YOGA ASANA

YOGA POSTURES

2011-12-31T23:55:00.001+05:30

Theme: Learn Doing Yoga Excersices, How to do Yoga Postures.

WHAT IS YOGA

Yoga is not only the set of rules narrating how human body can remain healthy and live happily longer. It instructs how to practice what has been told in the yoga theories. The 5000 year old ancient knowledge of Yoga systems can be practiced as a curative therapy. It helps in healing several adamant diseases, which make our life miserable. We can practice yoga poses at home, with basic instructions from a trained yoga teacher. It could be helpful if we can go to a yoga school or a yoga retreat.

WHY YOGA IS NECESSARY

Our changed lifestyle and the uses of various machines in our day to day activities have made us doing less physical work. So our body becomes imbalanced in a way by the passing of age. Yoga makes the required correction. Regular practicing of Yoga would help us reducing the fat deposits and keep us fit. If we want to see the benefits which we can get from practicing the Yoga and Yoga Asanas, we can summarise that in nutshell as following.

Types of yoga poses

In fact yoga poses are the comprehensive set of body and mind exercises. The poses or asanas we do can be classified as per the twists they give to our body. The postures which require our body to bend in back side are termed as Back-bends and likewise the Forward-Bend poses. In many poses our body is put in to reverse of the natural order. These poses are called Invertes Poses and wherein the face remains upward are named as Face up Postures postures. there are many simple postures which keep our boy either in Sitting Position or Standing Position

BENEFITS OF YOGA POSTURES

Regular doing of Yoga Poses keeps our life-energy flowing.
Yoga is a healing system of theory and practice.
Practicing yoga Asanas would help maintaining the energy meridians of our body open and in natural conditions.
Yoga poses are curative in certain pains like back pain and pain in hip joints. Regular practice of yoga helps to lose weight.
Yoga is very much helpful in keeping our nervous system operating naturally and peacefully. The regular practicing of Yoga Asana would render our body and mind fairly in balanced state.
Many Asanas and breathing techniques are devised to help the flow of blood in our body and curing the weakness of the heart. In addition to helping the functioning of our heart, Yoga postures increase metabolism and gift us with more energy.

Yoga system, theories and practice, can help us in curing or healing what has gone wrong in our body due to faulty style of living. Yoga is a healing system of health care that is based on a concept of the "whole" person as one. It is based on a scientific concept that human body, mind, spirit, and emotions can remain in balance by regular practice of Yoga.

[ Raj Vajrasana By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons , Siddhasan By Marcocarvalho (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]

Bakasana: The Crane Yoga Pose

2011-05-16T11:39:00.002+05:30

The Baka is a Sanskrit word, meaning the crane. While doing the Bakasana, or Vakasana, our body looks like a crane. So it is named like this.

How to Do Bakasana

This yoga postures is an easy one. We can do it in three steps.

Step One

Come in sitting position keeping the soles on the yoga mat. Ensure that there is enough distance between two knees. Now put both the palms on and set the knees so as they come at the level of your elbows.

Step Two

In the second step, you are to bend your torso forward for lifting both the legs upward balancing the whole body on the palms only. While remaining so in this position, keep looking in the front side. Here the Bakasan is complete, and you will look like the figure in the image.

Third Step

To return in the original position, first place the soles on the yoga met or on the ground. Here the posture is complete.

Benefits of Doing Bakasan The Crane Posture

1. It provides good stretch to the arms and the nearby muscles.

2. The area of chest becomes strong due to stretching of the muscles.

Precautions

Care should be taken to keep the neck forward while doing the posture. Those who suffer from the lumbar spondilitis or any other problem in neck or back should do this in presence of a trained yoga teacher. The beginners should not remain for more time in this position. While you are in Bakasana, your body is in balance. Entire weight of the body comes on just two palms. So you should be careful in balancing your body. After a good practice, it would be easy for you to do the Crane Posture without difficulties. [Image Courtesy By Trev M (My work) [GFDL or CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons ]

What Is Power Yoga

2011-03-06T11:18:00.008+05:30

Yoga has been the companion of those who have preferred spiritual practice. Regular practice of yoga and meditation would positively affect our consciousness and the inner-being. But it has physical advantages or rendering health benefits, too, as it is necessary in modern times. Some of the yoga practitioners see the yoga as health solution provider. They want yoga as a method of exercise. There resulted the system called Power Yoga.

What is Power Yoga

The practitioner is not a yogi here. He or she uses the yoga postures of Ashtang Yoga system for extensive exercise. Keeping the pace of doing postures a little bit faster than usual, they concentrate on infusing strength and flexibility into the body of practitioners. Integrating the breathing, creating tension and letting our body relaxing by various movement, this system of yoga makes itself suitable for catering to the needs of our body.

How Power Yoga Works

There institutions which modify some of the postures or yoga or their speed to match the needs of their clients. But the basics remain the same. They concentrate on the movements between poses while doing postures and let the doer to regulate the pace of breathing in a specific manner.

It is different from usual form of yoga as it would almost test the level of endurance of the doer while he or she is performing the difficult process or situation. It is because the doer is required to hold a difficult pose for a longer period.

Benefits of Doing Power Yoga

It is in now way different form ordinary yoga postures. All the benefits of doing regular yoga would be availed by this system, too. In addition to this, the practitioner would get a good work-out after doing the poses of power yoga.

The physical strength of the doer is at test in this system. So he or she would feel physically fit after doing it for a certain period. It challenges the endurance level of our body; so after completion of a long session of power yoga, we may feel more focused and invigorated. The latent energy of our body would be recharged and we might feel rejuvenated. The excessive sweating would remove toxins from the body.

Yoga is a healing therapy, too. But many practitioners would take it as a tool for keeping themselves healthy and physically fit. They may not be facing any health problem; but they approach the yoga for remaining as healthy as they are. Power yoga is one of the solutions for such a class of yoga lovers. [Image, Vajra Bhujangasana, courtesy Wikimedia Commons]

Power Yoga Classes

There are many classes providing guidance about yoga in general and power yoga in particular. the working or every class may differ lightly or substantially from each other. But their main objective is to provide the fitness based services to the participants. They model their teaching or coaching on the yoga postures of Ashtang yoga. They would instruct the participants to act keeping individual needs and health in focus.

It is better to practice power yoga postures in open ground or on terrace, as lot of seating would occur. The sweat absorbing clothes would be better for wearing while doing postures, as it would involve much breathing and result in more seating.

Meditation: Going Inside of Ourselves

2010-12-30T11:44:00.008+05:30

What is Meditation

Is meditation worship? Is it a prayer? Is meditation related with any religion? No. All of these questions should be answered in one word: No. In the simplest words, the meditation is a process that settles down the clouds of thoughts roaming in our head. Thereafter we can perceive the clear sky; the sky we can name it as our consciousness or soul or whatever name we prefer to give.

Human mind is like a flowing river, full of water, full of thoughts; and full of disturbing dust, too. The progression of meditation would make the flowing water at standstill; and allow the dust to settle down at the bottom of the river. In such a state of mind, we are at the best of our abilities experiencing ourselves. We skip near to experiencing our consciousness. In simple words, by doing meditation we come nearer to our inner-self.

Why to Meditate : It is our experience that whenever we do not feel to have a smile, we do so in front of others. When we feel some anger, we show false compassion. We are not behaving; we are just acting out of our falsehood. This prevents us from having the real experiences in our life. We are just becoming victims of the suppressed emotions. If we sit silently and meditate, we would start knowing about the suppressed emotions. Everything would start coming out and out mind and consciousness would be cleaned.

Our mind is the most wealthy mine. We hardly dig out the inner wealth our mind can deliver to us. There are eight ways for getting salvation of the soul, as per Ashtanga Yoga system; and the ‘dhyan (meditation)’ is one of the eight paths. Until the worries dance within our cerebral dome and the discomfort rests embedded in our psyche, we would not be at ease. To feel at ease is our natural state, but our speedy life distorts everything that is peaceful. As the doctors also advised to practice it, the meditation is now the most modern health management tool.

Every human mind is so unsteady. Our desires make us so wandering. If we can understand the science of the desiring mind, we can build up a nice road to real happiness. And meditation is the process to build up such a way; it is like cultivation of calm.

Benefits of Doing Meditation : Once the flow of energy is focussed on one activity, naturally the power to concentrate our mind tends to be going on higher side. While doing meditation we feel quite relaxed. A practitioner of meditation would experience the consumption of oxygen, resulting in lesser flow of blood. It would result in reduction of the rate of heartbeats. In long run this would help in strengthening of our heart and decreasing the possibility of any sudden damage to it.

Those who suffer from the problems regarding heart, their heart remain less tolerance to the exercises they require to do. A spell of meditation for 20 minutes a day would show positive results for such heart patients, as meditation is supposed to give rest to the heart.

The most useful benefit of doing meditation is that the regular habit of meditation would increase general strength of human body resulting in the considerable improvement in the immune system.

How to Meditate : Meditation is an act while doing it we remain in a mode that would lead us to experience the presence of our consciousness. ‘How to do it’ is not a major question. One can sit in any posture he or she feels comfortable. Generally a devotee would prefer a sitting posture. Some might prefer the sleeping pose, too, but it may result in sleep. In that case, too, it is better to have such a meditative sleep. Meditation is the best option to let the mind act naturally.

Postures in Meditation : Generally the devotee would sit on yoga mat while doing meditation. The are certain sitting postures devised by various schools of yoga. Some gestures of hand and fingers are also recommended for getting maximum advantage from dong meditation.

We generally fail to restraint the flow of thoughts. But if we do not pay attention to the flow, it would be slowing down and eventually disappear. Meditation is the device that makes our mind clear like the cloudless sky. [Images courtesy: Vivekanada By неизвестен.Amritachaitanya at ru.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons, Lotus Pose By Marcocarvalho (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons]

Sex and Tantra Yoga : Exercise in Increasing Vital Energy

2010-12-05T14:43:00.003+05:30

For yoga the sex and sexual desire have never been a taboo. Instead there are techniques devised by yoga masters, which help us to get our body keeping healthy and making stronger. The overall health is certainly would raise the body power and resultantly the strength to enjoy the act satisfying sexual desire also increases.

It has been believed by the yoga masters that sexual health also can be improved by practicing the yoga. The Tantra Yoga is the branch of Yoga that deals with interrelationship between Yoga and sex. In our life what we lack is the experiencing the powerful sexual orgasm. Instead every loving couple should have the deep experience; and it is their right also to feel multiple orgasms. Happening of such intense orgasm would stimulate certain glands and increase the vital power of the body. Tantra Yoga Helps in doing so.

Tantra and Sex

Abstinence is also a part of teachings of yoga masters of the past. But these masters also acknowledge the importance of healthy sex in the human life. Tantra believes that the human body is divine and no act of it should be branded as disrespectful. Moreover the act of sex is a natural expression of the love for one’s beloved partner.

Tantra techniques are comprised of three co-related aspects: These are based on yoga postures, rhythm of breathing, and meditation. In combination, these devices create a balanced body in respect of the power and a capacity to deploy the energy when it is necessary. All types of loss of energy are avoided. The conserved and created energy would work positively.

How Tantra Affects Human Body

The religions of the world have made the se a taboo. Most of the religious heads preach against it. It has led to the unnatural suppression of the desire. But the Tantra Yoga does not believe in suppressing the natural flow. Instead the tantric methods educate us about how to prolong the corporeal act, the sexual activities done by desiring couple, and experience the blissful state our being. The prolonging of sexual act would naturally result in increase of joy and the final orgasm.

It is experienced by many yoga disciples that the Tantra practices helps feeling orgasm, and in turn the orgasm helps decreasing the level of depression. The presence of continuous depression could result in early signs of aging like the showing of the age on the face through the creases. Thus the knowledge of Tantra could help reducing the pace of aging, too.

Kundalini and Tantra Yoga

The masters of Tantra yoga advocate that sexual energy is resides in human body in the form of biochemical concentration. This energy is in human body in the form of a coil that is known as Kundalini. But it remains mostly in a dormant state. It can be awakened or raised to a considerable level by practicing Tantra yoga or Kundalini yoga. The increased energy could be used not only for the physical growth but for the spiritual growth, too.

If any person, a man or a woman, has lower energy and feels let down while indulging in the very act, he or she would feel loss of self-esteem. They might develop other psychological problems related with the man and woman relationship, too. The solution rests in increase the sexual drive and the augmentation of the passion for it. The Tantra practices would help in this aspect. [Image courtesy By Marcocarvalho (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]

Yoga Articles : Types of Yoga

2010-11-25T06:45:00.005+05:30

If you search web for the yoga and how to do yoga postures you would find numerous links. We are not to add here one of the links. Here it is tried to give a short index of the articles which would let the yoga seekers to know the fundamentals of yoga and how the different types of yoga poses are done. These articles are written in the most possible simple manner so it can help those who wants to know about yoga in nutshell.

YOGA SYSTEMS

ASHTANGA YOGA: Various Schools Teaching yoga

This system of yoga is one of the most ancient. The postures to be done under Ashtanga Yoga are devised by Patanjali, who was yoga master in ancient India. It is believed to be as old as 5000 years. This yoga system comprises eight fold path for those who want to practice yoga and get the maximum benefit out of the same.

HATHA YOGA: Postures With Meditation and Pranayama

The system known as Hatha yoga combines physical postures, along with upholding the necessity of moral attitudes that a human being should have. It is a holistic approach helping to reduce our mental stress. The practice of these yoga postures increase the overall well-being of our body and mind.

TANTRA: Joining Us With The Cosmic Energy

We have the unfathomable potential of the the psychic power. Tantra teaches us certain techniques using and practicing which we can experience our maximum potentials.

KUNDALINI: Awakening of Chakras and Cosmic Energy

The vital energy running through a coil that starts from our genital area and ends at head is known as Kundalini. The great thinkers and yoga teachers say that it is psycho energy. The yoga master tell us that is spiritual one. In short Kundalini is psycho-spiritual power.

YOGA FOOD : Diet with Curative Characteristics

Our food is very much important in shaping the quality of our thoughts. Yoga system strongly believes and advocates that our mental development and spiritual uplift is linked with the food we consume.

YOGA RETREATS IN INDIA

India is the birth place of many system of yoga and yoga postures. Here you would find a yoga training school and a pool of trained yoga teachers. [Image courtesy By Marcocarvalho (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]

Fish Pose - Matsyasana

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This pose is one of the easy poses of the back-bed type asanas. You are to lie down on your yoga mat, flat on your back. There after try t lift the entire spinal cord. Ensure that the hips and the back side of the head remain touching the ground. This would result in a body posture known as Fish Pose of Matyasana.

This pose helps in opening the abdomen muscles. As you can see from the image, the hip part of our body is touching the ground, but the entire portion of the spinal cord is fully lifted upward. It helps in reducing the mid back spinal pain, too.

The pectoral muscles are stretched in full while we do fish pose. This would provide good exercises to the neck, breasts, and the chest. By http://theholisticcare.com [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Dwapada Urdhwa Ardh Matyasana

This asana can be done with one variation. After positioning the whole body as epshown above, you should lift your legs upward. Keep both the legs straight and the paws straight in the direction of the wall, and not to the sky. As our body is requred to use both the legs and keep it upward, this pose is named as Dwapada (two legs) Urdhwa (Up) Ardh Matsyasana. [Image courtesy By Marcocarvalho (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]

Precautions

While doing this posture, or postures similar to this one, a yoga exercise doer should keep some important factors in mind. These factors are relating to the health. If you are suffering from low pressure or high pressure of blood, you should take doctor’s advice before doing such poses. In any other physical difficulties, it should be done in the presence and guidance of a trained yoga teacher.

This postures can be done in half also. It is called Ardh-Matsyasana

Theme: Learn doing Yoga Exercises, How to do Yoga Postures

Ardha Matsyendrasana

This asana was devised by a Yogi whose name was Matsyendra. So the Yoga Posture is named after him. But the Purn Matsyendra is difficult for the beginners to do easily. Thus the Half Spinal Twist Posture is devised. It is called the Ardh Matsyendrasana.

How to Do Half Spinal Twist Posture

It is one of the easiest poses; it involves the movements of only hands and legs.
After putting your yoga net, sit in kneeling position. You shout be sitting on your feet and both the heels should be pointing outward. You can sit in Thunderbolt Pose (Vajrasana), too.
Now put your right hand on mat and lift the left leg putting it over right leg with the help of left hand. Here the foot should be placed outside of the right knee.
Keep your spine in straight posture, placing right side heel touching the buttocks.
Now feel free and widen your both the hands so that they become straight at the level of your shoulders. Thereafter twist both the hands leftward. Here keep in mind that there you should not feel pain in your back muscle. If you feel so, tell your yoga teacher about it.
Finally you are to take hold of your right foot with your left hand and twist the whole torso rightward. The right hand would be on the floor in right side of your body. Here the Half spinal Twist Pose is complete. You can repeat the same pose by changing the side. In that case you would start by putting your left foot on the right side. This would provide exercise to the whole body in general and to the spinal cord in particular.

Benefits of Doing Half Spinal Twist Posture

· Regular practice of this asana increase flexibility of our spine.

· Shoulders and chest would see a noticeable expansion after a time.

· If you have some spinal tension in mid-back, you would be benefitted.

· By doing Final Twist Pose, the abdominal muscles and all the whole structure of bones in the hip area are involved and they get benefit.

· In general, this asana stimulate the digestive fire.

Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Spinal Twist) (Image courtesy Photobucket)

Those who are practicing yoga since few days would also find that this yoga posture of the exercise is only easy to do but it would help stimulating the interest into the yoga asana. It is like massaging the internal organs of our body. Practicing the yoga postures regularly, you would be keeping those parts of body activating which are not used in ordinary activities of your life. [Image at top courtesy By Joseph RENGER [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0], from Wikimedia Commons]

Tantra: Joining With Cosmic Energy

2010-10-26T09:48:00.014+05:30

What is Tantra

Definition of Tantra is given in many scriptures and books of yoga, in various ways and different words. In simple words Tantra is a technique that could generate psychic power in our body. Tantra teaches us certain techniques and principles which enable us to experience the unfathomable potential of the human mind and the psychic power. This power is enables us to experience the ultimate bliss. It also guides how the non-erotic sexual union of man and woman could result in the experience of the universe that is beyond ourself.

Buddha in Sarnath Musium

Drawing on Divine Energy

The seeker of Tantra Yoga believes that universe is the projecting of divine energy. And the whole universe is a stock of cosmic power; and that cosmic energy is within every one of us. In order to feel this cosmic energy, we are required to activate it from its dormant position. Tantra coupled with yoga poses tries to join the limited energy of human with the unlimited cosmic energy of the universe.

Kundalini and Chakra

The seeker of Trantra takes the help of concept of Kundalini that is known as the dormant power embedded into human body in the form of a female serpent. The Kindalini travels through seven Chakras. These Chakras are clusters of glands located in our body parallel to the spinal cord. They are named as Muladhar, Swadhistan, Manipur, Anahat, Visudha, Anja and the last one is Sahastrar. As the Kudalini rises with our yogic efforts, the Chakras get activated one by one.

Mantra

Another devices used by Tantric practitioner is the chanting of Mantras. These are the verses to chant while doing any religious acts or performing yoga. Tantra seeker would also chant specific verses. The above-mentioned chakras are envisioned as lotus having fifty outgoing petals. Each of these petals represents our desires, instincts and longings for worldly things. The words and humming of chanting create effects on each of these petals. This helps in awakening the power of Kundalini. And once the energy awakens and reaches at a particular chakra, the petals are pierced and conscious becomes clear and clearer. The energy flows from downward to upward, starting from the genitals to the head.

Buddhism and Tantra

Buddhism also recognizes the existence of hidden energy in our body. Buddha himself had professed the importance of joining our body with the cosmic energy. The Mandala s devised by Buddhism try to depict correlation of our individual energy and cosmic energy. Both the Vedic scriptures and Buddhism believes that Tantra is union of three forces: the physical energy of human body, the cosmic energy and the ultimate power the Divine energy.

Tantra Yoga

It is believed that the corporeal act have three distinct purposes. To procreate for keeping the human race alive, to feel pleasure while doing the act, and to get the liberation. Tantra Yoga deals with the third object, the liberation of soul by taking the help of physical acts done together by a man and a woman in their intimate moments. By practicing Trantra Yoga one tries to re-integrate with what is beyond our form, the body. The awakened mind and upward going energy of ours would lead us to the universal energy, the life that is larger than ours. This is done by practicing yoga postures, meditation and Tantric practices.

Tantra and Sex

The Shiva and Shakti is worshiped as the God of love. The concept of Shiva and shakti has nothing to do with any religion. It is human nature of man and woman, sometimes depicted as Ardhnariswar, meaning half man and half woman. Tantra uses this concept to make us feeling the hidden energy within our body and enlighten us to a higher stage of being.

Shiva Shakti

Sexual energy is the main source of power in our body. Tantra Yoga includes the concepts wherein it is believed that the sexual act done under specific condition would show us the path to the spiritual enlightenment. Such act done focuses on the concentration of body, mind and spirit with the desire to achieve the ultimate liberation. The sex has the potentiality to lead us to the super consciousness. Our energies are hidden. We can awaken it and use the same energy for the spiritual purposes. If we can awaken the Kundalini, this could be done. The Kundalini is based at Muladhar Chakra, the point that is near to our genitals. The sexual act if done without lust and erotic passion could help awakening of the Kundalini from its base to upward locations. When there is no lust; there is no hurry in the corporeal act. With co-operation of both man and woman the act can be delayed and the energy can be experienced by the man and the woman.

Once the energy starts flowing upward, it enlarges our consciousness and generates many positive signs of spiritual progress. While doing the sexual act as per the Tantric norms we would experience the unknown bliss. Once we start feeling the energy, we would start to believe that the human body and the universe are not two aspects. We are connected with the whole universe by way of the common string of the cosmic energy. [Images courtesy: Top By พระมหาดร.คมสรณ์ คุตตธมฺโม (ผู้ถ่าย-ปล่อยสัญญาอนุญาตภาพให้นำไปใช้ได้เพื่อการศึกษาโดยอยู่ภา่ยใต้ cc-by-sa-3.0) (พระมหาดร.คมสรณ์ คุตตธมฺโม)[see page for license], from Wikimedia Commons , See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons]

How to Do Wheel Pose, Chakrasana

2010-10-18T13:49:00.008+05:30

The word ‘Chakra’ means wheel. While doing this posture our body would look like a wheel, so it is called ‘Wheel Pose’, too. This is one of the poses of the yoga system known as Hatha Yoga. This helps in balancing the relationship between our mind and body. The posture given here is known as Supta Chakrasana, too.

Both men and women can do this posture. The women should avoid doing this pose during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman gets advice to practice certain yoga posture as an exercise, she should do it in the presence of a trained teacher only.

How to Do Wheel Pose, Chakrasana

Arrange your yoga mat properly and lye on your back. Bend you knees in a manner that both the feel remain flat on the floor. The distance between two feet should be as wide as your hip.

Press the feet firmly on the floor and inhale slowly. Then try to lift the hip portion upward. While doing so you would lift your thighs and buttocks on the up side direction.

Now use the hands. Put the palms firmly on floor keeping fingers facing your head. In order to lift your shoulder, just try to straighten your arms slowly but steadily. After the shoulders, your head also would be above the floor. When the legs and arms are fully stretched upward, the Wheel Pose is complete.

Here you can hold yourself in Chakrasana until you feel pain. You can inhale and exhale, but try to keep breath inside for more time. It would give you strength to hold the posture for long.

While coming back from this posture, do it slowly. Get you head down by bending elbow and then let the shoulders touch the floor. There after let the body rest in flat position or in corpse pose. It would help in decreasing fatigue.

Benefits of Doing Wheel Pose

The Chakrasana, the wheel pose is one of the poses defined in Hatha Yoga system. Due to its posturing of our body, we can name it as Beck-Bend Pose. It would help in making our breathing system balanced. If we breathe following the natural rhythm, we would achieve many benefits or we can avoid many physical illness. The physical side of benefits of such backbend postures is multi-faced.

Those who are suffering from Sciatica Pain, they can arrive benefit by doing wheel pose. But care must be taken if more pain is felt; in this case do this asana in the presence of a trained yoga instructor. A person feeling back pain would find it relieving a little bit. In the beginning this posture should be done in the presence of a trained teacher. You can join a good yoga classes where advanced yoga is practiced and taught.

If this posture is done with wearing proper yoga outfit, it would make you feeling more comfortable. A good yoga suit and a long yoga mat are advisable. While relaxing, you can use a soft yoga cushion. [First Image courtesy By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons , Second Image courtesy By http://theholisticcare.com [null], from Wikimedia Commons]

Yoga Retreats in India

2010-09-13T08:59:00.006+05:30

Yoga retreats are the centres where you will find residential facilities with training of yoga. In India you would find various types and sizes of yoga retreats catering to your needs and desires. Mostly these retreats concentrate their attention on the matters of teaching the yoga postures, pranayam, and meditation. Living comfortably is also a part of yoga theory. So in such retreats you would find the living comfortable.

Indian Yoga Retreats

India is founder of the yoga system. From the days of ancient universities of Nalanda and Taxila (Taxshila), the knowledge about yoga and meditation are imparted here with authenticate spiritual dedication. It is said that the silence is the language of God. In a well-managed yoga centre, you would be able to hear that language, sitting in the atmosphere of peace and quietness enabling you to submerge into yourself.

In modern day India, too, the teaching of yoga is continued with same dedication with which it was done in ancient time of Aryan saints and medieval yoga gurus. Many of the retreats emphasize the lifestyle of ashram during the sessions of yoga teaching. The persons working in such institutes or facilities are mostly well-trained in the field of yoga poses and meditation.

How the Retreats Help Learning Yoga

Yoga is known as the journey for knowing the self; it is like a trip to discover the person living within ourselves. For travelling inside of us, we need an exclusive corner of peace and tranquillity. The yoga retreats situated either on the hills of Himalayas or on the tranquil beaches of India would provide you the space you need. You would find a nice place around Hrishikesh in north India or Goa near Bombay. The retreats situated in Kerala offer the peaceful stay at palm groove beaches. These places open up the possibilities of experiencing the real peace we can have by doing yoga and meditation.

What They Provide in Yoga Retreats

Depending upon the situation and the place of the retreat and the tariffs they charge, the facilities offered to the yoga parishioners could be varied. In most of the retreats, especially near Haridwar and Hrishikesh, the charges would be very economical. Most of the places provide the facilities of food and beverages at cost prices. They charge some fees for the services of trained yoga teacher.

Other Facilities in Yoga Retreats

There are various places catering to the different needs of the person. It includes the services of providing Ayurvedic spa and massaging. Those who want special huts near seashore or under a palm tree will be required to pay extra for the same. These resorts provide all types of yoga accessories like yoga mat, yoga balls. You would find a good gym, too, in some of the resorts. (Image courtesy By MyA [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons) (Image of Ramjhula, Hrishikesh courtesy By Asis K. Chatterjee [CC-BY-SA-2.0], from Wikimedia Commons)

Hatha Yoga : Postures With Meditation and Pranayam

2010-09-10T08:49:00.020+05:30

Yoga is a traditional wisdom originated in India. But it has nothing to do with any religion or faith. Practicing yoga, coupled with meditation, is an age-old system of human efforts to feel the oneness of body and the soul.

WHAT IS HATHA YOGA

While Hatha yoga combines physical postures, it upholds the importance of moral attitudes, too. It is a holistic approach reducing mental stress and increases the overall well-being of human body and mind. In short it tries making our body a temple for living the sacred soul. Awakening of Kundalini and making each of its chakras activated is part of hatha yoga.

The objective of Hatha Yoga is to maintain a fine balance between body and the mind. This task is done by giving specific postures known as Yoga Asana or Yoga poses. This system of yoga is believed to be devised in India before fifteenth century. The other yoga systems known as Astang yoga, Kundalini yoga and power yoga are based on the basic concepts of Hatha Yoga. All the systems of yoga have one line agenda: they try to pacify the mind by keeping the flow of physical energy regularized state. Followings are some of the yoga poses devised under Hatha Yoga system.

INVERTED HATHA YOGA POSES

Plough Pose is an important posture in system of Hatha Yoga. It is one of the three poses, which are recommended to activate the ‘Manipur Chakra’ of Kundalini. Regular practice of this would result in general health of body and mind.

Raja Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand): This is much practiced posture of Hatha Yoga. As it helps creating increased flow of blood into brain, it is much useful for increasing the power of remembering, too. For the beginners, this pose might be a little bit difficult. But you would like to do it, as you can do other difficult posture like' Halasana, the Plow Posture' from the shoulder Stand pose. The beginners should not remain for more time in this pose, as it may cause neck problem for them.[Image courtesy By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0],from Wikimedia Commons]

BACK-BEND HATHA YOGA POSES

Dhanur-asana, Bow Pose is one of the Hatha Yoga Poses that helps keeping the flexibility of spine in order. It also helps in reducing the back pain, both lower and upper. If practiced regularly, this Bow Pose would make our neck tension free and the thig muscles get extensively stretched.

Camel Pose, Ustrasana: The posture known as Camel Pose is one of the difficult poses, and has several benefits. If done regularly, it helps in diseases of certain muscles and back pain. You would not find it much difficult after one or two weeks. The yoga posture of Bow Pose is similar to this pose. But that is done by positioning our body differently. Here the step by step instructions are given.

BALANCING HATHA YOGA POSES

Peacock Pose, Mayurasana: As this is one of the difficult type of asanas, we should have prior knowledge about other easy asana. We can sit in Vajrasana and after getting comfortable with doing the difficult poses, we can start doing Mayurasana. For the beginners it is advisable not to remain for more time in this pose. Whenever you feel paining, just stop and relax for a while.

Scorpion pose involves the strength of almost all the muscles of your body; thus if you practice it regularly you would find yourself more energetic. This posture is called the Ardha-Vrischikasana, meaning Half Scorpion pose. In the beginning, the practitioner of this pose would face some difficulty in doing this asana. But it would not take more than a week to know it completely.

If one practices these poses regularly, he or she would feel less stressed and full of energy during the day. In addition to toning of the internal organs of our body, these postures help in curing the ailments like hypertension and arthritis. It could help in keeping diabetes in control, too. However the proportion of the benefit arrived might be different from individual to individual depending upon the age and general health of the person.

Yoga Postures: Remedy For Sciatica Pain, The Sciatica Yoga

2010-08-22T17:48:00.017+05:30

WHAT IS SCIATICA: Sciatica is caused due to compression of the nerves of spinal cord. There are total five nerves attached with spinal cord. If any of these nerves is slightly compressed at its root attached with the spinal cord for any reason or is irritated, we feel acute pain. Those who suffer from sciatica would know how painful it is. We would feel unbearable pain in the areas of buttocks, legs and lower parts of back. Pregnant women should do these poses after consulting their trained Yoga Teacher.

Maha Bhjangasana

YOGA REMEDY FOR SCIATICA: In addition to other remedies, doctors advise their patients suffering from sciatica to undergo certain stretching exercises. It helps improving elasticity of muscles. In the system of yoga, too, remedy for the pain caused by sciatica is devised. Doing yoga posture for such pain is an age-old tradition, but the modern technique of ailments also conform positive aspects of doing yoga exercises. Yoga poses help in decreasing the pain and get control over movement of the damaged muscle. Here are some yoga postures, which are generally suggested for the persons who suffer from sciatica pain. However a patient should take proper advice from his or her physician; and the following yoga postures should be done only in the presence of a trained yoga teacher.

Sarvangasana: This posture is also called Shoulder Stand Pose. This pose can be done after some practice of doing yoga only. The beginners should avoid remaining for more than ten seconds in this pose. It may cause minor pain in neck.

Shoulder Stand Pose

Shoulder Stand Pose is the posture that is classified as "Inverted Poses". This posture is devised under the system of yoga named Hath Yoga. This would give adequate stretch to the waist and make blood being circulated in every vein from top to bottom. Those who suffer from sciatica should know that their pain would not be reduced immediately. it can take some time. So during this time, it should be ensured that the weight of body remains in control.

Sirsasana Head Stand Posea: This posture is called Head Stand Pose, too. For the beginners, this posture would be a little bit difficult. It would also help us to get relief from back pain or pain in leg and thigh muscles. Regular practice of this posture, especially done in morning time, would help us getting relief from back pain and pain in leg and thigh muscles. This posture allows the blood to flow more towards the head area. So it would help in increasing our memory power, too.

Pavanmuktasana , The Wind Releasing Posture: This posture is also called 'Wind Releasing Pose. A person suffering from Sciatica would be benefited by doing this pose. It would reduce pain of the muscles and paining veins. But the patients of sciatica must do this posture only in presence of a trained teacher.

There are many other postures, too, which can be helpful in reducing the pain in sciatica. But most of them are advised to be done in the presence of a trained yoga teacher. The doctors advise certain yoga poses for stretching exercises. The following are some of these postures which are generally recommended.

If the body of a patient is already over-weight, he or she should take extra care of the same. The above mentioned yoga postures would also help in reducing the weight of the body, too. Most of the poses would help in burning the extra fat deposited on various limbs of body. Regular practice of doing yoga postures keeps our body active and well-balanced in every respect. (Images courtesy By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons) (Image at top courtesy By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons)

How to Do Downward Dog Posture, Adho Mukh Swanasana

2010-07-22T11:30:00.006+05:30

The word Adho means downward and Mukh means the face. Thus literally the meaning of Adho Mukh would be downward face. This posture is called Downward Dog Posture or Down Dog pose.

You can repeat this posture as many times as you wish. But ensure that it should not result in fatigue or over stretching of any muscle.

How to Do Downward Dog Posture

Sit in a positing where your knees are together and your buttocks are touching your hills. Keep the spine and head in a straight position. You can sit in the posture called Thunderbolt (Vajrasana)

Arrange your hands as far as possible from your knees. Put the palms facing downward on your yoga mat, keeping your fingers wide.

Come on to your knees and then lift the knees from the floor. Stretch your tailbone towards ceiling.

Put your paws flat on the floor or yoga mat. At this moment your head should feel free and resting.

Ensure that your paws are kept as wide as your hips and the palms are as wide as your shoulders.

Benefits of Doing Dog Posture

In general the act of doing yoga postures is an exercise in stretching muscles and to increase the circulation of blood in specific parts of our body. Here are some of the benefits of doing Dog Posture.

When we are in this pose, our heart remains at rest. The flow of blood becomes regular. This is the situation wherein our heart gets some relief. Doing Downward Facing Dog pose would help in providing rest to our heart.

This pose stretches the muscles, which are in on either side of the back of the knees. It makes the tendon or sinews of knees working.

This posture would create a feel of awareness. A person would feel strength after doing the same.

As all the yoga postures would make our limbs more flexible, Down Dog pose helps keeping our body fresh and all the parts flexible. The hands, arms and legs would be actively involved in doing it.

If we look at the curative side of this posture, a person doing it regularly might get some relief in headache and back pain.

If you feel pain in any muscle, while doing this pose, feel free to make yourself at ease. If your back is paining or hamstring is feeling uneasiness, keep you knees a little bit inside. It would ease the pain and the pressure.

Caution: Pregnant women should do this posture after taking proper instructions from a trained teacher. (Image courtesy By Joseph RENGER [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0], from Wikimedia Commons)

Supine Yoga Poses, Lying Face Upward

2010-04-09T11:36:00.006+05:30

The yoga poses which are done by keeping your back on the floor of near the floor are called supine poses or the poses done by ‘lying face upward’. Such poses manly provide exercises to the leg and hand muscles. In some of the poses the abdominal muscles and spine are also twisted and get much strain.

Fish Pose, Matsyasana

While doing any of the above poses, you are to keep one important point in mind: do not overstretch your body. Know the limit of your body and remain within that limit. If you find doing any of the poses difficult, do consult the trained yoga teacher. If you use proper yoga accessories, you would make the yoga experience joyful and helping.

Do try Doing These Supine Yoga Poses

Bridge Pose: When we do this pose, the pelvic muscles are stretched to its greatest length. This pose provides adequate exercise to many muscles like : the pelvic, abdominal and leg muscles. The spinal cord would be bent slightly while doing Bridge Pose or the Dwipada Pitham.

Plough Pose: This pose helps us stretching the muscles of our waist. So it improves the functioning of our veins. Moreover, it help giving adequate exercise to other parts of the body, too. While doing Halasana, our spine is stretched in full. It keeps the spine very elastic. If we do this pose regularly, the overall function of the spine is improved greatly.

Pavanmuktasana, Wind Releasing Pose: If we do this posture regularly after waking up from the sleep in the morning, it would help in regulating the movement of the gases present in body. It would be much beneficial if you do this pose in early morning. Important point to be noted is that this pose is to be done before taking any food or drink.

Urdhva Dhanurasana, Reverse Bow Pose: This posture provide greater stretches to the back muscles. It helps keeping back flexible and the spinal cord smoothly. Its regular practice provides help in that respect. The leg and shoulder muscles are strengthened to its fullest length.

Shoulder Stand Pose: This is also called sarvangasana. It benefits our body and mind in several ways. Doing this asana only the face remains upward. The whole body is placed on the strength of the shoulders only. It increases the flow of blood to our brain, and thus it would help in increasing the memory power.
Corpse Pose : Known as Shavasana or Relaxation Pose, this posture is done before and after doing a posture. It follows the meaning of its name and provides adequate relief to all the limbs of our body. If it is done before going to sleep, this pose helps in getting immediate and a deep sleep.

While doing the above poses your face would be upward. It would put your neck downside. If you feel any pain in your neck, your should use a Yoga Bolster or Yoga Cushion below your neck. It would make you feeling comfortable. You can buy a good quality bolster or the cushion from a departmental stores that sells yoga accessories like yoga mat.(Image courtesy By http://theholisticcare.com [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons)

YOGA POSTURES: Back-bend Poses

2010-04-08T09:39:00.030+05:30

Learn Yoga Posture with ease. How to do Backbends. Yoga postures render our body into various poses. Some of the yoga asana would render our whole body bending backward. Such postures can be labelled as ‘back bend’ postures, however there is no such classification of the postures. While doing these backbends we could experience a sense of freedom. Doing this also involves an element of courage, as the bending backward is not an easy job.

Such postures make our arms and shoulders more powerful. The spine would get proper exercise, too. The waist would get maximum stretch in some of the postures. It could help in reducing back pain, too. Here is some yoga posture that would require our body to bend in backside.

YOGA POSTURES: Dhanurasana, Bow Pose

THEME: Learn doing Yoga Exercises, How to do Bow Shaped pose.

Dhanur-asana,

Bow Shaped Yoga Posture

Meaning of the word Dhanur, a Sanskrit word, is ‘bow-shaped’. While doing this asana, the postures of our body looks like a ‘Bow’. Thus it is named so; Look at the above image.

HOW TO DO DHANURASANA, Bow Pose

First of all unfold your Yoga net on the floor and lie down on you stomach.
Now keeping the palms upward, just position your chin on the floor. Then start bending your knees towards the body and finally grab both of your ankles with the respective hands.
Here the real Dhanur-asana starts. Keep inhaling slowly and try raising your knees by pulling the ankles with your hands. Simultaneously try raising your chest above the floor. When you can not inhale more, hold it.
Once you tilt your head backward, your body would come in a ‘Bow Posture’ as it is shown in the above image. You can hold your body in this posture as long as you can. But for the beginners, it would be advisable to keep for ten to thirty seconds.
To get your body released from this asana, do all the things in reverse order.

BENEFITS OF DOING DHANURASANA: All the asanas have their general benefits increasing the health and vitality of human body. The Dhanur-asana has its peculiar benefits, too. Here are some of these:

Dhanur-asana helps keeping the flexibility of spine in order and helps in reducing the back pain, both lower and upper.
It keeps our neck tension free.
It helps in digestion, too, as the area of abdominal muscles gets increased flow of blood by practising this asana.

Urdhva Dhanurasana

Meaning of the word Dhanur, a Sanskrit word, is ‘bow-shaped’. Here we can see the reverse of the bow. While doing this asana, the postures of our body looks like a ‘Reverse Bow’. Thus it is named so. Look at the image. This pose is exactly the reverse of yoga asana known as Dhanurasana, the Bow Pose. This posture would help improving spinal flexibility and stretching the shoulders and chest. It strengthens our arms and leg muscles, too. (Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

How to Do Reverse Bow Pose: We can see that in this yoga posture, we are to do the posture exactly the reverse of Dhanurasana, the Bow Pose. While doing this asana, just lie down on your back, straight and in a relieved state of mind.

After you are on your back, just start pushing your back on the upper side of your body. do it slowly if you feel pain in your back of in other limb. Finally manage to balance your body on the base of your hands and feet. Here the your feet and the palms wold be your only attachments with your yoga mat.

Benefits of Doing Urdva Dhanurasana, Reverse Bow Pose

Regular practive of Reverse Bow Pose improves the elasticity of our spine spine and the joints of hip. It would help sliming our waist. Due to rapid breathing we would do during this asana, it helps increasing the capacity of our lungs to take more intake of oxygen.

How to do Ardh Dhanurasana, Half Bow Pose

Beginners can do the above pose in half. This posture is known as the Ardha Dhanurasana, Half Bow Pose.

[Images Courtesy, Dhanirasana By Joseph RENGER [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0], from Wikimedia Commons , Urdhva Dhanurasana By Joseph RENGER [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0], from Wikimedia Commons , Ardh Dhanurasana By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons ]

YOGA POSTURE: King Pigeon Pose, Backbend

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II (one legged king pigeon variation), originally uploaded by Richard-.

Theme: Beck-bend Yoga Postures, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana

While we do various yoga postures, our body takes various shapes. The names of yoga postures are given as per the shapes the posture makes. Sometimes it is named so looking to the benefits and the limbs of body it involves. Rajakapot Asana or the King Pigeon Pose makes renders our body in a particular shape. In the image given here it has a special name. Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, as it involves on leg mainly.

This posture involves backbend posture. It helps opening the hip portion of our body. This posture involves the backbend intensely. So for the beginners, it would be advisable to do this asana in presence of a trained teacher.

YOGA POSTURES: Ustrasana -Camel Pose

This posture is known as Camel Pose. It has several benefits. If we do it regularly, it helps in curing many diseases. It is not very difficult yoga posture. The yoga posture of Bow Pose is similar to this pose. But that is done by positioning our body differently. Here the step by step instructions are given.

Ustrasana (camel pose), originally uploaded by Richard-.

How to Do Camel Pose

Adjust the yoga mat on the floor. Sit in kneeling position. If you feel pain or have a problem in your knees, you can take help of some padding.

Raise your heaps positioned over your knees. Keep the shoulders straight over your heaps.

Put your palms touching your hips. Fingers should be facing the floor.

Your upper body would look like a circle. From this stage, start pushing your hips forward so that they come straight up on the knees.

Now put your palms on your paws. Imagine here that there is a string tied with your waist that pulls you towards the sky.

Finally allow your head to come backside, opening the throat. Now the whole body would look like a camel and the pose would be 'camel pose'.

Precautions

If you are a beginner, you should not remain for more time in this posture.

For a beginner, a stay of twenty seconds would be a sufficient exercise.

While doing camel pose, someone may be feeling like nausea. But it normally happens while doing such postures. You should find yourself comfortable after a while.

The women who are pregnant should avoid doing this posture. If they wish, they should do it after consulting a physician. Pregnant woman must do camel pose in the presence of a trained teacher only.

If you do not feel tired, you can repeat doing this pose as many times you wish. If you feel exhausted, take a good rest.

Benefits of Doing Ustrasana

While we do camel posture, almost all the muscles of our body are stretched. This pose provides adequate exercise to whole of our body. So it is a comprehensive exercise.

If this pose is done as shown in the above passage, it would provide good exercise to many limbs, including the chest, abdomen, and quadriceps. In short the front side of our body gets fully involved.

If we do this posture regularly for a specific period, it would improve the flexibility of our spinal cord.

Those persons who suffer from backache would be benefitted very much. After doing camel pose for a week, they would feel some relief in the pain.

YOGA POSTURES: INVERSION POSES

2010-04-07T11:10:00.020+05:30

Here are some yoga postures doing which we have to invert our body, bending backside. Yoga Postures: Halasana, Plough Pose, Sarva-anga Asana, Whole body Posture, Shirshasana, Head Stand are some of inversion poses. It is observed that many people get less blood flow in the brain and head. This could lead to lesser function by our brain; or it may lead to gradual memory loss, too. Yoga Asana can be beneficial here. The teachers and regular practitioners of yoga believe that if we do the postures that would keep our body in inverted position, it would help to increase the flow of blood to the brain. Here are some postures of Yoga that could help to those who face less flow of blood in head.

HALA-ASANA, the Plow Pose

Halasana is a Sanskrit word made of two words, Hala and Asana. Meaning of Hala is ‘plough’. While doing this asana our body looks like a ‘Plough’. So it is named ‘Plough Pose’.

Halasana, Plough Posture

How to Do Halasana, the Plough Posture

First of all you should lie on your yoga net. You should keep rolled towel or a small pillow under your neck. It supports and protects the muscles of your neck.

Keep the back flat on floor and palms should be rested downwards. Start inhaling, slowly.

Now start bending both the knees and draw them towards your stomach and keep exhaling.

While exhaling try raising both of your legs upward. Support your hips with your hands. The chin should be touching your chest. Finally the torso should be straight and your paws facing the ceiling. This posture is called ‘Sarvanga Asana' or Shoulder Stand Pose. This is also called Whole Body Posture.

Now proceed on. Put your hands flat on the floor. Palms should be facing the floor.

Start bending your hips slowly so as your feet goes in the opposite direction of your head. Let the feet go until your toes touch the yoga mat. Finally your body would be in Plough Posture.

For coming into normal position, you are to do all the actions in their reverse order.

Plough pose is one of the three poses, which are recommended to activate the ‘Manipur Chakra’ of Kundalini. This is the third chakra of Kundalini, and it is above our belly button. For doing that, you are to do three poses in sequence. First you should do the ‘Shoulder Stand Posture’. From that posture you can proceed to doing the ‘Plough Pose’, as it is one step ahead from the same. Finally your body would rest in Sarvasana or Shavasanan’, which is also called ‘Relaxation Pose’.

Benefits of Doing Plough Pose

This pose helps us stretching all the muscles from toes to waist. So it improves the functioning of our veins.

While doing this pose, our spine is fully stretched. It makes the spine more elastic. Overall function of the spine is improved by doing this pose regularly.

If a person is facing indigestion or any other gastric problems, practicing of Halasana would help him or her to a great extent.

The pregnant women should do this pose after getting proper guidance from their yoga teachers.

Here is one modification in the Halasan, the Plough Pose. You can give the support of your hand to your back. This would facilitate you to be for more time in this posture. In addition to that, sucha pose would benefit in the case of back pain,too, as the hands rested on back would help easing the same. (Image courtesy By http://theholisticcare.com [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons) (Image at top courtesy By Joseph RENGER[see page for license], from Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons)

SARVA-ANGA ASANA :

The word Sarvanga is a Sanskrit word comprised of two words. One is ‘sarva (all) and another is ‘anga (lims). Thus it literally means “all the limbs”. As sarvangasana or Shoulder Stand Posture is useful for whole of the body, it is named like this. Sometimes it is referred as “The Whole Body Posture”, too. While doing this asana, the whole body rests on shoulders.

Salamba Sarvangasana, originally uploaded by tarnalberry.

Shoulder Stand is an inverted pose. It is devised under the Hath Yoga system of yoga postures.

How to Do Shoulder Stand Pose

First of all lie on your yoga mat: Keep the back flat on the floor. Both the palms should be resting downwards. Start inhaling, slowly.

Now start it. Bend both the knees and draw them nearer to your stomach. You should keep inhaling slowly until the knees reach up to stomach. Here you would exhale.

Start inhaling again. Now you are to put all the pressure on the hands and try lifting your whole torso from the waist. It would make your spine into the shape of an ark.

After the the back is considerably up, exhaling and try raising both of your legs upward. Finally you would keep you legs straight. Now the weight of your whole body would be on your shoulders.

For coming into normal position, you are to do all the actions in their reverse order. Finally your body would be in Shavasana, the relaxation Pose.

Benefits of Doing Shoulder Stand Pose

The sarvangasana benefits our body and mind in several ways. It increases the flow of blood to the upper parts of our body. Such an increased flow of blood would help in increasing the memory power.

Doing this pose regularly can provide health solutions in the cases of soaring of throat and nasal congestion.

Raja Sarvangasana - Inverted position (Shoulder Stand) (Image CourtesyBy Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons )

While doing this pose you would notice that your back get adequate exercise. It helps in reducing back pain.

If you feel uneasy by sleeping much, you will feel relived after doing Shoulder Stand posture.

Above all this asana involves almost every limb of body, as its name suggests, it helps keeping our body healthy and fit.

For the beginners, this posture would be a little bit difficult. But you would like to do it, as you can do another difficult posture of 'Halasana, the Plow Posture' from the shoulder Stand pose.

Caution :The beginners should avoid remaining for more than ten seconds in this pose. It may cause minor pain in your neck.

The sarvanga-asana benefits our body and mind in several ways. It increases the flow of blood to the upper parts of our body that helps healing many disorders. We can have beneficial effects of the problem in soaring of throat and nasal congestion. It helps in back pain. If you feel uneasy by sleeping much, you would feel relived after doing this asana. Above all this asana involves almost every limb of the body, as its name suggests, it keeps body healthy and fit. Regular practice would help in long run.

Shirshasana

If the whole body of yours is supported on your forearms; if your head is touching the floor; and your feet are facing straight to the sky; you must be in the state of ‘Sirsasana’, or ‘Headstand Yoga Posture’.

As this posture makes us to stand on the strength of our head, it is named Headstand Posture. Sanskrit word for it is Shirshasna, but it is pronounced as ‘Sirsasana’ or ‘Sirshasana’, too.

Mountain yoga 5, headstand, originally uploaded by Holistic Directory.

While being on mere support of the head, we can take the assisting support of our palms or ankles as shown in these two illustrated postures.As this postures makes us to stand on the strength of our head it is named as Sirshasana, the Head Stand Posture. While being on mere support of the head, we can take the assisting support of our palms or ankles as shown in these two illustrated postures.

How to Do Shirshasana

Here is step-by-step guidance for doing this pose. It is one of the most difficult postures. But it can be done in two stages.

Stage One

Come to kneeling position and put your forearms fully touching the floor. The fingers are to keep interlaced.

Put your head on the area cupped by your fingers and the forearms.

Then raise your waist as straight as possible. You can do it by taking your feet closer to head. It will send your hips over your shoulder. In this position your body would make the shape of a triangle on floor. This posture is an independent yoga posture. It is called Raja Grivasana. You can stay in this pose as long as you like.

Stage Two

After you feel comfort in Raja Gricasana, the last pose as shown above, you would try lifting your feet and dragging knees near to your chest.

Let the feet be settled for a while.

The slowly and steadily try raising legs up. You should not worry if you fail to do it for one or two days.

After the legs are straight and upward, the ‘Headstand Posture’ is completed. You are to remain in this pose for ten seconds.

When you decide to end the pose, first put your one of the legs on the floor and then another.

Benefits of Doing Sirsasana

Like all other postures, it increases the flow of blood to our head and brain. This in turn would result in improvement of intellectual functions. It would help in increasing our memory.

It would help us to get relief from back pain or pain in leg and thigh muscles.

A person suffering from Sciatica would also be benefited. But in that case, this posture must be done in presence of a trained teacher. (Image courtesy By Joseph RENGER [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0], from Wikimedia Commons)

Like all other yoga postures, Shirshasana would benefit us by making the muscles of our body stronger. It would help us to get relief from back pain or pain in leg and thigh muscles. As in this posture our head would be in the downside, it would enable the flow of blood to be in full force in our head. Thus it would heal in making our brain to function with more strength.

Raj Grivasana : This posture is one of the easiest postures. Generaaly this posture is done first while doing Sirsasana. However, This pose, RajaGrivasana is itself an independent pose, known as 'Head Stand Posture'.

When we are doing the inverted asanas, we are acting against the force of gravity. This would give feeling some strange facts about our body and the functioning of various systems. We could feel rejuvenated experiencing a new perspective of life and health.

YOGA POSTURES: Forward Bend Poses

2010-04-06T09:41:00.002+05:30

Balasana, The Child Pose. Other Forward-Bend Yoga Postures.

The yoga postures render our body in different positions. There is hardly any muscle or limb that is not being activated by one of these asana. Here some postures putting our body in forward bend postures are given. These postures help stretching all the limbs that we might not be stretching while doing our general work. These exercises and yoga postures provide good exercises to calves, hips and the hamstrings. Hath Yoga has devised postures providing complete exercise to all of the limbs and muscles of our body. This posture, Balasana, Child Pose is one of the simplest yoga postures. It provides exercises to back muscles and calves. (Image courtesy By http://theholisticcare.com [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons)

How to do Child Pose

Before doing this posture, you can seat in Vajrasana, The Thunderbolt posture. It’s a posture where we sit kneeling on the floor keeping the knees wide.

After that position, just exhale and let the head be touching the floor. The whole torso would be pasted on the thighs. The hands would be simply put backwards alongside the torso. The shoulder should be as near to the floor as possible. This posture can be practiced as one of the relaxing postures like Corpse Pose.

UTTANASANA:Any of the variations of these Standing Forward bend postures would work as stress reducing exercise. You would feel that the element of fatigue and anxiety is considerably reduced after doing this posture. There are certain postures that would benefit much if these asana done in sequence.

Paschimottanasana : This postures is relatively an easy one. You can feel very much relaxed after doing this asana. It provides good exercise to the muscles of back, legs and the hands. It is advised for weight loss and back pain. This posture would provide enough exercise to the caves, too.

SINHASANA, the Lion Pose: Regular practice of Lion Pose would help to improve the memory power. The mind would function with renewed flow of the energy. While doing this asana, we would find that our respiration become regularizes. Due to the regularized and respiration, you would get improvement if you are suffering from throat-trouble.

ONE FOOT POSE: One would not find it very difficult to do the One Foot Pose. You can try it once and would learn how to do it frequently. This forward-bend posture has all the benefits of yoga in general. But specifically it helps strengthening leg muscles and the back muscles.

If you are a new entrant in this yoga exercises, you should not remain in one posture for more time. Avoid being in one posture for longer period, as it would make your limbs paining a little bit. Ensure that you get proper and enough rest between two sessions of exercises, too. You can rest in Shavasana, as it would give you more energy to go to the next session of doing yoga postures.

YOGA POSTURES FOR HIP JOINTS

2010-04-04T18:29:00.015+05:30

Our anatomy is made of bones and the joints. The joints get friction when we move our body. Hence the lubricating material that keeps out joints so smoothly working gets depreciated. These lubricating materials are again received from our intake of balanced food. But in cases of over use of our body parts, certain part gets much imbalanced. This creates pain after a certain period. The pain in hip joints is one of the outcomes of such over use of our body part.

Yoga Postures for Hip Joints

Dwipada Pitham: The yoga postures are devised to give us relief from certain pain. Regular practice of these yoga asana would help rectifying the loss done by our lifestyle. Here are certain yoga postures that could help in easing the pain in hip joints. For maintaining healthy condition of hip joints, certain movements are necessary. These Yoga Postures here would do that job for us. Some of the postures should be done with a trained teacher only.

Cobra Pose: It is experienced that the Cobra Pose, that is known as Bhujangasana is one of the most useful exercises for those who have complaints about lower back aches. The regular practicing of this Yogasana would help decreasing some stiffness in the lower back, even in the initial stage of exercising. Cobra Pose provides strain to the muscles in chest area, so it enlarges the chest and strengthens arms.

PAVANMUKTASANA: This is one of the easy types of asanas. You would hardly find any difficulty in doing it. Wind releasing posture helps in releasing the gas from intestines.

First lie down on the floor or the Yoga net, with legs kept straight and in forwards position.
Taking a deep breath, start bending both the knees. Alternatively you can bring in only one knee, and repeat the same for another.
Release breath and press the folded legs near to abdomen, as near as you can.

Plow Pose is another posture that could help in curing the hip joints. Those who face acute pain for him joint should avoid doing this; and those who wants to do it. they should do this pose in the presence of a trained teacher only.

Halasana, Plough Posture

Halasana is a Sanskrit word made of two words, Hala and Asana. Meaning of Hala is ‘plough’. While doing this asana our body looks like a ‘Plough’. So it is named ‘Plough Pose’.

YOGA POSTURES: Standing Position

2010-01-30T13:17:00.024+05:30

Standing Alignment in Yoga: Asana is a Sanskrit word. It means to keep our body in a particular posture. Many yogis have devised these whole set of asanas, the postures. One of the great Yogis was Patanjali who had devised many postures, which were easy and comfortable. His teaching is known as Astang Yoga, too.

Most of the postures are devised to enable us to have better physical health and a peaceful mind. These yoga postures have deep impact on our whole body, and mind and soul. The yoga postures help keeping us in a particular physical position.

ONE FOOT POSTURE

Theme: Narrating the Easy Yoga Postures. Yogasana made easy.

Mountain yoga 4, one foot pose, originally uploaded by Holistic Directory.

It is needless to say that Yoga helps promoting positive thoughts and good health. In society as general, a person who practices Yoga would maintain good relationships and communication between people.

The regular practice of Yoga Postures help keeping us fit. Here it is tried to show some easy postures. It is because some people who are either new to yoga, or suffering from some disease may find some of the postures very difficult. Here you it is tried to show and narrate the postures which are comparatively easy.

One would not find it very difficult to do the One Foot Pose as shown here. You can try it once and would learn how to do it frequently. This posture has all the benefits of yoga in general. But specifically it helps strengthening leg muscles and the back muscles.

NATARAJ ASANA

The meaning of word 'Nataraj' is 'The Lord of Dancing'. Lord Shiva is believed to be the Nataraj. In fact the Natarajanasan is believed to be of difficult type of Yoga Postures. Yoga is one of the most useful and widely practiced exercise. It has been originated in India. Yoga or doing of the yoga postures, the yoga asanas, is famous for its spiritual touch. These postures provide extreme stretches to the human body. Yoga is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, but now a day it is practiced all over the world. Some use it as exercises for remain healthy and fit, and the rest for spiritual reasons.

Benefits by doing Standing Yoga Poses : It is necessary to know that the standing position provide us the knowledge about the principles having a proper alignment of our body. Here are some of the Yoga Asanas, the postures, which can be termed as Yoga Postures in Standing Positions. These postures would affect different systems of human body: muscular, respiratory, circulation, digestive, excretory, reproductive, endocrine, nervous system. These asanas are to be performed after keeping our body in standing position: legs together (fully stretched), spine erect and both hands resting on our sides.

Easy Yoga Postures: Trikonasana, Triangle Pose Mountain yoga 8, triangle

Mountain yoga 8, triangle, originally uploaded by Holistic Directory.

The word 'Trikona' means triangle. As our body looks like a triangle in this yoga posture, this asana is called Trikonasana, the triangle pose. It is an important posture in Hatha Yoga system of yoga exercises. This pose is usually done twice, in sequence. Once it is done by facing the left and another facing right.

Triangle pose provides adequate exercise to several muscles of our body. The leg and hand muscle gets more strain, while the back muscle is also stretched. It is very popular among women.

How to do Triangle Pose

It is one of the simplest yoga poses. First of all stand in Tadasana that is straight standing position.

Bend your upper body forward and put you paws one metre away from your feet. Here you would be in a posture that is known as Downward Facing Dog.

Drag your left foot forward and put it just touching your left paw from behind. Now keep the left paw parallel to the left foot and try to put more weight of body on left foot and the left hand.

Raise the right hand and twist your torso, so as it goes straight upward.

Twist your face and try looking ceiling. Right paw should be facing rightward.

Here your body would make a triangle, the stretched right hand being top angle of the triangle. Ensure that your torso should be parallel to yoga mat.

You can remain for 20 seconds to one minute in this posture. If you feel any unusual pain in any limb, you should come back into normal posture. Yoga system tells us to give stretch to the muscles, and not pain to any muscle or limb.

Benefits of doing Triangle Pose, Trikonasana

This pose helps in decreasing tension from our lower back.

If we do this pose regularly, it would help strengthening abdominal muscles, improving our digestion function. It also reduces the extra fat deposited on belly and thus helps in reducing the obesity.

Upper legs get much exercise, as they remain stretched during this pose.

Hamstring and hips are actively involved while we do this pose. The twists and turns provide good exercise to them.

This yoga posture generates a sense of balance within our body.

Women are advised to practice this pose during pregnancy. But they should get prior instruction from the doctor about how to be careful while doing this posture. During the advanced stage of pregnancy, a woman should do this pose only in presence of a trained yoga teacher. This asana can be done in the manner shown above right also. Trikonasana - Triangle Pose (Image courtesy By http://theholisticcare.com[see page for license], from Wikimedia Commons)

Wearing The Yoga Clothes

While doing these postures you need feeling comfortable. So the importance of clothes increases. Yoga clothes are the outfits absorbing your sweat easily, as yoga exercise is bound to make you sweating heavily.

Yoga at the Beach

For women the outfits would be mainly same as the men. But wearing the shorts would be better, as it would help you knowing about how your legs and feet align during the yoga exercise. To cover the breasts fully is essential; for that women can use short bra made from cotton. The women yoga practitioners desiring to enjoy freedom of movement wear bikini while doing yoga postures. It is comfortable especially when you do yoga in open or at beach. (Image Yoga at the Beach Courtesy By karpidis (originally posted to Flickr as Yoga at the beach)[see page for license], from Wikimedia Commons) (Image Natarajasana, The Dance Pose courtesy By Sri Devi Nrithyalaya (http://www.sridevinrithyalaya.org/gallery2.html) [GFDL 1.2], from Wikimedia Commons )

YOGA POSTURES: Sitting Position

2010-01-22T12:07:00.017+05:30

Sitting Alignment in Yoga : Asana is a Sanskrit word meaning to keep our body in a particular posture. The great Yogi Patanjali had devised many asanas, the postures, which were steady and comfortable. His teaching is known as Astang Yoga, too. Most of the postures are practiced to achieve better physical and mental health, as these yoga postures have deep impact on our body, mind and soul.

Padmasana, Lotus Pose

The meaning of ‘Padma’, a Sanskrit word, is lotus. While sitting in this posture, the human body looks like a lotus. Thus it is named ‘Padma Asana’. Padmasana is basic posture for many yogic acts. If you want to do chanting for longer hours it is convenient to sit in this asana. As narrated by Patanjali, sitting in this posture makes the energy of human body takes it natural shape, helping to heal several disorders in the body. It is believed that those who practice Padmasana would get help in awaking Kundalini.

Theme: Learn Doing Yoga Excersices, How to do the different postures of Yoga, Doing Various Yoga Asanas.

Padmasana, Lotus Pose

We can see from all the paintings and idols of Buddha that this posture was his favourite. He is always depicted as sitting in Padmasana. Moreover it is most favourite posture among all of those practice yoga postures.

BENEFITS OF DOING PADMASANA.

Padmasana is basic posture for many yogic acts. If you want to do chanting for longer hours it is convenient to sit in this pose. As narrated by Patanjali, sitting in this posture makes the energy of human body taking its natural shape. It helps in healing several disorders in our body. It is believed that those who practice Padmasana would get help in awaking Kundalini.

All the yogis and their pupils prefer to be in this posture while doing the various breathing exercises.

HOW TO DO PADMASANA

· You just sit on the floor or on yoga net, spreading your legs in forward position.

· Arrange your left foot on the right thigh and the right on your left thigh.

· Keep the upper half of body straight and put left hand on left knee and right on the right knee. The palms should be facing upward.

· Then keep the tips of both the thumbs just touching your index fingers.

· Sit in this posture as long as you can. There is no harm in sitting until you feel it uncomfortable. (Image courtesy Man By Joseph RENGER (œuvre personnelle) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0], from Wikimedia Commons) (Image courtesy Woman By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons)

Sitting Yoga Postures

VAJRA ASANA,The Thunderbolt Yoga Posture : It has been noticed that regular practice of this asana increases the secretion from the glands, which are vital for the physical and mental health of a person. Along with other benefits of doing Yogic posture, Vajrasana, the Thunderbolt Yoga Posture helps the digestion process and assists in eliminating the gastric troubles. Those who suffer from the pain in knee would be benefited by doing this posture.

Paschimottanasana :This postures is relatively an easy one. You can feel very much relaxed after doing this asana. It provides good excercise to the muscles of back, legs and the hands. It is advised for weight loss and back pain.

Ardha Matsyendrasana: This asana was devised my a Yogi whose name was Matsyendra. So the Yoga Posture is named after his name. As the Purn Matsyendra is difficult for the beginners, the Half Spinal Twist Posture is devised. It is called the Ardh Matsyendrasana.

These sitting postures help keeping our body in a particular positions for a time. Here are some of the Yoga Asanas, the postures, which can be termed as Yoga Postures in Sitting Positions. These postures would affect different systems in human body like muscular, respiratory, circulation, digestive, excretory, reproductive, endocrine, nervous system.These asanas are to be performed after keeping our body in sitting position: both legs together and stretched, toes erect, spine erect and both hands straight and palms resting on floor. By Marcocarvalho [CC-BY-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

YOGA POSTURE: Doing in Order or a Sequence

2009-12-31T12:25:00.009+05:30

Theme: Learn Doing Yoga Excersices, How to do the different postures of Yoga, Doing Various Yoga Asanas.

Forward Bending Posture.

The very purpose of doing Yoga Posture is to create energy in our body. After creating new energy, there comes the question of balancing that energy. The regular practitioner of Yogasana would think that in what sequesce these postures are to be done.

Here the important concept is how to maintain the balance of the energy created. In every asana or posture, there is a visible process in which our spine and the body moves either in one or another direction, either in forward or backward direction. If one part twists right, eventually one needs to twist left. Again, a process of maintaining balanced energy and space throughout is vital. There are some asanas, which contains countering effects, balancing the floel of energy.

Look at the following example: Shoulder Stand Pose, the Sarvangasana, is followed by Fish Pose, the Matyasana. It counterbalances the effects of the first posture. We can see many examples of asanas, which are to be followed by other counterbalancing asanas. For the detail, we have to ask the trainer.

There are some defined set of postures. These sets are like a garland of a flower, coming one after another. There were several ancients schools, too, who had devised these Yoga Postures in their counterbalancing sequence. Some postures are targeted to benefit certain parts of our body, like the muscles, the joints, and the deposited fat. So all the postures in that series would be providing more and more exercises to a particular limb for a period. And thereafter there would come the counterbalancing postures.

It is advisable to ask the trainer or an experienced person to know about the sequence of the postures. It depends, and varies too, on the type of asanas a person practices. (Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons )

How To Do Lion Pose, Simhasana

2009-11-27T09:50:00.004+05:30

Theme: How to Do Yogasanas. Yoga Postures for Health and Fitness. Lion Pose, the Simhasana

Simhasana 2, originally uploaded by tadasimha.

Meaning of the Sanskrit word ‘Simha’ is "Lion". When we are in this Yoga Posture, the shape of our body looks like a lion. Thus this asana is known as ‘Lion Pose’. This asana is one of the easy postures. Those who are beginners, they can do this pose without much assistance from their teachers. Other more complicated postures would require presence and active guidance of a trained teacher.

Lion pose is different than other poses of yoga. This is the pose that benefits our vital limbs like face, jaw, mouth, throat and tongue. There are perhaps no other similar poses which would provide exercises to these parts of our body.

How to Do Lion Pose

Step-by-Step

Settle yourself in kneeling position on your yoga mat. You can sit in the posture called Thunderbolt. That would be the most comfortable position. Put the front of your right ankle over the back of the left. The feet should be pointing out to the sides. The perineum should be positioned in snuggling down onto the top your right heel.

Before starting the lion pose, you are to exhale. Then put both the hands stretched on the floor. Keep the fingers of the hands wide open. You can also keep the fingers in a manner so as they look like the claws of a big bird.

Now inhale deeply. Ensure that the inhaling should be done by nose only, and not by mouth.

Open your mouth wide and stretch the tongue out as if you intend to touch your chin by the tongue. Keep the tip of the tongue down toward the chin. Both the eyes should be kept in widely open position.

Then exhale slowly with uttering the sound “Ha”. Repeating of the same word would provide ample exercise to your throat muscles. You can repeat this pose as many times you wish.

After doing this posture, you can come again to kneeling position.

Benefits of Doing Lion Pose

This posture provides adequate exercise to the muscles of face, throat and eyes.

While doing this asana, we would find that our respiration becomes regularized. Due to the regularized respiration, one would get improvement in certain ailments, especially if he or she is suffering from any trouble in throat.

Regular practice of Lion Pose would help to improve the memory power. You mind would function with renewed flow of energy.

As the pose indicates it would provide adequate exercises to the muscles of chest and abdomen, the practitioner would be benefited in this respect, too.

YOGA: Awakening Of Kundalini, the Female Snake and Chakras

2009-10-28T11:19:00.024+05:30

It is believed that the latent power of human body is in the form of a coil. This coil has one end in the base of our body at the bottom below the genital organ. Another end is in head. The vital energy running through this coil is known as Kundalini. The great thinkers are divided about the very characteristics of the Kundalini. Some says that it is psycho energy. Others claim that it is spiritual. We may take it as psycho-spiritual power.

Rising Kundalini

Kundalini Yoga: Referred as the ‘Yoga of Awareness’ tries to establish proper communication between our mind and body. It takes the help of Meditation techniques and moderation of breathing, Pranayama. A system involving yoga postures and meditation was devised by Patanjali. He taught his followers the set of rules which help in awakening of the spiritual energy.

Kundalini, a Female Snake: It is believed that the Kundalini can be awakened. The idle energy can be activated. In ancient India, followers of yoga system have devised certain techniques through with it can be awakened. Being one type of yoga, the set of these exercises of Kundalini Yoga seems similar to other yoga exercises. But it is not merely a physical exercise. If we go by some other definitions of Kundalini, we would know that the starting point of the coil known as female snake is at the end of our spinal cord. This energy is resting or is inactive. We can awaken this energy by spiritual practices and yoga.

Chakras: When it starts rising, the disciple would feel the flow of energy going upward. Ultimate station of Kundalini is believed to be the head. While awakening in stages, this energy stops at certain points. These points are named as Chakras. These Chakras are like the junctions where the fast train of rising Kundalini would rest. Activation of seven successive Chakras would make a yogi wiser and more settled in self. It is the purest form of spiritual journey.

Awakening of Kundalini: The awakening of this latent energy would make us experiencing the infiniteness of universe. It is true that the concept of Kundalini and subsequent yoga techniques to awaken it have been invented and devised by those yogis who followed Hindu religion. But the concept of Kundalini has nothing to do with any religion or sect. It is a pure science of knowing about the flow of energy. While learning about it, a disciple comes to know about many secrets of human body.

New Age Concept about Kundalini: With growing awareness about importance of Kundalini, the western psychologists and thinkers have started taking interest in the subject. They believe that Kundalini Yoga or any other endeavour to experience the presence of Kundalini is an effort to build a bridge of communication between our physical body and the subtle body. (Images courtesy Photobucket ,and By Русский: Белик Мария Александровна English: Belik Maria Aleksandrovna [CC-BY-SA-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons)

ASHTANGA YOGA: Various Schools Teaching Yoga

2009-10-23T23:55:00.013+05:30

Theme: How to learn Yoga Postures, Lessons in Yoga Asanas, Leann Yoga Easily, Various Schools of Yoga Teaching

Yoga postures are various positions of our body. But these postures or Asanas are not only the position given to body.

Sun Salutation Pose (Suryanamaskar)

In addition of providing good exercise to our body, yoga postures provide us with opportunities to create or it is an attempt synthesizing our mind and body. It is just like a fusion of human mind and physical strength.

Yoga: The regular practice of doing the yoga postures could render us with more awareness towards the exact relationship between our mind and body. After ding this exercises for a period, one might start feeling that his or her body moves with balance and grace, her or his mind functions with mental and physical balance. Thus the yoga asanas are not merely a collection of exercises or the sets of physical activities, but it is the system that is developed and time to time refined over the ages.

Yoga Schools: There are certain schools of teaching yoga and yoga asana. These schools are not the water tight compartments teaching different yoga postures, but they use different techniques, and their goal is common. These schools are not different from each other in many respects, and they are or have been recognised as part of one another in different times, too.

If ware to look at a few yoga schools teaching the yoga in the various ways, the first we would remember would be Ashtanga Yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga: This system of yoga asanas is devised by Patanjali. It is believed to be as old as 5000 years. Perhaps the most beneficial of all other yoga system, ashtanga yoga comprises eight fold path for those who want to practice it. These eight aspects through which a yogi, a desirous person to walk on the path of yoga, travels is like this: Yama , Niyama, Asana, (yoga postures), Pranayama (breathing technique), Prayahara (withdrawal of senses), Dharana, Dhyan (meditation), and Samadhi (salvation). (Image courtesy By Joseph RENGER [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0], from Wikimedia Commons)