Saturday, May 24, 2008
The Purpose Of Yoga
...Yoga, or its ancestor, first appeared somewhere around 5,000 years ago. Since then, it has gradually evolved into the modern form. However, its "modern form" is neither completely modern, nor is it the only form of yoga. In the western world, when we speak of "yoga" we are commonly referring to Hatha Yoga, a branch of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama in the 15th century. To keep it simple, Yogi Swatmarama saw Hatha Yoga, not as an end in itself, but as part of a pathway to a higher state on the yoga journey. Hatha Yoga concentrates more on the physical training, conditioning, and "preparation" aspects of yoga. So, as we talk about the purposes of "yoga", please keep in mind that we are talking only about one portion of the entire range of disciplines encompassed by the word.
We sometimes hear of someone who learned to become more relaxed by the practice of yoga. Or, maybe we have heard of someone who became more invigorated and energetic as a result of their practice. Perhaps someone else was able to play a competitive sport better than before they began practicing yoga, or perhaps they were able to lay aside the competitive aspect of their nature that had been driving them into bad health and broken relationships. We may have even heard all of these types of stories. I ha...more
Yoga and Self Analysis: The Right Time and Place
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Alternately, self analysis is a part of Yoga that many practitioners do not have time for. You cannot practice self analysis when you are in the heat of battle. This preoccupation will cause self doubt if you are in a pressurized situation. You must react to life as it is right now, and be in the moment to find solutions.
This seems to be a paradox: We think of self analysis and Yoga as empowering practices. We do not associate self analysis with temporary mental paralysis.
However, in order for you to make significant discoveries about yourself, and consider how to apply your skills to life, there is a certai...more
Yoga Visualization for Empowerment - introduction
...alize that Yoga postures are much easier to focus on than it is to control your mind. Many people feel very uncomfortable trying to harness their minds. No wonder the ancient Yogis compare the mind to a monkey. The mind is restless and resists the concept of self-mastery.
Yet, the ancient Yogis were also concerned about combining Yogic meditation, with visualization, for egotistical purposes. It has commonly been thought t...more
Exercising Using Power Yoga
...lped to make Yoga mainstream and is a main contributor to yoga's current popularity, as yoga became seen as a way to work out.
Is Power Yoga for You?
As there are a number of variations, power yoga classes vary widely from teacher to teacher. Power yoga appeals to people who are already in good shape, enjoy their exercise, and are not interested in a great deal of chanting and meditation when they practice yoga.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a type of yoga that has its roots in the ancient Yoga Korunta manuscript that was compiled by the sage Vamana Rishi. Practitioners find vinyasa to be very physically demanding. This type of yoga is excellent for helping to calm ongoing thoughts in your mind, which helps to reduce stress and also he...more
