that it is open to your interpretation. The words behind each mantra may be directed to some deity we do not share ourselves, but Patanjali expressed how this was open to our own interpretation. Most of these prayers express desires that we all have - protection, wisdom, inner peace...- but the deity to which you express such desires is entirely your choice, it can be Nature in itself, the God of your choice, an abstract entity you believe in, the Sun or even a dimension of your own Self you want to develop to achieve such goals. The point being, when we agree to sing mantras we are not betraying our own religion or necessary professing a Buddhist religious devotion, but enabling our body and mind to experience a different practice of which we can profit whatever our convictions are. Yoga is open enough to accept your own interpretation, so the question is if you are as open to accept this too.

Ironically, the resemblances of mantras with praying are in the origin of many late studies on the vibrational science of mantra. In all religions we can find both the practice of a repetitive prayer and of group singing, and scientific researches have shown that a spiritual uplift isn't the only outcome. Scientists recently discovered that mantra and rosary recitation have possible physiological benefits for the heart. Reciting either Sanskrit mantras or the Ave Maria prayer regulated the breath and synchronized the heart rhythms of 23 participants in a study conducted by Italian researchers. The research team speculated this happened because prayer and mantra slow the breath rate to an optimal six breaths per minute. Both the Buddhist mantra Om mane padme hum and the Ave Maria prayer were used in the study and are generally recited in a single 10-second breath cycle, corresponding to six breaths per minute. In contrast, the average person's breath rate is 16 to 20 breaths per minute, according to Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., a cardiac surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital and the director of the Heart Institute at Columbia University, who has pioneered the use of complementary therapies for cardiac patients. "When your internal metronome slows, you get a variety of beneficial effects," he says, "and you also lessen the risk of catastrophic events like heart attacks and strokes." In a similar way, Dr.Alfred Tomatis used the sounds of Gregorian monks chanting to stimulate the brain and nervous systems of patients, and his work is vital in regard to the medical uses of sound an chant, as he found that sounds particularly high in vocal harmonics would stimulate and charge the cortex of the brain and nervous system. In fact, many other types of chanting from different traditions have very similar effects.

Therefore, the effects of mantra chanting or prayer recitation are very similar to the ones stated for the OM chant: vocal recitations engage the breath rhythms that, in turn, influence the heart rhythms via the central nervous system. Smoothing and lengthening breathing regulates heart rhythms, oxygenates the blood, and induces a feeling of calm and well being. Jonathan Goldman, author of the book Healing Sounds and master teacher in sound healing who has worked along masters of sound from both the scientific and spiritual domains, further states that "self-created sounds such as chanting will cause the left and right hemispheres of the brain to synchronize (...) Since sound can potentially rearrange molecular structure, the possible healing applications of sound are limitless". Indeed, as he develops in an interview to Integral Yoga Magazine, the works of Masuru Moto and Fabien Maman - a French acupuncturist and sound healer- have clearly demonstrated that cellular structure and energy are affected by sound. The first of them took photographs of water molecules and subjected them to different sounds, and the latter one took Kirlian photographs of haemoglobin cells that were exposed to different sounds, all these water molecules and cells showed a different shape depending on the sound they were subjected too.

The element of repetition in prayers and mantra may seem, still, a ritual aspect we associate with devotion and brainwashing. Yet, it is vital in the creation of a steady breathing pace and furthermore in the calming effect of our minds. Our psyche loves repetition, how many times have we surprised ourselves singing a publicity jingle or a catchy song refrain and realising we are not capable of making our minds stop thinking of it? Mantra chanting just profits from this tendency towards repetition to centre our flow of thought only in those vibrating sounds, creating a sort of void in our minds when this sound finally stops. This is specially obvious when we introduce mantra chanting as a meditation practice; in my personal experience, I have never been as close to keep my mind blank for a sustained amount of time - and still, hardly a minute- as after mantra repetition.

In what refers to the group chanting, the same applies. There are so many examples in our daily life supporting the fact that singing along with other people feels even better than singing alone, that if we choose to associate it just with cult brainwashing is a reflection of our blinkered attitude. Group singing is part of every culture and tradition, religious or not, when we attend concerts and all the public sings together we know it feels different, it feels better; not to mention how we can hardly keep ourselves from joining someone who's singing a tune we know. That group singing feels good is a conclusion we can easily draw from our own experience, and if we accept that sound affects molecules and cells, and that inner vibrations affects our body, an increase in these vibrations, taking place both inside and outside our bodies as a result of a group of voices emitting simultaneously the same vibrant sounds, must undoubtedly feel more powerful. This can be understood without reading any book or scientific explanation to support it. And still, there is one. Jonathan Goldman states how recently it has been found that "when se sound together in a group, there's the release of oxytocin, a neurotranmitter in the brain that transmits bonding and trust. So, chanting together breaks down barriers that separate us. (...) I believe that group chanting can effect planetary healing. The Yoga of sound is universal. The concept of mantra, of sacred chants, is in every faith tradition. Sri Swami Satchidananda understood this, and he honoured all traditions". Indeed, as we have stated before, it is your choice to use the Yoga of sound in your own believes, it is not restrained to the Buddhist perspective unless you want it to.

I can not overstress the positive effects mantra chanting has had in my Yoga practice, helping me to achieve above all, the most difficult: calming down my restless mind. I can no longer conceive my meditation practice without mantras, it is such a powerful tool when we are aware of its numerous effects, we can not allow ourselves to dismiss it entirely just based upon prejudices and preconceived ideas. It is therefore essential to preview, as a Yoga teacher, a cautious approach in their introduction to new practitioners in order to keep their minds open to such practice, letting them learn first the scientific explanations behind the benefits of mantra chanting, and when they are willing to accept its benefits practising them with an open mind, the rest will come on its own over time, just through personal observance. I believe part of our job as teachers is to unveil the power of mantras by encouraging self-appreciation of their effects in our bodies and minds, enabling the students to experience freely the feelings and changes in perception that result from mantra chanting, discovering it by themselves, inside themselves. After all, even the most stubbornness and unyielding person would agree that music is one of the most powerful emotional triggers we know of. And acknowledging this is already the first step, as it is precisely in this essence of music and sounds as emotional enhancers in which the immeasurable power of mantras will ground and progressively build upon. If we open the door, they will come in.

Courtesy: www.healthandyoga.com

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Yoga Keeps You Fit?

2012-10-09T10:51:00.000+08:00

Yoga keeps you fit? That's stretching it! Studies reveal getting into the lotus position will NOT get you into shape...

By Peta Bee

Encouraged by A-listers such as Trudie Styler and Christy Turlington, who claim they owe their perfectly honed bodies to yoga, around half a million of us now regularly attend yoga classes.

Many more diligently practise our downward dogs at home — according to Amazon, yoga DVDs regularly out-sell other home workout programmes — and luxury yoga retreats have become the cooler alternative to a spa break.

And the popularity of yoga shows no signs of waning, with the growth rate set to reach 25 per cent this year. But, last week, one of Britain’s leading fitness experts, celebrity personal trainer Matt Roberts, suggested that yoga isn’t doing much for our fitness levels, at all.

‘You may feel that you are keeping fit by doing a weekly yoga class, but you aren’t,’ Roberts said. ‘The reason why everyone likes yoga is that it isn’t very hard.

‘Yes, there are individual parts of your body that are being worked hard, but with every form of exercise you should ask yourself is it intensive enough? Is my heartbeat raised? Am I out of breath and sweating for at least 25 to 30 minutes at a time? The answer when you’re doing yoga is, I suspect, no.’

His comments will undoubtedly unsettle yoga enthusiasts everywhere. Yet, Roberts isn’t alone in suggesting that yoga offers less of a workout than we have been led to believe.

John Brewer, professor of sports science at the University of Bedfordshire, is keen to debunk the myth that celebrities achieve their streamlined appearance solely through endless sessions on a yoga mat.

‘You just can’t achieve weight loss and a high level of fitness through doing yoga alone,’ he says. ‘These people probably devote hours a day to running, cycling, the gym and do yoga on top of that for its relaxation and flexibility benefits.’

Brewer says that other than leaving you with better balance and flexibility, yoga doesn’t provide too many benefits, because the most important muscle in the body is the heart and this workout doesn’t really work the cardiovascular system at all.

Quite how limited a workout yoga provides was put to the test when the U.S. consumer watchdog, the American Council on Exercise (ACE), commissioned researchers at the University of Wisconsin’s human performance laboratory to investigate its fitness benefits.

What the exercise scientists found was surprising. In their trial, a group of 34 previously sedentary women were asked to take part either in three 55-minute hatha yoga classes — the most popular variety in the West — a week for two months, or to abstain from exercise altogether.

‘You get changes in strength and muscular endurance, flexibility and balance — all those types of things — but, in order to improve aerobic capacity, essentially the efficiency of your heart and lungs, you really need to be working in the training zone where your heart rate reaches 70 to 80 per cent of your maximum,’ says Professor John Porcari, who led the study. ‘Based on what we found, the intensity just wasn’t there.’

In other words — doing three sessions of yoga a week led to no significant improvement in aerobic capacity. An additional study by Porcari and his colleagues monitored the exercise intensity of a group of intermediate-level yogis as they took part in two sessions: one hatha yoga, and one power yoga, which is said to be more aerobically-challenging.

They found that 50-minutes of hatha burned just 144 calories, no better than a slow walk. Even the 50-minute power yoga class burned only 237 calories (half the amount of a circuit class) and boosted heart rate to only 62 per cent of its maximum, meaning it provided only a mild workout for the heart and lungs. But Brewer stresses that yoga does have its place in a fitness programme if you want to improve flexibility.

Read on here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2038876/Yoga-keeps-fit-Thats-stretching-Studies-reveal-getting-lotus-position-NOT-shape-.html

Can Yoga Fix Scoliosis?

2012-09-28T12:01:00.001+08:00

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition where there is a curve in the spine that goes sideways (laterally). There can be a single or a double curve. There can even be a twisting of the vertebrae mixed in with the sideways bending of the spine. How do these get into the spine in the first place?

There are two categories of scoliosis that we should consider. The first is one that includes potential genetic level issues or diseases that can affect the formation of the bones. This group is sometimes referred to as structural scoliosis. Sometimes there is a genetic coding that has the spine doing its side bending and sometimes it’s the result of other diseases such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and others that can cause the same problem in the spine. This is the more extreme of the two categories and is often the one that leads to the rods being placed along the spine to prevent it from heading further into it’s bends and turns.

In this type of scoliosis we will often find a rotational component that leads to the appearance of a hump on one side of the spine and we may see it as the rib cage being shaped differently on each side.

Can yoga fix scoliosis? Read on to find out...

6 Helpful Reminders for Yoga Skeptics

2012-08-23T09:31:00.000+08:00

By Danielle Robinson

I love yoga. Hard core. I’m a believer. Yoga has shown me the way and I’m now living it. I have zero desire to go back to the time when yoga had no influence in my life, no effect on my body, no inspirationfor my heart, no knowledge to teach my mind. I wouldn’t even want to imagine who and where I’d be without it. Its influence and results have been mostly intangible, something perceived energetically, discernible through my attitude, my approach to challenges, my interaction with others, and my transformed views of my present, my future and of the world in general. My body feels stronger, more limber, healthier; my mind feels clearer, more calm, intelligent; my heart feels vastly more open, more trusting, more creative, capable of real love.

None of the descriptions above are usually enough to convince cynics to give Yoga a try. A very dear friend of mine said herself, “I like the physical challenge but I’m still not ready to sing kumbaya.” Now, not once have I ever sang or chanted kumbaya in yoga, not once. And herein lies the problem. We’re exposed to fractions of truths at all times, through what we absorb outside of us, which we then filter through our minds and interpret in a way that fits in with our previous beliefs. If we see an image of unusually dressed people moving hypnotically in a circle and somehow the word ‘yoga’ is affiliated with this image, our view has been tarnished and we then forget to make up our own minds, to experience something for ourselves and then decide whether it is for us or not. One of my first articles written for MindBodyGreen reflected a similar sentiment.

I’d like to proclaim, unequivocally, with strong passion and enthusiasm that yoga is for everyone, no matter your age, your height, your weight, your ethnic background, your political allegiance, your religious beliefs, your athletic prowess, your flexibility level, no matter what your bank statement says, whether you own a home or not, whether you wear brand name labels or handmade clothing, whether you’re single, divorced, gay or straight, yoga can and will affect your life positively if you allow it. Very similar to life, it is how you choose to perceive it. You don’t even need a teacher (this is saying a lot as I make my living as a Yoga teacher and I love it), a studio, a mat, a DVD, or equipment. There is no excuse, no stereotype or cliche that should keep you at a distance from this practice. Come a little closer, you won’t want to turn back. Below are some helpful, honest reminders about yoga that you can digest and use to finally give it a try, or perhaps you can pass this along to those you know who could benefit but are still on the fence.

1. All you need to practice yoga is a quality breath. Begin to take an active interest in the depth and length of your inhale and exhale, of your experience within, and this simple practice will bring you out of the mind and into the moment. Yoga seeks a comfortable body to rest so the mind can clear. The breath is sacrosanct to anything else; prioritize it, the rest will follow.

2. Whenever you practice, advancing a pose will not bring accolades, money, cookies or fame.Your purpose in yoga is to find the most satisfying experience in each moment, whether you're modifying or amplifying, it's about treating yourself as best as possible during every breath in and every breath out.

3. The ultimate goal in yoga is to calm the fluctuations of the mind, to begin to control and distinguish between worthy and unworthy outside influences and to shut off the thinking mind when we need to. There is no magic here, no manipulation, no rules to follow. This is for you, for all of us.

4. You do not need to follow one teacher, one school of thought, one guru, one book, or one path. Yoga, similar to Bruce Lee, uses “No Way As Way.” When I teach, I aim to provide insight from all walks of life, inside and outside of the Yoga community. You take what resonates with you and apply it to your practice and your daily life.

5. Although chanting, trance dancing, meditating, and many other ancient Eastern practices are weaved into the broad application of yoga, it needn’t be apart of your practice if you don’t wish it to be. I, personally, really enjoy participating in a good chant, in the freedom of movement involved in a trance dance, and I enjoy practicing different forms of meditation, but my chosen way of being in this world surrounds a much more grounded, modern approach to happiness and health. It works for me and it can certainly work for you.

6. When breathing with focus, moving your body mindfully, and tuning into your authentic self, meaning all that you want to be without the influence and expectations of the world around you, yoga will bring to and from you: acceptance, flexibility, calm focus, patience, gratitude, strength, courage and Love. You will appreciate yourself more and this alone will transform your thoughts, words and actions for the better. When you prioritize Now, the future is no longer a worry.

There are dozens of genres within the yoga world, especially here in the States. There is no doubt you can find even a few teachers that lead you in the way you prefer to be lead. Don’t forget: You are your own teacher. Give your body what it needs, whether it be a deeper challenge, or a gentle softness. Begin to observe your mind, adjust your thoughts to suit your desired energy state. Listen to your heart a bit more. Sounds cliche, hippy dippy, ooey gooey and sweet. Sure, I’m fine with that. We benefit from being less consumed by our thoughts, less overwhelmed by the constant sensory overload projected from the outside in, and encouraged instead to simply feel grateful to be alive, trust our own intelligence and kindness and to move forward accordingly.

Yoga will support you in being more fully yourself and aligning your external circumstances with your inner truth. No judgments, no expectations, no comparisons. Give yourself the gift.

About Danielle Robinson

Danielle Robinson, E-RYT, Yoga and Pilates teacher, creative nonfiction writer, Natural Fitness and Luminositees Ambassador, travel/food/comedy/animal lover. Danielle is a seasoned traveler, lived and studied in Italy for 3 years, achieving her 200-RYT certification in NYC at the incomparable Sonic Yoga, and now lives, eats, teaches and writes all around the city of Chicago. Danielle is Never Not Hungry and aims to share all the goodness Yoga has given to and brought out of her on a daily basis since discovering this path in 2002. She is eager to take the beauty of yoga around the world and is fueled with enthusiasm when teaching each day.

Check out Danielle’s work with the Travel Yogi!

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More from Danielle Robinson on MindBodyGreen

The Less You Hold On to, The More You Have to Give

Give Fear the Middle Finger

Keep, Donate, Trash: 3 Life Lessons From Cleaning Out the Closet

How to Showcase Your Soul Without Losing Your Sass

6 Yogic Virtues That Help Us Go with the Flow

Best Colon Cleanse is the Squatty Potty - Toilet Stool for Perfect Poop!

2012-08-22T13:09:00.002+08:00

Research has shown that the "Squatting position" for defecation can help you overcome many of our modern day colon problems. The Squatty Potty was designed to wrap around your existing toilet to help put you into a squatting position for better, quicker and more complete elimination.

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Detox and Cleanse with Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

2012-08-22T12:46:00.001+08:00

The cleansing properties of apple cider vinegar (ACV) have been utilized for centuries. Eastern medicine teaches us that apple cider vinegar can help stimulate circulation and aid detoxification in the liver. Ancient cultures often used apple cider vinegar to purify the blood. Today we are exposed to more toxins than ever before, so it's become even more important that we take care of our bodies by detoxing with natural medicinal foods like apple cider vinegar. Learn more about the benefits of ACV here: http://www.naturalnews.com/026910_apple_vinegar_cider.html#ixzz24FL6AXq0

Detox and Cleanse with Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Oh Boy! 5 Reasons Men Should Do Yoga

2012-08-17T09:52:00.001+08:00

It’s no secret that a lot of men think of yoga as something that flexible, healthy women do–often while wearing pink and discussing girly things like romantic comedies and pedicures. Oh boy, are they wrong! While I realize that the men who feel this way are not likely to be reading a blog on YogaJournal.com, I do hope that you women and men who are reading (and most likely practice yoga already) will pass this list on to your male friends, brothers, sons, and husbands who think yoga is only for women.

Click Here for 5 Reasons Men Should Do Yoga

What is Your Yoga Name?

2012-08-17T09:50:00.003+08:00

Use this chart to find out what your yogi name really is...

How Yoga Affects Your Life – Ahimsa and the Yoga Diet with Kino MacGregor

2012-08-16T13:13:00.000+08:00

20 Ways To Reuse Your Old yoga Mat

2012-08-11T10:22:00.000+08:00

Here a photo overview of 20 different way to reuse your old yoga mat.

Do you have any more ideas to share?

Source: Uploaded by user via Angela on Pinterest

Yoga – An Exercise Regime Or A Way Of Life?

2012-08-10T13:05:00.000+08:00

India.com Health, Aug 10, 2012

Yoga has become very popular in the last ten years or so with stars from Bollywood and Hollywood endorsing it. It has suddenly become the new trendy exercise in town. So is it merely an exercise regime or a way of life? To find answers to these questions we called upon Mamta Arora, yoga guru and instructor, who runs the Yoga Blessing studio. Excerpts from the interview:

Yoga’s become a fad these days with the classes mushrooming everywhere particularly with Bollywood popularizing it. Many Yogis offer miracle cures for chronic ailments and fast weight loss. How do people differentiate the good yoga classes from the bad ones? What should they adopt?

Mamta Arora: Yoga as a discourse has its roots in the ancient texts like the Vedas and the Upanishads. Not only has it has been extensively written about by learned sages and gurus, it also features prominently within the Bhagavad Gita. The Gita revolves around the principles of karma yoga, jnana yoga and bhakti yoga.

The Bollywood fuelled trends prevalent today (such as hot yoga and power yoga) do not make an appearance anywhere in these texts. Combining yoga with other forms of exercises is resulting yoga losing its roots. While it is true that yoga does enhance physical fitness, the benefits of yoga transcend physical benefits. It rejuvenates the mind, body and soul.

Should yoga be treated only as a form of exercise in order to lose weight? What are the other benefits of yoga?

Mamta Arora: No. While yoga is indeed a very rewarding form of exercise, it is not just exercise. It is a way of life. When a person practises yoga, he or she embarks upon a journey into a world of self-discovery and spiritual growth and experiences both physical and mental changes over time. Yoga harmonises thought, action and speech. It is based on 5 holistic principles:

Proper exercise
Proper breathing
Proper diet
Proper relaxation
Positive thinking and meditation

It is this umbrella approach of yoga that differentiates it from solely physically-oriented pursuits such as aerobics or weight training. Thus, yoga is a strict and holistic discipline that has no shortcuts. Physical exercise focuses on the health of body, but yoga focuses on the health of mind, body and spiritual growth. Furthermore, physical exercises don’t have the cleansing power that yoga does. With the help of kriyas (deeds), yoga brings a sense of internal discipline and change. The superficial nature of pure physical exercise draws prana out of the body while yoga draws in the prana within a person and contributes to spiritual growth.

Yoga has innumerable benefits that physical exercise does not. It leads a person from darkness to light, ignorance to knowledge and makes a person feel complete. It also increases productivity, improves immunity, enhances clarity and heightens self-awareness.

How important is a good guru for practicing yoga?

Mamta Arora: In the traditional yoga practice, a guru is regarded as God and it is said that the words of God can actually be heard through a guru. A guru is a guide and mentor with the power to spark the true understanding of yoga within the disciple. The teachings and writings of renowned gurus such as Swami Sivananda have touched the lives of several students and helped them use the power of yoga to face adversity. A guru is a Jivanmukta or a liberated soul. The powers of a Jivanmukta are always prevalent even though he may not be physically present.

A guru gives a clear guidance to a student based on her years of tapasya and sadhana, which helps the student to follow the path of yoga with no obstacles. The grace and blessings of the guru keep guiding the aspirant throughout his journey like a light in the darkness. There is no path without a guru. An aspirant or Sadhak is like a blind person without a guru.

Students who follow in their guru parampara or tradition absorb their teachings and spread the light to other students in their path based on the teachings of their guru. Therefore, when choosing a teacher today, one must take into account not only the years of practice put in by the teacher but also which guru he/she follows and how closely they follow their teachings. It is highly recommended to seek out a personal guru rather than following an online course or DVD as it is impossible to truly experience yoga without the presence, knowledge and guidance of a teacher.

Could you tell us a little about the various different schools of yoga?

Mamta Aurora: Yoga has several schools including Hatha, Ashtanga, Kundalini and more. They all have their own names based on the guru and the teachings, although Yoga in its purest form is only Yoga and nothing else. Yoga was defined by Sage Patanjali, as a discipline free from ideological divisions. In the yoga sutra, he outlined “sthir sukham asanam” or steady comfortable posture as the sole and all-encompassing definition of yoga which will lead us to the light. Some yoga ashrams like the Bihar school of yoga and Sivananda ashrams worldwide follow Patanjali’s teachings by having a gurukul system wherein a student practises yoga and is completely detached from the family for months together.

Teachers like BKS Iyengar, (fondly known as Guruji) have strived to simplify yoga through the use of props. Guruji has still devoted his entire life to yoga and given hope to many. Thus, his own practice is known as Iyengar Yoga. At the Sivananda center, a student experiences a synthesis of bhakti yoga (satsangs), jnana yoga (Vedanta and bagvad gita) and karma yoga(selfless service). While it is important to study the different schools of yoga in terms of lineage and history, the main purpose of creating name-based distinctions is so that the student can understand yoga as the guru means it to be understood, thereby helping them gain a deeper understanding than the lay person. Thus, while the different ‘schools’ of yoga are outlined and known, the goal remains the same: journeying into the self and moving inwards, from the materialistic to the spiritual.

How can it help us deal with the stressful situations we encounter every day?

Mamta Arora: It is a little known fact that most of our stress in life originates from our own living habits – our ethics, food, clothes and thoughts. The basic principles of yoga help people streamline their habits by strengthening the mind and body.

On the physical level, asanas and postures generate oxygen in the blood and strengthen the spine and brain centres. Combined with breathing and meditation, yoga relaxes the entire nervous system and releases stress in the mind and body. Regular practice also increases willpower, thereby increasing a person’s capacity to accomplish more things and avoid stressful situations.

The teachings of yoga from the Patanjali yogasutras to the Vedanta philosophy helps students deal with difficult situations. The awareness about kleshas (afflictions of the mind), Sakshi Bhava (witness-like attitude) and pratipaksha bhavna (to counter negative thoughts with positive) are among the many aspects that go deeper to give a student a broader outlook to life, thus helping him or her rise above materialism and make life more worthwhile.

What about people with specific health problems? Can they practice yoga?

Mamta Aurora: Yes. Yoga gives hope to the sick, strength to the weak, and light to the ignorant. As mentioned earlier, yogic cures are available and proven for several diseases, both physical and mental. Yogic treatments have benefited patients of autism, asthma, slip disc and even cancer as they make the body more receptive to cure and healing. The student must not hesitate to make the teacher completely aware of the nature of their problem so that the teacher can customize the structure of the lesson. The teacher will also assist the student in finding alternatives to certain postures and tailor the lesson to his/her needs. Yoga certainly helps one cope with a disease even if it doesn’t completely cure it.

You know You Are A Hot yogi If...

2012-08-10T12:46:00.001+08:00

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Lindsay Fields

So, you go to Hot Yoga class regularly. You know all the teachers. You have a group of yoga class friends. You even have your own "spot" in the room. Despite all of this and the fact that you grab every opportunity to rave about hot yoga to your non-yogi friends, and you're pretty sure that yoga can cure anything (really, anything), you are still not convinced that you have earned the title of Hot Yogi/ni.

Well, here are some more indications, some clues if you will, that might help shed some light:

You practice standing head-to-knee pose while putting your shoes and socks on.
You turn up the heat to do housework.
You’re laundry routine (which is a daily occurrence) includes baking soda and vinegar.
You freak out when you run out of electrolyte supplements.
You spend an uncommon amount of time thinking, perhaps even discussing, your digestion/elimination habits.
When people complain about the heat outside, you find yourself giving them a dirty look.
You do not use body lotion because if you do your Standing Bow Pose will suffer.
When you drink a glass of wine, you think, “Ooh, I’m gonna pay for THAT in yoga class.”
You 80/20 breathe through childbirth.
You tremble (with excitement and/or dread) when you hear the word Camel.

And …

You are already familiar with the 10 Things They Don't Tell You About Hot Yoga.

Thanks for reading and feel free to add to this list.

Keep it Sweaty!

Get rewarded by referring your friends to join #ChurpChurp today! Get SGD$1.00 for every friend referred!

2012-07-11T09:31:00.001+08:00

Get rewarded by referring your friends to join #ChurpChurp today! Get SGD$1.00 for every friend referred!