Yoga... The Surest Way of Complete Health

The Importance of Yoga Poses:

Yoga poses have been developed over centuries of research and experience. They have been found to be extremely effective in:

Increasing flexibility of the body and freeing all the energy blocks. Besides increasing flexibility, this leads to a healthier body.

Helping to lose excess flab and weight - another cause of ill health.

Massaging the internal organs of the body and the rarely stimulated parts such as the thyroid gland.

Helping to treat several health disorders - from common ones such as backaches and arthritis to 'seemingly' unrelated disorders such as stammering.

It is recommended to include some form of yoga positions and preferably a yoga routine in your life.


What is the right yoga routine for me?

Yoga routines will vary depending on the purpose for which you seek to do yoga - it may be for better fitness or for specific ailments.

To know what poses are best for you, please feel free to consult our yoga expert - it's absolutely free and will give you a clearer direction.

A wonderful way to learn maximum yoga poses and to customize according to your need and capability is the yGuide Yoga Poses Software. It overcomes much of the drawbacks of yoga videos and helps you learn yoga poses correctly and progressively. With a library of hundreds of poses, you may like to read more on this powerful software by Going here.

Meditation, Pranayama (Breathing), Relaxation and Cleansing:

These are very important aspects of yoga, yet the most ignored. A complete yoga session should include these aspects which results in HUGE benefits in terms of:

Correcting metabolic disorders.

Overcoming stress and mind behaviors that seem beyond your control.

Changing firmly entrenched attitudes or personality disorders.


Integral Yoga

Integral yoga is a very important school of yoga that ensures all round personality and health development by concentrating on yoga positions, meditation, Pranayama techniques and body cleansing methods.

All About Yoga - PRANAYAMA - BREATHING CONTROL IN YOGA

'Pranayama' is the fourth stage in Pathanjali's eight stage Yoga discipline. Two Sanskrit words are combined in the word 'Pranayama' - Prana and Ayama. 'Prana' means life or life force. 'Ayama' means development or control. Therefore Pranayama is the development and control of life force. It is a form of breathing exercise, very important in yoga. It goes along with the asanas or exercise.

Breath is the life force that sustains life. Nobody can survive more than a few minutes without air. When the breath stops, life ends. The Forefathers of Yoga developed a special system- 'Pranayama' to increase, develop and control this life force. Normal breathing use only a fraction of our potential respiratory capacity. Pranayama helps to control this life force in a superior and extra ordinary way to reap maximum benefits.

There are various types of Pranayama. Some of the popular forms are Ujjayee, Shitali, Viloma, Kapalabhati, Anuloma, Suryabhedana, Bhastrika etc. There are variations in performing different Pranayamas. Some of them can be done in a sitting position while others in a standing line or sitting position. Some of the Pranayama are difficult and complicated to perform while others are easy.

Pranayama can be mastered only gradually. It may take months or even years before the practitioner mind becomes receptive to the regulated flow of breath and he experiences the full benefits of pranayama. Proper practice of pranayama can control almost any disease but improper practice may give rise to all sorts of respiratory ailments. So one should take care to acquire control over his breath gradually.

All about Yoga - Asana (Exercises)

'Asanas' in Sanskrit means posture. There are around 84 asanas - each one has a special name, special form and a distinct way of performing. Asanas are designed to promote, a state of mental and physical well-being or good health. This may be defined as the condition that is experienced when all the organs function effectively under the intelligent control of the mind. Asanas have an extraordinary capacity to overhaul, rejuvenate and bring the entire system into a state of balance.

LIST OF ASANAS
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Surya Namaskar :
Surya Namaskar means greeting or bowing the sun. Usually all sessions of Yoga asanas begin with the 'Surya Namaskar' or sun salutation. It nourishes and energizes the upper part of the body.

Utthan Pada Asana (Leg Lifting Posture) :
'Utthan' means to raise up and 'Pada' means legs. In this posture the legs are lifted upwards. It strengthens the spinal code and removes disorders of the back.

Paschimothan Asana (The Forward Bend) :
Paschimothan Asana also known as touching toes posture, means stretching the back. It brings flexibility and corrects disorders of the spine.

Bhujanga Asana (The Cobra) :
'Bhujanga' means serpent or snake. This asana is named after the king of the snakes, Cobra. It provides a youthful appearance and for women, makes child birth easy.

Salabha Asana (The Locust) :

'Salabha' or locust is a type of grass hopper. It is a reverse of cobra posture. It is strenuous and can be practiced in parts at the initial stage. It favourably activates all the organs of the lower part of the body.

Sarvanga Asana (The shoulder Stand) :
'Sarva' means all and 'Anga' means body, so Sarvanga is the posture of the whole body. As the whole body weight in this posture rests on the shoulders, it is also called 'Shoulder Stand Posture'. It is a purifying, nourishing and energizing asana beneficial to the whole body.

Matsya Asana (The Fish Posture) :
Matsya Asana is so called because in its perfect posture, one is supposed to float like a fish in water. It is beneficial to perform this asana after Sarvanga Asana. It has corrective effects for the neck and shoulder troubles.

Dhanur Asana (The Bow Posture) :
The body form in this asana resembles a bow or 'dhanur'. It is one of the best asana for activating and strengthening the joints of the body. It has some special benefits for women.

Hala Asana (Plough Posture) :
The plow or Hala Asana is an extreme forward bending exercise. It has some excellent benefits and occupies a very prominent place in asanas. It is a unique asana for gaining sexual powers.

Shava Asana (Relaxation Posture) :
'Shava Asana' means posture of a dead body. Also known as 'Yoga Nidra' which means yogic method of sleep. It is an asana which claims to provide a satisfactory relaxation of both the body and the mind.

All about Yoga - Essentials of Practice

Yoga is a Scientific System of physical and mental excellence which requires obedience to certain rules, principle and methodology in order to acquire satisfactory results. If these rules and principles are not followed it may cause reverse results, i.e. harm and injury to the body.

There is no specific time for doing yoga. In the point of view of convenience, morning is always better as you will be free for the rest of the day.
Whatever time you have chosen, stick to the same time of practice every day.
Practice yoga regularly and continuously. Irregular practice will not bring good results.
Practice only once within twenty four hours.
Practice at least 15 minutes a day , for 5 days a week. 15 minutes can be gradually increased to a maximum of 1 hour.
The place of yoga practice should be neat, clean and airy.
Try to practice at the same place regularly.
Practice alone, if possible.
Yoga should be practiced on an empty stomach.
If you have taken food, wait for two or more hours before practicing.
Practitioner must avoid hot food or excessive spices and try to eat a balanced diet.
Relax in between asanas for 6 to 8 seconds. Take 2 or 3 normal breaths between asanas.
Rest at the end of the asana session. The general principle is to rest 1/4th of the time of actual practice. For example if you practice asanas for 30 minutes, your rest time is 71/2 minutes.
Your body should be neat and clean nor it should be tired or under any excessive physical pain.
Wear clean and light cloth while practicing.
Avoid excessive intake of coffee, tea, alcohol and drugs.
Try to keep the mind free from anxiety, worries and any strenuous involvement while you are practicing.
Women should not practice yoga during their menstrual periods. Pregnant women should take care to practice moderately.

All About Yoga - Introduction

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

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