What is Prana?
Prana can be defined as the life-infusing substratum of all reality. Prana is also the energy we feel within and around us. There is a…
Understanding the Shreyas and Preyas
A keenly developed sense of viveka allows a Yoga practitioner to discern between the preyas and shreyas. In Yogic philosophy, the preyas refer to actions and thoughts that are enticing and pleasurable in the short term, but are harmful in the long run. Shreyas, on the other hand, are actions and thoughts that are filled with nobility and divinity. Some of the virtues of the shreyas are compassion, love, sacrifice, and dharmic livelihood. Shreyas enhance spiritual growth.
Patanjali and Niyama in Yogic Philosophy
Contemporary Yogic philosophy is the more subtle and deeper contemplation of the integration of Yoga’s wisdom and practices into daily…
Downward Facing Dog Pose Explained
Of all the various stances of Yoga, the Downward-Facing Dog, or the Adho Mukha Svanasana, is one of the most well-known and for good…
The Truth About Hatha Yoga Benefits
Most likely, however, yoga is a tool to change oneself. No one can really change you. No one can save you from yourself, not even the most advanced Yoga master. Yoga is a tool for inner change. Inner change won’t happen overnight, it is something that will need to be worked at. The only one who can do that work will be the student.
Teaching Yoga for Brain Health
Hyper-extended elbows are quite common for active people and this can create problems for the average yoga student. Stretch your arm out in front of you and if it easily twists outward, then you will have to be particularly conscious of your elbows while in weight-bearing postures. Putting weight on a hyperextended joint will wear away the joint tissue and cartilage over time. If a joint is inflamed it requires a healing process that may include a doctor’s visit, hot and cold therapy, rest, or something else.
Yoga and Health
Yogic meditation also reduces the level of stress in the body, thus increasing the overall functioning of the human organism, and reducing the risk of stress-related illnesses such as heart disease. Stress is often a result of an over-committed, busy schedule. Both practicing hatha yoga and meditating slow us down and encourage us to ground in the present moment, relax, and enjoy life. Through regular practice of asanas, pranayama, and meditation, yoga can help regulate the thoughts that pass through the mind, improving the health of the mind and of the inner being.
Benefits of Office Yoga
Yoga teachers should approach the corporate sector about Yoga exercise routines that can be practiced in office spaces. There are specialist office and chair Yoga teacher training courses to meet this need. Working in an office often requires sitting at a computer for long periods of time. This can cause backache and stiffness in the neck that can lead to tension headaches and discomfort in general. These discomforts will lead to decreased productivity and lessen the quality of your work and life.
Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita
Some traditional Yoga teacher training courses have the Bhagavad Gita (Song of The Blessed Lord) as part of the program. This seems practical within Raja, Jnana, Bhakti, and Karma Yoga. However, the deeper aspects of this scripture may be lost on instructor candidates who pursue Yogic knowledge only for physical mastery. Therefore, today’s interns learning how to become a Hatha Yoga instructor may not be reading ancient texts to expand their knowledge.
Sant Kabir Das and the Bhakti Movement
Kabir was a great mystic-poet saint of India. He lived from 1140 to 1518 A.D. He spent much of his life enraptured by divine grace. Many…