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Showing posts with label Sanskrit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sanskrit. Show all posts

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Yoga: Instant 10-minute Yoga - New Form of Yoga

Yoga began in India 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit language and means, to join or integrate, or simply union. Yoga started, as far as we know, as part of India's philosophical system, but not everyone practiced yoga, and it has never been a religion.

Yoga began in India 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit language and means, to join or integrate, or simply union. Yoga started, as far as we know, as part of India's philosophical system, but not everyone practiced yoga, and it has never been a religion.

About 5 million people in the United States do some yoga. Dance and stretching exercise classes usually have parts and pieces that come directly from yoga. If you ever go to a physical therapist, he or she may give you therapeutic exercises that are yoga postures.

There are several types of yoga. The yoga you may have seen on TV or taught at your local Y or an adult education class is called hatha yoga, or physical yoga. Sometimes it's known as the yoga for health. You may also find yoga being taught in a hospital or medical setting. Many health professionals today feel yoga can be part of a treatment plan.

Hatha yoga has three parts: a series of exercises or movements called asana (poses or postures in English), breathing techniques of all kinds, and relaxation.

Do you drag yourself out of bed on Monday mornings, exhausted before you've even begun the week. Or maybe you can't enjoy your evenings, because work drains you of every ounce of energy.

Don't worry, you can boost your energy levels and balance your body with a new form of yoga - dynamic yoga.

Its simplicity and almost instantaneous benefits have made it one of the most fashionable alternative exercises of the new Millennium. Normally known for its relaxation benefits, dynamic yoga can boost your energy levels in just 10 minutes.

It includes some of the most basic yoga postures. You can try each of them individually, or in succession, but none of them should be rushed. However, you should feel the benefits after just ten minutes.

The deep stretches and graceful movements help to unblock energy, improve muscle tone and increase your general stamina. When practised regularly, say enthusiasts, you will experience improved energy levels, greater sexual vitality and better self-discipline. In the long-term, the breathing and body exercises will help detoxify your mind of tension and strain, creating calm and an inner peace.



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Saturday, September 27, 2008

What can Yoga do for you?

Author: Andrew
Yoga originated from India about 4000 years ago. It has been continually practised but it is only in the present century that its use and practise has become more widespread. Yoga has an effect on the whole person and combines the mental, physical and spiritual sides. The word 'yoga' originates from a Sanskrit word that means 'yoke' or 'union' and thus reflects on the practises of yoga being total in effect. For many hundreds of years in India, only a select few, such as philosophers and like-minded people with their disciples followed the way of life that yoga dictated. The leaders were known as 'yogis' and it was they who taught their followers by passing on their accumulated knowledge. These small groups of people dwelt in caves or woods, or sometimes a yogi would live like a hermit. Yoga has had quite far reaching effects over many hundreds of years in India.

The basics of yoga were defined by a yogi called Patanjali who lived about 300BC. He was a very well respected teacher and commanded great influence at that time and his classification is one that is used now. He established the fact of yoga being separated into eight different parts. The first two concern a person's lifestyle, which should be serene with the days spent in contemplation, study, maintaining cleanliness and living very simply and at peace with others. Anything that involves avarice or greed or is harmful to others has to be avoided. The third and fourth parts are concerned with physical matters and list a number of exercises that are designed to promote peace and infuse energy into both the mind and the body. The remaining four sections are concerned with the advancement of a person's soul or spirit and mental faculties by being able to isolate himself or herself from outside worries and normal life, contemplation and broadening mental faculties with the ultimate knowledge known as somadhi. Mentally, this is a complete change that gives final realisation of existence. Much more recently, yoga became available in India to everyone, in complete contrast to centuries ago.

Nowadays, the practice of yoga is not restricted to India alone, with millions of people worldwide being followers. There are five different types of yoga: raja, jnana, karma, bakti and hatha. It is this last system that is known in the west and it involves the use of exercises and positions. The other methods concentrate on matters, such as control over the mind, appreciation and intelligence or a morally correct way of life. These other methods are regarded as being of equal importance by the person completely committed to yoga as a way of life. Many people have little or no spiritual feeling. However, the basic belief in yoga is the importance of mental attitudes in establishing the physical from exercise.

In yoga it is believed that the body's essence of life (prana), is contained in the breath. Through a change in the way of breathing there can be a beneficial effect on the general health. If a person is in a heightened, emotional condition, or similar state, this will have an effect on the breathing. Therefore, if the breathing is controlled or altered, this should promote joint feelings of peace or calm, both mentally and emotionally. There is a variety of exercises and each promotes different types of breathing, such as the rib cage, shoulder and diaphragm. Some of the movements and stances in use were originally devised from the observations of animals, since they appeared to be adept at relaxation and moved with minimum effort. These stances which are maintained for one two minutes, aim to increase freedom of movement and make the person aware of the various parts of the body and any stress that may be present. It is not intended that they be physically tiring or that the person should 'show off' in front of others. The aim is to concentrate on self knowledge.

It is recommended to follow some simple rules when practising yoga. First use a fully qualified therapist and practise daily if at all possible. It is always best that yoga is undertaken before mealtimes but if this is not possible then three hours must elapse after a large meal or one hour after a light meal. Comfortable clothes are essential and a folded blanket or thick rug should be placed on the ground as the base. Before commencing yoga have a bath or shower and repeat this afterwards to gain the maximum benefit. It is not advisable to do yoga if either the bowels or bladder are full. Should the person have been outside on a hot or sunny day it is not recommended that yoga is practised straight afterwards, as feelings of sickness or dizziness may occur.

Yoga is believed to be of benefit to anyone, providing that they possess determination and patience. If a person has certain physical limitations then these must be taken into account with regard to their expectation but there is no age barrier. If you suffer from stress or disorder in your lives, teachers believe that you are in greater need of harmony and peace. Yoga was used in the main to encourage health in the physical and mental states and thereby act as a preventative therapy. Tension or stress was one of the main disorders for which it was used but nowadays it has been used for differing disorders hypertension, bronchitis, back pain, headaches, asthma, heart disorders, premenstrual tension and an acid stomach. Trials have also been conducted to assess its potential in treating some illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and depression experienced after childbirth. Since the effects of tension are often shown by the tightening and contraction of muscles, the stretching exercises that are performed in yoga are able to release it. Also, being aware of each muscle as it is stretched encourages the person to mentally lose any stress or problems with which they have been beset. Suppleness is developed by the exercises through the use of the bending and twisting actions. This will help to maintain healthy joints, particularly for those people who lead inactive lives.

There should be no strain felt and after practise some or all of them can be done in order. As mentioned previously, it is best to check with a qualified therapist if the person is an expectant mother, suffers from hypertension, is overweight or is having their monthly period.

I have already mentioned that yoga has been used to treat some illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis and if a person has such a severe disorder, then a highly skilled and experienced therapist is essential. Since this form of yoga, known as therapeutic yoga, is new there is a limited number of suitably experienced therapists available. For those who wish to use yoga to maintain mental and physical health, joining a class with an instructor is perhaps the best way to proceed, so the exercises are performed correctly and any lapses in concentration can be corrected. These classes last usually in the region of an hour and are separated into sessions for beginners and those who are more proficient. Proficiency and progress are achieved by frequent practice, which can be done at home between lessons.

The majority of doctors regard yoga as a type of exercise that is beneficial, although some do recommend patients to refer to yoga practitioners. However, if a specific disorder is to be treated, it is very important that the ailment should first be seen by a doctor.


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Andrew Tomkinson is an experienced writer of articles on health related subjects. He also recommends many fitness, health and nutrition products and services to improve your lifestyle and well being. Do you want to be healthier, have a better quality of life and take full advantage of the opportunities open to you? GO HERE-
http://www.fitnesshealthnutrition.org
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_650612_23.html

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Yoga, Union with the Ultimate

Author: Govind Kumar
Absolute Being, Absolut Knowledge, Absolute Bliss ( Sat, Chit, Ananda), the
eternal triad which is the Universe and we are, is the substratum of the
entire Universe. This is the great secret which we must discover in our long
evolutionary journey.

Now enhance your Being, Knowledge,Bliss, which are from time immemorial
is considered as Wisdom's frame of reference.

Through adding to your Sat (existence), developing your Chit (subsistence)
and enjoying Ananda you will witness a spiritual evolution or realization in
your mind. With practising yoga, one sees the Absolute Self everywhere
through his eyes of wisdom. He will become absolutely impersonal. He will
not have a bit of selfishness in him. His Id will be completely annihilated.
And in times he will attain the Eternal Bliss of the Self

The word "Yoga" itself is derived from a Sanskrit word "Yuj", which means to
unite. Union with Cosmic Intelligence is the Yogic objective.

What we sow, we reap and this Universal Law is known as the Law of Karma,
the Grand Law of Causation. We have to understand that the miseries of life
and the Negativity which we experience are all the inevitable clearing
process of exhausting our Karma. We have to understand that despite our
sufferings, mistakes and ignorance, the Divine Will is leading us, through
every circumstance, towards the final Realization. This faith will give us
equanimity.

Even in rags, I am a god
Fallen, I am divine
High I triumph when down trod
Live will I when slain !

It is natural that our faith may be assailed by some misfortunes which
happen to us. We have to understand that Initiation is a process of
intensive culture and accelerated evolution and the bad experiences which
happen to us are merely wages.

What can all these trials and tribulations do to the Godhead within us, the
Almighty Self, He who transcends Space, Time & Causality? Him the jail
cannot confine nor the gallows end !

Let us follow the Four fold path of Yoga. They are.

Jnana Yoga Union via Wisdom The method by which the intellect is used to
negate the bondage of material world.

Raja Yoga Union via Psychic Control The psychological approach focusing on
concentration and meditation.

Karma Yoga Union via Action This is the path of eliminating the ego and
attachments through selfless service.

Bhakthi Yoga Union via Love A way of union through conversion of the
emotions to devotion.
Human mind has immaculate powers. And it differs from person to person.
People can awake the hidden psychic and occult powers in them by
understanding and realizing the power of their mind. The four-fold path of
Yoga offers some unique ways to emancipate oneself from the material world
using the divine intelligence.

The Intellectual Man can go for Jnana Yoga or Union via Wisdom

The Active Man can pursue Karma Yoga or the Union via Action

The Adventurous man can followe Raja Yoga or Union via Psychic Control

The Emotional Man can look for Bhakthi Yoga or the Union of Emotions

Practising any one of the four powerful and vigorous Yoga paths will take
you beyond the five concentric sheaths to the Absolute Self, which is the
cosmic power in individual bodies

While Raja and Jnana Yogas are more or less for the initiated, Bhakti &
Karma Yogas are for the ordinary man. You can understand the basic
principles of Yoga by reading some books on the science. An good beginner's
book dealing with Self Development is Dr Ashok Selvaraja's 7 Golden Secrets
to know your Higher Self. The characteristics of both the lower and the
higher selves are highlighted and Cosmic Union becomes easy.

Article by G Kumar, Astrologer, writer & programmer of
www.eastrovedica.com. He has 25 years psychic research
experience in the esoteric arts. His Yoga blog is up at
http://fourfoldyoga.blogspot.com & his lens is up at
http://www.squidoo.com/FourfoldYoga

This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_467914_51.html
Occupation: astrol scholar, writer and programmer
astrologer, writer & programmer of www.eastrovedica.com, a site which has received more than 386 K hits and ceo of www.articlewisdom.com, which has more than 15000 quality articles. Author of 22 blogs, the main blog being http://zodiacastrology.blogspot.com