What Is Yoga ? Did you know it ?

Did you know? :" what is Yoga ? "
Most of us are accustomed to looking outside of ourselves for fulfillment. We are living in a world that conditions us to believe that outer attainments can give us what we want. Yet again and again our experiences show us that nothing external can completely fulfill the deep longing within for "something more." Most of the time, however, we find ourselves striving toward that which always seems to lie just beyond our reach. We are caught up in doing rather than being, in action rather than awareness. It is hard for us to picture a state of complete calmness and repose in which thoughts and feelings cease to dance in perpetual motion. Yet it is through such a state of quietude that we can touch a level of joy and understanding impossible to achieve otherwise.

It is said in the Bible: "Be still and know that I am God." In these few words lies the key to the science of Yoga. This ancient spiritual science offers a direct means of stilling the natural turbulence of thoughts and restlessness of body that prevent us from knowing what we really are.

Ordinarily our awareness and energies are directed outward, to the things of this world, which we perceive through the limited instruments of our five senses. Because human reason has to rely upon the partial and often deceptive data supplied by the physical senses, we must learn to tap deeper and more subtle levels of awareness if we would solve the enigmas of life — Who am I? Why am I here? How do I realize Truth?

Yoga is a simple process of reversing the ordinary outward flow of energy and consciousness so that the mind becomes a dynamic center of direct perception no longer dependent upon the fallible senses but capable of actually experiencing Truth.

By practicing the step-by-step methods of Yoga taking nothing for granted on emotional grounds or through blind faith we come to know our oneness with the Infinite Intelligence, Power, and Joy which gives life to all and which is the essence of our own Self.

In past centuries many of the higher techniques of Yoga were little understood or practiced, owing to mankind's limited knowledge of the forces that run the universe. But today scientific investigation is rapidly changing the way we view ourselves and the world. The traditional materialistic conception of life has vanished with the discovery that matter and energy are essentially one: every existing substance can be reduced to a pattern or form of energy, which interacts and interconnects with other forms. Some of today's most celebrated physicists go a step further, identifying consciousness as the fundamental ground of all being. Thus modern science is confirming the ancient principles of Yoga, which proclaim that unity pervades the universe.

The word yoga itself means "union": of the individual consciousness or soul with the Universal Consciousness or Spirit. Though many people think of yoga only as physical exercises — the asanas or postures that have gained widespread popularity in recent decades — these are actually only the most superficial aspect of this profound science of unfolding the infinite potentials of the human mind and soul.

There are various paths of Yoga that lead toward this goal, each one a specialized branch of one comprehensive system:

Hatha Yoga — a system of physical postures, or asanas, whose higher purpose is to purify the body, giving one awareness and control over its internal states and rendering it fit for meditation.

Karma Yoga — selfless service to others as part of one's larger Self, without attachment to the results; and the performance of all actions with the consciousness of God as the Doer.

Mantra Yoga — centering the consciousness within through japa, or the repetition of certain universal root-word sounds representing a particular aspect of Spirit.

Bhakti Yoga — all-surrendering devotion through which one strives to see and love the divinity in every creature and in everything, thus maintaining an unceasing worship.

Jnana (Gyana) Yoga — the path of wisdom, which emphasizes the application of discriminative intelligence to achieve spiritual liberation.

Raja Yoga — the royal or highest path of Yoga, immortalized by Bhagavan Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita and formally systematized in the second century B.C. by the Indian sage Patanjali, which combines the essence of all the other paths.

At the heart of the Raja Yoga system, balancing and unifying these various approaches, is the practice of definite, scientific methods of meditation that enable one to perceive, from the very beginning of one's efforts, glimpses of the ultimate goal — conscious union with the inexhaustibly blissful Spirit.

The quickest and most effective approach to the goal of Yoga employs those methods of meditation that deal directly with energy and consciousness. It is this direct approach that characterizes Kriya Yoga, the particular form of Raja Yoga meditation taught by Paramahansa Yogananda.

                                                                                                                       source:yogananda-srf.org


Next: Diabetes? Yoga to the Rescue

Top 5 yoga asanas to beat diabetes

Top 5 Yoga asanas for Diabetes. Yoga for diabetes 

Yoga diabetes

Diabetes is a condition where a person has higher amounts of sugar in one’s blood leading to its passing through his/her urine. This is known to be caused due to a malfunctioning of the pancreas. Yoga, a practice widely known to help one stay healthy, can help with diabetes as well. Yoga practitioners say that treating diabetes with yoga involves two main factions. The first one being controlling one’s food while the other is the regular practice of yoga asanas. Here are a few details about the treatment of diabetes with yoga.

Diet:

In his book, ‘Yogic cure for common diseases’, Dr Phulgenda Sinha says that a proper diet is absolutely essential for a person with diabetics. He says that they should avoid fried, fatty, spicy, starchy and sugar-containing foods while they are practicing the yoga asanas. Eating on time and the right kinds of food is essential to the successful cure eating right.

Yoga asanas:

Since diabetes is a condition that is caused due to the malfunctioning of the pancreas, yoga asanas to help diabetics are aimed at helping the organ function optimally. The asanas also aim at increasing blood circulation (considering the fact that diabetes is a vascular diseases) and improve the functioning of the entire endocrine system.

Surya namaskar:

Made popular by none-other-than Kareena Kapoor, this set of 12 yoga asanas has a number of benefits for the body. It not only gently activates the entire endocrine system but it also helps the pancreas work properly. Surya Namaskar also helps strengthen the spine, hips, lungs and chest while increasing circulation of blood throughout the body. It invigorates the facial tissues, and stimulates the nervous system to work properly.

Ardhavakra asana:

This asana is aimed at making the organs of the abdomen and stomach function properly. It activates the adrenal glands, ovaries, pancreas and testicles. Ardhavakrasana also helps relieve constipation, backaches, stiffness around the neck and other spinal disorders.

Matsyendra asana:

Also known as the fish pose, this asana is great for your pancreas, thyroid gland, andrenal glands and testicles. The fish pose also tones the muscles of the abdomen and relieves disorders of the kidneys, intestines, bladder and pelvic region. A great asana for people with diabetes this asana does take a little practice but gets better with practice. Read more on how to do this asana.

Suptavajra asana:

This asana is an extension of vajrasana or the diamond pose. The sputa vajrasana as the name suggests is when you lie down while doing vajrasana. A little complex to do, this pose is great for diabetics. Suptavajrasana helps stimulate the cells of the pancreas and increases blood supply to the organ. This asana also helps resolve illnesses of the stomach, intestines, kidneys and spleen. It also relieves constipation and gas within the stomach. Read more about how to do this asana.

Dhanur asana

Also known as the bow pose, this asana is well known for its ability to increase sexual virility, stimulates the functioning of abdominal organs and strengthens the spine, hips and buttocks.

Yoga burn for weight loss

6 yoga exercises for weight loss - Yoga for weight loss easy

You will learn :" 6 yoga exercises for weight loss " Just Do It . Weight loss is easy

Yoga is an ancient form of exercise and way of living that focuses on your mind, body and soul. It's a holistic practice for all ages. The word 'Yoga' has been derived from the Sanskrit word 'Yug' which refers to the union of our individual consciousness and the universal consciousness.  

"Yoga is not a religion. It is a science, science of well-being, science of youthfulness, science of integrating body, mind and soul", says Amit Ray, Yoga and Vipassana: An Integrated Life Style. Yoga is not a recent phenomenon. It is an ancient Indian practice which is associated not just with the physical well-being of the body but with the overall health of a human being. I see yoga as a holistic package, which unlike other physical activities aims at cleansing and rejuvenating the human body from outside as well as within. If one adopts the practice as a part of everyday routine, one can actually feel the difference - mentally, physically as well spiritually. And as an added bonus, it can bring about weight loss too.

With the growing trend of people getting more cautious of their expanding waistlines and increased instances of metabolic disorders - cancer, diabetes and others - there has been a sudden upsurge in people prioritising their health and resorting to tailor-made diet plans and fitness regimes.

For the longest time in my life, I was of the opinion that yoga involves a set of exercises where holding certain postures for a few seconds was the main objective. I used to think of it as a regime meant for those who were already fit but were keen on building their flexibility. I could somehow never relate it to being an effective tool for weight loss as compared to the high intensive workout sessions in the gyms. It took me quite some time to understand the mechanism of different asanas and their efficacy but I must tell you, the understanding of it was enlightening, affirmative and oh, so gratifying!

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Yoga for Weight Loss

To understand the importance of yoga and its relationship with human body, I got in touch with a well renowned yoga practitioner as well as fitness expert, Seema Sondhi. On being asked how yoga helps in losing weight, she proposed to start from the very basics of the practice.

According to her, before we target weight loss, it is important to understand the various factors that contribute in weight gain. Apart from faulty dietary habits, one should identify that weight gain also stems from inefficient functioning of various bodily functions. Yoga has some of the most basic breathing practices at its base which aims at cleansing, balancing and rejuvenating our inner organs and their functions. Various breathing exercises and basic asanas help in increasing metabolic and heart rates. Once you are healed from within, the focus then shifts towards the outer body.

"I can't really pin-point any specific set of asanas for weight loss. Almost all of them aim at cleansing your inner mechanism, strengthening your core and stamina, increasing flexibility, and upping your metabolic rate," says Seema.'

She explains how yoga aims at making you fit by increasing flexibility. It involves twisting the body, forward and backward bends, inversions and other poses that help in opening up the otherwise rusted muscles and thereby facilitate weight loss.

Here are few simple yoga asanas to help you get started:

1. Surya Namaskar

One of the basic, most well-known and widely practiced asanas, surya namaskarliterally translates to sun salutation. It comprises a series of twelve different yoga poses that focus on various parts of body. What makes surya namaskar great for the entire body is the fact that it involves twelve different poses encompassed in one - for example, basic prayer pose, forward bend and the bhujangasana (cobra pose).

According to various experts surya namaskar is a great way to keep your body active as it helps in exercising all possible areas of your body. It helps in strengthening your skeletal system including ligaments and also aids in easing stress and anxiety.

2. The warrior pose or Veerabhadrasana

It involves going into the mountain pose, followed by stretching one of your legs back and with the other leg going into a lunge like position with your knee at a ninety degree positioning and your hands stretched right above your head. You can take this further to the veerabhadrasana II or warrior pose 2 wherein you bring your hands in front of the chest and straighten your stretched leg, pointing it outwards while your other leg is still at ninety degrees and your both arms are stretched out wide apart.

The warrior poses work on your legs, thighs, back and arms. It helps in improving blood circulation.

3. Triangular pose or Trikonasana

Start with a wide legged stance; turn your right foot out. Now stretch your arms out, wide open pushing the right side of your waistline over your right leg and slowly go down, facing downwards with a flat back. Keep your right palm on the ground (you can choose to keep it in front of your right foot or behind it) or on a block with your left arm stretched upwards. Repeat the other side.

This asana works on the sides of your body, arms and thighs.

4. Upward plank or Purvottanasana

This may seem a bit difficult to crack towards the start but the results that this asana yield will leave you much gratified. This works extensively on your back, shoulders, arms, spine, wrists and fortifies muscles. It is also great for the respiratory system. It is great for the core strength of the body as it works on your legs, inner thigh muscles as wells as hips.

Sit with your legs stretched in front of you. Put your hands behind your hips pointing towards your feet. Now, point your feet, prepare your body to rise up. Raise your body from the tailbone and try pulling your head back as well. It is the exact opposite of the position which you get in just before preparing for a conventional push up.

5. The boat pose: You lie down on your back and as the name suggests go in to a V shaped position resembling a boat. Try holding the position for 10 seconds to begin with and increase the bar with every passing day. You will feel your stomach muscles going for a toss but trust me, this will kill that stubborn belly fat.

6. The bridge pose: Lie down on your back with your hands stretched sideways now fold your knees, spread them out and raise your body up from your pelvis area. Take support from your hands and hold the position. This works wonders on your hips, thighs, stomachas well as back.

Physical exercise has always been held important for the overall well-being as well as to keep health related troubles at bay but it should always be kept in mind that any form of physical activity will remain futile and unproductive if not teamed with proper diet.

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