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  

Yoga theory says the navel is the originating point of around 72,000 types of nadis and these effect all organs of the human body. Today we give you two asanas to maintain the balance of the navel.

Benefits and instructions for:

-       Uttanapad asana

-       Paschimothan asana

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

Read more here: » Yoga and Health: Yoga For Navel Disorder

Many studies have reported the beneficial effect of the practice of yoga on diabetes. Some studies have mentioned up to 65 percent beneficial effect of yogic therapy for diabetes. K.N. Udupa has even mentioned 5 cases of juvenile diabetes who were completely controlled by yogic treatment. All of these studies have emphasized the possible mechanism of the yogic practices.

Read more here: » Yoga and Diabetes: The effects of exercise and yoga on Diabetes - A Clinical Research (Part II of II)

The back is an amazingly strong structure, which allows the spine to move in all directions and planes. It is important not just to be free of your back pain, but also to have a strong and flexible back, which keeps you feeling light and healthy.

Here we give you warming-up and strengthening asanas, followed by toning and stretching of the back. Remember to do all the asanas in the order mentioned and at your own pace and level of flexibility.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Tadasana (Palm tree pose)

-       Marchariasana (Cat Pose)

-       Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

-       Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

-       Viprit Naukasana (Inverted Boat Pose)

-       Pawanmuktasana

-       Sharnagat Mudra

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

Read more here: » Yoga and Health: Asanas for the Back

Sri Aurobindo, a scholar of India's spiritual-philosophical tradition, developed an original philosophy, which contained an evolutionary dimension. Humanity's destiny, according to Sri Aurobindo, is to evolve towards a higher state of consciousness that would fundamentally alter life, as we know it. To accomplish this, Sri Aurobindo synthesized various traditions of ancient spirituality and offered the instrument of integral Yoga. This prophet of the New Age not only predicted the perfectibility of the human condition but also assured that the day is not far when man's Supramental consciousness achieves its fullest fruition on earth. Following is an excerpt from Sri Aurobindo's Synthesis of Yoga.

Read more here: » Sri Aurobindo: Integral Yoga from Sri Arubindo's Synthesis of Yoga

Ayurveda: The science of Ayurveda, like the science of Yoga, was inspired and developed by the great masters and seers of ancient India. The origin of Ayurveda and Yoga are common to play a highly complimentary role in spiritual evolution and the maintenance of physical well-being and vitality. Ayurveda is, perhaps, the oldest science of life, a system of diet, healing and health maintenance that is deeply spiritual in origin.

Read more here: » Ayurveda – an introduction - II

Ayurveda and Yoga can be called sister sciences of 'self-healing and self-realisation'. Both evolved from a Vedic background in ancient India, based on the same philosophy, sharing many practices. Ayurveda, the 'yogic form of healing', is aimed at bringing us back into harmony with our true Self or Atman . The great Ayurvedic teacher Charaka defines Ayurveda as the harmony of body, prana , mind and soul. Patanjali defines yoga as controlling the mind in order to realise the Purusha .

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

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Ayurveda and Yoga - Healing Touch  

Dharana (Concentration)

Fix the mind on some object either within the body or outside. Keep it there steady for some time. This is Dharana. You will have to practise this daily. Laya-Yoga has its basis on Dharana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharana: Concentration in Yoga - Dharana

What is so special about Kriya yoga? It expands your consciousness; it enables you to move up from the ridiculous to the sublime - from say, matters of state, politics and (Cauvery) disputes to a deeper understanding of nature of the Self.

I got this divine intuition some days ago which prompted me to travel to Babaji's cave in Uttaranchal - he used to meditate there. I've been initiated into practising Kriya yoga through divine dispensation. I'd been through hardly a year's basic training before my intuition took me to Babaji's cave...

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

Read more here: » Kriya yoga: From The Ridiculous To the Sublime  

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

Kundalini Maha Yoga

Kundalini Maha Yoga is an ancient universal science, perfected over thousands of years. It is not a religion, but a spiritual practice that brings the experience of lasting inner peace and happiness to individuals of any belief or religious affiliation.

Kundalini Maha Yoga is based on a very simple principle: in every human being there is a source of divine energy. The Sanskrit word for this source of energy is Kundalini. Kundalini is in two states: the dormant state, and the active, aroused, or awakened state.

Read more here: » Kundalini Maha Yoga: What is Kundalini Maha Yoga?

The Bow yoga position (Dhanurasana) works all parts of your back simultaneously. In this asana, your head, chest, and legs are lifted, while your body rests on your abdomen. The pose is so named because as you hold it, your body is bent back like a bow and your arms are held straight and taut like a bowstring.

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

Desktop yoga exercises that will help improve flexibility and blood circulation of the legs muscles.

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

Read more here: » Yoga and Health: Desktop yoga for the legs

Can one overcome the limitations of the mind, and reach an insight that is not based on previous learning or that which one imagines, but which emerges from a fundamental and direct experience of consciousness and energy?

One of the most secret and advanced methods for such a transforming insight is called Kriya Yoga.

Read more here: » Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga - A bridge between the inner and the outer world

Vedic Yoga and the Three Gunas

The Vedas present a vast pantheon of deities (devatas) on many different levels, often said to be innumerable or infinite in number. One of the main early efforts to classify the Vedic Gods (as in the Brihad Devata of Shaunaka) was to reduce them to the three prime deities for the three worlds.

Agni or Fire on Earth (Prithivi)

Vayu or Wind in the Atmosphere (Antariksha)

Surya or the Sun in Heaven (Dyaus)

These three deities are three aspects of the One God or the Purusha, the supreme consciousness principle and higher Self that is pure light.

Read more here: » Three Gunas: Vedic Yoga and the Three Gunas

Here we focus on a yoga program for Diabetics. Although genetic factors are also involved, a diet over- rich in carbohydrates, obesity, not enough exercise and stress also contribute to a large extent to this disease.

Yoga, with its amazing range of practices, can not only give you an exercise program to help reduce blood sugar but also realign, revitalize and improve the functioning of the Endocrine System and the organs and glands that are involved in diabetes.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Bhastrika Pranayama

-       Uddiyan Bandha

-       Agnisar Kriya

-       Ushtrasana

-       Paschimottanasana

-       Bhujangasana

-       Ardhamatsyendrasana

-       Vakrasana

-       Merudandasana

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

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

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

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

Kriya is a physical action. In Yog it is referred to as an action which is directed towards a complete being, towards attaining a balance. When an imbalance occurs in the body a specific energy is required to bring the body in balance.

With the help of a kriya we force a balance in an imbalanced state. We give you here the kriya for the stomach - since elimination is one of the most important activities of the body for removing the waste or toxins or the congestion in the body.

Instructions and benefits for:

-       Agnisaar Kriya

(See also: Benefits of yoga , Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Read more here: » Benefits of yoga: Kriya for the stomach

SUKSHMA SARIRA: the subtle body, the astral body

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

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

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