Asthma is a disease that more and more people seem to be suffering from today. Many things trigger asthma - the main amongst those being: stress and anxiety, allergies and genetics. This yoga program seeks to tackle the root causes and work towards strengthening the immune system.

We will present asanas (postures), kriya (cleansing technique) and pranayama (breathing techniques) that strengthen, stretch and relax the body physically and re-balance internal systems at a deeper level. We begin with asanas that focus on increasing capacity of the lungs and relaxing the chest muscles which contract and remain tense during and after asthma attacks.

Instructions and benefits for

-       Singhasana

-       Ardha Chakrasana

-       Kapalbhati Kriya

-       Bhramri Pranayama

-       Bhastrika Pranayama

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

Read more here: » Yoga and Health: Asanas for Asthma

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)

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

(See also: Kichari ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

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)

These are a series of simple yet effective mudras, which if practiced daily can keep you healthy for life. Yoga has tremendous healing power and can cure all major diseases, if performed properly. It also offers happiness.

'Hastmudras' provide energy to the body which helps in the purification process, and so keeps the body healthy. Though these mudras are easy and can be practiced at any time of the day, they are most effective on an empty stomach,

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Vayu Mudra

-       Akash Mudra

-       Shunya Mudra

-       Prithvi-mudra

-       Suryamudra

-       Varunmudra

(See also: Mudras and Health , Mudras, Mudras and Health, Mudra Instructions, Yoga)

Read more here: » Mudras and Health: Yoga at your fingertips - Instructions and benefits with Mudras

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)

Here we give you some more desktop yoga exercises for the back and also some breathing exercises you can do while at your desk.

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

Read more here: » Yoga and Health: Desktop Yoga - Back & Breathing Exercises

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

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

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

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

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

(See also: ALABDHABHUMIKATVA ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

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)

The common cold is an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. Colds are considered to be the immune system's response to viral attack.

Yoga not only helps prevent cold but improves a person's health and strengthens the immune system thus lessening susceptibility to colds.

If ling mudra is practised daily, along with a proper practise of Kapalbhati Pranayan then various incurable disease of the chest can be healed.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Kapal Bhati Paranayam or Bhastrika

-       Ling Mudra along with Pran Mudra

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

Read more here: » Yoga and Health: Yoga for Cold

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)

HAVAN: Sacred oblations.

(See also: HAVAN ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

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  

Anitya - temporary; not permanent or eternal.

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

About different forms of obstacles in meditation.

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

Read more here: » Meditation: Obstacles in Meditation

Jagannatha Puri

See Puri.

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

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)