by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 23, 2018 | Yoga
Precaution for doing Asanas and Pranayama for best practice and positive change
Yoga asanas and pranayama are considered to be effective to improve physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The regular practice of yoga helps in making body flexible, cultivating character, proper breathing, sound relation and proper sex. It awakens the real potentialities of a human. However, practicing the asana in a wrong way (without caring the precaution for doing asanas and pranayama) can have negative effects rather than building positive changes in the body and mind. Thus, it is advised to practice asana only under the proper guidance of an experienced teacher or you need to have correct knowledge. Some of the precaution for doing asanas and pranayama are listed below:
Time to do Yoga: considered as an important precaution for doing asanas
- Practicing asana and pranayama early in the morning before breakfast is considered to be the best. The second better time is early evening, around sunset.
- Asana can also be practiced at day or night time when the body feels tired, tensed, or stiffed.
- Asana and pranayama can also be practiced in other time as well but there should be the gap of about 4 hours after a heavy meal and 2 hours after a light meal. It is also suggested that there should gap of about half an hour.
- It is not good to do too many over stimulating asanas before bedtime.
- Sitting, walking and sleeping in a correct posture is also an asana. So, if you become conscious there is yoga every moment.
- Pranayama is best to practice just after the asana, and meditation is highly effective if done after pranayama. However, it is no compulsion to follow the order. Meditation may be done at any time whenever you are free.
The place to do Yoga
Among several precautions for doing asanas and pranayama place of doing the yoga play vital role in the effectiveness.
- Yoga can give the best result if practiced in airy, quiet and peace which suits for better concentration and awareness.
- Better not to practice asana or pranayama in direct sunlight for a long duration. If it is before 10 am and body is getting comfort then it is ok. Indoor or outdoor does not matter but avoid cold wind, unfavorable temperature, insects etc.
- The ground should be well labeled.
Consciousness
- Practicing yoga without awareness is useless. Keep awareness throughout the yoga practice what you are doing. If you are practicing asana, concentrate on your own body. Try to feel the sensation and observe the breath. Be conscious of self, not outside. Be conscious so that you can perform asana with correct alignment.
- Practice comfortably and mindfully.
- When you are doing pranayama, be watchful in your posture so that your torso and neck will be always straight.
- Never force or strain hard. Don’t twist or bend the body in a jerky manner. If it is uncomfortable then don’t do.
- Take short relax between each asana or pranayama.
- Whenever you get free time practice observation on respiration for better practice of consciousness.
Respiration
- The nose is for breathing and the mouth is for eating. So, always breathe through the nose, unless instructed otherwise.
- In case problem to breathe through the nose, practice Jala neti or sutra neti. You can also take help from the expert.
Restriction
In fact, there is no restriction in yoga for any age. However, techniques, asanas, and pranayama may vary according to age and gender.
- All practitioners should not do khumbhaka (holding the breath).
- Most of the people are forbidden to do Sirshasana.
- There are different asana and pranayama that should be avoided by different patients.
- Avoid practicing yoga under the influence drugs or alcohol.
- Sometimes, people with heart diseases, high or low blood pressure or other serious organic problem have to avoid the asanas.
- Those who have disabilities or with the chronic medical condition should consult both medical doctor and yoga teacher.
- Do not practice pranayama unless you master sitting posture.
- Do not make a loud sound during pranayama. However, some pranayamas such as Bhastrika has a different rule.
- In case of tiredness, take rest in savasana and be fresh. After that, you can practice pranayama.
- Pranayama should be done peacefully and calmly, not in a hurry.
- If lungs are congested, don’t practice pranayama.
- Suryabhedi pranayama can be done only in winter and chandrabhedi in summer.
- People with high blood pressure, heart diseases or a hernia need to prohibit Kapalabhati and Bhastrika
- Shitakari pranayama should be avoided by people with low blood pressure. It also should be avoided in winter as well.
Clothes
- Clothes should not be tight and uneasy. It should be enough loose or elastic to perform asanas.
- A practitioner should use such dress which will not disturb for the practice of yoga.
Religion
- Yoga is universal and for all because health and wellness is for all. So, no religion needs to avoid yoga.
Food
- There is no hard and fast rule for food. However, taking unhealthy food is not ideal.
- No matter, whether you are vegetarian, non-vegetarian or vegan; you can practice yoga.
by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 13, 2018 | Yoga
Yoga Asanas with Animals name | Realization of Various Creatures and Forms
If you practice yoga regularly, you will notice that many of the yoga asanas with animals name and are given with the positions of creatures found in nature. Yoga-Asana (Yogic Posture), third limb of Astanga Yoga, provides not merely health and fitness but it is a gateway to realize of becoming different creatures and forms. The old spiritual literature states that an organism has to pass different 84, 00,000 lives. It includes varieties of herbs, shrubs, trees, aquatic animals, land animals, birds, insects, microscopic organisms etc.
The principle of asana states- each asana resembles a form of a creature among the eighty-four lakhs creatures. A yoga practitioner remains in the particular asana for a certain duration which helps to gain the experience of becoming the particular creature that the asana has resembled. During the performance, the yogi realizes that the spirit remains unchanged while changing the forms of the body. As the practice deepens he realizes that the same spirit travels to different forms of creatures. The understanding reveals that life and all its activities are part of the divine natural action manifesting and mobilizing in the form of human beings.
The names of asanas signify the principle of evolution of yoga asanas with animals name. There are some yoga asanas with animals name (which resemble land animals)- Ustrasana (camel), Marjaryasana-Bitilasana (Cat-cow), Simhasana (lion), Vyaghrasana (tiger), Bhujangasana (Snake), Vatayasana (Horse), Svasana (dog) etc. Some yoga asanas with animals name (resemble aquatic animals)- Matsyasana (fish), Locust Pose (Shark) etc. Some asana resemble amphibian- Bhekasana or Mandukasana (frog), Kurmasana (tortoise), Narkasana (crocodile). Some asanas are named after birds- Kukkutasana (cock), Garudasana (eagle), Bakasana (heron), Mayurasana (peacock), Hamsasana (swan), Kakasana (crow) etc. Some asanas signify different vegetation- Tadasana (Palm tree), Vrikshasana (tree pose), and Padmasana (lotus) etc.
Some asanas represent insects- Salabhasana (locust), Vrischikasana (scorpion), Butterfly-pose etc. Garbha-pindasana denotes human embryonic stage. Virabhadrasana, Hanumanasana, Anjaneyasana etc are named after legendary heroes. Dhurvasana, Bharadvajasana, Matsyendrasana, Kapilasana, Vasisthasana, Visvamitrasana, etc are named to pay respect to the sages Dhruva, Bharadvaja, Matsyendra, Kapil, Vasistha, Visvsmitra respectively. Besides, there are some asanas which resemble non-living things – Utkatasana (chair-pose), Dandasana (stick), Setu-bandhasana (bridge), Parvatasana (mountain), Halasana (Plough), Dhanurasana (Bow) etc. The names of all eighty-four lakhs creatures are unknown. All creatures have not been seen.
Thus, those asanas are named after the name of non-living things; yet, those asanas can also reflect each living creature. It is also said that human beings while practicing asanas realize not only becoming a living creature but also try to realize of becoming non-living things. Besides, he realizes of becoming some legendary heroes and sages. The asanas that resemble legendary heroes give the courage and brevity; while the asanas that resemble the sages offer the wisdom and knowledge. Some asanas are also named after Hindu God; some rename it the Avataras or incarnation.
While performing asanas, the human body enters upon many forms corresponding manifold of creatures. His mind will be trained not to disdain any creature. The Yoga asana also teaches to keep a friendly and harmonious relationship with all creatures. He knows that throughout the entire expansion of creation from the lowliest micro-organism and insects to accomplished sapient there is the presence of same universal spirit and breath the same which possess countless forms. He also understands that the highest form is Formless. The Unity in universality will be revealed. Thus, a yogi can experience the different forms of this universe.
The Yogi experiences different changes and sensation on the body during the practice of asana. In his heartbeat and rhythm of his respiration, he recognizes the flow of the season. The body is itself a divine temple. The human body includes the entire system of creation. Whatever he feels within the framework of the body, they are the manifestation of the Universal truth of nature. Through this, he understands the law of nature. He starts understanding the meaning of each form and change. Through different forms of asanas, a yogi will perceive the world from various angles.
This helps to extend the perception. It develops the sight to view the universe from the angle of all creatures. Continuous practice will compass this stage. Finally, the yogi will view the universe with the eternal spiritual eyes. Now there are no more blockages in truth. The illusion starts disappearing. The yogi starts finding everything within the body. If he needs pleasure, he finds within the self. If he wants peace, that is also within the self. If yoga seeks God, He is also within the self. So, yoga is a complete wisdom.
The universe composes eighty-four lakhs creatures. The yoga asanas are the practice of realizing of becoming those creatures. It seems impossible to practice those all asanas. However, getting the mastery of single asana, the yogi can get the benefits of all other asanas. To get the mastery on an asana, the yogi has to stay on an asana for 3 hours 36 minutes. However, Sadaguru has retold that one can get mastery over an asana by remaining on the asana for the duration of 2 hours 30 minutes.
Thus staying on the particular asana till that duration without movement in a pleasant manner, one can attain perfection. At this time dualities like gain and loss, victory and defeat, fame and shame, pain and pleasure etc. disappear. However, it is not easier to practice till that duration. So, it is better to practice different asanas for one minute, two minutes and more. Gradually, he needs to increase the duration of asana.
During the practice of asana, the practitioner must try to develop equanimity observing the respiration and body sensation. This will deepen the experiences. Practicing different asanas in this way, the capacity of performing the asana for a longer duration increases. One day the stage arises, that the practitioner achieves accomplishment on asana.
The asana can also be understood in another dimension. Asana is a pose or posture or gesture. If you sit in one way, that is an asana; if you sit in another way that is another asana. So, asanas are innumerable. Among them, eighty-four asanas are considered as fundamental asanas. The poses and gestures change according to the mood of a person. If you are happy, you will make the pose of the body in a certain form.
If you are sad, the pose will get change. For every mental situation, the body will change the posture. Asanas are the conscious converse to get the body into the different posture. This consciousness along with asana will lead the human to the experience of becoming each creature as per the asana and elevate towards the higher level of consciousness. If you like the post on yoga asanas with animals name you can share the post or you can subscribe our other regular post on yoga and meditation.
by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 9, 2018 | Yoga
Nine Hindrances in Yoga which Interrupt Our Practice & Block yogic Progress
The path of yoga is very long and difficult. There are many hindrances in yoga filled hazard and diversion. However, the yogis who have already traveled on the path of yoga stated all the possible impediments on its path. These obstacles are explained in Yoga-sutra 1.30 of Patanjali. It states, “Vyadhi styana sanshaya pramada alasya avirati bhrantidarshan alabdha-bhumikatva chitta vikshepa te antarayah”. Buddhist literature, Samyutta Nikaya 46.37 and D.2, reveals five major hindrances to meditation. They are as follows: Sensory desire (kamacchanada), Ill-will (vyapada, also spelled vyapada), sloth and lethargy (thina-middha), Restlessness and worry (uddhacca-kukkucca), and suspicion (vicikiccha). Today we are going to discuss the obstacles or hindrances in yoga as per the Patanjali Yoga-sutra.
- Sickness (Vyadhi): Improper or abnormal function among various parts of the body and mind in the form of illness or disease. An unhealthy body cannot perform yoga easily. The mind and body of the sick person require healing. The first important thing for the yoga student is to keep his body healthy.
- Disinclination (Styana): When there is lack of motivation minds distracts from the duty. Many people have the habit of procrastination, even giving up the duty due to mental restlessness, lack of enthusiasm for practice and so on. Apathy, dullness or inefficiency towards the path is an effective blockage for the progress in the spiritual path.
- Doubt (Sanshaya): If we have any types of indecision or doubt about our path, then we lose our mental energy towards that path. Mind swings from the trust. Sometimes, blind trust also hampers on the path. However, lack of conviction and lack of faith in the virtues of practice, sometimes in the teacher or in their methods are the examples of Sanshaya.
- Carelessness (Pramada): Negligence, inattention, heedlessness, carelessness, lack of continuity and focus on practice etc omits or errors the practice. It sabotages the efficacy of our work.
- Sloth (Alasya): Laziness, languor, idleness, the habit of abstaining the practice or duty is another enemy on the path of progress which aborts in attaining our highest potentials. Feeling sleepy and tired during meditation creates a problem in the practice. We have the tendency of loving luxury, easiness while yoga requires disciplined and high effort. It needs tireless devotion, tapas (will-power) to be successful.
- Non-abstinence (Avirati): Over-attachment or overindulgence towards luxuriance, pleasing things, and comfortable life distract from the duty. The clinging towards the worldly matter should be given up for the true progress in the spiritual path.
- Delusion (Bhrantidarshan): Fantasy on image, immature sense of certainty, false vision, wrong understanding about meditation, making a fault in understanding and judgment etc. basically pertaining to practice; the mind accepts the truth an untruth and vice-versa. This misleads the person.
- Failure to gain ground (Alabdha-bhumikatva): Unsuccess to achieve next yogic phase or non-attainment of the required accomplishment demotivates in the practice. This slips down the achieved stage as well. The reason behind the unsuccess is faulty or poor practice. This failure discourages the people from the duty.
- Instability (Anawasthitatwa): Last but not least instability is counted as hindrances in yoga. Due to practice, some achievements have been achieved but practice is not continued. When there lack persistence or permanence of practice, the attained stage cannot be maintained. So steadiness of practice is very important to maintain the stage and progress forward. After the encounter of these basic hindrances, four normal hindrances may be seen according to the situation. They are the consequences of previous obstacles. In other words, these four are the symptomatic manifestation of above nine antarayas. In Patanjali Yoga Sutra it is stated as “dukha daurmanasya angamejayatva swasa-praswasa vikshepa sahabhuvah 1.31”:
- Duhkha(Pain or sorrow): It is a suffering which may lead to despair. A few people can overcome this suffering, but maximum people cannot tolerate it and give up without reaching the destination.
- Daurmanasya – It is stated as frustration, depression, despair or sadness caused by non-fulfillment of desires. When one frustrates he will lose the energy for effort. Only hope motivates the further path. If required preaching is given then I can be a great lesson. Arjuna was preached by Lord Krishna at the time of a great despair. If we can understand our depression, it can be open a new gate for success. As light eradicates dark, so understanding eradicates frustration.
- Angamejayatwa – The shaking, tremor or shivering of parts of the body appears due to above nine Antarayas. Sometimes shivering may occur due to Asana practice, mantra or meditation practice. It is the manifestation of imbalance in mind or in the body. When we encounter this obstacle, then we proceed forward.
- Shvâsa–prashvâsa– It means disturbance in inhalation and exhalation. Mental and emotional upset brings the irregularities on breaths. So, one should know the art of controlling the breaths. Regular Pranayama helps to overcome it. Besides, a practice of witnessing the breaths helps to stabilize the breaths.
These four are the indicator of the effects of obstacles in a subtle form. One can identify that how much the person is affected due to above nine hindrances in yoga practice. When one faces any obstacle then there is a natural pain. This creates frustration and depression. Sometimes people may shiver the limbs or other parts of the body. Similarly, they may face the unnatural respiration.
When we can be aware of these changes in our body we can control the impacts and get back to the path. So what we need is awareness, watchfulness towards the obstacles and their impacts on us. We need to be mindful so that we won’t be misled. Normally we have a habit of being shaken due to the obstacles. However, if we could develop a habit of witnessing the problems remaining in an equanimous state, the habit patterns slowly transforms.
One should be dedicated towards the goal. More dedication we have more focus we generate. Due to more and more focus, the nine obstacles in yoga and their four effects keep decreasing thoroughly. The mind should also be crystal clear on the path and goal of practice. It makes the mind single-pointedness which leads to higher experience.
by Tirtha Acharya | Mar 5, 2018 | Yoga
5 Best Relaxing Yoga Poses with benefit and awareness
The body also needs relaxation when it gets tired. For the proper conscious relaxation, there are some relaxing Yoga poses. If there are any postural abnormalities, relaxing yoga poses normalize the problems. These poses are important for all but especially advised for any back or spinal problems. They can be practice any time before or after asana and at any time when the body gets tired. The relaxing yoga poses is ideal to practice before sleep. They can be used as a part of the daily activities for relaxing.
1. Savasana (Corpse Pose)
This pose is one of the best relaxing yoga poses also known as Mritasana (dead man’s pose). Lie down facing upwards and keeping the hands about 15 cm away from the body, palm upward facing. If necessary a thin pillow can be kept to prevent discomfort. If cold, it is better to cover the foot with warm clothes. Fingers may curl up slightly. Close the eyes. Move the feet slightly apart as per the comfort. The body should be straight. If there is any discomfort, ease the body. Now make sure the body does not move and head does not fall to any of the sides. Observe the natural respiration. Let this mindfulness on natural breath be rhythmic and relaxed. Strictly restrict moving the body at all during the practice.
Breath Awareness: Begin to count the natural breaths from 20 to zero. Eg- I am breathing in 20, out 20. I am breathing in19, out 19. And continue till zero. If your mind wanders and forgets the count begin from 20.
Body Awareness: Observe the entire body from head to toes and toes to head, being conscious of body sensation of each and every parts of the body. Spiritual Awareness- Ajna Chakra.
Duration: Five to ten minutes or as per necessity. A minute or two minutes is enough between the asana practice.
Benefits: It gives relaxation entire psycho-physiological system. It promotes the awareness, concentration. Healing function of the body accelerates when a mind is conscious and body is stable. Activation of inactive cells of the body occurs when flowing the consciousness to the entire body.
2. Advasana (reversed corpse pose)
Lie down facing towards the ground. Stretch both hands above the head with the palms facing downwards. Resting forehead on the ground relaxes the whole body as stated for savasana. If there is any difficulty in breathing, a pillow can be placed under the chest.
Breath Awareness: Same as Savasana. Counting can be done while gently pushing the stomach against the floor.
Body Awareness: Whole body, parts by parts and piece by piece, top to bottom and bottom to top. Spiritual Awareness- Ajna Chakra or Manipura chakra.
Benefits: Suggested for those people with slipped disc, bend figure, stiff neck. Other benefits are like that of Savasana.
3. Jyestikasana (Superior posture)
Lie straight down on the abdomen with the forehead resting on the ground. Place the palms interlocking the fingers. Relax the entire body; be aware of body and breaths as in Savasana.
Variation– This can also be practiced with interlocked fingers placing palms under the forehead facing upwards.
Breathing: Spontaneous and natural.
Awareness: On the entire body, feeling the pleasing warmth of the palms transferring the power and removing the tension in the neck and related areas.
Benefits: It is good for all spinal problems. Curative for cervical spondylitis, stiff neck, and upper back.
4. Makarasana (Crocodile Posture)
Lie down on the abdomen. Raise the head to rest the chin in the palms, with the elbow on the ground. To make the better arch to the spine, keep the elbows together. If the body wants to relieve excess stress on the neck, elbows can be separated. The effects are felt at the neck and the lower back. If the elbows are far in the front, tension will be felt in the neck; if elbows are placed near to chest, tension will be felt more in the lower back. So, elbows should be adjusted at the balanced position. It is said to be the ideal position when the whole spine is equally relaxed. Close the eyes and relax the body. Be aware of the body sensation. After some time release the posture.
Breathing: Observe natural breath. Or practice moving the awareness up along the spine from the tailbone to neck and vice-versa while exhaling. Feel the movements of breaths clearly.
Duration: Till comfortable.
Awareness: Awareness of breathing process, concentration on lower back relaxing the entire body.
Contradiction: an Exaggerated lumbar curve or any back complaints should practice carefully. If any pain is experienced then they should avoid this pose.
Benefits: Good for asthma, lungs problems, slipped disc, sciatica, certain types of lower back pain etc. They should stay on the pose longer duration to resume vertebral column in its normal shape. It also releases the compression of the spinal nerves. For lower back pain, heed in this area and feel it distending and relaxing with every inspiration and expiration.Mastya
5. kridasana (Flapping fish pose)
Lie on the stomach with hands under the head and finger interlocked. Twiddle the arms to the left. The right leg remains straight. Bend the left leg and bring the knee near to elbow. Rest the right side of the head on the bent of the right arm, or down the arm if it gives comfort. Take relax. After some time change the side.Become aware of the body. Release the posture after some time.
Breathing: Normal and natural breath in a stable pose.
Duration: As per the time available and necessity. It may also be used for sleeping and resting.
Awareness: On body and breath, relaxing the entire body. Spiritual- on Manipura chakra.
Benefits: Activates digestive system, alleviates sciatic pain and relaxes the nerves in the leg. It releases the tension in the perineum. Whoever cannot do forward bending pose, they can do this pose as the counter pose of backward bending pose.
by Tirtha Acharya | Feb 22, 2018 | Yoga
yoga vs exercise: Differences between yoga and exercise
Most of the people think that yoga and exercise are same. Although both of them aim at improving health and fitness providing proper exercise to the body, they are different to each other. Yoga (like Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga etc) aims at integrating body, mind, and spirit. It is a very ancient philosophy which leads human to enlightenment. An exercise is a form of physical activities which aims at building muscles and strengthening the different organs. Yoga makes the foundation to the physical body and travels to the spiritual world. But exercise simply limited to the physical body. Maharshi Patanjali has given the definition of and a concrete guideline for yoga. Ancient scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagawat Geeta, Puranas etc. have also highlighted the Yoga.
The differences between Yoga and Exercise can be stated in the following points:
- Origin of yoga and exercise: The origin of Yoga is Hindu philosophy and flourished throughout the world. But there are different origins of different types of exercises. For example, wushu and kung-fu are originated in China. Similarly, judo, taekwondo, karate, wrestling, gym, kick-boxing, gymnastics etc. have different origins and purposes.
- Mindfulness: Exercise simply focus on physical training but ignores breaths and mindfulness. Yoga poses are the sitting, sleeping and standing exercises with a focus on inhalation and exhalation being mindful in both body (posture) and breaths (Pranayama).
- The consciousness of yoga and exercise: Asana wants consciousness over body sensation and focuses on a particular chakra. These things are found to be missed in exercise.
- Stability: Asana is the practice of physical stability in a particular pose with mental awareness; whereas exercise is the fast movement of the body.
- The intuition of yoga and exercise: Asana increases inner awareness, develops intuition and makes prepared for meditation and Samadhi whereas there is no place for meditation and Samadhi in exercise.
- Flexibility: It is not that yoga asana does not increase the physical strength. But it mainly focuses to increase the body flexibility whereas the purpose of the exercise is to increase the physical energy and defense the enemy. Regular yoga accelerates energy but cannot increase flexibility, rather it makes inflexible.
- Therapeutic purpose of yoga and exercise: Normally sick and unhealthy people cannot do exercise. So it often suits the healthy people only. But there are some asanas in yoga system to remove the sickness and diseases of the people. So, sick people get health from yoga, healthy people proceeds towards enlightenment through the practice of yoga. Thus, asanas are used for the therapeutic purpose as well.
- Respiration process in yoga and exercise: Respiration becomes faster and short during exercise. But during Asana, it becomes longer and deeper. We can also say that consumption of oxygen during exercise increases whereas, during asana, consumption of oxygen is lowered down.
- Duration: Asana is the practice to stay in a particular pose for a longer duration being stable; whereas exercises are often done in a fast motion consuming maximum energy and breaths.
- Body temperature in yoga and exercise: During asana body temperature remains same or drops; but exercise raises the body temperature. It means exercise warms up the body and normally focuses on a specific part of the body. But Asana acts for calming the body and involve the entire part of the body. Asana tries to reduce stress and pain in the body
- Metabolism: Metabolism process becomes slow in asana, but exercise increases the metabolic rate.
- Blood pressure & Heart rate: Blood pressure and heart rate are lowered down in asana. Whereas heart compels to work harder during exercise which rises up both blood pressure and heart rate.
- Food Intake: The practice of asana does not increase the food intake, but it lowers the unnecessary food intake. In exercise high amount of strength is required so the person need a higher amount of food.
- Tiredness: In asana energy is consumed slowly and regains during relaxation, so you won’t get tired of Asana very fast rather we feel fresh. There is a flow between each yoga asana which is created to regain energy and release the stress of muscles. Whereas in exercise energy is consumed rapidly, also there is no relaxation process. So, you feel tired.
- Philosophy: There is no any life philosophy in exercise whereas eight organs of Astanga Yoga have a separate philosophy. The yoga philosophy helps the person for all-round development.
- Limitations: Asana can be practiced by all; no restriction on gender and age. But there are limitations in exercise.
- Shape: Exercise, like gym and weight-lifting, develops the muscles and gives an attractive shape to the body. But asana deal to improve the vital function of the body such as circulation, respiration including medical benefits etc. Asana increases the longevity of life. Asana also provides a good shape to the body, however, the shape formed by the yoga seems more natural. Exercise like weightlifting and gym develops bigger muscles away from the bone while yoga pose draws muscles mass into the bone evenly. Bending, twisting, and stretching of the body in yoga asana create lean and strengthens the muscles.
- Versatile: Yoga is versatile. Some intense yoga pose like power yoga and vinyasa etc are formed in such a way that they have some properties as that of exercise like increasing blood pressure, boosting heart-beat whereas exercise normally has no properties of Asana.
- Various creatures: Asana tries to give a realization of becoming different creatures of the cosmos. For example, Mayurasana (peacock-pose) gives the realization of becoming a peacock. It develops the wisdom that the soul remains same for all types of body.
In each creature, there are some good qualities that human need to possess. Yoga asana also aims to generate those qualities from different living beings. Yoga creates the union, friendship and harmony with all the beings of the cosmos.
Exercise tries to learn the way of attack and defense like lion, tiger etc. Yet, there is no spiritual oneness in exercise.
by Tirtha Acharya | Feb 21, 2018 | Yoga
One Asana Hack : One asana every day can change your life
This article is focused on one asana hack in our life. One asana hack describes that doing only one asana every day can change our life. In Yoga Philosophy, Asana is the third Organ out of eight organs. It is said that there are as many asanas as the creatures of the universe. In the Universe, as per Hindu Philosophy, there are 84,00,000 creatures. But eighty-four asanas are the major. It means there are eighty-four ways to modify the body towards enlightenment through the practice of asana. According to one asana hack, it is not necessary to perform all these 84 asanas, only one asana is sufficient.
If a person practices just an asana correctly throughout the life, he achieves perfection. But a thoughtful mind wants the reason why only one asana is given importance. Sadguru says- if you just learn to sit correctly, move correctly, learn to keep the body in a right manner then you can know all the things in the universe that are needed to be known. This is the state of Asana Siddhi. Ancient yoga system states -If you can stay in any asana for 3 hours 36 minutes easily being absolutely comfortable (in a stable manner without movement), this is asana siddhi. However, Sadaguru has reduced its time limit to 2.5 hours.
If a person can achieve this accomplished stage of asana, then you can know everything within you whatever you want to know. But how this is possible! Only through sitting how one can learn everything within self which are necessary to be known! Let’s give an example of the TV set. If you fix the antenna correctly, TV discloses everything. The entire world can be known within your home via inside TV. If the antenna is not fixed correctly then TV can do nothing though it has the capacity to broadcast everything. Human beings are also like a TV set.
What a man is right now- he is so, due to experience and knowledge that he has acquired in his life. Whatever you are at present- it is the accumulation of your past experience and perception of your life. You become so as per your understanding of your life. In future as well, you will be delineated as per your realization. Whatever you know, understand and feel in your life, perception towards life; these make you what you are today. The whole system of yoga deals with promoting your perception. Yoga enhances the unlimited angle of perception towards the life.
If you stay in an asana in a right way, if your alignment is correct, and if it matches with universal geometry then you will be linked with the infinite knowledge. If a person practices these major 84 asanas; or becomes accomplished in any one asana and reaches in the rest 83 asanas then he will know everything that has happened in the creation till now because the memory of these all things is hidden within the human body. This hidden memory and wisdom can be activated through the right alignment of yoga as asana gets contact with the universal knowledge.
Yoga asana is the powerful medium for unification. Yoga means to unite. It means plural has become a singular, or duality changed into the singularity. Basically, there are only two existences- you and rest other. You recognize other existence as that, this, they, those, these etc. You have only two dimensions of experiences. You do not know what is there up and down of this universe. You do not know what is there front and back of you.
In fact, you know nothing about it. These all things that you feel to be known are just made for our comfort. The dimensions of two experiences are inside and outside. The purpose of yoga is to connect these two- you and rest of all. When there are you and no other, then there is only you and you. This is what the Yoga is. Asana is the physical medium to reach in this supreme singular phase. It is the easiest to work with the body.
If you try to work with the mind then it will unsettle and interrupt you in various ways. It has illusionary nature. You cannot get its language easily. You cannot know whether the mind is doing right or wrong. You can know regarding body at least it is doing right or wrong. You can identify whether it is helping or not. But if you try to engage with your mind then it will wander you in different ways. It makes you believe wrong things, and next day it deceives you. But the body does not do so.
Thus, you can believe your body. If you work on it with understanding, it definitely takes you towards supreme oneness. During the practice of yoga pose with correct alignment first, it gives you good health, happiness, bliss, and balance; then gradually it links with higher consciousness. The modern science has neglected the importance of balance. The balance is very important in both sectors spiritual and physical world. One can never be successful unless he possesses a balance. The practice of asana is the easiest way to bring the balance.
One asana hack suggests all the people sit in the right alignment, move with right alignment, rest the body in a right alignment. Sitting on a correct posture is also a type of asana, moving the body correctly is also an asana. Thus, people should always be aware of the body, alert on the body so that body never remains in the wrong alignment. It is a great austerity for the accomplishment. As the body starts being corrected mind also keeps becoming correct.
We cannot directly work with the mind. Body posture, its movement, and breaths etc. are only the medium to reach to the mind. To accelerate the progress on the yogic path- practice to breath consciously whenever you have time. In other words- be conscious of the incoming and outgoing breath. Accordingly observe your body frequently whether it is incorrect posture or not. Try not to change your posture during meditation at least for 2.5 hours. Keep practicing. Your each and every practice is an investment. The practice of yoga is the right use of time.
