We will now explain some pranayams of Maharishi Patanjali.

Patanjali kriya gets rid off all negative emotions and feelings and negative energies. It also strengthens the mind and the five 'prans' in our body (pran, apan, saman, vyan and udan). The five 'kosh' or bodies (annamay kosh, pranamay kosh, manomay kosh, vigyanmay kosh and anandmay kosh) within us are also purified with these pranayam.

Practise of these pranayam leads one to a thoughtless state (where one is without any thoughts) or the state of meditation.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Bahyavriti Pranayam

-       Abhyantarvriti Pranayam

-       Stambhvriti Pranayama

-       Bahya-abhyantar visyakshapy Pranayama

(See also: Pranayama , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Pranayama: Pranaymas of Maharishi Patanjali

There are eight kinds of prayanams in Hatha yoga . However before doing these eight pranayams we need to do Narishodhan pranayama..

The most crucial thing is to learn doing pranayam in its correct method. This pranayama is best done early in the morning on an empty stomach or in the evening, after at least 4 5 hours after lunch.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Narishodhan pranayama

(See also: Pranayama , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Pranayama: Narishodhan pranayama

"Spiritual fervour precedes spiritual quietitude!"

A seeker asked, "What action shall I perform to attain God?" "If you wish to attain God" came the response, "there are two things you must know. The first is all efforts to attain God are of no avail."

"And the second?" the seeker asked.

"The second is that you must act as if you do not know the first!"

(See also: Stages in Yoga , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Stages in Yoga: Yogic Pathways  

The first breath of life eventually leads to the last exhale at death, but for whatever span that lies between, breathing is an unassuming, if essential, part of living. It seemed odd to me that one would need lessons in how to breathe.

Yet people worldwide are turning to the intensive Art of Living course on lowering stress and finding renewed vigour and clarity through age-old Hindu breathing techniques.

(See also: Pranayama , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Pranayama: The Art of Breathing

"As you sow, so shall you reap" is an old and true saying. It points out the law of cause and effect which forms one of the fundamental laws of the Universe."

Karma Yoga is the path of detached action and selfless service. At this point, you may ask, how could action be detached if a goal or mission is to be accomplished!

Now, the secret of right activity is to do the action with full dedication and enthusiasm in the correct manner and mode of operation but you need not anticipate or be anxious about the consequences or result of this action.

(See also: Yoga Systems , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Yoga Systems: Karma Yoga - Path of Action

Hatha Yoga deals with physical body and astral body purification and training. Its goal is to bring the physical body into a perfect state of health so the soul has an appropriate vehicle of expression to work through.

Hatha Yoga embraces many practices, including physical postures and breathing exercises ( pranayama ) , which also act upon the physical nervous system and etheric body. It helps bring the vital energies of the physical and etheric bodies under conscious control.

(See also: Yoga Systems , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Yoga Systems: Hatha Yoga

"Don't assume that simply because the water is calm that there are no crocodiles in it."

It is only when we put our trust in a situation for our personal sense of well being and achievement that we jeopardise both our happiness and our future.

When you start on the yogic path, initially you may experience a sense of lethargy...sometimes the mind may rebel ... it may seek out the easier ways, instead of adhering to time, controls and disciplines.

(See also: Stages in Yoga , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Stages in Yoga: Pitfalls To Avoid in yoga

All techniques that bring about union of the soul and Spirit can be called Yoga.

There are various indirect and direct methods of directing and controlling the mind to attain the union of spirit with spirit.

Some of these are chanting, prayers, silence, emotional singing, intellectual meditation, social and religious work. However the five widely practised types are:

-       Bhakti Yoga

-       Gyaana Yoga

-       Karma Yoga

-       Hatha Yoga

-       TantricYoga or Kundalini Yoga

(See also: Yoga Systems , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Yoga Systems: Basic Types of yoga

Sudarshan Kriya is an ancient but potent breathing technique, reintroduced by Sri Sri Ravishankar through his organisation, Vyakti Vikas Kendra, in 1982.

This includes two simple yoga techniques - pranayama and poornayoga . Pranayama is a technique to govern the breathing process and Poornayoga includes practise of simple yoga postures.

(See also: Yoga and Health , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Yoga and Health: Sudarshan Kriya, A Potent Stress Buster  

Gyana Yoga is the spiritual path of 'knowledge'. It aims at realising the Supreme Spirit through deep enquiry and constant contemplation upon the eternal truths. In Gyana Yoga, you will endeavour to achieve enlightenment through the study of sacred books of wisdom and truth.

Normally, people who are very well versed in religious and other scriptures (Scriptural scholars) are considered 'gyaan yogis'. But it is important to note that if knowledge is not balanced with devotion to God, then it will carry the danger of developing arrogance and one-sidedness.

Love sweetens our understanding just as knowledge sharpens and directs our love. Love that is uncontrolled by knowledge can be much like a hose that is turned on and then left without a guiding hand; it neighs and just gushes forth making it impossible to use it effectively.

(See also: Yoga Systems , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Yoga Systems: Gyana Yoga - Path of Knowledge

Suryanamaskar is the salutation to Sun God which is one of the major sources of prana in this creation. Prana being "The Force" in the universe, that which is responsible for creation, maintenance and transformation in the physical.

The sun's energy vibrates at innumerable frequencies manifesting in the physical as various food/ prana for various living things like trees, leaves, animals, humans etc.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Surya Pranam Asana

-       Hasta Uthaan Asana

-       Padhasta Asana

-       Ashwa Sanchalan Asana

-       Parvat Asana

-       Ashtanga Namaskar

-       Bhujang Asana

(See also: Suryanamaskar , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Suryanamaskar: Yogi Ashwini ji of Dhyan Foundation

In Raja Yoga the goal is to quieten the mind through meditation where the attention is fixed on an object, mantra, or concept.

The aim of Raja yoga meditation is to successfully establish a mental link with the supreme source of all spiritual energy and power, the Supreme Soul, with the purpose of freeing the individual soul from sorrow, misery, pain, depression, fear, anxiety, illness, insecurity and phobias, and enabling the soul to once again experience constant peace, happiness, love and lasting health and prosperity.

(See also: Yoga Systems , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Yoga Systems: Raja Yoga

Bhakti yoga is the yogic pathway to self-realisation by catalysing and channeling your emotions into devotion or love with an attitude of total self-surrender.

Bhakti yoga is based on pure and selfless love, a strong sense of total surrender to the Supreme Intelligence guiding this universe and it comes straight from the heart.

But this attitude of surrender and love does not call for any complacence in action. Rather, your emotional fervor and enthusiasm is productively channeled into a feeling of love for another person, a favorite place, a rewarding type of work and so on and one may also develop a feeling of love for all humanity.

(See also: Yoga Systems , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Yoga Systems: Bhakti Yoga - - Path of Devotion

Breath, sound and meditation are the main resources of kundalini yoga. For example, a school of Kundalini yoga is probably best recognised for its frequent use of 'Breath of Fire' and the mantra 'Sat Nam'. Breath of Fire is a breathing exercise where you inhale and exhale rapidly through the nose without pausing, and pump the navel point while using the abdomen as a bellows. Sat Nam means 'truth is my identity' and, as a chant, is used to stop mind chatter by creating a rhythm that produces higher consciousness.

Read more here: » Yoga: Kundalini Yoga - Techniques and Pitfalls

The Forward Bend yoga position (Paschimothanasana) looks, and is, simple - provided you relax into the position, rather than forcing yourself into it. The pose is one of the most powerful and important Asanas, helping to ease the spinal compression caused by standig upright.

Read more here: » Yoga Positions: Forward Bend - Yoga Position

Siddha master:

One who has attained the state of enlightenment and who has the capacity to awaken the dormant spiritual energy of a disciple and guide him or her to the state of the Truth.

(See also: Siddha master , Yoga, Yoga Dictionary, Siddha Yoga, Siddha Yoga Dictionary)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

For more dictionary entries, see » Yoga Dictionary

yoga

(Sanskrit) "Yoke" 1. Union of self with the absolute or divine. 2. Methods or discipline employed to obtain such union. 3. Meditative practices originating in pre-Aryan India used by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and some Moslems and Christians. 4. One of the orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy

(See also: Yoga , Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Yoga Dictionary

The Allure of Tantra

Perhaps nothing is more exotic, dramatic and sensational in IndiaÕs Yoga traditions than is the practice of Tantra. No other approach to Yoga has gained such a fascination for the modern mind and its seeking of the bizarre, the entertaining and the enigmatic.

Tantra appears to offer both spiritual and worldly success to a superlative degree. It covers not only internal yogic experiences of chakras, lokas and deities, but also has many important healing practices for body and mind. Most notably, it offers special means of heightening sexual pleasure, making money, gaining recognition and defeating oneÕs enemies - with Tantric methods available for achieving all human desires. There is in Tantra something for everyone, especially those who may be put off by ascetic or renunciate approaches to the spiritual life such as seem to dominate most of the rest of the Yoga tradition.

Read more here: » Tantra Yoga: The Allure of Tantra

Our existence can be broadly divided into three categories - thinking, feeling and being conscious. The common link between all three is our attention. When we respond to something, physical or mental, consciously or unconsciously, we take our attention to the related part of the body. When we think, our attention is in the brain and when we carry out habitual activities, it is probably in the spinal cord.

(See also: Sudarshan Kriya , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Sudarshan Kriya: Balance Body & Mind With Sudarshan Kriya Yoga  

Mudras and Bandhas are certain postures of the body by which Kundalini is successfully awakened. In Gheranda Samhita, the description of 25 Mudras and Bandhas, is given. The following 12 are the most important:-,, 1. Mula Bandha, 2. Jalandhara Bandha, 3. Uddiyana Bandha, 4. Maha Mudra, 5. Maha Bandha, 6. Maha Vedha, 7. Yoga Mudra, 8. Viparitakarani Mudra, 9. Khechari Mudra, 10. Vajroli Mudra, 11. Shakti Chalana Mudra, 12. Yoni Mudra.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Mudras and Bandhas: Kundalini Yoga - Mudras and Bandhas

Pregnancy is a total experience. It is a time in a woman's life when it is of prime importance that the various dimensions of her being are in harmony. The regular practice of certain yoga exercises, meditation and breathing techniques ensures optimum health of her body and mind, and the unification of her physical, emotional and spiritual growth with that of the developing child.

Read more here: » Yoga: Yoga And Pregnancy

The Sanskrit word 'yoga' is derived from the root verb yuj, which means union. The supreme union of individual mind and cosmic mind is yoga. In his Yogasutras , Patanjali advocated the eight-fold path of astanga yoga . Its eight limbs are: yama (self-restraint), niyama (life-regulating moral rules and observances), asana (postures of bodily restfulness), pranayama (breath control), pratyahar (withdrawal of senses), dharana (fixing the mind on the Supreme), dhyana (absorption of self), and samadhi (liberation of the soul).

Read more here: » Patanjali Yoga Sutras: Supreme Union of Body, Mind, Soul with the Patanjali Yoga Sutras