mario

...As described earlier, Ashtanga Yoga has eight limbs or parts. So far Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama has been described. In the present article Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi shall be described.

Pratyahar(withdrawal)

Before Pratyahar one should lie in Sukhasana comfortably and motionlessly. Then one should practice Pranayama by keeping mind on the movements of breath across the nostrils. After half an hour in Pranayama, there is cut off in inhalation and exhalation. Mind and Pranabreath for practical purpose) become one and motionless. In this state one should practice Pratyahar.

Patanjali describes - when senses leave their objects of enjoyment and get engaged in realising true self(svarup), it is called Pratyahar(II>54). So far Yoga is concerned, there are two directions - one is outside and the other is inside. Outside there is enjoyment(bhoga) and enjoying(ahara) and inside there is Yoga and Pratyahar(withdrawal from enjoyment). So long as senses are fixed on the objects of enjoyment, there is enjoying(ahara); but as soon as senses withdraw from them, there is Yoga and Pratyahar.

In enjoyment there is loss of energy; whereas in Yoga there is conservation of energy. Inside there is treasure of energy, happiness, knowledge, health and longevity; but outside there is loss of energy, pain, ignorance, disease and death. as people take their earned money from home and spend them outside, so people earn energy, happiness inside, but s...more

Yoga and Stress

...ge your stress if you want to remain healthy.

Yoga is relaxing and can create energy needed for reducing stress. It involves an awareness of slow, controlled breathing and stretching and posing the muscles of the body.

A study conducted by the Center for integrative Medicine of Thomas jefferson University showed that a one hour session of yoga lowered cortisol in participants with no previous yoga experience, and after seven consecutive days, a significant decrease was seen.

Yoga - Its True Meaning and Purpose

... control over the creative forces of our mind. This is the practice of Kriya Yoga, which leads to Yoga.

The practice of Kriya Yoga is linked to an Indian philosophy of how the universe is wired, called Shankya Yoga. Thus, kriya Yoga is the practice; Shankya Yoga is the theory. Though kriya Yoga is linked to this philosophy, it is important to note that kriya Yoga recognizes that there is Truth in each religious tradition and that each soul is where it needs to be to evolve. kriya Yoga, however, does not require submission to a set of doctrines or to a particular individual or temple. Instead, it strives to develop independence in the individual, rather than dependence upon something that is external. The only dependence should be to the Truth, which is within each and every individual. Its just eclipsed by our thoughts and emotions. We need to get our selves out of the way so we can see our true Self. And the method for doing so is kriya Yoga!

Reduce Your Stress with Yoga Breathing Exercises

..., the supply of oxygen is reduced and toxins start to build up. This results in stiff muscles and causes the supply of oxygen to be reduced further. It is a viscous cycle, and impacts all parts of your nervous system, including your brain. Medical studies have shown that stress, and the reduced oxygen intake it causes, are a leading factor in cancer, heart disease, strokes, premature aging and other diseases.

Breathing also affects our ability to think clearly, by increasing the oxygen that gets to our brain. A small increase in the oxygen...more

// posted by 34491 @ 8:22 AM