For the purpose of self-realization Yoga means union with the individual consciousness and the supreme Consciousness. Yoga Therapy it is not about treatment but an altogether scientific and rational, commonsense way for self-care of the mind-body complex – maintaining good condition of body and taking care of the mind; that is the mind as an instrument of consciousness. The secondary meaning of yoga is to ‘yoke’ the mind and gain mastery of the body.
There are a number of Yoga practices that can help to stimulate and balance the Ajna Chakra. These practices include physical Yoga postures, pranayama exercises and chanting the bija mantra of this chakra, “Aum.” Because the very essence of the energy that creates, sustains and dissolves physical reality resides in the Ajna Chakra, chanting this primordial seed mantra will re-calibrate this energy center, so that it is balanced and healthy. If you chant Aum while holding your gaze in Shambhavi Mudra, the effect of your practice will be much stronger. Shambhavi Mudra simply means to hold your gaze at the point directly between your eyebrows in an unremitting fashion.
Just as the state of our physical health depends on our habits, so does the state of our chakra balance. If we are regular yoga practicener our chakras are generally get balanced and the flow of cosmic energy through these chakras is smooth. Since the imbalance in the chakras is caused by emotional stress, you can evaluate the state of your chakras by symptoms reflected by the individual chakra for its balance or imbalance.
Some students may even feel fear when they step onto the mat because they are afraid they will not be able to meet their own high expectations of themselves or the perceived high expectations of their teacher or the class at large. For instance, in some Yoga teacher training classes, there is a strong emphasis put on being able to drop back into Upward Facing Bow from a standing position. However, dropping back into this challenging backbend may not be appropriate for all teacher trainees, during every class.
The Fourth Chakra or Anahata Chakra is located in the heart region in both the front and backside of the torso. It is the mid-way point…
Chanting mantras and the sacred names of Gods and Goddesses with the ragas is an important element of Kirtan singing in the context of a Yoga practice. The musical arrangements of the notes themselves deeply impact the chakras. There are a number of Kirtan musicians who have recorded a variety of devotional chants in a classical Yogic fashion.
Yoga training is a great practice for mindfulness because your yogic practice can teach you how to be more aware of your entire experience from start to finish. The great thing about adding mindfulness to your asana practice is that it can also help you to avoid injury.
Warrior 1 Pose is a solution to much of what ails humankind. In our day-to-day lives, many painful, difficult and stressful experiences are held in the body and mind. Relationships that are challenging at best, and devastatingly painful at worst, often close down our heart areas. A collapsed chest area and tense shoulders also restrict our capacity to breath fully and deeply.
Several Yoga asana techniques are especially helpful for lower back pain. Caution should be exercised when beginning these postures if…
To practice Uttanasana, stand at the top of your Yoga mat in Samasthiti with your feet parallel and hips’ distance apart. With an inhale, raise your arms over your head. With an exhale, slowly bring your arms down along the sides of your body until they reach your knees, shins or toes.