For instance, the practice of Warrior II may quickly highlight a lack of concentration and a wandering mind. As you practice Warrior II, take a moment to see if your mind quickly becomes bored with holding a steady drishti, or gazing point on the horizon, as you hold the posture. Does this lack of patience and focus translate into a lack of patience and focus on daily tasks at work or at home?
Could Yoga really empower you enough to conquer your worst fears? Very few people are able to overcome fear, without a serious effort…
All forms of yoga come from the same root and are, therefore, relatively interchangeable, so an hour-long class once or twice a week in any of the disciplines will quickly start to work wonders on both your physical and mental well being.
Dedication to the art of Yoga is one of the most important keys to realizing the fruits of your practice. Traditionally, a Yoga student or aspirant was…
Low cost Yoga is a reality. Some neighborhoods have Yoga groups that meet informally and charge no fees. If there is no local get-together, starting one is free and easy. All it takes are a few interested people and a place to meet. Often members host in their homes, and these gatherings become social gatherings.
Yoga mantras can be derived from any language and can have different meanings than what one would normally associate the words or phrases with. Mantras, when used appropriately, can have a significant influence on well-being.
The great thing about yoga is that is what I’ve gained from it (among other gifts), but it might have very well granted something different to each of you readers. Yoga can help us build upon our strengths, and develop areas that aren’t as strong for us, because it is malleable enough to be a different practice for each person. That is why there is a different place for each of us, in our yoga practice/instruction and otherwise. Yoga can also help us to find that place and stay there.
After practicing and teaching karate and tai chi for many years, I was drawn to yoga in my quest for a spiritual connection. First it was from books, then from videos and finally I started visiting local yoga studios in search of a teacher. In the beginning of my practice I was concentrating on the physical practice, and was not sure where I was going with it. I just loved the feeling of stretching and twisting my body into various postures. Soon I was addicted to the quest for perfect postures. At that point I found my teacher Alan Finger and my emphasis began to change. I realized that the physical practice was primarily meant for developing the strength of mind and body necessary to sit in meditation for at least 20 minutes and that the side effects of the physical practice like discipline, flexibility calmness and strength were secondary.
Mantras are sacred syllables or words. This technique is also known in some spiritual traditions as a mantram. A mantra is different from…
You make a wish to work up to 30 rounds at a time by doing several sets of 10 breaths, and then resting for a moment or two between sets. As you practice Kapalabhati Pranayama, imagine that you are invigorating your brain with fresh oxygen and clearing away all limiting thoughts and negative beliefs, in order to make room for uplifting thoughts that will support you in implementing your sankalpa.