Yoga Instructions Dictionary

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE

The Alexander Technique is movement education in which the student is taught to sit, stand, and move in ways that reduce physical stress on the body.

Alexander Technique teachers use gentle manual guidance and verbal cues to improve students’ posture and movement patterns. A lesson or group class typically involves basic movements such as sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, carrying, and lying down. It may also involve more specialized activities such as playing a musical instrument, working at a computer, etc. T

he teacher’s manual guidance stresses the adjustment of the head, neck, and torso relationship. In beginning lessons, the teacher closely monitors the student. Later, the student learns to monitor herself, ultimately learning a unique self-management process - an understanding of balance and dynamic postural control. F. M. Alexander, an Australian actor, developed the technique in the late 1800s as a result of attempting to solve his own physical problem of losing his voice on stage.

He discovered that misuse of the neuromuscular activity of the head, neck, and spine caused maladaptive functioning and that this movement could be corrected. As he began to teach his technique, he found that his students’ overall health improved and that the technique could be used to address a wide array of problems.

(See also: ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Bodywork: A general term used to describe any type of manual, manipulative healing modality that aims to restore health of body mind and spirit. Some examples include massage, craniosacral therapy, acupressure and yoga therapy.

(See also: Bodywork , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Ki-Shiatsu/Oriental Bodywork (Ki-Shiatsu, Ki-Shiatsu/Oriental Bodywork Therapy, shiatsu oriental bodywork): Healing art encompassing manual and breathing techniques that balance-nurture the whole person.

(See also: Ki-Shiatsu/Oriental Bodywork , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

ACUPRESSURE

Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life force (sometimes known as qi or chi) to aid healing.

Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses the gentle, but firm pressure of hands (and even feet). There is a large amount of scientific data demonstrating why and how acupuncture is effective. But acupressure, the older of the two traditions, was neglected after the Chinese developed more technical methods for stimulating points with needles and electricity.

Acupressure, however, continues to be the most effective method for self-treatment of tension-related ailments by using the power and sensitivity of the human hand. Foremost among the advantages of acupressure’s healing touch is that it is safe to do on yourself and others - even if you’ve never done it before - so long as you follow the instructions and pay attention to the cautions. The only pieces of equipment needed are your own two hands. You can practice acupressure therapy anytime, anywhere.

Acupressure can be effective in helping relieve headaches, eye strain, sinus problems, neck pain, backaches, arthritis, muscle aches, tension due to stress, ulcer pain, menstrual cramps, lower backaches, constipation, and indigestion. Self-acupressure can also be used to relieve anxiety and get better sleep at night. There are also great advantages to using acupressure as a way to balance the body and maintain good health.

The healing touch of acupressure reduces tension, increases circulation, and enables the body to relax deeply. By relieving stress, acupressure strengthens resistance to disease and promotes wellness. In acupressure, local symptoms are considered an expression of the condition of the body as a whole. A tension headache, for instance, may be rooted in the shoulder and neck area. Thus, acupressure focuses on relieving pain and discomfort, as well as responding to tension, before it develops into a disease - before the constrictions and imbalances can do further damage.

The origins of acupressure are as ancient as the instinctive impulse to hold your forehead or temples when you have a headache. Everyone at one time or another has used their hands spontaneously to hold tense or painful places on the body. More than 5,000 years ago, the Chinese discovered that pressing certain points on the body relieved pain where it occurred and also benefited other parts of the body more remote from the pain and the pressure point. Gradually, they found other locations that not only alleviated pain, but also influenced the functioning of certain internal organs. (Definition in part from the book Acupressure’s Potent Points, by Michael Reed Gach, director of the Acupressure Institute.)

(See also: ACUPRESSURE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Esoteric (from Greek esoterikos pertaining to the inner)

Applied to the advanced instructions given to qualified candidates in Mysteries or schools of philosophy, first used popularly in Greece by Aristotle. Jesus in the Bible had teachings for his disciples in private, and others for the public, precisely as all other ancient religious and philosophical teachers always had.

Esoteric teachings both were and are such as could not be understood or profitably received by those not previously prepared by study and probation. Exoteric or outer teachings were often given in symbolic language which revealed the esoteric meaning only to those who were in possession of the keys to interpretation.

(See also: Esoteric , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

guided imagery (guided visualization): A method akin to creative visualization and led meditation. Its design is to promote physical healing or attitudinal or behavioral changes. Practitioners act as prompters and orally outline scenes and/or give instructions on using imagery for self-help.

(See also: Guided imagery , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

facilitated communication (FC, Facilitated Communication therapy, facilitated communication training [FCT]): A means of helping persons with severe communication deficits (e.g., due to autism or cerebral palsy) to communicate. Rosemary Crossley, Ph.D. - the author of Facilitated Communication Training (Teachers College Press, 1994) and Speechless: Facilitating Communication for People Without Voices and the coauthor of Annie's Coming Out - originated FC in Australia in the 1970s.

The facilitated communication practitioner, called a facilitator, maintains physical (typically manual or digital) contact with a hand, wrist, arm, or shoulder of his or her disabled partner while the latter person's index finger is applied to a communication aid, such as the keyboard of a computer.

(See also: Facilitated communication , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Arthaveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of statecraft." A class of ancient texts, also called Nitishastras, on politics, statecraft and much more, forming the Upaveda of the Rig Veda. The most important text of this group is Kautiliya's Arthashastra (ca 300 bce) which gives detailed instructions on all areas of government. It embodies the kshatriya perspective of rulership and society. See: Upaveda.

(See also: Arthaveda , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Focusing (Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy, Focusing-Oriented Therapy, Focusing Process, Focusing Therapy): Natural stepwise system of personal growth based on the work of psychology professor Eugene (Gene) T. Gendlin, Ph.D., author of Focusing (1981), Let the Body Interpret Your Dreams (1986), and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy: A Manual of the Experimental Method (Guilford Publications, Inc., 1996).

Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy involves dreamwork and inner child work. The effects of Focusing include: direct contact with the wisdom of one's body (prenatal bodily meaning), which is palpable; the flowing of life's energy in new ways of being; discovery of one's genuine self; and an increase in personal whole[ness].

(See also: Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

A Course in Miracles: Form of spiritual psychotherapy based on A Course in Miracles, whose three volumes - The Text, Workbook for Students, and Manual for Teachers - comprise well over a thousand pages. The Course originated in 1965, was completed in 1972, and was first published (as a photocopy of typescript) in 1975. It is the fruit of channeling from Jesus Christ to Helen Cohen Schucman (1909-1981), a research psychologist at Columbia University.

(See also: A Course in Miracles , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Abramelin: The name of an Egyptian magician cited in The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, a magical text translated by S. L. Mathers. The French manuscript was written in the eighteenth century, but it purports to be a translation from an original text in Hebrew, dating from 1458. The grimoire contains elaborate instructions in the form of a six-month program of purification and prayer, designed to lead the magician to higher states of consciousness in which "knowledge and conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel" is possible.

(See also: Abramelin , Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

Saiva Agamas: (Sanskrit) The sectarian revealed scriptures of the Saivas. Strongly theistic, they identify Siva as the Supreme Lord, immanent and transcendent. They are in two main divisions: the 64 Kashmir Saiva Agamas and the 28 Saiva Siddhanta Agamas. The latter group are the fundamental sectarian scriptures of Saiva Siddhanta. Of these, ten are of the Sivabheda division and are considered dualistic: 1) Kamika, 2) Yogaja, 3) Chintya, 4) Karana, 5) Ajita, 6) Dipta, 7) Sukshma, 8) Sahasraka, 9) Amshumat and 10) Suprabheda.

There are 18 in the Rudrabheda group, classed as dual-nondual: 11) Vijaya, 12) Nihshvasa, 13) Svayambhuva, 14) Anala, 15) Vira (Bhadra), 16) Raurava, 17) Makuta, 18) Vimala, 19) Chandrajnana (or Chandrahasa), 20) Mukhabimba (or Bimba), 21) Prodgita (or Udgita), 22) Lalita, 23) Siddha, 24) Santana, 25) Sarvokta (Narasimha), 26) Parameshvara, 27) Kirana and 28) Vatula (or Parahita).

Rishi Tirumular, in his Tirumantiram, refers to 28 Agamas and mentions nine by name. Eight of these - Karana, Kamika, Vira, Chintya, Vatula, Vimala, Suprabheda and Makuta - are in the above list of 28 furnished by the French Institute of Indology, Pondicherry. The ninth, Kalottara, is presently regarded as an Upagama, or secondary text, of Vatula. The Kamika is the Agama most widely followed in Tamil Saiva temples, because of the availability of Aghorasiva's manual-commentary (paddhati) on it. Vira Saivites especially refer to the Vatula and Vira Agamas.

The Saiva Agama scriptures, above all else, are the connecting strand through all the schools of Saivism. The Agamas themselves express that they are entirely consistent with the teachings of the Veda, that they contain the essence of the Veda, and must be studied with the same high degree of devotion.

See: Agamas, Vedas.

(See also: Saiva Agamas , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Aporrheta (Ancient Greek). Secret instructions upon esoteric subjects given during the Egyptian and Grecian Mysteries.

(See also: Aporrheta , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

Massage therapy: General term for a range of manual approaches to enhance relaxation, elevate mood, reduce blood pressure, decrease pain and heighten immune responses. It involves the practice of kneading or otherwise manipulating a person’s muscles and other soft or connective tissue.

(See also: Massage therapy , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Chinese aromatic Qigong: Mode of manual exercise that generates various aromatic fragrances.

(See also: Chinese aromatic Qigong , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Bodywork

encompasses many practices that utilize manual manipulation of the body. Techniques include massage, acupressure, energy work, movement, structural work, deep tissue massage and other therapies to induce relaxation, increase circulation, treat pain and stiffness, and to break up chronic patterns of muscular tension.

(See also: Bodywork , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

VARUNA

One of the Vedic deities, the God of Water -- symbolizes "the Waters of Space." In the Agastya Samhita are instructions for building a dry-cell battery. Liquid energy, called Mitra Varuna ("Friendly Water God") is produced. Water can thereby be divided into Prana-vayu and Udana-vayu. Vayu means "air." Thus the Ancient Hindus correctly analyzed water as the mixture of two gases. Prana is the life principle (so must correspond to oxygen, which is essential to life) and Udana means "upward breathing" (so must correspond to hydrogen, which is the lightest element).

(See also: VARUNA , Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul,)

Seer In its highest sense, one who discerns truths clearly by the use of the real inner vision, the Eye of Siva; who can see throughout the ranges of space and time belonging to a universe -- not barring intuitions of the spaces and times of other surrounding universes. But it is also used for a number of varying degrees of ability to see clairvoyantly in the astral light.

Swedenborg is sometimes called a seer, which he was in small degree, but because he was untrained, what he saw was mainly peculiar to himself, as is the case with seers of the same class. Instructions for aspirants to wisdom are replete with warnings as to the manifold dangers and deceptions of the astral light, and the obstacles thrown up by the unpurified and undisciplined nature of the disciple.

The ability to become a true spiritual seer using the inner eye, means the fruits of many lives of aspiration and training, involving the successful passing of many trials and initiations. The science called gutpa-vidya is due to the collaboration and teaching of real seers, whose trained faculties enable them to have direct vision of actualities.

(See also: Seer , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

SOFT TISSUE RELEASE

Soft tissue release (STR) is a powerful injury treatment technique developed in Europe with the world’s fastest sprinters. Due to the amazing amounts of prize money and endorsement contracts available to these athletes, faster and more permanent results were warranted.

Soft tissue release was developed to meet this need. Recovery rates once considered impossible by traditional therapists and sports medicine doctors were achieved. These are not new concepts, but are based on European osteopathy techniques, along with insights from quantum physics. In recent years, Soft tissue release has been given clinical application for chronic low back pain and whiplash injuries.

Soft tissue release deals directly with the reasons for soft tissue dysfunctions and subsequent referred pain and nerve entrapment. In acute conditions, Soft tissue release affects the insidious way scar tissue is formed, and in chronic conditions Soft tissue release breaks up the fibrotic and adhered mass of scar tissue to quickly allow the muscle to return to its natural resting length. Once the muscle or muscle group has returned to the original resting length, there is an immediate release from the pain induced by the inflammation response.

With Soft tissue release, the client is placed in a particular position so that the muscle begins to stretch in a very specific direction or plane. The exact location of the injury has been defined and a determined pressure is applied directly into the affected tissue or along a specific line of injury. At the same time, depending whether passive or active techniques are being used, the client is given a set of instructions that now engage the antagonist of the muscles involved. The muscle is extended from a fixed position in a determined direction under a pinpoint of pressure. Decrease in pain and increase in range of motion are often immediate, offsetting any minor discomfort experienced.

Soft tissue release can be modified so there is no client discomfort at all. The flowing motions of Soft tissue release and total client control afford new levels of deep tissue work and subsequent pain relief.

(See also: SOFT TISSUE RELEASE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

LYPPOSAGE

Developed by Charles W. Wiltsie III, lypossage is a combination of manual deep-tissue massage, lymphatic drainage, and the principles of structural integration used to combat cellulite.

An alternative to liposuction and body contouring machines, lypossage enhances firmness and tone and increases skin resilience and smoothness.

The treatment requires a series of sessions because the reduction of cellulite is only temporary unless treatment is continued. When combined with diet and exercise, lypossage produces a lifting effect in areas prone to sagging.

(See also: LYPPOSAGE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Jyotisha jyotisa (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root jyut to shine)

An astronomer; as a neuter noun, astronomy, also called jyotisha-vidya. One name for Hindu astrology. Likewise the name of one of the six Vedangas (parts of the Vedas), a short tract giving instructions for fixing the days and hours of Vedic sacrifices.

(See also: Jyotisha, jyotisa , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)