Yoga is more accurately translated as “Union of the individual’s atma (loosely translated to mean soul) with Paramatma (the Universal soul).” This may be understood as union with the Divine by integration of body, mind, and spirit. Thus, in essence, one who attempts yoga may loosely be referred to as a yogi or in Sanskrit, a yogin (masculine) or yogini (feminine). These designations are actually intended for advanced practitioners, who have already made considerable progress along the path towards yoga.

Diversity of Yoga

Over yoga’s long, different schools have arisen and there are many instances of sub-divisions and synthesis. Often, each form of yoga is referred to as a “path” (not necessarily in isolation) to enlightenment. So, yoga may include components of love & devotion (as in Bhakti Yoga), selfless work (as in Karma Yoga), knowledge & discernment (as in Jnana Yoga), or an eight-limbed system of disciplines that concentrates on meditation (as in Raja Yoga). They aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. (A person who follows the path of selfless work may well also cultivate some knowledge and devotion.) Some people (particularly in Western cultures) pursue Hatha yoga as exercise divorced from spiritual practice.

Other types of yoga include Mantra Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Integral Yoga, Nitya Yoga, Maha Yoga, Purna Yoga, Natya Yoga, Anahata Yoga, Tantra Yoga, Tibetan Yoga, Sahaja Yoga etc.
It is often helpful to check with the teacher to double check how these terms are being used/interpreted.

In the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions, the spiritual goals of yoga are seen as inseparable from the religions of which yoga forms a part. Some yogis make a subtle distinction between religion and yoga, seeing religion as more concerned with outward culture, values, beliefs and rituals; and yoga as more concerned with inner Self-Realization, i.e., direct perception of the ultimate truth. In this sense, religion and yoga are complementary.

Common Themes

Most forms of yoga involve the practice of concentration (dharana) and meditation (dhyana). Your awareness is concentrated on one particular point of sensation (such as that of your breath entering and leaving your nose). Sustained single-pointed concentration gradually leads to meditation (dhyana), in which the inner feelings are able to develop and fuse with something vast. Meditators sometimes report feelings of peace, joy, and oneness.

Knowledge of yoga - as well as consent to practice or teach it–has been customarily passed down through initiatory chains of gurus and their students. This is called guruparampara.

Notable Yogis

Many people have effected the practice of yoga, and spread awareness of yoga throughout the whole world.

Centuries ago, such individuals included Meera from the Bhakti tradition, Shankaracharya from the Jnana Yoga tradition and Patanjali, who formalized the system of Raja Yoga..

In the late 1800s, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a Bhakti Yogi, brought about a rebirth of yoga in India. A devotee of Mother Kali and a teacher of Advaita Vedanta, he preached that “all religions lead to the same goal.”

The noted Indian author Sri Aurobindo translated and interpreted Yogic scriptures, such as the Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita. His epic poem Savitri is a treasure of Hindu Yogic literature, among the longest poems ever written in English. He also founded Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, which continues to propagate the practice of Integral Yoga, which is Aurobindo’s synthesis of the four main Yogas (Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Raja).

Other Indian yogis who inspired their countrymen include Swami Rama Tirtha and Swami Sivananda who authored over 300 books on yoga and spirituality.

Gopi Krishna was a Kashmiri office worker and spiritual seeker who wrote best-selling autobiographical accounts of his spiritual experiences.

Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna’s disciple, is well known for introducing Yoga philosophy to many in the West, as well as reinvigorating Hinduism in a modern setting during India’s freedom struggle.

Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), founder of the Divine Life Society lived most of his life in Rishikesh, India. He wrote an impressive 300 books on various aspects of Yoga, religions, philosophy, spirituality, Hinduism, moral ethics, hygiene and health. He was a pioneering Yogi in bringing Yoga to the west and throughout the world. He was clear, simple and precise in all his teachings. His motto being: “Serve. Love. Give. Meditate. Purify. Realise.”

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), a practitioner of Kriya Yoga, taught Yoga as the binding force that reconciled Hinduism and Christianity. Yogananda founded the Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles, in 1925. His book Autobiography of a Yogi continues to be one of the best-selling books on yoga.

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada popularised Bhakti Yoga for Krishna in many countries through his movement, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, (popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement) which he founded in 1966. His followers, known for enthusiastic chanting in public places, brought Bhakti Yoga to the attention of many westerners.

In 1955, the socio-spiritual organization Ananda Marga (the path of bliss) was founded by P.R. Sarkar also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti. Based on tantric yoga, his teaching emphasizes social service in the context of a political, economic and cultural theory; or “self-realization and service to all.”

Also during this period, many yogis brought greater awareness of Hatha yoga to the west. Some of these individuals include students of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who taught at Mysore Palace from 1924 until his death in 1989; these students include Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, Indra Devi and Krishnamacharya’s son T.K.V. Desikachar.

Zander Sprague

Yoga and Me

I’ve been doing yoga for quite a few years. And I really enjoy it. I ended up taking yoga the first time with a girlfriend of mine. And at first I was really scared because I’m not that flexible a person, and I thought, “How am I ever going to do that?” But of course the reality is, you don’t do yoga the way you see it on TV, with people who have been doing it for 25 years and are all bendy. But actually start off slow, and do it. I’ve tried many different types of yoga. I find Bickram yoga to be too hot. And I like Iyengar very much. But the funny thing about yoga and me is that I’m not sure that we’re entirely compatible. See, there’s a lot going on when I’m doing yoga. And I’d like to explore some of these things. Maybe you’ve experienced the same thing too.

Rush to Relax

One of the first things I found about yoga was, I was doing it so I could relax. But in doing so, I was rushing to get to the yoga class. You see, I was working in Boston at the time, living just outside of Boston, and would go from Boston back out to my house to meet my girlfriend to pick her up, and then come back into Boston to take our yoga class. And that was just fine, except there was always traffic, so inevitably we got there, not the 15 minutes before like we wanted, but about two minutes before the class. And so here I was, so stressed out about missing the class because I needed to relax. And I found that in other classes that I took, I did the same thing. I was always rushing to get to the class. Then I would get there, and I’d be so hopped up, so keyed up, that I would take the first half-hour just to relax enough to be able to enjoy the class. And of course if a class is only 45 minutes or an hour long, I didn’t get that much time to relax. I found that deep breathing was always good, but I always had a hard time with making sure I was breathing correctly. One of the best things I did was bring in a straw and breathe through a straw, because that forced me to breathe diaphragmatically. And of course I looked sort of silly sitting in class, the only person with one of those bendy children’s straws. And one time I couldn’t find one, so I ended up borrowing a friend’s; and I just grabbed the first straw I could see. It was of course one of those crazy straws that has all these bends and stuff in it, and I ended up having to breathe really hard because of course it was hard to get the air through there. So I always found it funny that I was rushing to relax.

Don’t Fart

One of the things that I always found in yoga was there are all these poses that you’re doing. And you’re sort of bent over, and your ass is up the air. And I’m always afraid I’m going to fart. Inevitably I’d always had a bean burrito or something like that, and was feeling a little windy of bowel. And I was always afraid that I was going to fart, right in the middle of one of our poses. Like a downward-facing dog. Or child’s pose. A child’s pose is great if you’ve got really bad gas bubbles, if you didn’t know that, that’s a good tip for you. If you’ve got a really bad gas bubble, get into child’s pose; you’ll find how quickly you get rid of that gas bubble, because it - it sort of puts your butt up in the air, and allows you to fart. Now, a lot of the yoga classes I’ve been in I’m the only male in the class. And the last thing I want to do is to fart, because of course, I’m a guy and I think farting is funny, so I’ll get laughing. And the women will think that I’m a big pig, and I’ve just ruined everything. And heaven forbid it smells, because that would be the worst! So, I am spending the whole time in class, pinching my butt cheeks trying so hard not to fart. So I wonder. Am I missing the point? Am I not getting yoga? Do all those people who have been yogis for so long - do they fart during their practice? These are things that I wonder about.

My Tree

One of the poses that is very popular is called the “tree” pose. And I like the tree pose. The only problem is, my tree ends up like - looking like something that’s been blown over by the wind. I’m sort of a big guy, and I’m frankly not that coordinated. So having to balance all of my weight on one foot while having my other foot balanced on the other, and my hands above my head, is sometimes very difficult. I’ve found sometimes I can do the tree very well, and other times I can’t hold a tree to save my life. I wonder how people get this balance. How they’re able to breathe, focus on all they’re supposed to focus on, and stay balanced. I know personally I’m always trying to stay upright, and not fall over. It’s especially bad when you’re in a class that’s really crowded, because you don’t usually have that much space, and if you’re toppling over all the time, you could be hitting someone else. And that’s really not what yoga’s about, toppling into the person next to you.

My “Quiet” Mind

And one of the points of yoga, at least as I’ve been told by many of my instructors, is to quiet our mind and allow ourselves to relax. I always find that when I try and quiet my mind there’s lots of thoughts going through my head. Am I doing the pose right? Don’t fart. Did I pay that bill? Did I lock the car? What meetings do I have tomorrow? Shhh. You’ve got to be quiet. You have to quiet your mind. And it’s a funny sort of a practice; to consciously think about quieting your mind, because isn’t that missing the point? I’m consciously thinking about quieting my mind, and trying to clear my mind of everything? And sometimes I wonder if other people have the same cacophony of information flying through their head. I mean, sometimes this is the first time I’ve had any quiet all day. So it’s a chance for me to think about all the things I haven’t had a chance to think about. But I wonder. Am I missing the point? Is my mind as quiet as I think it is? Or is it just as loud, but I’m just stopping, taking time to listen.

Savasana Equals Sleep

Now the final pose - I have this fabulous yoga teacher that my wife and I would take classes. And it was fabulous, because her yoga studio was in the lower Haight. And somehow it just seemed so appropriate that we would be going to the Haight to do yoga. It just seemed to fit in. And the thing that we would always end up with, was Savasana, which is just a relaxing, lying down pose. And what I found is that with the wonderful, gentle music, and her very soothing voice, and my lying there, having probably been running around all day, Savasana equals sleep. Many was the time I actually fell asleep on the yoga mat. Thus, I don’t - I don’t know. Did I achieve the ultimate goal of yoga? Which was, of course, to relax. Or, was it that I’m so stressed out, and going so much, that my body took this opportunity to sleep? As you can tell, I have many questions about yoga and how it fits into my life.

Iamzander Equals Bed yoga

Now, as I said before, I’ve practiced Iyengar yoga the most. But sometimes I feel perhaps I’m supposed to be the practitioner of a new type of yoga, a whole new school of yoga. In fact, it is truly a yoga that everybody, worldwide, can do. You don’t need any special training. In fact, you have all the training you need. And it is the kind of yoga that you could do for a third of your life, and not even worry about it. This yoga is known as Iamzander. Now, of course, my name is Zander, and I’m making a play on words here. Iamzander is also known as Bed yoga. Ultimately, the goal of yoga is to relax, and to free your mind and your mind just to be. Well, what I find is that if I wake up at 5 in the morning to get up to do my yoga, I get a lot better yoga from lying in bed. I’m very relaxed. My mind is unbelievably quiet. My breathing is deep and rhythmic. I can do the bed pose so well. I can do a downward dog if I needed to, but in your bed, you don’t need to do that. So I want all of you to follow me, your new yogi guru, and practice Iamzander, because if we’re sleeping one-third of our life away, you can’t help but be successful. And you, too, can be your own yogi guru, for Bed yoga.

What If My Third Eye Is Myopic?

This is one of the questions that first popped into my mind when I was told to focus my energy and look through my third eye. What if my third eye is myopic? I mean, my eyes aren’t that good to begin with. I’ve had Lasik surgery, but they’ve settled back and I have to wear glasses to watch TV and watch movies. What if my third eye’s just as bad as my eyes were originally? That means I can’t see anything. And frankly, when I try and look through my third eye, I don’t really see much. It’s sort of out of focus. I keep seeing these ads on TV for laser surgery, and I wonder, “Can I get Lasiks on my third eye?” What if I can’t see out of my third eye? What if my chakras are all blocked? What if my chakras are wired in reverse, and instead of flowing up through the top of my head, I’m flowing everything through the bottom of my feet? What if I’m just not meant to do yoga, because my mind is too active? Well, I asked my last yoga teacher what I should do if my third eye was myopic, because everything was sort of fuzzy. She thought this was incredibly funny, that I would even stop to think about my third eye being myopic. I guess the thought is that your third eye is - you always have 20/20 vision. But I’m not finding that. I can’t really see anything out of my third eye. And what do I do if I get an eyelash in my third eye? How do I get that out?

As you can see, I have a lot of questions about my yoga practice. I guess what I need to do is just keep practicing, and hope that it gets better. Hope that my mind gets quiet. Hope that I can hold my tree true and strong. That I don’t fart. That I don’t fall asleep at the end of it. And that my third eye really isn’t myopic. Thanks so much.

About the Author

Zander Sprague is a Speaker, Trainer and Author, who draws on over 15 years experience in the corporate world to develop his unique message of Choosing A Positive Pathway, the Who, Where and How we choose to live our lives. Zander lives in the San Francisco area and enjoys finding the humor in everyday experiences. He also conducts seminars on Presentation Skills and Technical Training. Vist him at www.zandersprague.com or e-mail at zander@zandersprague.com

Written By: Zander Sprague

INTRODUCTION

Kundalini yoga is an amazing tool for recovery from physical ailments and for maintaining the body in good health. You will find in this article:

A healthy, safe alternative to Viagra, which can help you achieve a satisfying sex life,

A technique that can help you pull out of depression and have a happy emotional life,

An exercise to open the heart to the love that is the source of our being,

And a technique to experience the miraculous wellspring of divine kundalini energy that lies waiting to be tapped in each of us.

Please note that the information below is not intended to be a replacement for competent medical care. The directions stated are not intended as a prescription for any mental or physical ailments, nor does the information claim treatment or cure for any problems.

KUNDALINI ENERGY

Kundalini energy is experienced when the energy of the glandular system combines with that of the nervous system to create such a sensitivity that the brain as a whole receives signals and integrates them. The autonomic and voluntary nervous systems come under conscious control, allowing a person to become completely aware of himself and his environment. The kundalini energy is the creative potential of everyone; in its experience lies the realization of that potential.

Some say that mankind once lived in total God-consciousness. Between man and God there was no difference, except that man was manifest on this earth and God was unmanifest. Then man turned from God-consciousness to maya, the illusion of the senses, so God separated man’s consciousness into two halves. One half man uses to live his earthly life, but the higher consciousness remains sleeping until man evolves far enough to be able to use it again. The story of Adam and Eve might be said to represent this fall from grace, the garden of Eden being a state of total awareness, the apple representing maya, and the serpent representing kundalini, divine knowledge.

In fact, the kundalini energy has often been called “serpent power,” a name whose sinister implications hardly do justice to the benign reality of this energy field. The yogis of India regard it as the embodiment of “Adi Shakti,” the primal creative power. It is the energy that developed us, gave us the shape we have, and brought us on earth. It is pure energy, without residue. The word itself is sometimes translated “coil of the beloved’s hair.” In its dormant state, it lies coiled at the base of the spine.

In a functional sense, all that needs to be done to activate the kundalini is to uncoil this energy and connect it with the pineal gland at the top of our heads, which after a child reaches 8 years of age normally ceases to secrete fully. When that master gland, the “seat of the soul,” taps the energy of the kundalini, it will begin to secrete as it did when we were young. This is the state called “kundalini risen”; some call it enlightenment.

AWAKENING THE KUNDALINI

The process by which this unfolding occurs is complex. The kundalini will not awaken and rise until two energies are integrated and balanced. These two forces are apana and prana. Apana is an eliminating force; it affects functions operating on both gross and subtle levels in the body to expel negative energy and waste. In reference to the process of raising the kundalini, it might be considered the “vital air” below the navel.

Prana is the “vital air” above the navel. The life force penetrating every atom of our form, and indeed, of the universe, is stored in our bodies at the eighth thoracic vertebra, the part of the spine located near the bottom edge of the shoulder blades. This pranic center, by means of the ‘pranic nerve,’ enervates the U-shaped muscle responsible for autonomic nervous system function — heartbeat, movement of the diaphragm, responses beyond our conscious control. The ancient yogis could create pranic energy reservoirs at the “pranic cavity” and live on that reserve.

To stimulate the kundalini, one must inhale and hold the breath, directing prana down to the navel point. Then one exhales and “holds the breath out” (i.e., refrains from inhaling), drawing apana up from the base of the spine to the navel point. When prana and apana meet and unite, a tremendous “white heat” or “tapa” is created at the navel point. The combined energies are often described as the filament of sushumna (”silver cord”), a nerve current or “nadi” thought by some to correspond to the governor vessel meridian of Chinese medical theory, and by others to correspond to the central nervous system of Western medical theory. When the energies combine, this sushumna lights up like the filament in a light bulb suddenly plugged into its source of electric power. Responding to breath control and mental direction, the integrated energies depart the navel point and descend to the base of the spine, where they stimulate the dormant kundalini. Further breath control and the appl!
ication of the will cause the force to rise, along with the kundalini power, charging the higher centers of consciousness, the chakras. In this way a person’s energy can be transmuted into higher forms.

Well, that’s the theory of kundalini yoga. Now here are a few excerpts describing practical applications of this theory:

IMPROVING SEXUAL POTENCY: A YGOIC ALTERNATIVE TO VIAGRA

Stand with the right leg bent forward enough so that the toes can’t be seen over the knee. The left leg is straight back, with the foot flat on the floor at a 45 degree angle to the front foot. Extend the right arm straight out in front of you, parallel to the floor. Make a fist as if grasping a bow. Pull your left arm back as if pulling a bowstring back to the shoulder. Create a tension across the chest.

Face forward. Fix the eyes above the front fist to the horizon.

Hold the position for 3 to 5 minutes, then switch legs and arms and repeat.

DEALING WITH DEPRESSION

Sit with a straight spine in a comfortable, cross-legged position, or sit in a chair with your spine straight and your feet on the floor. Arms are extended straight out in front of you, parallel to the floor. Close your right hand into a fist. Wrap the fingers of your left hand around your right-hand fist. The bases of the palms touch. The thumbs are close together and are pulled straight up. The eyes are focused on the thumbs.

Now inhale for 5 seconds (do not hold the breath in); exhale for 5 seconds; hold the breath out for 15 seconds. Continue.

Start with 3 to 5 minutes and work up to 11 minutes. Build up the time slowly. In time, you can work up to holding the breath out for 1 full minute. However, take care not to hold the breath out so long as to make yourself dizzy or nauseous.

TO OPEN THE HEART

This exercise uses a “mantra” or sacred chant. The purpose of mantras is to help us identify with the infinite healing energy within us. We are all children of God, and the mantra reminds us of our divine birthright.

Sit in a comfortable, cross-legged position, or sit on a chair, with your spine straight and your feet on the floor. The chant to use is SAT KAARTAAR (”a” as in “bus”; “aa” as in “far”), which means “true doer.” As you say SAT, the hands are pressed together at the center of the chest in prayer mudra (fingertips pointing up).

As you say KAAR- the arms are extending out in front of you with palms facing out and fingers pointed straight up. As you say -TAAR the arms are moving out to the sides parallel to the floor, palms still out and fingers still pointed up. Then bring the hands back into prayer mudra. Make the transition from step to step in a flowing movement.

Repeat this process for 3, 11, 31, or 62 minutes.

AN ANCIENT YOGA EXERCISE TO RAISE THE KUNDALINI

The yoga exercise (or “kriya”) described below is probably the most powerful exercise in the science of kundalini yoga. With regular practice, “Sat Kriya” increases the lung capacity, perfects the functioning of all the body organs, stimulates circulation, generates and raises great energy, and brings the experience of kundalini energy rising up the spine. Precisely because it is a very powerful exercise, if you have a medical condition, be sure get your doctor’s approval before you try it out. Also, listen to your own body — it will tell you how long and how strenuously it wants to do the exercise.

Before practicing this exercise, inhale deeply, exhale completely, and tune in to the divine teacher within you. Talk to God in the language of your heart. Next, sitting on the heels, with a straight spine, stretch your arms straight up overhead, hugging your ears. Interlace your fingers, with only the index fingers pressed together and pointing straight up. The eyes are closed and focused at a point midway between and slightly above the eyebrows, about 1/4 inch inside the skull (the “third-eye point” or center of Christ consciousness).

Chant the sound SAT (”a” as in “bus”) from the navel point as you pull “root lock” (pull up and in on the rectum, sex organs, and navel point). Then release the lock as you chant NAAM (”aa” as in “far”). (”Sat naam” means “Truth is my identity.”) The breath will come automatically. The shoulders will naturally rise up an inch or two as the lock is pulled. The spine does not flex.

Continue for 3 to 31 minutes. Then inhale and exhale long and deep several times. On the last exhalation, hold the air out and apply root lock again. Keep the spine straight and the chin tucked slightly in. Focus on drawing energy up the spine to the third-eye point. Inhale. Repeat the breathing exercise and the lock once or twice if you wish, but never to the point of discomfort. Then relax out of the posture.

Lie down on your back, arms resting along your sides, and relax. Be sure to allow at least as much time for this relaxation as you took to do the exercise.

ABOUT SELF-HEALING

Here is a quote from Yogi Bhajan, whose teachings were the inspiration for the book “Yoga for Health and Healing”:

“The process of self-healing is the privilege of very human being. Self-healing is not a miracle, nor is it a question of being able to do something that most people can’t. Self-healing is a process that occurs through the relationship between the physical and the infinite power of the soul. It is a contract, a union — that is the science of kundalini yoga.”

“YOGA FOR HEALTH AND HEALING”

How can you use yoga to maintain your body in a healthy state? What meditations can you do to heal others? What lifestyles will keep you healthy year after year? These questions are answered in the book “Yoga for Health and Healing.”

This book will teach you easy yoga techniques to HEAL OVER 100 SPECIFIC PHYSICAL PROBLEMS — addiction, stress, headaches, backache, colds, constipation, menopause, sinus problems, and sexual potency, to name a few.

Profusely illustrated, this 141-page book offers simple explanations of yoga as a tool for self-healing (the electric force, the magnetic field, the life force, the chakras, the pineal gland, the nadis, and how to awaken the kundalini energy), yoga basics (kriyas, mental focus, breath techniques, mantras, postures, mudras, body locks), and key areas in the body for staying healthy.

You can try “Yoga for Health and Healing” at no risk whatsoever — We offer an unconditional 100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. If you aren’t pleased with it for any reason, return it to us for a speedy, cheerful refund.”

TO READ WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID about this amazing new alternative healing technique, go to http://2u3d.com/yoga/YHH_reviews.htm

TO ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY, go to http://www.2u3d.com/yoga/yhh.htm

With kind regards,

From our heart to yours,

Yoga Books and More
P.O. Box 7482, Santa Monica, CA 90406-7482 USA
Phone: (877) 432-2999 (toll-free) or (310) 393-8167 (local or international)
Message or fax: (310) 362-8877
Email: mailto:yoga@2u3d.com
Web site: http://www.2u3d.com/yoga

Written By: Alice Clagett

I had already made the firm decision to do yoga class every day for two months, after reading Bikram Choudhury’s introductory yoga book. He says, “Give us two months. We will change you.” After living with years of back pain due to compressed lumbar discs and a sedentary lifestyle, I was ready for that change–so ready, in fact, I was willing to subject my de-conditioned body to 90 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity in 105 heat and 60% humidity (making the “apparent temperature” somewhere around 145). But the prospective discipline of it appealed to me, and soon I was actually enjoying the gentle torture of it, as I began to move muscles, bones and cartilage that hadn’t been moved in years.

Beyond the rewards of seeing my body stretch and reach new ranges of motion in class, it was after and between classes where the payoffs truly lay. Bending over to pick up something no longer hurt, standing up after sitting for a while no longer involved pain and stiffness, and I began noticing how good I felt instead of how bad.

Of course, getting to these improvements took a while; and although I had committed to two months of daily practice, it has now been nearly eight months, and I can now say yoga is an indispensible part of my life. This path has blatantly announced to me how I had incrementally reduced my own range of motion with each tiny discomfort, each injury, each bout of stiffness, in an attempt to protect myself from future pain. It is a common life strategy, but a very wrongheaded one. The body needs to increase its range of motion over time, and each discomfort or injury points the way. As the World’s Stiffest Person at 50, I was on the fast track to being a crippled old man by 60.

I drew a valuable conclusion from this, that all the little aches and pains and microconditions we had as twentysomethings, if not dealt with in a broad and holistic way, are the exact pains and conditions that amplify over time leading us to our ultimate demise. From this perspective, what is commonly referred to as “aging,” is actually more like an excuse for not answering the body’s calls for help early on. I’m just not buying the “I’m just getting too old for this” refrain I hear from my friends. Time, friction, and gravity will take their respective tolls, but only with permission from you. If I end up dying at 94, I would rather have gotten there vital, active and pain-free, instead of feeble, crippled, and tormented.

The main thing I’ve learned from my beginning yoga experience is that it takes MUCH MORE WORK than I thought to reverse my past slothfulness, and much more diligence on the day-to-day to maintain what gains I have acheived. Bikram refers to the “body’s bank account.” You invest into the account with yoga, and then spend the account when not doing yoga. Of course, I found I was sorely and deplorably in DEBT, and am only now seeing the light at the end of that tunnel, striving for the day I can touch my forehead to my toes, rest my leg on my shoulder, and nap on my back with my head on my feet.

SEVEN MORE THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN BIKRAM YOGA

1. If yoga turns it on, yoga will turn it off. I’ve had many classes where a muscle or joint will “release” (I used to wrongly identify it as “strain”), causing pain and stiffness or soreness after class. By the end of the next class, invariably, that soreness and pain disappears.
2. Your body is stronger than you think it is, and you have more energy than you think you do. One day in class I decided to completely ignore my thoughts as to what I could or couldn’t do in class, and was surprised to find a whole new range of motion, and a whole new area of energy and strength. The body obeys the limitations imposed upon it by the mind. Because Bikram Yoga is one of the most strenuous forms of hatha yoga, it is easy to claim to myself that I MUST be tired after all that exertion. Letting myself engage in this way, certainly obtained the result. The REALITY of yoga class is that it CREATES energy. Although it is natural to feel weakness or exhaustion, that feeling is actually RECOVERY, and in a few minutes, I claim to myself that I am refreshed and energetically ready for life. And, magically, I am.
3. Trust your body to know what it needs to do. Patience. As obedient as the body is to the limitations of the mind, it has also retained the awareness of the sequence of how those limitations were imposed, and knows how to undo them. The deeper problem with this is that many times there seem to be opposing limitations and confused commands operating within the body. These were put there by the mind, resulting in the wrong muscles being used to do certain motions. The trick, of course, is to get the mind out of the way, and it WILL resolve.
4. How you do yoga is how you do your life. The corollary to this is what happens during yoga practice is a microcosm of what happens to you in life. Paying attention to this is the road to revelation–as well as some inner grins.
5. Flexibility and core strength are the keys to health. Nutrition is important, drinking lots of water is important, getting proper amounts of sleep is important–all things I had been doing throughout my life. Unfortunately, I had overlooked the two most important things. Exercise is inadequate (and I dare say useless) without flexibility and core strength training. Again, it has taken much more than I thought to keep my body’s bank account from going into the red, and the quickest way into the black is with flexibility and core strength training. (By “core strength” I mean the deepest core muscles that create movement in the body, such as abdominal and back muscles.) With a high degree of flexibility, all the enzymes, minerals, blood flow, and myriad other rejuvenating substances the body creates to heal and build itself can get to those areas that need it. Without flexibility, there is withering and dying. I also noticed that I didn’t engage my abdominal muscles when I should, such as when bending over, lifting, carrying, walking, standing up. This set up bad habits of motion, and the obvious developing flacidity and inappropriate muscle recruitment.
6. Breathe. Combine this command with how you do yoga is how you do your life, and you’ll quickly see where you cut off your life force in daily living. I would stop breathing when I felt weak, for example. Ooops.
7. Use your mind to guide and expand. This is a corollary to Number 3 above. I noticed that by setting and visualizing goals on each posture, as well as for the entire class, and by refusing to entertain any other thoughts–such as how hot it is in the room, what hurts, what I’m afraid of, etcetera, etcetera–lo and behold progress gets made. The body wants to feel better. Help it out by concentrating on improving each posture, and when not doing that, concentrating on breathing. I’m saving myself a lot of unnecessay torture by applying this point in my practice, and in my life.

EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL CHANGES

The most impressive effect underlying all the physical changes has been my greatly increased ability to confront life in the proper perspective–what I’ll call the “Small Potatoes Effect.” This is where one does something so monumentally difficult that the rest of life’s daily conflicts, conundrums, irritations and niggly stresses seem to all pale in importance. Or, more accurately, they begin to assume the quality of merely the backdrop texture accompanying my personal goals and purposes. They become the tiny, swirling dust devils stirred up by my atmospheric movements of intention. These are no longer “stresses”–they are revealing acknowledgements that life is changing according to my desires.

As the practice advances, I’m wondering if perhaps it is not so much that it is “monumentally difficult” to do this yoga, but that certain firmly embedded toxic conditions residing for decades deep within organs, muscle and bone are at last being purged–and that translates as a monumental achievement on some subliminal cellular or auric level.

Whatever it is, it has restored my sense of humor, allowed me to rediscover my enjoyment of living, and added an aura of leisure in everyday activities, even as I find myself accomplishing more.

And so I continue on with my daily practice of Bikram Yoga with an inner smile, remembering that Bikram says, “You gotta go through hell to get to heaven,” and remembering that the only reason the “hell” is there was my own doing. But with yoga, my days of redemption are at hand.

GRAPHICS/LINKS: http://www.subtleenergysolutions.com/newsletter-boydyoga.html

About the Author

Boyd is the webmaster of www.subtleenergysolutions.com and the newsletter writer for that site. He enjoys a wide range of experience both in the ways of the internet and in freelance writing. An active, professional drummer, Boyd performs in the Portland area with several area blues and R&B bands. Boyd is also an avid, practicing Bikram Yoga participant

Written By: Boyd Martin

Chronic pain sufferers spend millions of dollars to find ways of relieving their pain. This article hopes to share a process that is natural, and free.

Meditation: The Most Popular Alternative Pain Relief Therapy

According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, mind-body medicine is the most popular alternative approach for people in pain. And at the heart of mind-body medicine lies the age-old practice of meditation; a quiet, simple technique that belies an extraordinary power that has scientifically been proven to boost disease resistance and maintain overall health.

For many people who suffer from chronic pain, spending quiet time in meditation has proven to be the first step in learning how to cope with their pain. Over the years, thousands of individuals have sought help at stress reduction clinics that teach meditation techniques to people with pain. Their symptoms vary -from headaches, arthritis, and back pain to anxiety, eczema, and many other conditions- but their stories are remarkably similar:For those seeking help in coping with their problems, meditation works.

How Pain Relief Is Attained Thru Meditation (Why Meditation Decreases Pain)

The human body can produce its own natural chemical self-stimulants called endorphins. Among other things, this group of molecules alleviates stress, reduces pain, and gives a feeling of pleasure.

During meditation, when the brain is in a highly synchronous and coherent state (as measured by EEG brainwave biofeedback machines), it produces large quantities of these pleasure-causing neuro-chemicals, i.e., endorphins, making the whole experience pleasurable, giving an overall feeling of well-being. Many report a feeling of peace, happiness, connectedness, and a sense of wholeness when meditating.

Scientists have found that when the brain is stimulated by a pleasurable experience, it is capable of overwhelming or inhibiting other stimuli. Thus, pleasure can overcome depression or pain.

Yoga Meditation Methods For Coping With Or Overcoming Pain

There are many meditation methods andtechniques but they can generally be divided into several categories listed below. You may experiment with each one, and maybe even combine them to suit your needs. It all depends on what works best for you. Meditation is a very flexible tool.

Category 1: Breathing

One of the first steps in meditation is being aware of your breath. This method involves the use of specific breathing patterns to bring about relaxation. Essentially, as you slow your breathing rate, the body relaxes, and the mind calms down, as well. Based on my own personal experience, the more relaxed you are, the less pain you will feel.

Category 2: Transformational Life View

Meditation does not only involve breathing awareness. Many meditation traditions ask you to ponder on life-changing concepts such as what reality is and who you really are.Understanding your True Self, and experiencing your True Self directly thru meditation causes practitioners to undergo a profound transformation of view. This transformation of view leads them to a different way of looking at themselves, namely from a perspective of wholeness. With this change of perspective, a new and profound coming to terms with their problems and their suffering begins to take place.From feeling out of control, helpless, and beyond help, they develop a sense of inner peace and acceptance, and even a sense of the possible, a feeling of calm confidence, and control. This attitudinal and emotional transformation plays a major role towards better health and often causes a reduction in physical symptoms and improvement in a person’s physical condition.

This transformational life view brings about an ability to act with greater balance and inner security in the world, especially when encountering stress, pain, or illness.This category includes the popular mindfulness meditation which is used extensively by stress reduction clinics that have helped thousands of chronic pain sufferers and people with illnesses.

Category 3: Visualization/ Imagery

Visualization or imagery is a commonly used technique to relieve anxiety and pain. It involves imagining a pleasant and relaxing, or even exciting, place or activity that has brought you happiness in the past or is appealing to you. Mentally exploring this place or activity in great detail can help induce a sense of calm.

Category 4: Prana/ Chi / Life Force

It is said that a life force flows through our bodies, invariably known as prana or chi, and that this energy flows through the body within a psychic nervous system composed of subtle channels. There is an intimate relationship between our mind and this subtle nervous system and we can control or direct this energy for improved well-being, such as for pain relief.

You can also visualize blue, white, or pink healing light having a positive effect on the painful area.

Conclusion

These Yoga meditation techniques have been used for centuries for spiritual purposes.However, they can also be used as natural pain relief methods. By applying the meditation techniques specifically for pain control, practitioners are able to have a positive effect on such severe kinds of pain.

I hope these methods help those of you with chronic pain so that you can use meditation to lead better lives.

About the Author

***** Copyright (C), 2005 Raj Kenshin Norbu *****
You are free to distribute or publish this article provided you do not change any of the content, and/or delete my name and URL from the article. Thank you!

Raj K. Norbu is founder of a site that shows you how to experience your True Self thru Yoga meditation, enabling you to increase pain threshold and perform amazing feats.Ebooks available include The Yogic Method For Developing Supernormal Powers and The Ultimate Yoga Meditation Course. To know more, visit: http://www.PainRelief-Meditation-Yoga.com

Written By: Raj Kenshin Norbu

So, how do you take the soothing effects of your Yoga practice and apply them to the rest of your day? Develop a system where you use your time wisely. This is the wisdom of time management, as applied to “real life.”

We’re not discussing a “catch phrase,” or short-term solution, where a manager goes to a one-day workshop on time management, and then comes back lecturing his, or her, staff, about their time management.

The irony is that, most of the time, this type of manager is aware of time management because he, or she, wastes plenty of time. This usually goes on until the next workshop, and then management will learn a new catch phrase to tell the staff what they are doing wrong.

What we are discussing is a lifestyle, and possibly a big change, just like the first time you visited a Yoga class. In a “nut shell,” we have limited time on this earth and we cannot afford to waste it thinking about future worries, past regrets, fighting with loved ones, or leaving goals on hold.

Most of us leave dreams, goals, relationships, and ambitions on the “back burner,” while the daily routine of life goes by. No wonder people complain about the monotony of daily tasks. Very often, we hear, “I don’t have time to learn new skills, go to night school, practice Yoga, or become a Yoga teacher.”

Remember when you were a child and life seemed to go by so slowly? You had time to play, watch television, listen to the radio, and lay around, without a care in the world. Now, welcome to adulthood, life is flying by at a rapid pace, and goals sometimes seem further away than ever before.

Your starting point is today. All you have to do is write your list of tasks for tomorrow. This is commonly called a “to do list.” You can post it on a piece of paper, on your desktop, in your PDA, or anywhere you will refer to it in a day.

To be honest, I put the piece of paper in my pocket and refer to it during the day. Sometimes, the lesson plan for my next Yoga class can be found in my pocket, too. This is a reflection of my time line, and my generation, but my son would put it on his PDA. Whatever you choose is fine, as long as you refer to it, and get something done.

Notice, I did not say get everything done. Somehow, life throws us curves and your “well laid” plans may not fit into the daily time frame. You learn this in your Yoga practice too. It is absolutely necessary that all of us accept change. These days, change occurs on a daily basis, so there is no need to become tense about it. This explains why so many corporate fitness centers have Yoga, or meditation programs, for their employees.

Be prepared to make modifications to your plans or “turn on a dime.” Deadlines should be taken seriously, but sometimes life gets in the way. There are times when the path you are on will have to be altered. So, be prepared to have a backup plan.

Remember the Serenity Prayer: “God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference.” It goes without saying, that you will waste a lot of time and energy, if you don’t know the difference.

The next point to cover is when to multi-task. What is this? You say, “This doesn’t sound very Yogic.” Yoga refers to “unity” or “union,” and we must exist in harmony with life as it is today. The mind naturally multi-tasks so, let’s make the most of our time.

In ancient times people multi-tasked, too. Why else would people around the world practice meditation for thousands of years? Why else would the people of India practice Yoga for over 5,000 years? Stress was one of many things our ancestors, and the ancient Yogis, have in common with us, and we know that stress is a killer. Most likely stress is linked to every ailment that connected to mankind.

True irony is when you consider planning time, and start to make excuses why you don’t have time to manage, or plan, your time wisely. If you like to watch television, you could do a little planning at the same time. Ideally, it is best to be totally focused, thinking clearly, and be in a quiet place when planning time.

However, there are other forms of multi-tasking you can do such as listening to an audio book in the car, using an exercise bike while watching television, and reading or listening to books while traveling. There are a number of Yoga, and Yoga philosophy audio books, available.

On the other hand, we know multi-tasking can go too far. I will never forget commuting into Boston, stuck in traffic, and seeing a guy next to me reading a newspaper on his steering wheel! Within the same month, I saw a motorist driving with a hamburger in one hand, and a milk shake in the other, while driving through stop and go traffic on Interstate 95!

We’re not considering reckless multi-tasking, but consider combining tasks that don’t require 100% focus. For example, you cannot focus entirely on an audio book while driving, and you may have to listen to it quite a few times before you mentally digest all the material.

For this very reason, you should not consider listening to, and concentrating on, meditation audio books, while driving your car or operating machinery. Yoga philosophy is one thing, but trying to listen to or practice with a meditation audio book, while driving, is quite another. Therefore, be very careful about the safety factors involved in multi-tasking.

Another point to cover is logistics. When you consider where you are going, always plan to avoid “back tracking.” For example: If you are picking the kids up from school and have to get groceries, make it into a combined trip. If you make it into two trips, this is truly a waste of time. Therefore, plan your trips, whether they are time spent in a car, riding a bike, or walking.

Lastly, make time for family, friends, and loved ones.

Unify your time for a balanced life. Life is not, “all work and no play,” but life is not sitting around living the life of a “couch potato.” Remember one of the best excuses for not attending a Yoga class: “I don’t have the time.”

About the author:

Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He’s a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

Written By: Paul M. Jerard Jr.

I had been practicing yoga in my home for a while when I decided to take some classes at a local center. I had been using a variety of yoga videos and DVDs that were taught by senior instructors with impeccable form, so I expected the same quality of yoga instruction when I arrived at this class. Unfortunately, it wasnt the case. The teacher who taught the class was sloppy in her style as she moved through the poses and it seemed more as if she were doing her own practice, rather than leading the class. She never came around and adjusted the alignment of any of the students, which really annoyed me because that was the main reason I decided to attend the class. Additionally, she was facing one way and the students were facing the opposite way, so it was very difficult to see what she was doing. Needless to say, I wasnt impressed.

I am optimistic by nature so the next morning, I took another class at the same center, but this time there was a different teacher leading the practice. Her style was more of what I was looking for. Her execution of the positions was excellent. She showed the students how to do the pose and then she got up and checked the alignment of the students and made necessary adjustments. She brought attention to those students who did a pose particularly well, and she encouraged others to go a little deeper. I was very happy with the teacher, and even though the class did not fit my schedule particularly well, I attended it on a regular basis.

Although my initial endeavor into the world of taking yoga classes was somewhat hit or miss, by asking certain questions and checking some details, you have a better chance of finding the right yoga instructor for you.

Here are some things to consider.

Decide what your goals are for your yoga practice.
Do you want to practice yoga to relieve stress, heal from an injury, or gain strength and flexibility? If a center offers yoga that is very fast paced and very physically challenging, it probably wont be the right match for you if you want to learn how to relax.

What style of yoga interests you? Make sure that the center offers that particular style.

Are you interested in a certain level of yoga instruction? If you are a beginner, you probably dont want to take a class that lumps all levels together. You also dont want a class that is too advanced where you have a greater chance of feeling discouraged because you cant keep up with the other students, or worse, you could get injured. You want a class where the instructor takes ample time to explain the postures and also helps students achieve the correct alignment.

Ask out about the teachers level experience
Find out how many years the teacher has been practicing yoga and how long he has been teaching. With my experience with the two yoga teachers, I found out that the one that didnt impress me had just become a teacher, while the one I liked had been teaching for quite some time.

Ask about how many hours of training he has received. Although there is no universal yoga teacher certification, many quality studios require that their instructors complete a minimum number of training hours before they are allowed to teach. If the instructor has 200 or more hours of training, there is a good chance that he has solid skills to work with.

Does the instructor know the benefits and contraindications of each pose? Can he offer modifications for students who have physical limitations? You want a teacher who can provide information about how each pose relates to your unique physical condition.

Also, find out if the teacher has specific training in basic anatomy. I cannot emphasize this point strongly enough. When I was in my early twenties, I took a gymnastics class which was taught by an instructor who had no training in anatomy. Each week he stretched my body in a position that caused me a great deal of pain. If he knew about body mechanics and physiology he never would never used that stretch, because it is almost guaranteed to cause injury. The end result for me was years of pain and permanent injury. If the teacher is not trained in anatomy run, dont walk, out of the class.

What is the teachers personal style?
In order for you to get the most out of yoga, you have to feel comfortable with the teacher. Is the teacher friendly, encouraging, and supportive? Does she treat students and others with respect?

Yoga is intensely personal so it is critical that you like and trust the teacher. She will be touching your body to adjust your alignment, so you need to feel totally safe with her. A good instructor will make the class a secure and peaceful experience for students.

How clean is the studio?
As you look around, do you notice dust or dirt? Is there a musty or sweaty odor? A yoga class encourages you to practice barefoot and breathe deeply. It is very difficult to get the most from your yoga instruction if you are worried about contracting a disease from an unclean studio.

How does the teacher handle your personal beliefs?
A good yoga teacher does not impose her personal beliefs on students. Yoga is not a religion. You should be able to practice any religion, or none at all, and still feel comfortable in the class. You also should not be required to eat or act a certain way to be considered acceptable to the teacher.

Yoga promotes freedom, so you should not be held bondage to someone elses beliefs. You should be free to live whichever way is right for you.

Quality yoga instruction can be very important for you in your yoga journey. By keeping these ideas in mind when you search for a yoga teacher, you are very likely to find the one that is just right for you.

About the Author

Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast who has been involved in fitness for over thirty years. Here website http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/ is filled with practical information about how you can make yoga and fitness a positive part of your life.

Written By: Della Menechella

This was a modern form of yoga that did not renounce the world but sought to bring the divine into all aspects of life. For over 20 years Sri Chinmoy lived in the ashram spending many hours in meditation, achieving elevated states of spiritual consciousness. These states of self realization led to some of Sri Chinmoy’s most profound poetry. In poems such as Immortality and The Absolute we get a glimpse of the deathless state beyond mind and form.

“My eternal days are found in speeding time; I play upon His Flute of rhapsody. Impossible deeds no more impossible seem; In birth chains now shines Immortality.”

- From Immortality by Sri Chinmoy

In 1964 Sri Chinmoy travelled to America to offer the ancient spiritual traditions of India in a modern and dynamic form to aspiring seekers in the West. He has lived in New York since 1964 and has been offering meditations at the United Nations for over 30 years. Sri Chinmoy has lectured on spirituality, yoga and meditation at many universities in both America, Europe and other parts of the World. He teaches that all religions lead to the same goal and fundamentally share common values.

Sri Chinmoy’s path encompasses all 4 of the principle types of Yoga;

Bhakti Yoga - yoga of devotion Jnani Yoga - yoga of Wisdom Raja Yoga - Yoga of Philosophy Karma Yoga - Yoga of Divine Action.

Sri Chinmoy teaches that love is the most direct way to approach God. Sri Chinmoy often says that his path is in essence the path of the heart. If we cry from the depths of our heart the Supreme will respond. If on the other hand, we try to meditate using the mind, we will achieve only very limited peace. An important element of Bhakti yoga is the use of devotional music. Soulful singing is a powerful way for a seeker to approach the divine. Great Bhakti yogi’s such as Sri Chaitanya and Mirabai spent many hours singing Bhajans (devotional songs), through this singing they were able to enter into the Divine Consciousness. Sri Chinmoy is one of the most prolific composers of devotional music. Since coming to the West he has composed over 12,000 songs in his native Bengali and over 5,000 in English. Most of these songs are devotional in nature; appealing to different aspects of the Supreme or identifying with different stages of a seekers spiritual journey.

Sri Chinmoy writes on Bhakti Yoga

“Ask a man to speak about God and he will speak endlessly. Ask a Bhakta to speak about God and he will say only two things: God is all Affection, God is all Sweetness. The Bhakta even goes one step further. He says, “I can try to live without bread, but never can I live without my Lord’s Grace. A Bhakta’s prayer is very simple: “O my Lord God, do enter into my life with Thine Eye of Protection and with Thy Heart of Compassion.” This prayer is the quickest way to knock at God’s Door and also the easiest way to see God open the Door.”

As well as composing many songs Sri Chinmoy is also noted as a prolific writer and poet. He has published over 1,400 books which nearly all relate to some aspect of the spiritual life. Some books take the form of Question and Answer sessions. Sri Chinmoy is able to offer advice from the deepest spiritual perspective. Often these writings expound on common themes essential to genuine spirituality. These include disciplining the mind so that the seeker does not become beholden to negative ideas the mind can become attached to. This is a short extract from a talk entitled.

“What is Yoga”

“What is Yoga? Yoga is the language of God. If we wish to speak to God, we have to learn His language. What is Yoga? Yoga is that which discloses God’s secret. If we wish to know God’s secret, we have to launch into the path of Yoga. What is Yoga? Yoga is the Breath of God. If we wish to see through God’s Eye and feel through His Heart, if we wish to live in God’s Dream and know God’s Reality, if we wish to possess the Breath of God, and finally if we wish to become God Himself, Yoga will beckon us.”

From: Yoga and the Spiritual Life by Sri Chinmoy

Karma Yoga

Sri Chinmoy leads an active life showing that an inner life of prayer and meditation can offer inspiration and help to increase our own capacities. Sri Chinmoy says that spirituality does not involve retreating from the world. Instead he advocates acceptance of the world and the inner fruits of meditation he says can be used to guide and illumine outer activities. At the age of 74 Sri Chinmoy is still very active demonstrating that age is not a barrier to continuing achievements. Sri Chinmoy is a noted weightlifter and continues to lift heavy weights saying that he does so to offer inspiration to others. Sri Chinmoy also travels extensively offering concerts of meditative music in different locations.

About the author:

Richard is a cyclist and economics Teacher. He is a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Oxford UK

Written By: Richard Pettinger

What are yoga students missing when they are only taking class to lose weight, become fit, or relieve stress? They are missing the heart of the practice and the chance to make significant positive changes in their lives. When going to a yoga class becomes something greater than just something you do for yourself every now and again, you begin to realize that it is not just about you anymore. Dedicating the practice to something greater than yourself is what draws the distinction between just doing exercise and practicing yoga.

These days, it seems that the mention of dedication, or devotion, can be a tricky subject in yoga class. People tend to be unresponsive when the idea of the divine is mentioned. It is important for yoga practitioners to know that the philosophy of yoga is inextricably linked with divinity, no matter what name is given to it or how it is incorporated. Yoga was built on the idea that there is a force greater than ourselves, and yet we are still connected to it. This is the idea of Oneness, and the idea is more than fairly comforting. Others who are religious fear a conflicting of faiths by believing in the spirituality of yoga; however, Swami Satchidananda said, “The Truth is one, the paths are many.” Therefore, people of any faith or belief can practice yoga. Even if a practioner of yoga does not believe in any form of divinity, this does not present a problem. They must simply recognize that the nature of all beings is joy and try to connect with that.

Now that we’ve gotten that sticky subject out of the way, I want to explain this idea of dedicating your practice in greater detail. It’s not even so much about dedication as it is relinquishing or letting go of everything whether they be worries, fears, misunderstandings, or hang-ups. My teacher, Sharon Gannon, always promotes the idea that “You’ve got to get down to get up.” What she means is that you need to be rooted in the here and now and be able to let go of all the fruits of your actions. Why, you ask? Why shouldn’t you just keep on doing yoga to perfect your chatturangas, balance longer in tree pose, and get that yoga butt? The answer is a simple one. What are all those things going to get you in the long run?

Sure, nailing that Chatturanga feels great, and deepening your Hanumanasana (splits pose) can give you a bit of a rush. I’m not denying that one bit, but what is the true purpose behind the motions? Yoga practice can help you to break a cycle, stop bad habits, and transform your life. Yes, it can do all of those things, but you have to let it. You see, you can’t acquire yoga like you can dance steps or aerobic maneuvers; you have to let go of what is obscuring it. You have to let go of your preferences and simply be in the moment as a divine being.

So why do asana at all if you’re not supposed to be attached to the outcome? Because the asanas help to show you the interior of your own mind, they clearly point out what you’re holding on to and what you still need to work through. They transform you into the tree or the warrior and make you see what it is like to step outside of yourself, even for the briefest of moments. Asana also gives you the chance to see that both the world and you yourself are constantly changing. This, in turn, gives you the opportunity to find what is real and unchanging.

When you realize that the purpose of your yoga practice is not to keep you rooted in this world, but to let you move through it, you begin to have faith in your ability to reach the divine with your actions. It can ignite the soul and give you a sense of renewed dignity and worth. Because you know that you’re not just performing the motions for your own benefit, the sense of satisfaction from your practice can grow beyond the mat. For example, have you ever had the opportunity to offer selfless service to another? Maybe you’ve adopted a pet and taken on the full responsibility of loving and caring for it, and, in exchange, all you have received is unconditional love from them for giving happiness and freedom. This is what the act of devotion is all about–realizing that it’s not all about the wishes and wants you only think you need.

When you start letting go of the selfish motives for practice and try to connect with something greater, you inspire your own ability to love. This is the nature of the spirit, and connecting with that is the ultimate goal of yoga practice. Samadhi is union with the divine, a connection with the source, which is true love. Everything else is negligible. As my teachers, Sharon Gannon and David Life, would say, “The sheer desire for Oneness is the way to it.”

Realizing that all the beings in this world are connected in this way is a remarkable step for the yogi. Once the lines between ‘you’ and ‘them’ begin to fade, you realize how important it is to share love and a sense of gratitude with everyone around you.

About the author

Copyright 2006 Alanna Kaivalya

Alanna Kaivalya is an Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga instructor who teaches nationally and internationally. Her favorite element of yoga is the practice of deep listening - Nada Yoga - which helps to connect her to the divine vibrations everywhere. To download her podcasts, contact her or to invite her to teach, please visit her website, http://www.jivadiva.com .

Written By: Alanna Kaivalya

Rajas is the energy of action, change and movement. Rajas is the fuel of passion and fire. Rajasic energy is also associated with the day light hours. We obviously need rajasic energy to create energy to move successfully throughout our world and lives. When we have too much rajasic energy we might appear to the outside world as extremely busy, go go go, do do do! Does this sound like you? Maintaining a high degree of rajasic energy leads to burn out! When rajas is out of balance the mind and body are overstimulated, the mind becomes restless and you experience a lot of uncontrollable thoughts.

Foods that are rajasic include: spicy food, fried foods, coffee / caffeinated beverages/ stimulants/ fish, eggs, chocolate, foods that are very bitter, sour, dry and salty. Eating in a hurry is also considered rajasic

Tamas can be thought of as the opposite of rajas. Tamasic energy is associated with a state of inactivity and inertia, heaviness and darkness. When tamas is out of balance your ability to reason becomes clouded and you might experience the darker emotions such as anger or greed. Just as there is more rajasic energy present in daylight hours, tamasic energy is present during nighttime. People who are very tamasic might be depressed or appear lazy. Generally speaking disease states are tamasic.

Examples of tamasic food include: meat, alcohol, tobacco, onions, fermented foods vinegar or strong cheese, stale food or over ripe food, overly processed food or chemically treated. Overeating is considered tamasic.

Sattva is energy that is in a state of harmony and balance. Positive mental and emotional states of joy and intelligence are associated with sattva. A person who was experiencing a lot of sattvic energy would appear very happy. Sattvic energy also is consistent with healing states and in Ayurveda (yogas sister science) sattvic energy is actively cultivated. Sattvic energy is most present during the times between light and dark- in other words dusk and dawn. A person on the yogic path is focused on developing sattva and for this reason yoga asana and meditation are classically performed at these times.

Foods that are sattvic include: whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, pure fruit juice, legumes, milk, butter, nuts, seeds, sprouted seeds, honey and herb teas.

It is important to realize that we all have all three gunas within us. And while this is true we tend to have a predominant guna. Based on the descriptions above can you figure out what yours is? It is good to be aware of this because once you are aware of your predominant guna then you can predict how might react to certain life circumstances as well know your strengths and weaknesses. Youll know when you will tend to be thrown out of balance and what you will need to do to bring yourself back into balance.

You also might have times in our lives when one guna is more active then another. Perhaps you have very active time and very productive (rajasic). Or a period when you have been depressed (tamasic). Or a time when we are very balanced and in tune with your spirituality (satvic).

Another way the gunas show up in our lives and directly effect us is through the food we eat. Consider for a minute the average American diet with overly processed and chemically treated foods which are very tamasic. Modern science now confirms that these food items are directly linked to major illnesses including cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. As mentioned above too much tamasic energy leads to disease states. We also know that foods in their whole form such as grains, fresh fruits and vegetables (sattvic foods) are life sustaining and bring health and energy.

Do you practice yoga postures (asana)? How do the gunas show up here? Is your asana practice fiery and passionate? Was your practice was slow and lazy? Or was it balanced?

It is probably becoming clear to you by now that to be healthy, happy, and live a balance life it is important to cultivate sattva in your life. This can be done by:

Reducing rajas and tamas
Becoming aware of when you are out of balance- which guna seems most present?
Increase activities and environments that produce positive thoughts
Eating a healthy, sattvic oriented diet
Certain herbs (subject for another article)
The practice of yoga: pranayama (breathing practices), asana (postures), meditation

About the Author:

Howard VanEs, M.A. has been studying and practicing yoga for 14 years and is a certified yoga teacher teaching in the Bay area of San Francisco. He is author of Beginning Yoga: A Practice Manual, co-creator of the CD Shavasana / Deep Relaxation& publisher of Yoga Health and Wellness newsletter. http://www.letsdoyoga.com email: info@letsdoyoga.com

Written By: Howard VanEs