Prana Vata: The chief subdivision of vata, it governs the mind, the heart, respiration, and life itself.

(See also: Prana Vata ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

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Chanting mantras inspires the body to heal itself, the mind to become calm and the soul to grow strong. Chanting makes room for divine energies. Mantras are vibrations - they unlock hidden centres and help to dissolve the ego; they help us build invisible tools for shaping a better life. We start discovering resources within.

A young farmer, simple and ego-less, was rearing goats. One day a realised soul in ordinary attire visited him. The poor farmer welcomed him with respect without knowing that he was a great guru. Affectionately, he offered goat milk to the visitor. The guru left after some time. His blessings created a great spiritual armour around the farmer, unbeknownst to him.

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

Read more here: » Mantra Yoga: Transform Yourself With Mantra Yoga

Siva-ratri - a festival in honor of Siva which is observed with a fast during the day and night of the fourteenth day of the dark half of the month of Phalguna (February-March).

(See also: Siva-ratri , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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Kichari:  A nourishing, easily digested porridge made of rice and dahl.

(See also: Kichari ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

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Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra forms the basis of all yoga that is practised today. It contains knowledge which is useful for all, whether one is an evolved yogi, a developing sadhaka or an uninitiate.

In the Astanga Yoga, the eight constituents of yoga are discussed. Of these, the first constituent talks of the five Yama. These are the restraints every human being is advised to practise in day-to-day living.

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

Read more here: » Patanjali Yoga Sutras: Patanjali’s Guide To Self-Evolution  

Asthi Soshirya: Porous or brittle bones; osteoporosis.

(See also: Asthi Soshirya ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

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Sadhaka - one who follows a spiritual discipline to achieve a specific goal. In this book this especially refers to a practitioner of bhakti.

(See also: Sadhaka , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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Practicing certain yoga asanas and breathing, increases blood pressure, improves and balances and strengthens the nervous system, tones the digestive system, cleans and strengthens the arteries and corrects the flow of the blood to the body.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Kapalbhati Kriya

-       Bhastrika pranayama

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

Read more here: » Yoga and Health: Yoga and low blood pressure

Practising yoga regularly imparts great benefits. Among them are improved concentration and clarity in mind. But in the more advanced stages of yoga practising comes benefits like mind and psychic control. When thoughts are experienced just as thoughts, not as reality itself, then the path to freedom which yoga promises begins to unfold naturally. And that path is as sweet as a perfectly ripe mango.

Read more here: » Yoga: Special Spiritual Benefits of Yoga

Siddhi-kami - one who covets mystic powers (see yoga-siddhi).

(See also: Siddhi-kami , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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ALABDHABHUMIKATVA: The feeling that it is impossible to see reality.

(See also: ALABDHABHUMIKATVA ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

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Nadi: A channel in the subtle body through which prana and kundalini flow. The channels loosely correspond to the central, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Nadi also refers to the normal veins and arteries of the physical body.

(See also: Nadi ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

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Gauda (-desha)

The ancient kingdom of West Bengal where Lord Chaitanya’s eternal abode, nondifferent from Vrindavana, manifests itself on earth.

(See also: Gauda , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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HAVAN: Sacred oblations.

(See also: HAVAN ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

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Anitya - temporary; not permanent or eternal.

(See also: Anitya , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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Retaining no traces of individuality to hinder the flow of God's love and harmony through them, their work is done by God, their teachings are from God and the transformations they cause are also from God alone. God, then, is the actual Guru, the physical body only serving to spread love and knowledge about His own Self.

This is the true foundation of Siddha Yoga in which allegiance to the guru is complete. Reverence of the spiritual master as God is the foundational belief. Those who embrace such a path find true protection, peace, love, joy, well being and the experience of the Divine at every step because of blessings from their spiritual master.

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

Read more here: » Siddha Yoga: Guru is Divinity, Says Siddha Yoga  

Jagannatha Puri

See Puri.

(See also: Jagannatha Puri , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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About different forms of obstacles in meditation.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Meditation: Obstacles in Meditation

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

Kundalini Yoga:

 See Kundalini .

(See also: Kundalini Yoga , Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

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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 broad spectrum of choices available to humans may be categorised into bhoga , roga and yoga. While the first two present a cause and effect syndrome, the latter opens up higher possibilities at the moral and spiritual levels. The practice of yoga can help us tide over the evil effects of indulgence; thus saving us from roga . Those who opt for bhoga , live life at the animalistic level. The satisfaction of organic needs is their sole concern.

An excessive obsession with bhoga leads to roga . Roga refers to physical and mental maladies. Medically too, over-indulgence affects both the digestive and nervous systems resulting in a wide range of diseases. Moral degradation, ethical decline, aesthetic impoverishment and spiritual blindness are natural concomitants.

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

Read more here: » Bhoga: Choose Between Bhoga and Yoga