SUKSHMA SARIRA: the subtle body, the astral body

(See also: SUKSHMA SARIRA , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Definition of The Cobra yoga position (Bhujangasana): Coiling your upper body up and back.

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

O Divine Mother Kundalini, the Divine Cosmic Energy that is hidden in men! Thou art Kali, Durga, Adisakti, Rajarajeswari, Tripurasundari, Maha-Lakshmi, Maha-Sarasvati! Thou hast put on all these names and forms. Thou hast manifested as Prana, electricity, force, magnetism, cohesion, gravitation in this universe. This whole universe rests in Thy bosom. Crores of salutations unto thee. O Mother of this world! Lead me on to open the Sushumna Nadi and take Thee along the Chakras to Sahasrara Chakra and to merge myself in Thee and Thy consort, Lord Siva.

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Preface to Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda

The four main spiritual paths for God-realisation are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Karma Yoga is suitable for a man of active temperament, Bhakti Yoga for a man of devotional temperament, Raja Yoga for a man of mystic temperament, and Jnana Yoga for a man of rational and philosophical temperament, or a man of enquiry.

Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kundalini Yoga, Lambika Yoga and Hatha Yoga, are other Yogas. Yoga, really, means union with God. The practice of Yoga leads to communion with the Lord. Whatever may be the starting point, the end reached is the same.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Yoga: The Four Paths of Hindu Yoga

Sanskrit dictionary. From Advaita to Yoga.

Please note that all words in grey, like "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

The Bhagavad Gita has been universally hailed by the learned as truly reflecting the essence of all the Vedas. Its depth, richness and rationality of philosophy have universal appeal.

It teaches man that the true goal of life is union with God or the Supreme Impersonal-Personal Brahman, and the principal means to attain it are the four paths of karma or work, jnana or knowledge, yoga or psychic control and bhakti or loving devotion.

(See also: Bhakti Yoga , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Krishna's Choice - Bhakti Yoga  

The different yoga schools simply adhere to different applications of inner discipline, all of which ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul and to a unique understanding of the Divine Unity. The schools are merely named according to the yogi's objective of self-transformation and the instrument chosen for such anticipated change. The yoga schools are: Ashtanga Yoga, Purna Yoga, Integral Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Mantra Yoga,and Tantra Yoga.

Read more here: » Yoga Schools: The different Schools of Yoga

Cartilage is a type of dense connective tissue. Cartilage is composed of cells called chondrocytes which are dispersed in a firm gel-like ground substance, called the matrix. Cartilage is avascular (contains no blood vessels) and nutrients are diffused through the matrix. Cartilage is found in the joints, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, in the throat and between intervertebral disks. There are three main types of cartilage: hyaline, elastic and fibrocartilage. Cartilage - Composition. Much like other conne ...

Including:

• Cartilage - Composition
• Cartilage - Cells
• Cartilage - Fibers
• Cartilage - Matrix
• Cartilage - Types of cartilage
• Cartilage - Hyaline cartilage
• Cartilage - Elastic cartilage
• Cartilage - Fibrocartilage
• Cartilage - Growth and development
• Cartilage - Chondrification
• Cartilage - Mineralisation
• Cartilage - Appositional
• Cartilage - Interstitial
• Cartilage - Cartilage in fetal development
• Cartilage - Diseases / Medicine
• Cartilage - Fibrocartilage
• Cartilage - Invertebrate cartilage

Read more here: » Cartilage: Encyclopedia - Cartilage

Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga Styles

Hatha Yoga is the branch of Yoga that focuses on the physical well-being of a person and sees the body as the driver of the spirit. Each of these styles of yoga use Asanas or poses to balance the body, mind and spirit. However, some emphasise the alignment of the body while others concentrate on co-ordinating the movement and breath. Ten of the most common styles of Hatha Yoga are described: Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Viniyoga, Bikram Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Ananda Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Jivamukti Yoga, Sivananda Yoga and Svaroopa Yoga.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga Styles

The Fish Yoga Position (Matsyasana) is the stretch that counters the Plough, and so follows them in Yoga session. The name of the posture derives from the fact that if you adopt the position in water, you will float quite easily.

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

Much like other connective tissue, cartilage is composed of cells, fibers and a matrix. Cartilage - Cells. Chondrocytes and the precusor forms of chondrocytes known as chondroblasts are the only cells found in cartilage. Chondrocytes make up "cell nests," groups of chondrocytes within lacunae. Chondroblasts are responsible for the secretion and maintenance of the matrix. Chondroblasts encased in matrix develop into chondrocytes. The matrix immediately surrounding the chondrocytes is referred to as the t ...

See also:

Cartilage, Cartilage - Composition, Cartilage - Cells, Cartilage - Fibers, Cartilage - Matrix, Cartilage - Types of cartilage, Cartilage - Hyaline cartilage, Cartilage - Elastic cartilage, Cartilage - Fibrocartilage, Cartilage - Growth and development, Cartilage - Chondrification, Cartilage - Mineralisation, Cartilage - Appositional, Cartilage - Interstitial, Cartilage - Cartilage in fetal development, Cartilage - Diseases / Medicine, Cartilage - Fibrocartilage, Cartilage - Invertebrate cartilage

Read more here: » Cartilage: Encyclopedia II - Cartilage - Composition

Bone healing or fracture healing is the repair of a fractured bone. Bone healing - Requirements for healing. While immobilisation and surgery may facilitate this process, the healing of a fracture still requires adequate physiological healing. In case of fracture, the chances of healing are determined to a large extent by the state of the periosteum (the connective tissue membrane covering the bone). This is the origin of the fibroblasts that participate in the healing of bone; ...

Including:

• Bone healing - Requirements for healing
• Bone healing - Phases of fracture healing
• Bone healing - Inadequate bone healing

Read more here: » Bone healing: Encyclopedia - Bone healing

A Yoga Dictionary from Abhyasa to Yukti.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient essential for life, used by the human body for many purposes. It is one of a number of such key nutrients called vitamins. To the best of scientific knowledge, all animals and plants synthesize their own vitamin C, except for humans and a small number of other animals, including, apes, guinea pigs, the red-vented bulbul, a fruit-eating bat and a species of trout. This has led a minority of scientists, most notably Linus Pauling to conclude that failure to produce the chemical by an animal s ...

Including:

• Vitamin C - Discovery and history
• Vitamin C - Sources
• Vitamin C - Plant sources
• Vitamin C - Animal sources
• Vitamin C - Artificial chemical synthesis
• Vitamin C - Functions in the body
• Vitamin C - Vitamin C deficiency
• Vitamin C - Daily requirement
• Vitamin C - The Recommended Daily Allowance
• Vitamin C - Advocacy amounts
• Vitamin C - Food preparation
• Vitamin C - Therapeutic uses
• Vitamin C - Advocacy arguments
• Vitamin C - Known harmful effects
• Vitamin C - Other reports of harmful effects
• Vitamin C - Footnotes

Read more here: » Vitamin C: Encyclopedia - Vitamin C

Much like other connective tissue, cartilage is composed of cells, fibers and a matrix. Cartilage - Cells. Chondrocytes and the precusor forms of chondrocytes known as chondroblasts are the only cells found in cartilage. They are responsible for the secretion and maintenance of the matrix. The matrix immediately surrounding the chondrocytes is referred to as the territorial matrix and stains darker than the interstitial matrix. Chondrocytes lie in a cavity called a lacuna. During slide preparations, chondrocytes often shrink and appear smaller than the lacunae but in ...

See also:

Cartilage, Cartilage - Composition, Cartilage - Cells, Cartilage - Fibers, Cartilage - Matrix, Cartilage - Types of cartilage, Cartilage - Hyaline cartilage, Cartilage - Elastic cartilage, Cartilage - Fibrocartilage, Cartilage - Growth and development, Cartilage - Chondrification, Cartilage - Mineralisation, Cartilage - Appositional, Cartilage - Interstitial, Cartilage - Cartilage in fetal development, Cartilage - Diseases / Medicine, Cartilage - Fibrocartilage, Cartilage - Invertebrate cartilage

Read more here: » Cartilage: Encyclopedia II - Cartilage - Composition

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

To attain jitendriyata is to achieve full control over ones senses. This leads to what is called God-realisation. In this controlled state all pain and suffering cease permanently.

There are different paths to achieve this height: Gyan yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, raja yoga, hatha yoga, swara yoga, nada yoga, astanga yoga; all of these lead to the same goal of achieving communion with God. The shortest and most suitable path ordained in this Kali Yuga is bhakti yoga.

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Lasting Happiness Through Bhakti Yoga

A skull, or cranium, is a bony structure of Craniates which serves as the general framework for a head. The skull supports the structures of the face and protects the brain against injury. Skull - Humans. In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 28 bones. Except for the mandible, all of the bones of the skull are joined together by sutures, rigid articulations permitting very little movement. Eight bones form the neurocranium (braincase), a protective vault of bone surrounding ...

Including:

• Skull - Humans
• Skull - Development of the skull
• Skull - Pathology
• Skull - Craniometry and morphology of human skulls
• Skull - Bones of the human skull
• Skull - Other features of the skull

Read more here: » Skull: Encyclopedia - Skull

Although there are many Asanas (8,400,000 according to the scriptures) the practice of the 12 basic yoga postures brings out the essence and all major benefits of this wonderful system.

Read more here: » Yoga Postures: What is Proper Exercise - 12 Basic Yoga Postures

Clinically, graft-versus-host-disease is divided into acute and chronic forms. The acute or fulminant form of the disease is observed within the first 100 days post-transplant, and the chronic form of graft-versus-host-disease is defined as that which occurs after 100 days. This distinction is not arbitrary: acute and chronic graft-versus-host-disease appear to involve different immune cell subsets, different cytokine pr ...

See also:

Graft-versus-host disease, Graft-versus-host disease - Types, Graft-versus-host disease - Prevention, Graft-versus-host disease - Bibliography

Read more here: » Graft-versus-host disease: Encyclopedia II - Graft-versus-host disease - Types

Brain - The brain in animals. Three groups of animals, with some exceptions, have notably complex brains: the arthropods (insects and crustaceans), the cephalopods (octopuses, squid, and similar mollusks), and the craniates (vertebrates and their cousins) [1]. The brain of arthropods and cephalopods arises from twin parallel nerve cords that extend through the body of the animal. In arthropods, the brain consists of a central ...

See also:

Brain, Brain - The importance of the brain, Brain - The brain in animals, Brain - Pathology of the brain, Brain - Other matters, Brain - The biology of the brain, Brain - Histology, Brain - Anatomy, Brain - Brain regions in vertebrates, Brain - Function, Brain - The study of the brain, Brain - Fields of study, Brain - Methods of observation, Brain - History, Brain - The brain as a food

Read more here: » Brain: Encyclopedia II - Brain - The importance of the brain

The structural quality of a foot varies from animal to animal. Many vertebrates that have legs also have a foot located at the end of each leg. For these animals, the foot is a complex structure of bone, muscle, and other connective tissue. Among animals that have soft or padded feet, the foot is commonly called a paw. In mollusks, on the other hand, the foot is a purely muscular structure. Human beings use their legs and feet for bipedal locomotion, also known as walking. The structures of the human foot and hand are variations on th ...

See also:

Foot, Foot - Structure, Foot - Footwear, Foot - Customs, Foot - Kicking, Foot - Measurement, Foot - Parts of the foot, Foot - Parts of the foot, Foot - Disorders of the feet

Read more here: » Foot: Encyclopedia II - Foot - Structure