Yoga Blog

Karma Yoga - The Yoga Of Selfless Service

2007-02-08T09:32:00.001-08:00

The Definition of Karma

Karma is the sum of all our acts, both present and past. It is not only action, but the result thereof. It is important to understand that all actions have results, not only in the material plane but also in the spiritual world. Even though, as a result of a wicked action, one gets pleasure in this life, one will have to pay the penalty for that action in a future one and the cosmic law is the law of balance - as you sow, you shall reap. There is a hidden power in Karma called 'Adrishta', which causes the individual to be affected by the fruits of Karma.

What Makes Up Karma

Man has a threefold nature. He is composed of Iccha, which is desire or feeling, Jnana, which is knowing and Kriya, which is willing. These three make up a man's Karma. Desire, thought and action are all components, which make up the thread of a person's Karma. Karma is the fruit of desire, thought and action and can cause either pleasure or pain. The truth is that it takes multiple incarnations to reap the fruits of a person's Karma. It is only after all the negative fruit have been reaped, that a person can achieve consciousness of the Godhead in this life and union with the Godhead after death, not having to suffer any more incarnations. This state yogis call Samadhi.

What Karma Yoga Is

Karma Yoga is the devotion of all actions and their results to the Lord, in whatever way you picture Him/Her. It is the Yoga of being conscious of the Divine while doing all actions, realizing that all everything comes from the Lord and is of the Lord. It is not being attached to the results of action and being in equanimity whether the results of your actions are successful or not.

It is practiced by serving humanity selflessly and is action, which purifies the Antahkarana (the heart and mind) in preparation for achieving consciousness of the Divine. Karma Yoga is service without attachment or egoism.

Although all actions cause Karma and all actions on the material plane are made up of both good and bad Karma, you cannot avoid Karma by doing nothing at all. What causes bad Karma is egoistic actions, done with the idea of achieving personal benefit. Action done without the idea of benefit is liberating, producing good Karma. Action done with the consciousness of the actor being an instrument of the Lord, as being a part of Nature's cosmic activity, is liberating. Karma produced this way becomes Karma Yoga. It frees you from the bonds of Karma and allows you to enjoy peace. It prepares the yogi for knowledge of the Divine.

Karma Yoga allows the yogi to be a better Adhikari (spiritual aspirant), a better student of the Holy Scriptures (Vedanta). Unless the heart and mind are pure, study (or Jnana Yoga) becomes a vehicle for empty debate. This debate has more to do with the egoism of the debaters, than any sincere desire to get at absolute truth. Impure persons might know the scriptures, but the scriptures remain on the lips; they are not taken to heart. It is only through selfless service that the aspirant can purify the mind enough to properly understand and fully take to heart the Holy Scriptures of Vedanta.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Yoga

Hatha Yoga for Beginners: Tools for Happiness

2007-02-08T09:31:00.002-08:00

After spending time in a class with your Yoga teacher, for an hour or two, the commute home is more tranquil. You left anxiety back at the entrance of your Yoga class and have discovered inner peace again.

How do you keep that feeling of tranquility? Would you like to order “Yoga to go” or package some “piece of mind?” If only it were that easy, but here are some tools that will help you re-discover that “Yogic high,” until your next Yoga class.

Listening to music that soothes your inner being is a start. It does not matter which style you choose. Only you can determine which form of music brings out the best in you.

Music has the ability to make negative distractions fade away. This will enable you to focus on your daily tasks. Be aware that some people may find the music you listen to irritating. A good set of headphones, or playing your music at a low volume, is a considerate gesture to others, but remember that playing music requires the right time and place.

There are many Yoga and meditation books available. There are also many useful CD’s and DVD’s, which can teach you new things about Yoga. It is advisable to take notes on the Yoga techniques demonstrated, before jumping into an at-home Yoga or meditation practice.

Before you ever learn to meditate, you must first learn to relax. Many Yoga students want to get straight to meditation, and are upset, with themselves, for relaxing. There is no need to make Yoga meditation into a goal, a problem, or a stressful situation.

Even if you fall asleep – who cares? No one is counting score. Self-study with Yoga books, CD’s, music, DVD’s, or Yoga teacher certification is at your own pace. Too many of us are in a rush without having a purpose. Enjoy the journey and smell the flowers as you go.

Another tool for happiness and focusing is a warm bath. This is simplistic, but it is a wonderful relaxation method before Yoga practice, meditation, or bedtime. Beside the fact that bathing makes us feel clean, we are focusing on the pleasure of bathing and living life in the moment.

Self-affirmations create a positive mind-set and build self-confidence. When you have self-confidence, positive thought becomes reality, and happiness is your companion.

Pranayama is a powerful method for expelling stress, anxiety, and daily pressure from your system. Sometimes, Pranayama can have an instant and positive effect on your mind and body. You can practice Pranayama anywhere, therefore, you are not limited by time or space.

Lastly, prayer is a powerful tool for happiness. It does not matter which religion you practice. Prayer has therapeutic value for everyone of any religion.

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. To receive a Free e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

Teaching Hatha Yoga: Help! My Students Do Not Want to Practice Pranayama

2007-02-08T09:31:00.001-08:00

Recently, a Yoga teacher contacted me with the problem of students who have closed their minds to the benefits of Pranayama. She teaches classes in her own Yoga studio and has a very warm relationship with all of her students.

To give you a little background on this teacher and her class: She teaches a Vinyasa style Hatha Yoga class with Ujjayi Pranayama synchronized into her flows.

She starts with a brief five to ten minute meditation before postures, but she has a five to ten minute Pranayama segment before the conclusion of her Vinyasa Yoga class.

One of her more radical students has decided to publicly challenge the value of Pranayama in her Yoga classes - stating that, “You do not have to be a rocket scientist to learn how to breathe.” Some of her students have decided to “follow the leader” and are leaving before Pranayama starts.

What is the Real Value of Pranayama?

Mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional, quality of life is the biggest benefit of Pranayama practice and here are two, of the many, reasons why.

1. Physical Health: If you do not take the time to breathe correctly, your blood circulation will slow down - while your blood vessels constrict, leaving you with less oxygen in your bloodstream. The end result is irritability, anxiety, irregular or rapid pulse, muscle tension, and an inability to handle life’s daily stressful situations.

2. Consciousness: Sometimes we refer to forms of consciousness as concentration, mindfulness, and meditation. Whichever way you look at it, Pranayama is the gateway to the mind and body connection. Pranayama brings you into the moment; and without it, we are not practicing any form of Yoga.

The Traditional Yoga Teacher

When I first entered an ashram to learn Yoga, it was much similar to my first entrance into a “dojo” (training hall), to learn martial arts. The ashram is also a traditional place, and the Guru or Yoga teacher has control of the lesson plan.

As a student of Yoga, from a martial arts background, I never questioned this foundation. If a Yoga student does not agree with the structure of a class, he or she can always find another Yoga class.

Yet, it does make a Yoga teacher wonder what a student is looking for. From a pure exercise perspective, Pranayama is the most important of all physical exercises, because you will not live long without it.

Yoga is a Fun Way of Promoting a Healthier Looking Body

2007-02-08T09:30:00.003-08:00

By Gerry Fung

Why should you practice Hatha Yoga?

It promotes a healthier looking body.
It promotes a healthier, calmer, and more focused mind.
Its instant benefits include stress-relief and renewed enthusiasm. It allows you to channel your energy so that it’s not wasted on negative emotions.
Yoga can be adapted to your individual needs whether you are young or old, male or female, healthy or sick.
Practised properly, yoga is low-impact and will not put excessive strain on your heart, muscles, and joints.
Yoga is inexpensive and requires no special equipment.
Yoga can improve the quality of your sleep so that you wake up feeling refreshed and full of vitality.
Yoga is fun!

Yoga has been called a science or technology of liberation. This is because, unlike purely theoretical philosophies, yoga seeks to provide the student with a practical path towards the common goal of liberation. The word yoga can be roughly translated (from its India origins) as “the ability to focus the mind on a single point without distraction”.

Yogic theory teaches that the body is just the outside shell of the self. There are five bodies that collectively contribute to the self:

Annamaya kosha- the food sheath, or physical body.
Pranamaya kosha- the energy sheath.
Manomaya kosha- the mental sheath (the processing of basic information).
Vijnanamaya kosha- the intellectual sheath (the part of the mind which generates a higher level of understanding).
Anandamaya kosha- the bliss sheath (universal consciousness).

Yoga is a way of encouraging the five sheaths to work together optimally, in order to enhance our sense of the self. Hatha yoga uses posture and breathing exercises to accomplish this. For example, an improved flow of energy to the physical body can lead to improved powers in the intellectual sheath. Prana is defined as the vital life force that makes up the universe. It exists both within us and in our surrounding environments. Prana flows through the body using a system of energy channels (nadis) which intersect to form chakras. Pranayama (breathing control) helps to improve the flow of prana through our bodies by clearing the nadis (energy channels) to allow prana to flow through more easily. Meditation on a particular chakra can also bring about better flow of energy through it.

Dedicated asana (posture practice) is a vehicle which can help us to regulate our breathing and thus, improve our pranayama. Together, asana (posture practice) and pranayama (breathing exercises) are the building blocks of yogic theory.

For more information about Hatha Yoga, and to view our online yoga workout, go to activefitnessworld.com. Check out FitnessByBrazil's complete line of Yoga clothing at SurfToSave.com!

Understanding Patanajali's Yoga Sutras (11-15)

2007-02-08T09:30:00.001-08:00

1:11 “Memory is returning the mind to the past.” This could also be phrased, “Memory does not allow the mind to escape from the past.”

Without memory, we will not learn from our past. The past teaches us, but we cannot reside there. We cannot change the past, but sometimes we allow past mistakes to haunt us.

We all have regrets about the past, but we must live for now. Otherwise, we will miss the present, which quickly shapes the future. When past mistakes are a heavy burden, we must do our best to compensate anyone who has been wronged.

1:12 “Control of the mind is achieved through practice and non-attachment.”

Controlling our thought streams can be achieved through the practice of meditation and Yoga, but non-attachment is very difficult to accomplish.

Even if we are able to shed consumerism, can any of us approach life without a private agenda? Yet, Patanjali seems to indicate that Yoga is a gateway to freedom from attachment. As Yoga has flourished worldwide, we are becoming aware that his insight is true.

1:13 “Practice is the constant endeavor to steady the mind.”

When Patanjali mentions “practice,” he is referring to the practice of Yoga. It could also be said that a steady mind creates a state of freedom from within. There is much more to Yoga than physical prowess, but it takes time and constant practice to see it.

1:14 “This practice of Yoga is built, with devotion and commitment, over a lengthy time period.”

Many Yoga teachers see students with potential come and go. The same thing happens in any pursuit which requires commitment.

In comparison, martial arts students are not considered serious practitioners until they have practiced diligently for about ten years. With so much to learn, and life being so short, the same can be easily said for Yoga.

1:15 “Freedom from the desire of seen, or unseen, objects and power, will result in a higher a state of consciousness.”

We spend our time working and praying for earthly objects. Some of us plot for power and material - while some of us spend the day visualizing our lustful desires. This is normal human consciousness, but it is also a “prison,” which holds us back from the good we can do and our higher purposes in this life.

Desire and attachment have held mankind back since the beginning. You can read it in any scripture, from any religion, and you can see it on your television tonight. Desire and attachment are the cause, or excuse, for countless wars throughout our history.

Yoga practitioners often talk and work toward world peace. This is a noble effort, but we should not be silent about injustice, which stems from desire.

Treat Your Acne With Yoga

2007-02-08T09:29:00.001-08:00

You can treat your acne with yoga. It is a proven fact that by bringing some healthy life style changes you can quicken the response of medications to your acne skin.

Everything about yoga is good, but the best part of yoga is that it is a great stress reliever. If you had a proper exercise and yoga schedule, acne would have been miles away from you. Apart from the physical aspect, what is more important in yoga is that it treats your mental imbalances such as stress, anxiety and deep worries. Remember, yoga is not merely one of those tips. It has to develop as your way of living.

Yoga teaches you to life with an integrated approach. Correct living is yoga. Incorrect living is anti-yoga. The appearance of acne on the face of the teenager, apart from causing physical discomforts, leaves a deep emotional impact. That means, your mind is also disturbed or stressed. You feel bad about yourself.

Cleanliness is the entry point part of the yoga way of life. One, who is suffering from acne, needs to take extra care about this aspect of life. Wash your hands a number of times, so that you provide no ground to the bacteria to enter your body. Use mild soap and water. Always keep the hand and nails away from the face. Don't you ever try to squeeze the pimples. By doing so, you are providing opportunities for the bacteria to spread. Skin envelops all over, it protects the entire parts of your body, and therefore, deserves excellent nourishment. Cut the unhealthy items from your food, and give it fruits and vegetables.

Even if you have a tough working schedule, give proper rest and recuperation to your body. Take plenty of water for a beautiful skin.

Having done this much, you are laying the foundations for a physically fit body.

Yoga consists of two parts “the physical aspect and the mental aspect.” You need to make a beginning with a few selected exercises. Sun salutations exercise is the most import exercise. In fact, several asanas and postures are intelligently clubbed in this yoga asana. Take proper rest between each asana.

The concluding part of the yoga asanas should be pranayama (the breathing exercises) and meditation.

When you create all the unfavorable conditions for the sustenance of acne, the only alternative for it to depart with grace is at its earliest. I assure you that it is going to happen, if you adopt the yoga way to treat acne. Even after the departure of acne, continue with your yoga and meditation schedule.

To get more information on acne, acne treatments and acne medication visit http://www.acnetalks.com/pimple

Yoga and Knee Pain Solution

2007-02-08T09:28:00.002-08:00

Every year, about 11 million Americans complain to doctors about knee pain. Roughly 21 million American people have osteoarthritis of the knee (a degenerative disease in which the cartilage gradually decays and fails to provide the shock absorbing padding that cushions the bones). Orthopedic surgeons performed more than 1.2 million such surgeries in 1996 alone.

Many older people suffer from this painful arthritic condition, however this knee pain is not only restricted to older people but healthy young people are also getting effected by it, for example dancers, athlete for various reason.

Reason for knee injuries/ pain

Lets see what are the reason that people get knee pain. Most common risk factor for knee pain are old age, obesity, knee injuries because of hyperextension , misalignment of knee, inappropriate way of doing exercise, tight muscles or because of combination of above factors etc.

Hyperextension at the knee joint occur when the joints are overly flexible. In this case legs extend too far and move past the point of being straight. Some people may be born with this condition however most people develop it by habitually locking their knee.

Knee injuries can also occur because the way we stand and walk. For example when we stand straight we need to be aware that whether our body weight is distributed properly on both feet or not. It is not very uncommon to observe that one side of heals of people shoes is wearing out more than the other side creating imbalance at the knee joint.

Imbalance at knee joint also occurs because of underdeveloped inner quadriceps and strong outer quadriceps. In this case tendency of strong quadriceps is to pull the kneecap towards the outside of legs I.e. result in imbalance.

Knee joints in our body can be healthy if the muscles that support them are healthy I.e. both strong and supple. Tight outer hips and hamstrings put undue pressure pressure on knee joints. Athletic activity cause these muscles to tighten up and along with the aging process condition become worse (unless proper stretching are done after each workout when body is warm).

Yoga provide effective solution

Yoga is excellent for increasing strength and flexibility in knees. More and more doctors are recommending yoga to their patients who are rehabilitating after a ligament injury.

The benefit with yoga is that it helps to strengthen both the inner and outer quadriceps, which help to keep the kneecap in alignment. It strengthens the quadriceps, the hamstrings, the calves and the ankles- all fairly consistently. Strength in these areas all help to support a weak knee.

Another benefit that yoga give for the knees is the increase in blood flow and nourishment that it sends to the surrounding joints and ligaments. As with most poses in yoga, the action of squeezing a body part, and then releasing it, sends lots of nutrient rich blood to the area that was affected in the posture. Many postures do this for the knees in yoga.

Yoga posture like staff pose(Dandasana),Half downward facing dog pose (Ardha Adho Mukha Svanasana),Seat of power pose (Utkatasana Pose), simple balancing pose, Half frog pose (Ardha Bhekasana) etc can be very helpful for rejuvenating knee joints.

Practiced with care, yoga posture can contribute to the long-term health of your knees by strengthening your quadriceps, opening your stiff hips, and teaching your body improved alignment and movement patterns that transfer into your everyday activities.

Note: It is important to practice yoga with caution. Initially Some yoga posture for example, padmasana and yoga style like Ashtanga yoga mysore can be avoided. Yoga posture that are done incorrectly can actually injure the knee.

Remember most important rule in practicing yoga posture is that any slightest pain is indication from you body that something is wrong and come out of it. If starting yoga practice, it is strongly recommended that you begin in presence of qualified yoga teacher and do listen to your doctor advise.

Issued in public interest by Subodh Gupta yoga expert based in London.

Mr Subodh Gupta, Corporate Yoga Trainer has conducted more than 500 workshops on Yoga and Stress Management. He has been interviewed by various TV channels in India and London.

For more information Indian Foundation of Scientific Yoga and Stress Management http://www.subodhgupta.com London (UK)

Yoga and Pregnancy Benefits

2007-02-08T09:28:00.001-08:00

Yoga is claimed to be a good exercise for everyone. Yoga is also a good exercise for pregnant women and provides them with many benefits. So whether you are pregnant or know someone who is, read on to learn the many positive benefits of yoga for pregnant women.

Yoga is a wonderful exercise for pregnant women and can be safely performed throughout the entire pregnancy. Some poses may need to be modified during pregnancy and poses where the woman is lying on her back or stomach should be avoided. The pregnant woman should also avoid any position or pose that does not feel right to her.

Yoga provides many benefits to pregnant women. Among those benefits of yoga are increased flexibility, more energy and stress relief. Yoga also helps the woman prepare for childbirth. This is done by the regular use and stretching of the muscles that are used in childbirth. In addition, the relaxation and breathing skills learned in yoga will help a woman throughout the labor and delivery of her child and may also lessen some of the woman's pains and anxieties.

As previously mentioned, yoga can play an important part in a woman having a relaxed, comfortable pregnancy and childbirth experience. However, the benefits of yoga do not end there. Yoga can also help the woman to get back into shape after pregnancy and will help to ease the transition into more physical exercise. And the benefits of yoga do not only encompass the pregnant woman; yoga can assist in the mental and physical development of the growing fetus.

Yoga exercises are not the only elements to focus on when performing a yoga routine. A complete, rounded yoga routine for a pregnant woman should include not only the yoga exercises, but also proper breathing techniques, meditation, deep relaxation techniques and mudras, which are yogic gestures. All of these elements of yoga will provide the pregnant woman with many benefits to aid in childbirth.

For the benefit of the pregnant woman, yoga exercises stretch the pelvis and reproductive organs to ensure a smooth pregnancy and childbirth experience. For the benefit of the fetus, yoga exercises provide the best possible blood and nutrient supply. The proper breathing techniques, or pranayama, will aid in the pregnant woman's overall fitness during pregnancy and will supply a rich amount of oxygen for the pregnant woman and fetus.

The benefits of yogic meditation to a pregnant woman are almost self-explanatory. It helps to calm and soothe the pregnant woman, dissolving away any fears and conflicts, whether pregnancy-related or not. It is also claimed to provide the pregnant woman with an unbelievable sense of awareness that helps her connect with her unborn child.

The benefits of deep relaxation techniques are also pretty much easy to understand. Deep relaxation, or yogic sleep, relaxes the pregnant woman both mentally and physically. It also better prepares her for the childbirth experience. The last element of a yoga routine, mudras and bandhas, is yogic gestures. These gestures are believed to have influential effects on the pregnant woman's reproductive organs, as well as any pains and ailments.

By combining all of the above elements of yoga, a pregnant woman can achieve and reap the benefits of a successful yoga routine. There are many books and websites available that provide acceptable yoga poses and positions for pregnant women. But as is the case with any other exercise, a pregnant woman should consult with her doctor before undertaking a yoga routine.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Yoga

10 Benefits For You With Yoga Fitness

2007-02-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

By Carmel Baird

About Yoga Fitness.

With the emphasis today on health and fitness, we all seem to be re-evaluating how we stay fit. Some forms of exercise require almost a good level of fitness to even start. Then there are others like yoga fitness that can benefit all ages and all levels of fitness and health.

Yoga fitness will benefit you in many areas too numerous to mention the all here, but the top 10 in my opinion are

1. greater balance
2. lower pulse rate,
3. lower respiratory rate,
4. improved cardiovascular functions,
5. lower blood pressure,
6. increased flexibility and range of motion,
7. increased energy,
8. lower weight,
9. improved immune system, as well as
10. improved coordination.

One of the best things about yoga fitness is, in the early stages of taking your yoga fitness class you will not have that soreness and muscle aches associated with other forms of fitness exercise. If you find you have some muscle aches, talk to your yoga fitness instructor as you may be doing something wrong. They can supervise your movements closer and guide you with the positions, poses and postures.

Yoga fitness is designed to benefit your body, mind and spirit. Once you start practicing yoga you will become aware, after a short time, that piece of chocolate cake will not be as appealing as that lovely piece of fresh fruit. As your body adjusts to the new routines that you learn at your yoga fitness classes, this will happen more and more.

There is one very simple breathing exercise that you will learn and this will mean you will get a good night's sleep, every night and wake up refreshed in the mornings. No more waking up and looking for that coffee to get you started, you will be able to have your coffee when you want it and enjoy it, not when you need it to get you going, no more being dependant on things like that.

There are some very simple yoga practices that you find become part of your daily routine, and you will perform them without even thinking about them as yoga fitness. This is the beauty of yoga and why the benefits for you involve your body, mind and spirit. Others will soon see you in a different light, you will have a healthy fitness about you and it will all be about yoga fitness.

So find your class and get yoga fit.

Please visit our site YogaInfo-Online for great resources, information, hints and tips for all things Yoga and catch up on the Yoga Learning Center