Category Archives: Yoga

Improvement Within The Sense Of Hearing Through Yoga

It’s rightly believed that though a spoken word is heard by all, the privilege of having the ability to listen to a softly spoken word is solely granted to people who are blessed with a sensible sense of hearing. Therefore, it’s essential for every individual to possess a good sense of hearing in order to be in a position to survive in this vast universe and this will be attained through the regular practice of yoga.

The word yoga has been derived from the Sanskrit word yuj which means to unite or to manage and so this ancient art involves the unification of the physical, mental likewise as the non secular aspects of its practitioner. Since the most objective of yoga is to assist the individual to calm down and develop a deep insight, this enlightenment which is achieved can be effectively used to seek ones energy points within the body which are called chakras.

The human body is home to seven chakras that reside in seven totally different parts of the body and each of the seven chakras resembles a wheel or a flower surrounded by a selected number of pokes or petals. It’s this chakra which is the focal point of energy among the body and also the chakra that encompasses the ear and influences our sense of hearing is referred to as the vishuddhi chakra, that is symbolized by a turquoise blue lotus surrounded by sixteen petals. Since this chakra is responsible for the clarity in communication, fluency of thought, independence furthermore a way of security during a soul, it ought to continually be open and functioning as an inlet for knowledge, knowledge and learning.

The branch of yoga which causes the vishuddhi chakra to open is called kundalini yoga and this entails a regular practice of a variety of yogasanas, pranayama, and jalandhara bandha and khecari mudra. The yogic asanas which are related to the sense of hearing in a human being and lead to its improvement through regular follow are listed as follows:

Tadasana, a standing asana, not only keeps the ear healthy, but conjointly improves the physical balance of someone and adds flexibility to a minimum of ones backbone.
Jal neti is a technique in which water is suffered the internal passages of the face therefore making certain the effective cleaning of the ear and subsequently reducing the probabilities of an infection.
Karma dhauti could be a method by which the ear wax is off from the ear by inserting the insufficient finger and rotating it in all directions.

Discover Bikram Yoga

Bikram Yoga is a specific form of yoga that was developed by the yoga master, Bikram Choudhury. It consists of a series of 26 poses that include two breathing exercises, which are done twice within a 90-minute class. Bikram yoga is practiced in a heated room that is set to 105 degrees while maintaining a humidity level of 40 percent. It is considered a form of hot yoga, which is always done in a room that is heated to 95 to 100 degrees.

By performing the 26 postures included in the program, every area of the body benefits. This includes muscles, ligaments, veins and all the internal organs as these postures help to provide maximum function while maintaining optimum health. As the postures are being performed, they work together as well as separately to benefit every part of the body while benefiting each other at the same time. Hot yoga helps to heat the body up, which softens it, making the body more flexible. When it becomes this flexible, it can be reshaped according to the individual’s desire. Yoga also works to cleanse the body of toxins and waste from organs and glands. While practicing yoga the body is naturally cleansed through the respiratory and circulatory systems. It also nourishes every cell of the body, offering maximum function and health. By using the Bikram yoga techniques, additional benefits of yoga are obtained as the body is cleansed in a deeper fashion by releasing toxins and waste through the skin. With the addition of the breathing exercises that are implemented in the Bikram yoga practice, the lungs receive more oxygen, which improves circulation and cardiovascular health.

Bikram Choudhury created this specific yoga practice as a way to help individuals find and maintain general wellness. By implementing the use of heated facilities, injuries are prevented, stretches are deeper and tension and stress are reduced. All systems in the body become stimulated, which can restore health to organs, joints and muscles. Moreover, by applying the breathing techniques, the lungs become more capable of increasing oxygen intake, which provides improved blood circulation and oxygen to every cell in the body. Another important factor in Bikram yoga is the specific postures that are done to temporarily cut off blood supply. This makes the heart pump faster to provide fresh blood to the body. When the posture has been completed, this fresh blood rejuvenates arteries that have been blocked of blood supply. This action releases toxins, bacteria and infections from the body.

Bikram yoga should only be practiced under the supervision of a Bikram yoga teacher who is certified in this form of yoga and in a studio that is built to provide the proper heat that is required for safely maximizing the required postures.

Yoga Benefits Of Pranayama

Pranayam is made up of two words Prana + Ayam.

Prana is the vital force present in whole cosmos. We have been provided Prana, the supreme source of energy by the creator. Proper utilisation of this free source of energy can make remarkable changes to our physical and mental health, vitality and self confidence. Prana is more subtle than air and can be defined as the energy essence that is within everything in the universe.
Ayama means to control or to give a rhythm or a definite flow.

In this sense Pranayama may be defined as a process and technique through which vital energy can be stimulated and increased and this brings about perfect control over the flow of Prana within the body. Pranayama locks the scattering of pranic energy, consolidates it at the centre of your body-mind complex and laser-beams it to an intense awareness of the self. In simple language Pranayam can be said to be the right form of breathing technique to control our energy.

Breathing Technique: We can train ourselves to breathe more slowly and more deeply. We can reduce our breathing rate from about fifteen breaths a minute to 5-6 breaths a minute. Reduced breathing rate leads to slowing down the heart rate as more oxygen can be pumped even with less number of breaths. Time of exhalation should be longer than that of inhalation in the breath cycle.

Types of Pranayama:
1.Bhastrika Pranayama
2.Kapal Bhati Pranayama
3.Baghi Pranayama
4.Anulom Vilom Pranayama
5.Bhramari Pranayama
6.Udgeet Pranayama

Most of us are not well aware of tangible and intangible benefits of Pranayama. All benefits of pranayama cannot be written down, few of them are listed below:-

Healthy Heart: Heart is the key organ of our body which beats about 70 times per minute to pump blood non-stop all your life. The health of your heart indicates our life expectancy and quality of life in old age. More oxygen in the blood means more oxygen to muscles of the heart.

Better Blood Circulation: As a result of better breathing techniques, the freshly oxygenated blood travels from lungs to the heart. The heart pumps it via arteries and blood vessels to every part of the body, where in turn is absorbed by every tissue and cell. This improves the blood circulation and more oxygen energy reaches all parts of your body.

Stress Management: Pranayama is an excellent stress relief technique. Pranayama practice provides freedom from negative thought, anger, depression, lasciviousness, greed for money, arrogance etc. With pranayama fluctuations of mind are controlled and it prepares the mind for meditation. With practice of pranayama, we can experience lightness of body, feeling of inner peace, better sleep, better memory and better concentration whereby improving the spiritual powers/ skills. Mental peace and clarity of thought occur in our mind. Cheerfulness and enthusiasm is increased in life.

Functioning of Body Organs: By practice of pranayama all body organs gets more oxygen, toxins are removed from body; therefore onset of various diseases is prevented. Better functioning of autonomic system improves the working of lungs, heart, diaphragm, abdomen, intestines, kidneys and pancreas. Digestive system improves and diseases pertaining to digestive organs are cured with good appetite. General irritability due to lethargy/ fatigue vanishes. Pranayama strengthens the immune system. Pranayama reduces wear and tear of internal organs.

Longevity and Quality of Life in Old Age: Higher the breath rate, lower the life of creature in the world. Dog and monkey have higher breathing rate and lower life in contrast with elephant and tortoise taking four to five breaths in a minute and it lives up to 200 years or more. As a person with sedentary lifestyle reaches middle age, lung tissues tend to grow less and less elastic and lung capacity decreases. Pranayama can help to reduce the effects of following old age problems.

Yoga – Contraindications For Inversions

As we practice yoga poses we want to do also inversions. Most common inversions are the Headstand and the Shoulderstand. But there are not only those two poses which are the inverted asanas.

Any posture in which the head is below the heart is called an inversion. Whether you stand on your head, bend forward or bend back, if your head is below your heart, you are performing an inversion.

This also means that Downward Facing Dog, Standing Forward Bend and Fish pose are also inversions; although those poses are mild in comparison to a Headstand. The Camel pose can also be an inversion if you bend back far enough.

Remember – inversions are not for everyone!

Your intentions should be clear when you perform any yoga posture. If the risks may outweigh the benefits there is no logical reason why you should practice any pose which can harm you.

Contraindications for practicing inversions:

If you have any of the following conditions, please omit inversions or work with a qualified and experienced teacher who will never put you at risk and tried to modify your practice.

Anyone who has high blood pressure, heart related problems, eye issues, neck problems, epilepsy, previous stroke or sinus problems should never practice Headstand or Shoulderstand, and omit other mild inversions or be adjusted by the yoga teacher.

During any stage of pregnancy yoga should be practiced in a prenatal yoga classes specifically designed for that purpose or privately with a qualified pregnancy yoga teacher.

During menstruation Headstand and Shoulderstand preferably should be omitted and other milder inversions should not be hold for long, but because of the controversy about the inversions during menstruation it is your personal choice. Let your body guide you.

If you are a yoga teacher explain to your students why the inversions can be dangerous for them if they have any of the condition mentioned earlier.

Why not stand on your head when you have pain in your neck or neck injury? What first thing will come to your mind as you there? Ouch … my neck! Can my small neck carry my whole weight as I am inverted?

Most students put lots of weight on their head and neck instead of shoulders. Use your common sense and listen to your body. Intuition will never let you down.

Why omit headstand if I have high blood pressure? Because the danger is when your blood pressure increase from 100/60 mm Hg while standing on your feet to 150/110 mm Hg or even higher when you go for headstand.

Where Did Yoga Come From

Today’s society is much faster paced that ever before. People have more stress problems which lead to more health problems, mental and physical. There are more concerns with toxicity in the food we eat and the air we breathe. Millions of Americans today live a sedentary lifestyle, which is associated with obesity. The body, the cavities of our soul, was not meant to deteriorate in such a way that leads to disease. Yoga was developed over 5,000 years ago in India and it included spiritual beliefs, physical techniques, and scholarly philosophy.

There is a growing trend to practicing Yoga for many different reasons, which include attaining the yoga body or physique, relaxation and peace of mind, or to prevent injury and ailments. Americans mainly practice Hatha Yoga, which focuses on postures and stretching the body.

Yoga, which is derived from the sacred Sanskrit language of India, meaning *union* or *to yoke or harness*. Yoga is a way or path to transcendence and liberation from the self and the ego by purifying the mind and body. Practicing yoga leads to a union with the mind and body or the individual and universal consciousness. In other words, yoga is the union with the Individual Self and the Universal Self. Yoga predates all other religions and has influenced and inspired many other traditions and philosophies. Yoga is better understood as a union of the physical, physiological, mental, emotional, and intellectual bodies, which leads to a purposeful and balanced life.

There is simply no other discipline quite like yoga because it utilized the body, mind and spirit, all in one practice. Yoga is indeed a spiritual path that is based on ancient sacred philosophy, but one does not need to make an ethical decision when practicing yoga, rather finding your own path is wholly accepted. The holistic benefits of yoga are suitable for the young or old, sick or well, with any religious background. The secrets of yoga are inwardness, concentration, and purification of mind and body with cleansing thoughts and food. Indian philosophy states that within man is the spirit that is the center of everything. *Internal equilibrium is the basis and the ground for the higher illumination,* The cultural Heritage of India (Vol. I) – published by The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, India