Ananda Yoga: Ananda Yoga focuses on gentle postures designed to move the body's energy to different organs and muscles, but primarily to the brain to prepare for meditation.

(See also: Ananda Yoga, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Flow Yoga: Flow Yoga is about linking the breath with the pose.  One moves from pose to pose in a smooth, easy manner, like Meditation in Motion and on a deeper level, as resistance is released and tension is shed, you flow with the present moment.

(See also: Flow Yoga, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

The main difference of this style of Yoga to other styles is the focus on vinyasa, which is the union of movement and breath. The student moves into and out of each asana in a well-defined set of movements, called Suryanamaskara or Sun-Salutation, which are combined with specific breathing patterns. The purpose of vinyasa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. It also improves flexibility, which allows the student to practice advanced asanas without risk of injury. Other components of Ashtanga Yoga include bandhas (internal locks), u ...

See also:

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Method, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Bandhas, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Drishtis, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Mantras

Read more here: » Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Method

Khechari Mudra

'Kha' means Akasa and 'Chari' means to move. The Yogi moves in the Akasa. The tongue and the mind remain in the Akasa. Hence this is known as Khechari Mudra.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Khechari Mudra: Practice of Khechari Mudra

Varieties Of Pranayama

23. Briefly, I will now describe to you Pranayama. Prana is the Vayu that moves in the body. The restraint of Prana within is known as Kumbhaka.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: Varieties Of Pranayama

The Rousing Of The Kundalini

56. With the mind firmly fixed on the Truth, the practice of Pranayama should be performed daily. Then the mind takes its repose in the Sushumna. The Prana therefore never moves.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: The Rousing Of The Kundalini

47. Seven are the causes of the diseases in the body. Sleeping during the daytime is the first, late vigils overnight is the second, excess of sexual intercourse the third, moving amidst crowds the fourth. The fifth cause is the effect of unwholesome food. The sixth is the checking of the discharge of urine and faeces. The seventh is the laborious mental operation with Prana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: The Obstacles To The Practice Of Yoga And How To Overcome Them

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)

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)

''Kundalini'' literally means coiling, like a snake. More meaningfully kundalini can be described as a great reservoir of creative energy at the base of the spine. Think of kundalini energy as the very foundation of our consciousness so when kundalini moves through the sushumna and through our cakras our consciousness necessarily changes with it.

This FAQ gives an overview of Siddha Mahayoga. Part I of III.

In Part I: 1) What is kundalini? 2) What does kundalini have to do with spiritual enlightenment? 3) What is the goal of kundalini yoga? 4) So how do I awaken kundalini?

Read more here: » Siddha Mahayoga FAQ: What is Kundalini? (part I of III)

 Laya Yoga - The Essence Of All Religion

Yoga is the essence of every religion and is that what all religions have in common. If a man really wants to go deeply into the mystical and spiritual essence of their religion, then he or she comes to practise yoga. We say that yoga is not a religion in a sense of an individual creed or a sect separating from others, we also say that yoga is the substance and profundity of every religion and its inner cult. That is why one can be a member of every religious society and practise yoga. Two rules, or if one prefers, two commandments present in all scriptures such as Veda, Koran or the Bible are as if two angelic, divine wings of the Laya Yoga training. " Be holy because I am Holy" and " Be so perfect as your Heavenly Father is" these are the signs of an authentic, spiritual path of universal life.

Read more here: » Laya Yoga: The Essence Of All Religion - Laya Yoga

Videha Mukti

37. He has done what ought to be done. Therefore, he is a fortunate person.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: Videha Mukti

What you seek as your highest goal depends upon who you think you are. If you think you are a physical creature subject to biological laws, the highest goal you can aim for would very likely have physical limits, says Ramanuja.

You could just end up seeking physical gratification. In other words, human suffering is the result of our own opinions and aspirations.

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

The Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad presents methods for the control of Prana. The Yogic student does not deal with Vasanas. He concerns himself with the techniques of controlling the Prana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad: Introduction to Yoga-Kundalini Upanishad

Babaji's disciples think of him as the incarnation of Lord Shiva, and so believe that he is present everywhere. Babaji once told his disciples of the Creator: ''He is deathless. He can do whatever He wills. The whole universe is an expanded bubble ready to burst before Him.''

If Patanjali, who wrote the Yoga Sutra nearly 2,005 years ago, was instrumental in defining the principles of yoga in its different forms, Paramhansa Yogananda played a major role in popularising those principles worldwide.

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

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)

The Chakras are centres of Shakti as vital force. In other words, these are centres of Pranashakti manifested by Pranavayu in the living body, the presiding Devatas of which are the names for the Universal Consciousness as It manifests in the form of these centres. The Chakras are not perceptible to the gross senses. Even if they were perceptible in the living body which they help to organise, they disappear with the disintegration of organism at death.

Read more here: » Chakras and Kundalini: The gradational ascent of the mind

The flailing arms, high kicks, twists and crouches may look eccentric, but the walking style of exercise guru Duke Saraye is sweeping Japan with its unique mix of yoga, ballet, aerobics and other Oriental and Western ideas.

"Sole is soul - if you don't tread right, your soul won't become clean," 49-year-old Saraye, wearing a trademark black T-shirt and lycra skullcap, told a class of 60 women, young and old during a recent two-hour class at a Tokyo hall.

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

Sudarshan Kriya is an ancient but potent breathing technique, reintroduced by Sri Sri Ravishankar through his organisation, Vyakti Vikas Kendra, in 1982.

This includes two simple yoga techniques - pranayama and poornayoga . Pranayama is a technique to govern the breathing process and Poornayoga includes practise of simple yoga postures.

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

Neti: Nose cleansing

Rinsing your nose with salt water not only prevents colds, Neti also relaxes the entire nasal cavity and affects the surrounding areas: eyes, ears, throat and brain - thus influencing your mental state.

Read more here: » Neti: Nose cleansing