Yoga

1. Yoga The word yoga has its roots in the Sanskrit language and means to merge, join or unite. Yoga is a form of exercise based on the belief that the body and breath are intimately connected with the mind. By controlling the breath and holding the body in steady poses, or asanas, yoga creates harmony. Yoga is a means of balancing and harmonizing the body, mind and emotions and is a tool that allows us to withdraw from the chaos of the world and find a quiet space within. To achieve this, yoga uses movement, breath, posture, relaxation and meditation in order to establish a healthy, vibrant and balanced approach to living.

2. Yoga is one of the original concepts which today would be labeled as holistic. That means that the body is related to the breath; both are related to the brain; in turn this links with the mind, which is a part of consciousness. • The essence of yoga is to be in the driver's seat of life. Control is a key aspect of yoga: control of the body, breath and mind. • The secret of yoga practice lies in a simple but important word: balance. In every area of our life, yoga represents balanced moderation.

3. Top things you should know before starting yoga: • Patience is the key to be successful: • This is the first thing which a person must understand. Yoga does not yield results in one day. You have to practice regularly for at least 30 to 45 days, with utmost dedication to visualize results. Be it for weight loss, weight gain or diabetes, regular indulgence in yoga is sure to offer you results, but time is the buzzword. • Always practice yoga in serenity: • A silent atmosphere is the basic requirement for practicing yoga. The room should be airy as well. You can turn on some light music, preferably chants such as TU HI NIRANKAR. Silence and tranquility will help you concentrate on your asanas and breathing, thus rendering you with the ability to listen and acknowledge your body’s needs in a very satisfactory way. Every breath you take should be kept track of.

4. Always wear comfortable clothing: • Always choose clothing in which you are comfortable. Loose, comfortable clothes will help you breathe right while performing the asanas. • Breathe the right way. • Never eat a heavy meal just before your yoga practice: • As with other fitness regimens, yoga also does not allow you to work with a full stomach. Try to practice yoga early in the morning, half an hour after a cup of coffee. If that does not suit you, then make sure that you wait for at least two hours after breakfast and four hours after lunch, before practicing yoga. There are quite a lot of asanas that focus on the abdomen. Working out on a full stomach can yield unpleasant results while performing those poses. • It is advisable for women not to perform certain asanas during their menstrual cycle. Check with the guru to know more. • A yoga mat is necessary. So, do not hesitate to invest in a good mat to avoid injuries

5. 8 Yoga Mudras To Overcome Any Ailments!!Mounika Raghavan 1. Gyan Mudra: This is the first yoga mudra pose known as Gyan Mudra or the Mudra of Knowledge. How to do? Practice this mudra when doing meditations. It’s perfect when you do it early in the mornings with a fresh mind. Touch the tip of your index finger with the tip of your thumb. The other three fingers, you may keep it straight or just keep it free, doesn’t matter even if they are slightly bent. This is a very commonly used mudra when practicing meditations. Benefits: As the name suggests, this mudra is meant to increase your concentration and memory power. • This mudra sharpens your brain power. • It has the ability to cure insomnia. • Practice this mudra regularly to heal yourself of all mental and psychological disorders like anger, stress, anxiety or even depression.

6. 2. Vayu Mudra How to do? • This mudra can be practiced in a standing, sitting or lying down posture. It’s easy to do. Fold your index finger. As you fold your fingers you can see two bones. These are called phalanx bones. When you have folded your index finger the second bone that you see, you have to press it with the base of your thumb just as shown in the above picture. The rest of the three fingers should be kept extended as much as possible. • Do this at any time of the day as per your convenience. There is also no compulsion of doing this at an empty stomach. You may also practice this mudra with a full stomach. • [ Yoga For Reduce Stress ] Caution • Once you achieve the benefits from this mudra, stop doing it. After a certain time, it may cause imbalance within your system. Benefits • As the name suggests vaayu mudra, it balances the air element within your body. This mudra releases excess wind from stomach and body thereby reducing rheumatic and chest pain.

7. 3. Agni Mudra (Mudra of Fire) How to do? Fold your ring finger and press the second phalanx with the base of your thumb. Keep the rest of the fingers straight. This mudra should be practiced only in sitting position early in the morning with an empty stomach. Maintain this mudra for atleast 15 minutes every day. Caution But if you are suffering from acidity or indigestion, avoid this mudra. Benefits It helps to dissolve the extra fat boosting metabolism and controls obesity. Quickens digestion. Improves body strength. Reduces stress and tension. Controls high cholesterol levels. [ Read: Herbal Remedies For Stress ]

8. 4. Prithvi Mudra (Mudra of Earth) How to do? Touch the tip of your ring finger with the tip of your thumb. Pressing the tips of these two fingers, keep the rest of the fingers extende1d out. It is preferable that you perform this mudra in the morning. However you may even do it at any time of the day and for any duration. Sit in a padmasana keeping the palms of both your hands on your knees with straight elbows. Perform this asana when you feel stressed out and exhausted. Padmasana accompanied by this mudra will immediately perk you up. Caution Nothing at all. Perform this asana freely. Benefits It improves blood circulation throughout the body. Increases patience and tolerance. Increases concentration while meditating. Helps strengthen weak and lean bones. Also increases weight of people suffering from low weight. It reduces weakness, exhaustion and dullness of mind. This mudra makes you more beautiful by improving your complexion and giving a natural glow to your skin. [ Read: Remedies To Treat Nervous Weakness ]

9. 5. Varun Mudra (Mudra of Water) This is the best yogic mudra for your outer beauty. It has a positive effect on your skin and keeps it away off all problems. A very effective yoga asana for your overall health let us learn to do this mudra with perfection. How to do? Lightly touch the tip of your little finger with the tip of your thumb. The rest of the fingers should be kept straight. There is no specific time to perform this mudra. You may do it at any time of the day and in any position, but sitting cross-legged when doing this mudra is preferable. Caution: Take care not to press the tip of the little finger near the nail. That will cause dehydration instead of balancing the water level in your body. Benefits: A number of benefits can be achieved by doing this mudra: Varun Mudra balances the water content in our body. It activates fluid circulation within the body keeping it moisturized always. It cures all skin issues like dryness, skin diseases and skin infections. Moreover it also prevents the appearance of pimples for a longer time. It adds a natural glow and luster to your face. Varun Mudra also relieves and prevents any muscle pains that you may suffer from.

10. 6. Shunya Mudra (Mudra of emptiness) How to do it? Press the first phalanx of your middle finger with the thumb. Benefits: Practicing this mudra with full concentration will cure earache within 5-10 minutes at the most. It is also very helpful if someone is deaf or mentally challenged. But those who are handicapped inborn won’t benefit from this mudra. Cautions: After you are cured of these diseases, stop practicing this mudra.

11. 7. Surya Mudra (Mudra of the Sun): How to do it? Press your ring finger and press it with the thumb just as shown in the picture. Benefits: It is quite beneficial when it comes to reducing bad cholesterol. Want to lose weight? This mudra comes handy. Reduces anxiety. Also improves your digestion.

12. 8. Prana Mudra (Mudra of Life) This is a very important mudra as it activates the energy in your body. How to do it? This yoga mudra pose should be accompanied along with padmasana. Bend your ring finger and little finger and touch the tip of both these fingers with the tip of your thumb. There is no specific time to perform this asana. Any time of the day will be suitable. Benefits: This mudra improves your immune system. It also increases your eye power and also cures any sort if eye diseases. It reduces fatigue and tiredness. These are some very important mudras in yoga and are beneficial for your health. Practice them everyday.

13. Types of Yoga and its benefits • Ashtanga Yoga : Ashtanga Yoga is one of the oldest kinds of yoga. This branch of yoga has been mentioned in the Patanjali, a Sanskrit verse book. This type of yoga has 8 branches, which is why it is called Ashtanga yoga. It includes processes such as yoga positions, postures, breathing, concentration on objects, withdrawal of senses, meditation etc. The main benefit of this kind of yoga is the fact that it is supposed to purify the body and the mind at the same time and it is recommended for those people who are looking for a branch of yoga that would let them become physically and mentally fit as well.The postures and stances practiced under this type of yoga have to be done in different sets. There are six such sets. These sets are supposed to increase the heat of the body, hence remove impurities from the body, which will eventually lead to mental and spiritual wellness.The well- known sun salutations or the "Surya Namaskara" form a part of this type of yoga. This is how Ashtanga yoga has to be started, followed by the sets that the person is practicing at that point of time. The first stage of Ashtanga yoga is known as "Yoga Chikitsa" or Yoga Therapy. The second stage is known as Nadi Shodana or Nerve cleansing and the last stage is Stirah Bagah, which is steady strength. The new fad in yoga- Power Yoga is actually adapted from this kind of yoga. It is also one of the most popular yoga types right now

15. Bhakti Yoga : This branch of yoga is based completely on faith and belief. While practicing yoga, it is generally suggested that the person place their faith and belief on some supreme power such as God or any higher consciousness. One of the most important prerequisite for doing this kind of yoga is to be actually interested in it and invested in it. People have to believe in this kind of yoga when they are doing it or the emotional flow and the energy derived from the yoga will not be beneficial at all. The biggest benefit of practicing Bhakti Yoga, this can help cure a person's mental and emotional problems in such a way that their relationships with other people can also be improved.

17. Bhakti Yoga

18. Yoga for back pain relief

19. Yoga for stress relief

20. Yoga for flat stomach

22. by Dr.Hansaji Jayadeva • Prakriti (nature) operates through three gunas (qalities) of the mind - Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Satva is purity or light or knowledge. Rajas is passion or activity. Tamas is inertia or darkness. By checking rajas and tamasgunas, one can increase the satvaguna. When the satva is increased, the mind becomes steady like the still flame of a lamp in a windless place. • These three gunas make up a personality complex. Sattva is the intelligence or fluidity of thought. The three gunas work together, sometimes one being dominant. • If we can analyse and identify our experience as material and non-material, we notice that the material manifestation is but a play of the gunas. As we learn to accept this reality our overall perspective towards life changes. We then tend to bend towards and focus on the positive aspects of every situation and think through with a steady mind, when confronted with a problem. This attitude-shift helps in developing and enhancing one’s personality.

23. Pranayama for Personality Development • Prana stands for bio-energy, biological energy. Behind the external physical manifestations, the body and its various activities, prana is considered as central. It is like the center of the wheel, all the spokes are connected to that. If we learn to manage that, we can manage life. The person who knows how to manage this can not only enjoy good health and overcome disease but also can possess excellent mental condition, concentration and creativity. • Pranayamas help us in coming from the gross, to subtler, to the subtlest. This will help us gain better understanding of our body and mind. We can then do every action mindfully, where our body language and themanner in which we speakshifts towards positivity. • When one practices yogic techniques there is a great deal of emphasis on one’s body language, facial expression and state of mind. These three elements are extremely crucial to develop a positive personality. • It is important to watch your posture and body language like sitting upright, walking properly (without dragging one’s feet), talking politely, maintaining a pleasant facial expression, being righteous as per the situation at hand and so on. This holistic change can be very easily brought about by practicing simple yogic techniques. Following are a few(ancient breathing exercises)pranayamas that may help.

24. 1. Yogendra Pranayama 1 • Stand erect, relaxed and with your feet apart • Inhale slowly and continuously • Exhale in the same manner • Do ten rounds 2. Yogendra Pranayama 2 • Stand erect, relaxed and with your feet apart as in Pranayama I • Place your hands on the lower portion of the ribs on either side • Now inhale by expanding the intercostal muscles • Start exhaling the moment the inhalation is complete • Try not to use the diaphragm (not much abdominal movement) and the clavicular muscles during this practice • Concentrate on the lower part of the ribs and feel your lungs expanding • Start with a count of two seconds and go to a maximum of seven seconds

25. Yogendra Pranayama 3 • Stand erect with your feet apart • Inhale by using only the clavicular muscles, keeping the intercostal and diaphragm controlled. While inhaling make a slight upward and backward movement of the shoulders • Start exhaling as soon as the inhalation is complete • Keep a count of two seconds in the beginning and go on gradually to a maximum of five • Concentrate on the area across the armpits and try to feel the fullness in your lungs

26. DHAN NIRANKAR JI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWB6nRcxyTc Yoga Video