...act exercises, which heal the body and mind.

Meditation, stage-by-stage relaxation, and body scanning techniques, are often taught at the end of Hatha, Raja, and Kundalini Yoga classes. These techniques result in peace of mind and create a state of inner-tranquility, within the Yoga student. Regular Yoga practice will reduce daily stress, raise your immune system, and increase the quality of life.

Karma Yoga, which focuses on helping others through selfless service, can be very gratifying. When we help people in need, we often realize how small our daily problems are in comparison to others.

To live an extra ten years, in a nursing home, is not the prospect any of us envision for a quality life. The student, who practices any form of Yoga, for life, is often mobile and independent - well into the later stages of life.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

...more

Raja Yoga Gaining Complete Control of Mind for Deep Meditation

...le, and therefore the goal of any yoga, unattainable.

Moreover in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, "Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah," or, "The restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga! Raja Yoga shows how to achieve this.

8 Principles of Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga is also known as ashtanga (8 limbed) Yoga which refers to the eight principles which are:

Yama; or the Code of conduct that is, self-restraint

Niyama; religious observances - commitments to practice, study and devotion

Asana: integration of mind and body through physical activity

Pranayama: regulation of breath leading to integration of mind and body

Pratyahara: abstraction of the senses, withdrawal of the senses of perception from their objects

Dharana; concentration, one-pointedness of mind

Dhyana: meditation (quiet and non-sensual activity that leads to samadhi)

Samadhi; the quiet state of blissful awareness, superconscious state

It must be remarked that although called eig...more

Yoga position - What Does Each Type Do?

...s also release tension in your back, neck, shoulders, and increase the flexibility in your spine. They often promote a sense of calmness. I find forward bends particularly challenging since I have a considerable amount of stiffness in my neck due to an old gymnastics injury. This is the type of yoga position where I often use a prop such as a strap or block.

Back Bends
They open your chest, rib cage, and hips. They strengthen your arms and shoulders, while simultaneously increasing flexibility in your shoulders. They help relieve tension from the front of your body and hips and they also increase spinal stability. You should always do back bends as a complement to forward bends in order to maintain balance in your body.

balance
Although balance poses can be challenging, I find them to be some of the most fun poses to do. They help you develop muscle tone and coordination and also strength and agility. They help improve your posture because you really need to elongate your spine in order to keep yourself from falling over. This type of yoga position helps train your mind to focus your atten...more

What Makes ashtanga Yoga Different?

...ashtanga Yoga is the type of yoga which was created and established by a master named K. Pattabhi Jois. Due to its theory containing eight different limbs, or components, it is also known as "Eight-Limb Yoga". It doesn't imply that the practitioner has a double set of limbs, but master Pattabhi Jois showed that the optimum path of purification is made up of the eight spiritual practices.

The basic idea is that these limbs only can be kept in balance by the appropriate application of the Ashtanga Yoga method.

The first four limbs that symbolize Ashtanga Yoga, and are considered externally correctable are (original names within double quotes):

- Moral codes or "yama"
- Self-purification or "niyama"
- Posture or "asana"
- Breath control or "pranayama"

Then there is the other set of limbs which are the internal practices:

- Sense control or "pratyahara"
- Meditation or "dhyana"
- Concentration or "dharana"
- Contemplation or "samadhi"

K. Pattabhi Jois declared that practicing t...more

Certification Teacher Training Yoga 20