What is Somatic Yoga ? The Process of Internal Awareness

by Tirtha Acharya | Apr 23, 2024 | Uncategorized

In today’s urban pace, finding moments of peace feel like a luxury. Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easier to be out of touch with ourselves. This leads to a domino effect and can make anyone sad and stressed. Enter somatic yoga – a gentle yet powerful approach to yoga that takes you on a journey inside yourself and reclaims who you are. In this blog, you shall understand what somatic yoga is and methods to incorporate it into your life.

What is Somatic Yoga?

When we speak of yoga, there is this preconceived notion that it’s just physical poses. Somatic yoga goes beyond physical poses. It’s a practice of deep listening, breathing, and self-discovery. Unlike the traditional yoga style that emphasizes external perfection; somatic yoga focuses on internal awareness. The major objective here is to understand the body’s sensation and movements while addressing your unique needs.

Difference between somatic yoga and traditional yoga

Principles in Somatic Yoga

1. Body Awareness: Somatic yoga encourages you to establish a deep relationship with your body. It enables you to understand the subtle messages that your body is sending you.
2. Self-Compassion: In somatic yoga, there’s no room for judgment or criticism. You’re invited to meet yourself with compassion and acceptance.
3. Mindful Movement: Every movement in somatic yoga is filled with intent. It’s an opportunity to be fully present in your body and enjoy the sensations of each stretch, breath, and movement.
4. Breathwork: Like every type of yoga, breath is a constant aspect of somatic yoga too. It guides you through each movement and magnifies its effect. By syncing the breath with movements, you can establish a sense of flow and connection that carries us through the practice.

Benefits of somatic yoga

The benefits of somatic yoga extend far beyond the physical body. Here is how it improves your life:

• Promotes flexibility and mobility
• Enhances body awareness and mindfulness
• Helps to build a deeper connection with oneself
• Helps to release stored emotions and trauma
• Reduces stress and tension in the body
• Helps in dealing with chronic pain and injuries
• Reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation

Incorporating Somatic Yoga into Your Routine

Now, that you have understood the benefits of somatic yoga, let’s take a look at how you can incorporate it into your routine.

1. Start Small: Begin with just a few minutes of somatic yoga each day. Don’t make the mistake of starting with a long session on Day 1 and leaving it completely from the next day. Slowly increase the duration of each session depending on your comfort level and make sure to practice it consistently.
2. Listen to Your Body: Keep in mind that your body’s unique and you need to adjust your practice accordingly. By understanding this practice only you’ll be able to modify it according to your needs.
3. Practice Mindfulness: Be present in your body and breathe as you move through your practice. Relish each moment filled with peace and relaxation.
4. Be Kind to Yourself: Don’t be too hard on yourself when things don’t go your way. Understand that failing is part of the process and practice each moment with warmth and compassion.

In a world where it’s too easy to feel stressed and out of place, somatic yoga emerges as a wonderful option. It connects you to your roots and takes you on a journey of empowerment and self-discovery. With the gentle touch of somatic yoga, you can connect with your inner strength and find your true self.

If you’re looking for a trustworthy and knowledgeable partner for taking somatic yoga, then look no further than (insert Company’s name). We have experienced therapists who’ll guide you and make the journey memorable.

Beginners Yoga Teacher Training In Nepal | Beginners YTTC in Nepal

by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 11, 2023 | Uncategorized

Beginners Yoga teacher Training In Nepal Yoga Home

Over the millennia, people have tapped into the divine wisdom of yoga. Nepal Yoga Home’s Beginners yoga teacher training course is comprehensive, covering the basic concepts of yoga and the asanas, meditation, and other key components.

We highly recommend you to join our 100 hours beginners yoga teacher training course if you are interested to dive into it.

Newcomers to yoga are provided with the proper instruction they need to establish a firm practice.

The Beginners YTT programme is designed to maximise fitness, mental health, and overall well-being for all participants and provide training on the same. Professional Yoga Teachers will educate you on the history, philosophy, and techniques of Yoga. The result will be a more thorough grasp of this historical information for you.

Briefly touching upon the nature and importance of Yoga

For the past several decades, yoga has exploded in popularity all over the world. Even individuals who don’t themselves engage in the physical and spiritual practice of yoga often claim to know someone who does. Words like “balance,” “strength,” “flexibility,” and “relaxation” are often used to describe the feelings experienced by practitioners.

Yoga is a traditional discipline that has been handed down from teacher to student for thousands of years. Some examples of yogic activities include deep breathing exercises, postures designed to promote relaxation and chanting as a kind of meditation. Yoga comes in a wide variety of forms, each with its own emphasis and method for reaching a unified consciousness.

Why should you be a part of this training?

Our yoga guru guides the group of educators. Many yoga academies, colleges, and seminars have contributed to their extensive resumes. The Beginners yoga teacher training programme at Nepal Yoga Home meets all criteria established by the international standard of yoga practice and includes content in pedagogy, physiology, and anatomy.

To that end, we want to provide our trainees with a rich understanding of Yoga in its birthplace. Because of this, we provide a variety of excellent Beginners yoga Instructor training that includes the finest Eastern and Western philosophies and practices.

In addition to offering Beginners yoga teachers instruction course in beautiful settings, the Nepal Yoga Home also offers powerfully sequenced, pre-designed class templates that you can use right away in your teaching career, as well as advice on public speaking, voice use, and use of modifications to prevent injuries. The Beginners yoga teacher training will allow you to learn several teaching methods, provide you with opportunities to practise those methods with constructive criticism, and prepare you to teach effectively in a variety of settings.

Advantages of yoga training

Herein you will discover the right Beginners Yoga Certification that will teach you the skills you need to:
– Create a robust routine in your own life; this will serve as a solid foundation and provide credibility to your instruction
– Get your yoga-teaching skills back as a part of our refresher courses
– Mastering the art of class sequencing will surely put a grin on your students
-Make your courses credible and profound
-Connect with your class right now and engage them in activities that you have planned for the class
-Have fun in your classrooms, and take pride in seeing your pupils succeed.
-Collaborate with others and rise to prominence in your area.

Improve people’s quality of life by aiding in their physical and mental health recovery.
Before enrolling in our Beginners yoga training in Nepal, it’s recommended that you have some yoga experience first. You need not be a specialist, but you should feel confident doing the asanas. Nevertheless, you may get your feet wet with a shorter programme, such as a yoga teacher training that lasts for just 50 hours.

How soon will I become a yoga teacher?

As a yoga instructor, you should always lead by example. You won’t succeed in your position if that’s something you’re unable to achieve. Of course, this doesn’t imply that you need to master every single yoga posture. Participating in our Beginners yoga instructor training in Nepal Yoga Home can improve your practice even if you’re not sure you want to make a career out of teaching yoga.

Nonetheless, it is critical that you maintain reasonable expectations for how much you can learn and do in a given time frame. If you start into practice with unrealistically high hopes, you may find yourself discouraged and unable to complete it. So don’t let the jargon and hype scare you. In all honesty, every seasoned yoga instructor was once a novice student.

Becoming a yoga teacher is an ongoing process of personal growth that continues long after your Beginners yoga teacher training. Become a yoga teacher requires a significant time and energy investment. It will appear unattainable to achieve if you don’t put in the time and effort necessary to do it. More essential than your current level of competence is your willingness to devote the time, energy, and effort necessary to master the many postures, the underlying philosophy, and the anatomy of yoga.

Who are your teachers during your time with us?

Our faculty is made up of native instructors steeped in yoga traditions and a handpicked group of the world’s best yoga instructors from all corners of the globe. Secured in the middle of nature, our Nepal Yoga Home offers a variety of air-conditioned rooms and cottages on both the lower level, surrounded by palm trees and the upper level, with a view of the Arabian Sea.

Nuances of the Beginners yoga teacher training

The depth of one’s own experience, in addition to technical proficiency, is what we think really distinguishes a great yoga instructor from others. Our programme incorporates the Raja Dhiraja method of Vinyasa Flow and Hatha yoga with a curriculum based on introspection, leading students to a place of profound personal discovery.

The Beginners YTTC programme provides a sophisticated technical toolkit, state-of-the-art anatomical knowledge, and a deep, transforming, and life-altering encounter. Come train with us, and you’ll have the tools you need to lead people with confidence in their own bodies, thoughts, and emotions

BKS Iyengar a brief biography

by Tirtha Acharya | Dec 25, 2021 | Uncategorized

B.K.S Iyengar a brief biography

Yoga is the gift of the ancient Hindu community to the world. They are the sets of techniques, poses, and various postures all directed for the betterment of human health physically, spiritually, and mentally. The techniques of Yoga were founded in the Hindu community but in time the techniques have now spread around the world. Methods developed in ancient India now have traveled to the various parts of the world due to its effectiveness and how beneficial it is to the people.

Ancient yoga has now become so diversified that it has developed its segment and types. In the passage of the time of thousands of years, many Gurus and teachers of Yoga arose who redefined the practices and concepts of Yoga itself. The Gurus devised new methods, some reformed the old ones while some of them researched and rediscovered even the lost forms of Yoga. Among the many yogic teachers that came into this world, there is Iyengar who had managed to make his reputation into the Yogic world.

Yoga and its history

The people of the Hindu community believed that yoga was the gist by the gods to the humans. In the time when earth and humankind were new, there appeared a sage who people called the Adiyogi. The Adiyogi was said to be able to perform astonishing acts and was always involved in some amazing activities. People living in that area demanded to learn about the activities that he was performing. Many arrived to learn from him, but he refused in their faces. Some returned while some remained there to convince him and watch him perform his activities.

Time passed, months passed and after many times only seven remained there to learn the methods. At last, Yogi agreed to teach them the secrets of the knowledge, the day the sage agreed to teach them the knowledge was the Purnima (Full moon). That day the sage became the first teacher in the world and the seven people became the first students. We still celebrate the Guru Purnima every year celebrating the first teacher and student in the world.

Adi yogi then taught the knowledge of yoga to those people and in time those people taught yoga to the world. Yoga may have been gifted by the gods or the result of the research of the ancient peoples there is no denying that the knowledge of yoga is very ancient.

Yoga has passed an exceptionally long time before it reached this age. In time many Yogis appeared who reformed and entirely changed the perception by which we see Yoga. It is believed that some of the Yoga Gurus who came to the earth were the incarnations of the gods themselves. Whatever the case may be the teachers formed many forms and techniques of Yoga. There are hundreds of legendary yogic gurus and hundreds of yoga forms that were developed by them.

B.K.S Iyengar

Among the hundreds of yogic gurus that had lived on this earth, there was B.K.S Iyengar. He was born in the previous century and lived a very long life which is common for Yogi who practice yoga. He is known for the Iyengar form of Yoga that he formed and developed.

Birth of BKS Iyengar

Iyengar was an Indian sage who was born on 14th December 1918. He was born in Karnataka India. The name of the place was bellur of Kolar district. The name of the father of Iyengar was Krishnamachar and his mother Sheshamma. Krishnamachar was a schoolteacher by profession. Iyengar was born into a family whose economic condition was not good or stable.

Also, his parents had given birth to many children, which also was quite common at that time where people were not so educated about the problems of overpopulation. Iyengar was the 11th child of the total 13 children of his parents. Among the 13 Children of the parents of Iyengar, only 10 children survived and Iyengar was among the fortunate ones that lived.

The childhood of Iyengar was not completely spent in Karnataka. In 1923 his parents moved to Bangalore where he was 5 at the time. In 1928 when Iyengar was just 9 years old a great tragedy struck his family as his father passed away. Iyengar’s father died due to appendicitis. The sudden demise of the father of the family further worsened the economic condition of the family.

The child life of Iyengar was very tough and according to his statements, we can interpret that he survived a miracle. When Iyengar was born he was infected with influenza his whole village was in the grasp of that disease. Malaria, Typhoid, Malnutrition, and tuberculosis. Due to the impact of these diseases, he was very weak during his childhood period.

Education of Iyengar

Iyengar had had an exceedingly difficult childhood, but his education and determination are the things that turned his life around. Iyengar was very weak from childhood as he had suffered multiple deathly diseases and it was a pure miracle that he had even survived and lived a long life. It can be said that Yoga was the thing that healed him in more than one way. His brother-in-law was Yogi Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, and he is the one who introduced young Iyengar to the world of Yoga. He asked him to come to Mysore to learn and practice Yoga as it was the medium that could heal him.

Iyengar had some yoga classes after arriving there. He was immediately enchanted by the power of yoga and decided his life to dedicate to learning the practice of Yoga. Krishnamacharya taught Yoga to Iyengar and he lived at Mysore learning and practicing yoga.

Teacher of Iyengar

It was Krishnamacharya that took Iyengar from his home to Mysore to teach him yoga. It was also him who provided the place to live to Iyengar and taught Yoga to him. However, the role of the teacher in the life of Iyengar is a little bit complicated. Well, telling it complicated is also a little bit odd. While it was Krishnamacharya who begun the Yogic life of Iyengar and also the one he had taught him Patthabi Jois had claimed that he was the actual teacher of Iyengar and not Krishnamacharya. This had gained popularity back in the day as Patthabi Jois had claimed such a thing.

The relation between Krishnamacharya and Iyengar was also a complicated one. They also had a few rough paths in their relationship as the people around them had told. Despite the rough patches between them, it was Krishnamacharya that Iyengar turned when he was facing problems in his life. He also returned to his Guru when he faced problems in his Yogic life.

Krishnamacharya had brought Iyengar to Mysore with him to practice yoga to heal himself, but Iyengar decided to practice and pursue the path of Yoga as the main motive of life. Krishnamacharya had, in the beginning, had predicted that Iyengar did not belong to the world of yoga, and he would not at any cost succeed at it. Krishnamacharya had one favorite pupil in his teaching place and was very much focused on him and believed he is the one who will succeed him.

The turning point in the life of Iyengar came when the favorite pupil of Krishnamacharya left. Until then, Iyengar was only allowed to do the chores and household activities. However, when the favorite pupil left Iyengar begun his learning at full speed.

Family of Iyengar

Iyengar married Ramini in 1943. The parents of both of them were the ones who had arranged this marriage. The union of two was like something that was made in heaven. According to Iyengar, the love between him and his wife was so that they even never argued with one another on any matter. It was like they were made for one another, and their soul was one. Together they had six children, five daughters, and only one son.

The children of Iyengar were also actively involved in Yoga. Some even became the internationally renowned Master of Yoga walking in the steps of their father. Geeta, Vanita, Sunita, Suchita, and Savita are the names of the daughters of Iyengar while the name of the son was Prashant. The name of the eldest daughter was Geeta and along with the son Prashant became the internationally renowned Yoga teacher. The eldest daughter Geeta specialized in Yoga for women and published several books on diverse topics. His son Prashant also authored some of the books and is popular in the field of Yoga.

Iyengar’s Journey

In the year 1952, the course of Iyengar’s life again changed when he met a certain individual. Iyengar had a good Yogic life in India and even had gained some number of followers but on the international field, he was someone unknown. However, all that was about to change when he had met that individual.

Yuhadin Menuhin was the one who connected Iyengar to the international world. Menuhin was given quick Yogic tough by Iyengar in their first meeting, and he became enchanted by him and stayed in touch. Menuhin believed that by the practice of Yoga that Iyengar had taught him, his performance of Violin was getting better as he was a professional violin player. Eventually, Iyengar was invited by Menuhin to his country Switzerland.

After his introduction to the west, Iyengar got a mass following and people loved what he was doing. People wanted to learn from him, and he had gotten to that level internationally. Over time, Iyengar had taught many people and some of them were the most famous people on the earth at that time.

Elisabeth Queen of Belgium, Krishnamurti, and Jaya Prakash the famous actors were some of the most famous that Iyengar had taught yoga to. The experts of other fields had also come to learn the art of yoga from Iyengar. Iyengar was living the golden years of his life. All the pain that he had gone through to learn the art of Yoga was worth it at this point.

The life of Iyengar was running like this and in 1966 he published his first book Light on Yoga. The book became an international bestseller, which was the power of the knowledge of Yoga that Iyengar had distributed through his book. According to various reports, the book was translated into more than 17 languages and even had sold millions of copies. Along with Light of Yoga Iyengar had published 13 other books which have their importance in the field of Yoga.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar yoga was developed by B.K.S Iyengar so it was named after him.

Field of Iyengar Yoga

Alignment, sequencing, and timing are the major aspects and fields of Iyengar yoga. These are the concrete pillars upon which the Yoga technique rests. Yoga is a very advanced form of Yoga that provides multiple benefits for the one who practices it. Yoga is so great that even the teachers of this Yoga must go through a lot to just be able to teach it. People who want to teach Iyengar yoga to the students need to go through three years of intensive training just to be able to teach Iyengar yoga to other people.

The Iyengar association of the world sets the standard to learn this yoga and if one needs to master it and gets the proper certificates they must live up to that standard. Iyengar yoga is so integrated that everybody from beginner to advanced yoga practitioner can try it and gain immense benefits from it. The beginners at first only learn the basic postures of Iyengar yoga and the basic forms of Yoga itself. While the advanced level practitioners can perform the advanced level of Iyengar Yoga.

Death of B.K.S Iyengar

Iyengar left this world forever on 20th August 2014. He was at Pune Maharashtra when he left this world. Iyengar was 95 years old when he passed away. For the boy who had that many illnesses when he was so little to get to that point of life is a very amazing feat. Yoga was the thing that cured him at an early age and in time he repaid it by developing yoga and healing many others in many forms. With his achievements and contribution to the field of yoga, Iyengar will be forever immortal.

 14-obstacles of yoga-Hindrances in yoga that you need to overcome 

by Tirtha Acharya | Oct 23, 2020 | Uncategorized

 14-obstacles of yoga

Yoga is a wonderful activity that aids you in recognizing your true potential. However, the road to spirituality is easier said than done. In this blog, we shall take a look at the obstacles of yoga that arise while practicing yoga. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it.

1. Vyadhi

The first and foremost obstacle that we encounter while practicing yoga is ‘vyadhi’. It refers to the various illness and diseases that stop us from performing yoga. It is not possible to practice yoga if one suffers from any sort of physical/mental ailments. Thus, it is of paramount importance that you maintain a healthy lifestyle if you want to develop yourself in yoga.

2. Styana 

Another obstacles of yoga are styana. When we procrastinate, we are running away from our duties and obligation. Only when we perform our duties timely, we can achieve the desired result. Heeding away from one’s duty/kartavya, is an obstacle that we must conquer to embrace yoga’s secrets. Furthermore, you must develop a habit of ignoring excuses.

3. Sanshaya

It is important to believe in oneself and the path that we are walking. If we start to doubt ourselves, then we can never achieve the set target. If we cultivate faith in ourselves, then only can we perform better in yoga and life. Self-doubt is not only an obstacle in yoga but in life too. So, you must get used to the idea of believing in yourself a bit more.

4. Pramada

When we get used to things, we tend to get careless. It is one of the great obstacles of yoga. The illusion of knowledge is dangerous than no knowledge. You must treat this subject with great respect and care if you want to understand its principles. Only through proper devotion and practice, you can comprehend its benefits.

5. Alasya

Who doesn’t feel lazy from time to time? However, you must not feel lazy while practicing yoga. Yoga mandates enthusiasm, discipline, and willpower. All these elements are crucial if you want to truly embrace the divine art, i.e. yoga. Laziness will be your biggest obstacle if you let it run amok. As a result, we advise you to practice yoga in a fresh state of mind.

6. Avirati

Avirati refers to the principle in which the human mind is overly attached to materialistic things. It is another obstacles of yoga that needs your attention. Once you give in to materialistic pleasure, you won’t be able to comprehend the teachings of yoga. You must learn to let go of the attachments that constrain you. Letting go of these shackles can be a bit difficult but after proper practice, you can do it.

7. Anawasthitatwa

Like any program, there are various phases in yoga too. You must start from the bottom and slowly, make your way to the top. Going through these phases need proper practice and time. Getting stuck in a phase can be a bit of a downer. It results from improper practice and attention. If one gets stuck in a phase for long, then it can lead to you dropping yoga. So, practice yoga with your full devotion.

8. Bhrantidarshan

Whenever we indulge in something, we tend to create an image of that in our minds. At times, it matches our expectations whereas most of the time it does not. One of the major obstacles in yoga stems from the fact that people have false expectations from yoga. When it does no match their expectation, people get disappointed and leave yoga. So, before you practice yoga, make sure that you clear yourself from any false ideas.

9. Alabdha-bhumikatva

Similar to Anawasthitatwa, Alabdha-bhumikatva refers to an obstacle in yoga in which the person fails to achieve the next stage. The major reason for this is the faulty practice and incompetence of the yoga practitioner. To prevent this problem from happening, make sure that you practice yoga with full concentration and devotion.

10. Shvâsa-prashvâsa

In yoga, you must learn to breathe systematically. However, if you suffer from breathing problems then it can be a huge problem. Breathing ailments refrain you from having proper command over your breath and makes the yoga process painful. It an obstacles in yoga that demands proper attention. If you want to control this problem at bay, then do visit a doctor.

11. Dukha

In life, there are happiness and sorrow. They are like two parts of the coin and we need to deal with both of them. There are times when sadness tends to overpower us. During that stage, if we practice yoga, then we won’t be able to reap benefits. Thus, we need to control our emotions and even during sadness, control our emotions, and carry on with our work.

12. Daurmanasya is another obstacle of yoga 

When the Dukha stage continues for a prolonged period, it manifests into Daurmanasya. It refers to serious mental ailments like depression. When depression is left untreated, it not only hampers your yoga but affects your daily life. If you feel that you have this problem then don’t be afraid to seek professional help. These obstacles in yoga can greatly harm your personal life too.

13. Angamejayatwa

In yoga, one must go through a variety of poses. These poses are crucial and are greatly linked to yoga. While doing it. some people might experience stiff body parts or even shivering. It results in yoga becoming ineffective. Also, the person won’t be able to achieve the objective that he has decided.

14. Rest

You must understand the difference between rest and quit. Taking a break for a few days does not mean that you’ll affect your yoga schedule. On the contrary, it will strengthen your mind and body and lead to better performance. Many people tend to overindulge in yoga and at times it causes more harm than good. Learn to overcome these obstacles in yoga and live a healthy life.

These are the obstacles in yoga that arise while practicing yoga so be on the lookout.