Yoga News Bytes

Seeking a qualified yoga instructor can be challenging - there are certain basic attributes for excellence if you want good results from the yoga practices you are learning.

This article explains the power of OM chanting and Mantras and why religious blocks and skepticism should not come in the way.

We strive for mental peace all the time. The more we strive for it, the more it seems elusive. Due to our living ways,

In Ayurveda, disease is treated by understanding Individual body types. What is medicine for one, may be poison for another. To put it in modern lingo, Ayurveda offers customized solutions to health disorders.

Understand the dynamics of Asthma, the medical perspective as well as the yoga approach in its management therapy.

Energy Locks help manipulate the energy flows in your body and overcome disturbances created by faulty energy flows. Read more on these Energy Locks called Bandhas in Yoga

The life force that runs through us can be manipulated by Yoga techniques of Pranayama, helping us lead a fuller and healthier life. Understand Pranayama benefits and techniques through this article

We hear of yogis living to a very old age. In his book Autobiography of a Yogi, Yogananda speaks of Trailanga Swami, who was reputed to be over 300 years old, and Shankari Mai Jiew, who was born in 1826, was still alive in 1946.

Before we delve into why one should be spiritual, we should understand what is meant by being spiritual.

Turiya is a state of mind which one achieves when he is rid of mental impressions and mental bondages of time and space.

After a couple of years or maybe even months of marriage, a man gets bored of his wife. He starts finding her incompatible, too demanding, too nagging or simply not as attractive.

what I have to say is not about any diet plan or exercise plan, but about how we feel; about what we think, and how that really makes what we are.

Our bodily functions are controlled by a complex play of various hormones, enzymes and chemicals. The production of these chemicals is done by the pituitary-pineal-hypothalamus gland complex in our brain. The brain acts after getting the signals from the mind.

We all are aware that we need to have a balanced diet - the right proportion of proteins , carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Having too much or too less of any of these nutrients will lead to an imbalanced body and disease. Similarly, our personality too needs to be fed the right balance of emotion, intellect and physical components.

Yoga has always held that one can make their bodies resistant to withstand the onslaught of multifarious disorders. The solution lies in prevention instead of the cure. When looked at this way, the answers are almost invariably the same. More importantly, they are quite simple. All it requires is a `prevention mindset' and a little discipline to adhere to it.

Limiting Yoga as Hindu religion is incorrect and shortsighted. Examine this in the right perspective through the following article.

To learn Indian classical music, no matter which music school or Gharana you go to, the way very first Raga you will be taught is 'Raga Bhupali' or Bhoopali because it is easy to teach for a teacher and easy to learn for a student. The same way, no matter which Yoga school you go to, the 1st pose is taught Talasan or "Tadasan" a Palm-tree pose.

In any social, cultural or spiritual functions, I'm introduced to others as a Yoga Teacher / Therapist, the first sentence in conversation starts from the opposite person with Oh! I also know yoga !

Now a days, Yoga is taken as a fitness, show off or a social status symbol of 'A Class society' Any celebrity says that he/she practices Yoga, and then it becomes a status symbol When a patient is advised by a family doctor or a specialist to practice Yoga.

In Yoga, it is said that `What you eat is what you are.' Meaning the food has a direct impact on human mind, personality and behavior. After all Yoga is basically a healthy life style for spiritual upliftment!

Education takes place when, the person is open to any new learning experience at any age, time and place with an open mind. The person who is open to learn Yoga, he has to go through all the stages and learn all the aspects.

Rest your body on the floor either in the Savasana (Corpse) or Sukhasana (Easy) pose. Close your eyes and begin to allow your mind to to quiet. See nothing and hear nothing. For a moment allow yourself to erase any thoughts or sounds that have been occupying your mind. Feel the peacefulness and tranquility in you and around you.

We often feel that we are on the path of Karma Yoga when, in fact, we are just being drawn in the opposite direction. Understand the popular myths surrounding this wonderful subject

With the sudden popularity, it is now more important for a user to be careful and discerning when choosing to buy a neti pot.

In yoga therapy there are many misconceptions. Most of the asana and Pranayam are classified as if they are for particular physical or mental problems.

Trataka is a wonderful practice for everyone and especially for the aspirant of meditation. It is actually classified as a cleansing practice in Yoga.

There are several reasons why you may like to hop onto the Yoga bandwagon. The reasons are many; the goal ultimately the same (with or without your conscious knowing).

Mantra involves the rhythmic invocation of a sound. This provides a foundation for the aspirant so that his practice is just not "in the air".

Physical Pain is perhaps the toughest thing to manage. When it strikes, it seems to tear us apart completely and nothing really helps us in overcoming it.

Pranic energy is actually part of the macro energy which remains dormant in the micro human being and conducts the day to day affairs.

To say that this issue was inspired by the thousands of the Health and Yoga family who have benefited amazingly from the detox technique of jalaneti, would truly be an understatement.

Yoga offers direct routes to emotional control through Pranayama or breath control. It is established clinically that alternate nostril breathing balances the Hemispheres of the brain and Autonomic Nervous System and other types of Yoga breathing.

We must understand life is very simple - because the breath of life, by which we live, is given by God. Our life is actually a testimony to the fact that somebody gives us life.

Although, yoga which has proved to be very effective in the treatment of many impossible and incurable diseases, the therapeutic effect of yoga is only a byproduct and incidental.

Several professionals have a very demanding routine in terms of night shifts. Due to the altered 'body clocks' they end up suffering from several health disorders.

Bandha Trayam consists of three important neuromuscular locks. These are Moola Bandha (anal lock), Uddiyana Bandha (fly-up, abdominal lock) and Jalandhara Bandha (chin lock). These are applied during different phases of Pranayama as well as during the Oli

Surya namaskara is a series of twelve physical postures. These alternating backward and forward bending postures flex and stretch the spinal column through their maximum range giving a profound stretch to the whole body.

All knowledge of universe and human being has been condensed in Vedas. The Vedas are the basic scriptures of Sanathana Dharma, the real name of the so-called Hindu religion.

According to the yogic point of view, the body is made up of 5 elements ether, air, fire, water, and earth. All these are associated with the 5 prana vayus. The five prana vayus are like the limbs of a man which comprise the one body.

Shatkarmas- the yoga cleansing processes of the body are six in number. According to Gherand Samhita , each of the practices has several further varieties.

What fitness program do I choose? Should I go in for the muscular look or the lean look? Is it necessary to diet while pursuing a fitness program? What fitness program will leave me feeling refreshed and revitalized? CONFUSED?

Understanding Deep Relaxation through Yoga nidra.

Mantras act upon our bodies by reprogramming the vibrations of the cells that have somehow gone askew. They restore the pattern of sounds at the heart of each and every cell, thus pushing the cells toward harmonious health.

The mind is given as a tool to you. Mind is not master. Mind was given to you to serve you. You develop all other facilities of the world- electric instruments, cars, air conditioners- but the biggest computer you have is your mind. You never developed it.

When one closes the eyes, body may not relax immediately. The body may relax for people with suitable temperaments, but majority may not be able to.

With the ever-increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases like cardio-vascular and nervous system disorders, the time has come for us to address this ourselves, fair and square WITHOUT external dependence.

Thought is the Master of us all - a good thought is a good master and a bad thought is a bad master.

Before going any further, it is necessary for one to understand some of the ancient scientific factors related to body, mind and soul.

Fifteen years ago, my esteemed Yoga teacher and mentor was questioned by a fellow student regarding the benefit of practicing Yoga. He half jokingly replied that Yoga is like "snake oil", it's good for whatever ails you.

The physical appearance of life is found to be in the breath of human being.The breath normally flows in either nostril at an interval of ninety minutes.

Yoga nidra has been experienced as "the" most powerful relaxation technique known to man. Yet, in yoga, it is used much more than that.

Excess weight gain has become a phenomenon in today's age, when lifestyles have become sedentary, and food more liberal with extra calories.

Neck aches and back aches seem to have become the norm for us urbanites. Due to our hectic schedules long hours of sitting in the office, wrong postures or simply stress can lead to chronic neck and back ache.

In yoga, States are classified into Tamasik, Rajasik and Sattvik. Accordingly, personalities are characterised by Tamas - meaning, sloth or inactivity Rajas - activity or Sattva - purity.

Quite disturbingly, the recent anthrax cases have caused a spurt in cases of depression, insomnia, and drug sales related to psychosomatic problems more than anything else.

For years, there has been a raging debate regarding holistic and alternative approaches to health and healing versus more conventional western, or allopathic approaches to medicine.

The ultimate aim of yoga is supreme, uninterrupted bliss (moksha). How do we achieve it? Whether it is through study (Jnana yoga), unconditional devotion (Bhakti yoga), yoga practices (Raja yoga) or then through Action (Karma yoga), applied either singly o

There are many causes for the wide range of nasal complaints from which people suffer these days. Some may be due to structural problems such as congenital abnormalities or structural injuries sustained in childhood or adulthood; some may be due to fleshy

Yoga has several parts- asana, pranayama and shatkarma. Asanas (postures) and Pranayama (breathing techniques) are quite popular and widely practiced but today only a few people practice Shatkarmas (Yoga cleansing practices).

Diabetes is a disease of disturbed carbohydrate metabolism. It may be caused by various factors like low pancreatic activity, hypothyroidism or lack of exercises, or excessive intake of carbohydrate etc.

When we are positive, we find that our interactions with the world and ourselves become brighter, more productive and perpetuate the "feel good" factor. This in turn makes us healthier and more peaceful.

The issues of longevity and quality of life as related to Yoga, seem to be important reasons why people start Yoga practices in the first instance.

There are various types of meditation that are being marketed in the western world by various Ashrams and their disciples, who have branched out on their own.

The word 'Yoga' reminds us of 'Yogasana' here is a very close relationship between Yoga and Yogasana. Really speaking, 'Yogasana' is a part of 'Yoga'.

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which is the authoritative treatise on yoga philosophy and practice, there are eight parts for realization. These are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

This saying, or metaphor, which is the title for this issue's article, is a saying coined by Yogi Bhajan, the Master of Kundalini Yoga.

There is no Liberation without Labor". This is one of many Yogi Bhajanisms that I share with my students. What is Labor?

The ancient scriptures would certainly seem to suggest so. The "Vedas", have referred to the earliest generation of humans as "sat-yug " or the generation where people lived up to a thousand years.

So you've missed a period, and had been wondering about it, when this nauseating feeling also starts troubling you. Then, the urine test comes out positive.

I have noticed an increasing number of my yoga students telling me that they have Fibromyalgia. I've researched the diagnosis and treatment of this disease in both the traditional and alternative worlds of medicine.

Sheetali Pranayama (also called Cooling Breath) has a calming and cooling effect upon the body and mind. It is especially useful in summer when several people experience restlessness due to heat.

When one sits in meditation, mind wanders here and there and never stays on one object. Consequently one cannot get the desired concentration.

The one thing that is constant is change. How much our world has changed in the last 100 years. This accelerated living most of us experience- fast cars, fast talking, cell phones, always on the move, always thinking, always doing- may be a reason that yog

Mental health disorders are on the rise throughout the world. This results in anxieties, fears, depression, inferiority and similar emotions. Therefore, learning the management of negative mental health is a must for all of us.

Our stomach is a factory to churn and burn food an efficient workhorse of an organ. In yoga, this corresponds to the Heat center or the Manipura chakra. In association with the Intestines etc., it comprises the digestive system that gives the nutrition one

We are becoming increasingly scientific and rational in our conscious thought. But we are unable to apply the same rationale to our subconscious and unconscious mind (i.e. 9/10th of our brain activity). This creates a conflict, resulting in negative emotio

With the "colds" season in full bloom and "allergy-time" on the horizon, I just had to tell you of a natural technique that thousands use to keep their colds, headaches and allergies far away.

Without doubt one needs to learn yoga from an experienced teacher. On the other hand, because some attempt to perform exercises guided only from a book.

It's great when we can escape to a full hour of yoga, be it in a class or at home in front of a video, but let's face it, that's not always possible. Enter Yoga in the Office, a series of simple but effective suggested positions to help stretch the wrists,

Last week, we concluded that ageing and disease were dictated by the mind. This time, we will explore the exact steps for attaining the correct thinking and thereby control ageing.

In this issue, I'm going to tell you of a power-breathing technique that is proven to help overcome blues, negativity, stress, depression - all, in a minute.

Yoga , is definitely good for the body ,mind and overall well being. But what yoga can do for teachers- the people of the noble profession of teaching is amazing. Today an increasing number of teachers over the world are turning to yoga.

We all understand that there's work and after some time, there's a need to get away from work.

To understand the cause of all mental conflicts and diseases, we must understand that the mind comprises a conscious part and a sub conscious part.

Modern science now believes that the cause of degeneration, decay and premature ageing lies in free radicals in the body. This overrules the earlier concept of germ theory.

I smile when people say: "I tried yoga, but didn't like it." This is like saying "I dated once, but he/she wasn't my type, so I stopped dating. I'm less amused when people say, "I stopped because I wasn't flexible enough." But worse yet is: "Yoga hurt, so

There's been a lot in the media lately about the many benefits derived from yoga. They're saying it helps reduce stress and even helps build flexibility, strength and endurance.

Recently, a fear psychosis has been gripping the world regarding a possible flu pandemic arising out of Avian Flu.

Many folks have felt as if they needed a jumpstart all winter, as is often the case. Winter makes us feel more in need of rejuvenation.

In this issue, I'm going to tell you about a SINGLE technique that has helped thousands get over their blues and stress.

As the year draws to an end, it is worth examining the meteoric rise of yoga as a major stress-reliever, fitness provider and as a tool for contentment.

In previous articles, I wrote that yoga, when appropriately practiced, can have a profound affect upon your body, emotions, and diet.

Because many of us were brought up believing in the saying "no pain, no gain," most of us, at some time or another, will experience a yoga injury.

Before we go deep in to the philosophical and technical aspects of meditation, let us delve into the practice of meditation for normal human beings.

A 1999 study of the American Cancer Society suggests that over one-third of the 563,100 cancer deaths were caused by nutrition. But more importantly, on the brighter side, it concluded that MOST of these could have been prevented.

Almost all of us experience anger at some point or the other. Rather than get into a monologue of why anger occurs, I will try to touch upon why we should overcome it and how it can be done.