Origins of Yoga

Today’s society is much faster paced that ever before. People have more stress problems which lead to more health problems, mental and physical. There are more concerns with toxicity in the food we eat and the air we breathe. Millions of Americans today live a sedentary lifestyle, which is associated with obesity. The body, the cavities of our soul, was not meant to deteriorate in such a way that leads to disease. Yoga was developed over 5,000 years ago in India and it included spiritual beliefs, physical techniques, and scholarly philosophy.

There is a growing trend to practicing Yoga for many different reasons, which include attaining the yoga body or physique, relaxation and peace of mind, or to prevent injury and ailments. Americans mainly practice Hatha Yoga, which focuses on postures and stretching the body.

Yoga, which is derived from the sacred Sanskrit language of India, meaning *union* or *to yoke or harness*. Yoga is a way or path to transcendence and liberation from the self and the ego by purifying the mind and body. Practicing yoga leads to a union with the mind and body or the individual and universal consciousness. In other words, yoga is the union with the Individual Self and the Universal Self. Yoga predates all other religions and has influenced and inspired many other traditions and philosophies. Yoga is better understood as a union of the physical, physiological, mental, emotional, and intellectual bodies, which leads to a purposeful and balanced life.

There is simply no other discipline quite like yoga because it utilized the body, mind and spirit, all in one practice. Yoga is indeed a spiritual path that is based on ancient sacred philosophy, but one does not need to make an ethical decision when practicing yoga, rather finding your own path is wholly accepted. The holistic benefits of yoga are suitable for the young or old, sick or well, with any religious background. The secrets of yoga are inwardness, concentration, and purification of mind and body with cleansing thoughts and food. Indian philosophy states that within man is the spirit that is the center of everything. *Internal equilibrium is the basis and the ground for the higher illumination,* The cultural Heritage of India (Vol. I) - published by The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Kolkata, India

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Power Yoga – Powering it up

We may not be familiar with power yoga as it is not fully introduced to us. Power yoga is known as the western version of Ashtanga Yoga which brought by the Indians.

Beryl Bender Birch was the one who gave the term Power Yoga. He was a teacher of Ashtanga Yoga and at the same time an author of Power Yoga.

Yoga was inspired and was brought to the west by the renowned Sanskrit Scholar Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. The people of the west were inspired with his Ashtanga Yoga and also his philosophies.

Power Yoga is described to be the the practice of Yoga Poses which is done continuously in a series of exercises without stopping. The practice is accompanied by the Vinsaya which is known as riding the breath. This enables you to make certain movements from one pose to another.

The power yoga is characterized by vigorous exercises which challenges your physical and mental ability and concentration. This enables you to reach your inner power and connect with it.

The difference of power yoga is that the poses are done faster in a pace. This practice is essential and helpful in increasing your physical endurance.

Power yoga enables you to maintain and keep up a good focus at a longer time without breaking or distracting your concentration. if you need to fully concentrate with something, power yoga might just be the right type for you.

Power yoga has some similarities with the modified versions of Ashtanga Yoga. The certain practices of Iyengar yoga and Bikram also influenced power yoga.

Just like Bikram Yoga, notice that Power Yoga also applies the execution of the common basic yoga poses which is a good practice because even the beginners can do it.

Power yoga also adapted some practices of the Iyengar Yoga which gives emphasis on the form and alignment during the practice. It also includes practice in holding a pose longer without breaking which aims to achieve maximum benefits.

Although Power Yoga has been influenced by a lot of yoga types, still it aims on the steps of Classical Yoga. It aims to unite the body, the spirit and the mind uniquely. The main objective of yoga is for you to be able to connect to your inner power and to reach every level through the poses and practices.

With the help of power Yoga, you can dig deep to your physical, mental and spiritual power.

Power yoga is considered a good training for athletes. Not only does it train them to concentrate deeply but it also aids them in the prevention of injuries and rehabilitation that may come.

If you want to do Power Yoga, you should know first if your health condition can withstand the practice. You should know that Power Yoga is dine in a heated room which is perfectly designed to increase the strength and flexibility, increase your concentration, release tension, stamina and tone in your body which is achieved and released through sweat.

Power yoga can be taught by teachers but there might be some differences depending upon who is teaching it. The people who are healthy and fit can do and practice power yoga. If you enjoy doing exercises and if you want less chanting, power yoga is the best style for you.

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Dhyana Yoga - Is that Yoga and Dhyana the same?

Dhyana Yoga is one on the eight limbs of Yoga. As being the seventh limb, it concentrates upon a place of focus with the intention of knowing the reality regarding it. Dhyana means Meditation. It is produced from the Sanskrit root “dhyana” meaning “to think of”. It does not take contemplation and Meditation of spiritual things. A common way of Dhyana Yoga may be the Kundalini Yoga.

Yoga exercises are also part of the Dhyana Yoga along with breath and mental control. After we practice Dhyana Yoga, we're meditating on just one flow of idea. We get into a situation of revolving only on that chosen object and at the same time deepening our technique of concentration. Asanas, Pranayama, and all sorts of types of concentration aid the categories on the mind.

There are wide and varied sorts of Dhyana Yoga. The goal should be to withdraw all senses from various objects of great interest while focusing during one object. Dhyana Yoga creates a state of tranquility. Its objective would be to cleanse the subconscious, develop concentration, pay off the mind, and result in various stages of unified communion with God.

Dhyana Yoga is essentially practicing Meditation. Practicing Dhyana Yoga allows the practitioner to calm his mind and allow him to try the outside world without distractions. In the process, the guy can reach a higher higher level of awareness. Meditation, consciousness, and experience, are but just one unity. In Dhyana Yoga, it truly is remember three things:
§    one-pointedness of mind – controlling its movements;

§    setting bounds one’s life to help implement it – doing actions after weighing and measuring them; and

§    state of level-headedness or evenness of vision – keeping the nobility to consentrate in the whole world

Dhyana Yoga is usually a system of silencing the entire body, mind, and intellect available as Meditation. After we meditate, we calm mental performance and help realign our inner self to the right path. If we've got lesser thoughts, we have now lesser worries. What's more , it ensures that we could live an effective life. Lots of distractions are negative in life. It is necessary that individuals are able to contemplate on essential things understanding that we have been connecting with all the inner self.

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