A Wisdom Archive on Basic Yoga Positions

Hatha Yoga Positions: Tadasana - The Mountain
Tadasana is one of the most basic of all yoga postures. It is a grounding posture to bring the body and mind in balance and alignment.
 

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Positions: Tadasana - The Mountain Position

Polarity Therapy (Polarity, polarity balancing, Polarity Energy Balancing, Polarity Energy Balancing system, polarity energy healing, polarity healing, polarity system, Polarity techniques, Polarity Wellness): Eclectic natural health care system originated by Austrian-born Randolph Stone, D.C., D.O., N.D. (1890-1982), and based primarily on Ayurvedic principles.
 
It includes basic Polarity counseling, cranial balancing (see CranioSacral Therapy), guided imagery, hydrotherapy, Polarity bodywork, Polarity dream counseling, Polarity evaluation, Polarity nutrition, Polarity reflexology, Polarity Yoga, and spinal balancing.
 
Its principle is that balancing the flow of energy in the body is the foundation of health. According to its theory, the top and right side of the body have a positive charge, and the feet and the left side of the body have a negative charge. Thus, practitioners place their right hand on negatively charged parts of the client's body, and their left hand on positively charged parts. Polarity theory also posits a cleanable cellular memory.

 
(See also: Polarity Therapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary )

For more dictionary entries, see » Basic Yoga Positions Dictionary

Lotus Position: Padmasana, or Lotus Pose, named so because the position puts the souls of the feet up, reminiscent of a lotus flower. The prime position for meditation, it is the most renowned of all Hatha Yoga postures.

 
(See also: Lotus Position, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary )

For more dictionary entries, see » Basic Yoga Positions Dictionary

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE
Ayurvedic (pronounced eye yur VEH dik) medicine stresses a holistic approach to health. It means “science of life.” It places equal emphasis on body, mind and spirit and its main goal is to restore the innate harmony of the individual.
 
Ayurvedic medicine defines disease as the result of climatic extremes, bacterial attack, nutritional deviance, and stress, as well as other forms of emotional imbalance. Optimal health is achieved by cultivating mental and physical habits that are conducive to physical and spiritual well-being. Treatment often includes yoga, diet, and the development of positive attitude
 
Ayurvedic medicine evolved among the Brahmin sages of ancient India some 3000-5000 years ago. There are specific aspects of this system of medicine that distinguish it from other approaches to health care. It focuses on establishing and maintaining balance of the life energies within us, rather than focusing on individual symptoms.
 
"Constitution” is the keystone of Auruvedic medicine. Constitution refers to the overall health profile of the individual, including strength and susceptibilities. Ayurvedic doctors determine each metabolic body type and then specify a treatment plan to guide one back into harmony with the environment. 
 
Underlying Ayurveda is the view that everything is composed of five basic elements: ether/space, air, fire, water and earth. These are similar to the elements in traditional Chinese medicine. These elements combine to form the metabolic body types, or doshas (pronounced DOE shas). Ayurveda describes three body types. Even though each person’s metabolic type is determined by a predominant dosha, all three doshas are present in varying degrees in every cell, tissue and organ of the body.
 
The three doshas are vata, pitta and kapha. Vata is motion that activates the physical system, physical activity, and nerve force. It allows the body to breathe and circulate blood. The seats of the vata are the large intestine, pelvic cavity, bones , skin, ears and thighs. Pitta processes food, air and water and is responsible for charging the endocrine and enzymatic activities throughout the body. The seats of the pitta are the small intestines, stomach, sweat glands, blood, skin and eyes. Kapha involves the structure of bones, tendons, muscles and the fat that holds the body together. It offers nourishment and protection. The chest, lungs, and fluid surrounding the spinal cord are the seats of kapha.
 
When the doshas are balanced in accordance with the individual’s constitution, the result is vibrant heath and energy. When the balance is disturbed the body becomes susceptible to disease. Imbalance in the doshas is the first sign that the mind and body are not perfectly coordinated.
 
Ayurvedic medicine believes that once people understand the characteristics and qualities of their body type they can make changes in their lifestyle and environment to restore dosha balance. Ayurveda seeks to heal the fragmentation and disorder of the mind-body complex and restore wholeness and harmony to all people of all ages, from young children to the elderly.

 
(See also: AYURVEDIC MEDICINE, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul )

For more dictionary entries, see » Basic Yoga Positions Dictionary

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

Definition of Hands-to-Feet yoga pose: Bending forward in a standing position.
 

Read more here: » Yoga Poses: Hands-to-Feet - Yoga Position

During the Spiral Twists yoga position (Ardha Matsyendrasana) your vertebrae are mobilized; the exercises also allow more nourishment to reach the roots of the spinal nerves and the sympathetic nevous system.
 

Read more here: » Yoga Positions: Spinal Twisting - Yoga Position

The psychology and philosophy of yoga can assist the mother to understand the experiences she is going through and to live them more fully. The development of awareness and of being a witness to all experiences in life is a central teaching of yoga. The ability to stand aside and witness what one is passing through removes a lot of fear and anxiety. Awareness builds one's inner resources of self- esteem and confidence and also enables the birth to be more consciously experienced. Yogic psychology also helps us understand the causes and effects of our circumstances in life and this deepens our insight and wisdom.

Read more here: » Yoga: Yoga And Motherhood

Definition of The Headstand yoga position (Sirshasana): An asana in which you balance on your elbows, arms, and head
 

Read more here: » Yoga Positions: The Headstand - Yoga Position

The objective with Plough Pose (Halasana) is to stretch your cervical and thoracic regions.
 

Read more here: » Yoga Poses: The Plough Pose - Yoga Pose

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