by Tirtha Acharya | Sep 17, 2020 | Yoga
Isha Yoga & Its Benefits
Yoga is the ultimate truth, which ushers the practitioners to self-realization through long-term practice. Among many yoga organizations offering various forms of yoga techniques, which are present in today’s world, an organization named Isha Yoga foundation was established in 1992 by Jaggi Basudev in Coimbatore, India he is also popularly known as Sadhguru among his 9 million followers.
The tradition of yoga is not an inchoate path but a complete way that leads to a peaceful and calm state. The isha foundation is defined as the comprehensive system that incorporates the ancient and modern science behind the yogic philosophy and present with valid reasoning and proper analytics among the ardent disciples as well as followers who are connected to the Isha foundation through the social media platform.
Inner engineering program
The profound knowledge of yoga and meditation is morphed into tangible steps towards the inner growth of the individuals. Sadhguru himself through the information and experience he had gleaned through developed the inner engineering program that springs the inner growth of the individual and helps in inner growth. Many people, mostly those who have experienced the bliss and peace through the practice of Isha yoga claim that it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to know own self through the practice of Isha yoga under the guidance of the living realized master of this time.
What is taught in Isha Foundation?
Just like any other yoga center yoga is the main component, similarly, at Isha Yoga Foundation the core of doing yoga is learning yoga through experience is the main component. The course offered by the Isha Foundation aids in knowing thyself in such a way that life’s vitality increases by leaps and bounds, practitioners claims. Unlike, other forms of yoga, you do not need to leave your family and house to join the movement of the Isha Foundation, however your spiritual life runs smoothly by remaining and enjoying your family and social responsibilities. Likewise, you will be able to gain personal growth and become highly conscious of time, energy, and space through the self-realization process in Isha yoga.
Isha Foundation runs many yoga programs that do not only include the arduous poses but also incorporate simple ideas like maintaining good postures, affirming that you are not body and mind, but energy, meditation, and other powerful ways of transforming the inner energy through the inner engineering program. In a bid to practice the small yet life-transforming work you do not need to have years of experience or knowledge about Isha yoga, a novice with can-do ability can easily practice this yoga form.
Keeping in mind to help every individual to keep up with the yoga, Isha Foundation has developed powerful yet simple techniques to help inner exploration and build inner strength. Therefore, Isha Yoga programs have touched every one life starting from tribal villagers to the highest earners executives, in which most of them are youths.
Benefits of Isha Yoga
We have compiled the benefits from the input of the Isha yoga practitioners and doing some literature reviews published in the websites and journals:
1.) Helps to relieve anxiety and stress by practicing AUM meditation.
2.) Aids in the stabilization of mind, body, and soul thereby keeping physical and mental health hearty.
3.) Stabilizes the whole system of the body.
4.) Energizes the body and the soul through the practice.
5.) Deceleration of the aging of the human body.
6.) Isha yoga Helps to reduce hypertension and keeps the blood pressure of the human in a normal level.
7.) Opening of the third eye of the human and seeing the next dimension of life.
by Tirtha Acharya | Sep 15, 2020 | Yoga
10 tips on How to choose yoga mat
A few years back, nearly a decade or two decades, there were no various options to choose for a yoga mat. At that time, there was only an option of PVC and it was highly sticky at that time, and not much comfortable neither undemanding at that time. Furthermore, there was not much option to color; either blue, red, or purple was only to choose from. However, the time has changed and there are many options to choose from.
The main purpose of choosing any sort of yoga mat is their stableness while you pose for yoga. Colour and pattern are a secondary component; nevertheless, they are also important in choosing a mat. For environment conscious customers it is equally important for the mat to be ecological and environmentally friendly. The stableness the mat provides is depended on the thickness of the mat, the surface texture of the mat, and what it is made up of.
In this article, we delve into the best possible way to choose your mat. By going through the article, you will learn the life learning skills of choosing the best mat for you that comes within your budget, matches your lifestyle, your habits, and priorities.
thickness plays an important role in determining your comfortable during your yoga practice. The perfect yoga mat is neither too thin nor too thick. The too-thin mat may end up banging during the crescent lunge of the yoga practice. The thick mat has benefited over too thin, however too thick mats will make you feel wobbly during the yoga practice.
1. Take your needs and desires into account
The type of mat you need is contingent upon the yoga poses you perform. Likewise, for many people, the desire of the person also plays a vital role to determine what type of mat is perfect for you and which type is not.
2. Type of yoga you practice
The yoga poses you do regularly determines the type of mat. If you are completely new to yoga, then it is usually recommended to by a comparatively lower quality mat. Who knows you may leave within a few days of practicing yoga? Likewise, if you are a seasoned practitioner then it is usually recommended to soft and cushioned yoga mats.
3. Place you practice yoga
If you are practicing yoga outdoors then the portability of the mat plays an important role, however, if you practicing yoga inside the home then the portability of the mat does not cause any sorts of problems.
4. Material
The material of the mat determines the longevity of the mat. It determines how much it yields and wears over time. Stickiness, environmental friendliness, and texture of the mat are contingent upon the material of the mat.
5. PVC: inexpensive and not environment friendly
6. Foam and rubber: Expensive but eco-friendly yoga mat
7. Cotton: Thin and eco-friendly and increases the grip by soaking sweat
8. Jute: Resilient and eco-friendly. Combined with other types of the mat
9. Texture
The texture of the yoga mat determines the traction and personal comfort of the practitioners. Sticky mats are useful to do intricate poses. Rubber and foams are the best choices to choose if you like an eco-friendly mat with less traction as they are smooth.
10. Size: The size of the standard form of 24”*68”. It is usually recommended to choose the yoga mat which covers your full body during posing for the Savasana or any other yoga pose that needs to be covered with the whole body.
by Tirtha Acharya | Sep 2, 2020 | Yoga
Importance of alignment in Yoga
Yoga Alignment Keep you in proper positions of your hand, leg, body, and right position of everything. It produces an optimal performance of your muscles and prevents you from the spine, joints, and muscles problem. While doing yoga asana it should take care of yoga anatomy & need to expand, contract, and take breath accordingly.
Yoga without proper alignment is not considered a good yoga practice. Alignment is in fact a process of creating an ideal relationship between the bones of the body and its musculature to maximize the efficacy—physical as well as spiritual to make the better movement of the body. The main gist of practicing proper alignment in yoga practice is to halt the unnecessary and advertently happening injury and prevent the strain on muscles, ligaments and tissues of the body.
The use of term alignment in yoga is to delineate the most precise way to perform any sorts of pose in a bid to increase the advantages and subdue the unnecessary injury of performing yoga. To create a sound and stable base to practice yoga, alignment is practiced most often. Most of the times, the outcome of any sorts of pain results due to doing any sorts of pose incorrectly, while others insidious—showing any sorts of symptoms slowly but in a baneful manner.
It is common to feel the wear and tear of the joints and tissues due to performing of uncanny, yet rewarding poses. It is necessary to create the proper alignment of our body to get the utmost benefit and rewards. In a bid to make optimal alignment, it is necessary to practice yoga poses in a correct manner by practicing them with proficient yoga gurus, so that yoga does not turn ominous if practiced incorrectly.
Significance of practicing alignment in Yoga:
1. An unharmed protocol is established
Due to unsafe practice, there is rife in baneful events. The reoccurring problem can only be minimized if we practice the best-advised protocol. Nevertheless, the unharmed protocol is not universal. The protocol is used practiced by understanding how to align yourself in a posture.
2. The connection with the body is made stronger
It is necessary to make a strong connection with the body to make your yoga practice fruitful. There are umpteen of positive effects of yoga on our body, which is achieved by practicing for a longer period. By practicing yoga by making alignment with the body can make the whole process smooth and easy.
3. The benefits increases by manifolds
The main purpose of practicing any sorts of asana is to gain all the positive effects that yoga can offer to you. If all the prerequisites are fulfilled you will be achieve what others have not benefitted from. For example: Simply by aligning the pose you could reap the benefits that you could not otherwise by simply practicing other poses.
4. Practicing proper alignment helps you to enjoy the moment to the fullest
It is not a cup of tea to focus fully while practicing yoga at home. Most of the times it is anything but easy to fully concentrate on yoga practice. Unnecessary thoughts might pop up on your mind and disturb the practice. Sometimes, you may be disturbed with the unnecessary noise outside your home. However, practicing yoga along with fulfilling all the protocols of alignment aids you to be in the present moment and enjoy the moment to the fullest.
5. Corrects in Cultivating Healthy Habits
Healthy habits are prerequisite to achieve the some deemed to be unachievable goals. It does not matter whether it starts from a micro habit and builds to the life-changing habits, or directly hits the mega habits. Correcting the alignment starts with focusing on yourself. The correct alignment helps you to be aware of the movement as well as moment. Focusing on the healthier movement aids you to cultivate the best habits in you and aids you in building good habits outside of yoga.
Which Course is better for Alignment?
Normally, yoga teacher training completely focuses on alignment in yoga, anatomy, the science of asana, breathing techniques, when to contract and when to expand, when to fold more an when to less, how much of force our muscles can bear and almost everything on how to do yoga and how to teach. So, we recommend you to Participate in beginner or advanced yoga teacher training course near you or in Nepal Yoga Home if you are free.
by Tirtha Acharya | Aug 26, 2020 | Yoga
Are you looking for a Yoga fitness center in Nepal?
Are you looking for a fitness center in Nepal? We might be the best choice for you. It is a universal truth that everybody loves a fit and healthy body. Who would enamor excessive fat deposited around their belly? However, many people love a fit and healthy body; it is not a cupcake to make one. How much are you into making sturdy and macho body, which someone with a great personality can ornate with the pulchritude. In a fast-paced world where everything is available in a click, it is obvious that you could gain excess fat without proper diet plan and exercise.
There are many instances that people could not get a proper yoga fitness center in a bid to make them fit and healthy. If you are looking for the best fitness center in Nepal around Kathmandu valley then this article is for you. We will try to unravel the eight best yoga fitness center, along with their idiosyncrasies.
Yoga Home location and offerings
Nepal Yoga Home is situated in the beatific environment in the lap of the Nagarjuna Forest, filled with verdant natural beauty, garden, and organic farms. Nepal Yoga Home is also one of the oldest Yoga fitness center in Nepal. The Yoga Home offers Yoga Teacher Training Course under the guidance of highly experienced, educated, spiritual teachers. Some of the mundane yet important Yoga classes Nepal Yoga Home offers are Power yoga, Ayurveda training, Ayurveda retreat and detox, Shirodhara, panchakarma, and massage therapy.
Nepal Yoga Home is not just a mystic place to visit, but also a true haven to experience inner peace, love, and harmony. This yoga fitness center in Nepal is one of the best destinations for those who are constantly seeking to fill the spiritual void in their life. The homely environment of the Nepal Yoga home makes you feel cozy and comfortable and makes you feel relaxed yet in a noisy environment.
Though Nepal Yoga Home does not focus on acrobatics, principles of yoga and meditation are its core component. One of the unique features of Nepal Yoga home is it offers yoga teacher training and other yoga classes. The personal fitness expert will guide you to make you fit, healthy, and long-lived.
Nepal Yoga Home- a center of Yoga art of Nepal
Different kinds of yoga styles and meditation techniques to heal the mind, body, and soul are the centers of the art of Nepal Yoga Home. Nepal Yoga Home is one of the oldest yoga fitness center in Nepal offering yoga fitness training for over 13 years in a row. Common yet different types of yoga are the heart of teaching.
Common yet different types of yoga are the heart of teaching. Some of the common yoga taught are Hatha Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Advanced Yoga, and various stress management techniques that are offered at an affordable price.
Yoga Home—a sweet abode for yoga enthusiasts
Most of the yoga enthusiasts who come to learn yoga rejoice the milieu of the Nepal Yoga Home, which is serene and covered with the verdant forests. It is a mystic place to visit and enjoy not only yoga but also the bliss of nature, which emanates from the verdant forests surrounding the Nepal yoga home. The vegetation and wildlife ornate the place and add the purpose to visit the place. For those who want to enjoy reach the inner peace and enjoy love, and harmony; the place is a true heaven on earth.
Some of the additional features of this yoga fitness center in Nepal are it provides Ayurveda training, Ayurveda retreat and detox, Shirodhara, panchakarma, massage therapy, and various Packages, you can avail those packages as per as your need. Moreover, it is affordable too.
by Tirtha Acharya | Aug 21, 2020 | Yoga
Introduction
Yoga nidra or commonly known as yogic sleep is an immense powerful meditation technique and one of the easiest yoga pose to attain goals. It is very easy to practice, as you just need to rest comfortably in corpse pose and take yourself to the pancha maya kosh (five self-layers) through systematic meditation leaving yourself with a sense of wholeness.
Release stress and tension by learning yoga nidra is time worthy. Yoga nidra is a proven antidote to anxiety. It has been adopted by veterans, recovering addicts and by average stressed-out people. The Technique of relaxation is an ancient but less popular yoga practice, which is gaining popularity now in both fields of meditation and mind-body therapy. This yoga technique helps to restore all senses of our body.
There is proven evidence that yoga nidra is very beneficial for all types of body. Yoga nidra is a type of consciousness between walking and sleeping like “going-to-sleep” stage. It is technique where our body is completely relaxed so it can help us to calm down ourselves first before anything.
It is a little different from meditation as it involves concentration on a single focus. After the completion of this practice, it results in conscious awareness of deep-sleep state.
History of Yoga Nidra
The history of nidra relaxation is old as yoga itself. It was originated in India and its roots traced all over the world now. Swami Satyananda Saraswati (founder of Bihar school of yoga) invented this modern relaxation technique known as yoga nidra. Apart from it, he mastered variety of ancient yoga practices and modified them into his own yoga system.
Swami satyananda saraswati recognized that complex and ancient had great potential but they need to be modernized a little for its more effectiveness. After a lot of research and practices, he finally developed the technique of yoga nidra.
Some people still do not consider Swarswati as the founder of this relaxation technique in yoga. They believe that this should be much older practice. The Bihar school of yoga has also made no claim in this topic.
If you put a glance in yoga history, relaxation is not a concept from yoga tradition. The whole concept of relaxation is missing in pre-modern yoga. This is the concept born with western phycology.
It works for everyone
Anyone from any background can perform this Relaxation technique in yoga. Other yoga may hold not for everyone but yoga nidra is made for all sort of people’s. It can be practiced from children’s to seniors, rich to poor and by healthy to non-healthy people.
All you need to do is lie down on the floor and relax your mind, body and soul. It is very easy to incorporate in our daily life so yoga nidra has become very popular among people. This is an ultimate meditation and relaxation techniques all need to practice atleast once.
Benefits of Yoga Nidra
- It offers the opportunity to learn about yourself intimately.
- It is a simple way to reduce stress.
- Helps to explore what our body and mind needs at a time.
- It releases negative emotions and thought patterns.
- This technique improves our sleep and reduces insomnia.
- It reduces chronic pains.
Conclusion
Yoga nidra is also used in military base for rehabilitating soldiers in pain and to make them spiritually aligned. It is also used in veterans’ clinics, homeless shelters and Montessori. Yoga nidra meditation is associated with increased endogenous dopamine release in brain.
It improves heart rate, balance in autonomic nervous system and so on. The regular practice of yoga relaxation has found to reduce tension and anxiety. It helps people suffering from headache, chest pain, abdominal pain, sore muscles, and giddiness and so on. It is also used to cope posttraumatic stress disorder (PSD).
by Tirtha Acharya | Aug 20, 2020 | Yoga
9 modern yogis who are world-famous
Yoga is an ancient art and as time progressed, it saw various changes. Many people have made valuable contributions to its growth and development. In this article, we shall take a closer look at the modern yogis that have provided an indispensable contribution to yoga. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at them.
1. Aurobindo Ghose
Sri Aurobindo Ghose was a philosopher, poet, yogi, and guru. He was born in India on August 15, 1872. He has made valuable bequests to not only yoga but to the Indian independence movement as well. He is mostly known for spiritual and visionary ideas for the development of yoga and spiritual essence. His journey to spirituality began during his time in jail. He wrote the book ‘The Synthesis of Yoga and the Life Divine’.
He focused on the idea that the world is not an illusion but humans can enter a new world with new species which are greater than our current status. He introduced the concept of ‘Supermind’ which argues that it is ever-present within us and we need the right tools to access it. These contributions to yoga and spirituality have earned him a spot in the list of modern yogis.
2. Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda is probably the most polarizing figure in Indian history. He was the disciple of the sage Ramakrishna. He was the influential person behind spreading Hinduism to the western continent. He did it at the Parliament of the World’s religion in Chicago. After spending some time in America, he returned back to India and established the Ramakrishna mission. Its main motive was to serve the poor and needy people.
Among modern yogis, he deeply followed the philosophies of Advaita Vedanta philosophy. He has even published books like
3. Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti was an Indian writer, speaker, and philosopher. From the very beginning, he had deep interests in meditation, psychological revolution, and how to bring about massive changes in society. He was groomed by the Theosophical society. He traveled through America giving speeches and lectures. He was involved in discussions with profound scholars like the Dalai Lama. Although he was more into politics, his contribution has given him the epithet of modern yogis.
4. Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada is the mastermind behind ISKCON or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. If you have heard chants of ‘Hare Krishna’ somewhere, then chances are they belong to ISKCON. Devotees of Prabhupada see him as a messenger of Lord Krishna. Before becoming a monk, he had a pharmaceutical business. Later, he left everything and traveled to India to find the meaning of life.
His journey took him to the West too where he truly left his mark. He popularized the knowledge of Hinduism and Vedic discipline in the west. It is said that through his teachings, many people started learning the Bhagavad Gita. As of now, there are countless branches and temples of ISKCON throughout the world. He truly deserves to be on the list of modern yogis.
5. Osho very popular among modern yogis
Osho is often described as India’s Godman. His birth name was Chandra Mohan Jain and after becoming popular amidst his followers, he became Osho. He’s been in the spotlight as a founder of a religious movement and a mystical personality. Although he spoke harshly about socialism and communism, he always advocated meditation ( Dynamic meditation is very famous among them), love, celebration, and courage.
In his life, he spoke about spiritual and religious topics like Hinduism, Jainism, Hassidism, and even Buddhism. Among the modern yogis, he believed that meditation is not just a method of practice, but a state of awareness. He gave details about more than 100 different meditation techniques to achieve inner peace. He died on 19th January 1990.
6. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar a leading spiritual leader. Born in13 May 1956. If you have heard about the Art of Living foundation, then chances are that you have heard of Ravi Shankar. He is the founder of Art of Living Foundation. His disciples often call him as Guruji. His foundation provides much-needed help and support to the local people and aids in rural development. Ravi Shankar is a strong believer in the idea that through spirituality, we can enhance human traits like enthusiasm, compassion, and love.
7. Sadhguru – very popular among modern Yogis
Sadhguru is one of the most influential personalities of India in the 21st century. You can even check out his YouTube channel and see what I’m talking about. The man has got a broad sense of ideas and knowledge which will solve your doubts and queries. He is the founder of the Isha Foundation that has a yoga ashram and includes various activities like spirituality and education.
He is greatly involved in various Yoga activities in and out of India. In addition, he conducts various seminars and sessions in which he aims to solve people’s queries. He is counted among the great modern yogis.
8. Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi is an Indian sage and often described as the liberated one. He was born in Tamil Nadu and after encountering a near-death experience, he grew conscious of the force within him. He even made contact with the supreme being. From then, he left his home and took abode on a hill. Some of his teachings and work are:
- Arunāchala Patikam
- Arunāchala Ashtakam
- Akshara Mana Malai
- Ramana Maharshi
9. Mahesh Yogi
Mahesh yogi is the developer of the Transcendental meditation technique and his contribution to yoga is amazing. He first introduced this concept in 1955 to India and later, the world. In his life, he imparted his wisdom to more than 40,000 teachers and visited countless universities and colleges to give lectures in yoga. He even acted as a teacher to the legendary Beatles and Beach Boys. He is by all means in the list of modern yogis.
After reading about Modern yogis, You may like: 5 Ancient world-famous yogis
