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Yoga
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The science of being human
With the passing of the third International Day of Yoga in 2017 as sanctioned by the United nations, a few thoughts on yoga for the uninitiated.
The word “Yoga” cannot be translated into English. In the Sanskrit, it derives from the root “Yuja,” which is to join or weld together. Just as two pieces of metal are welded together to become one.
So in the philosophy of Yoga, the embodied spirit of the individual becomes one with the Universal Spirit through the regular practice of certain physical and mental exercises. In another definition, Yoga is the art of life and its philosophy is meant to furnish the principles that substantiate and explain that art.
One
Continue reading What Is Yoga?
Yoga Asana Series
A powerful forward extension
Parsvottanasana is a powerful stretch to the entire back muscles of the forward leg and often a good stretch of the calf muscles on the back leg. In addition, the spine is lengthened and balance is improved.
Traditional Instruction:
From tadasana, open the feet to a metre wide, Pivot one foot out 90° and the other heel back 60° Bring your hands into prayer position behind your back Turn your hips and torso 90° and square to the line between your feet Tuck your coccyx under and open your chest The maintain the openness of your front torso as you lift your tail, fold from the hips to bring the crown
Continue reading Parsvottanasana
Yoga Asana Series
Revolving Triangle Pose
Parivrtta Trikonasana is a powerful dynamic stretch requiring good balance and strong concentration. There is an intense stretch in the legs with an elongation and twist of the torso which releases a lot of energy. The pose also challenges your ability to balance and pay attention to your body.
This pose is achievable by people who from standing, can comfortably fold forwards from the hips keeping their knees straight and resting their hands on the floor. Those who cannot do this will most likely need something to rest their hand on to prevent the flexing of the spine as you can see in the video below.
Classically this pose is taught with the
Continue reading Parivrtta Trikonasana
Yoga Asana Series
Sitting on your heels
Thanks to Style Craz on Pinterest
Vajrasana is derived from word “Vajra”, which means the armour. The body becomes adamantine, strong and firm. The Vajrasana centres you at the navel (the Manipura Chakra) and makes you firm in your resolve. Vajrasana is a kneeling pose, and it takes its name from the Sanskrit word Vajra (वज्), which means diamond or thunderbolt.
It is a restful pose and can be used for meditation, breathing (Pranayama) exercises like Kapalabhati and Anulon Vilom, and it is said that in doing so, the body becomes as strong as a diamond.
Like all asana’s, there are many variations starting from the simple act of having one’s
Continue reading Vajrasana
Tree Pose – testing your balance
This is a challenge for most people. The faster ones mind is working, the more difficult it is to balance so this is good pose to start tweaking awareness and moving toward a quieter mind. But don’t let it shatter your confidence.
If you are just starting out, are older or very unfit. It is a good option to simply stand tall and rest one foot on top of the other. If balance is a challenge, keep one hand on the wall and bring your hands into prayer position as able. From here continue with the raised foot on the ankle and the knee opened out. Then as your grow more confident, move to
Continue reading Vrksasana
Yoga Asana Series
The Mountain Pose
To understand the body and interpret asana, it helps to understand the relationship between the planes of the body so that when performing asana, the planes are respected and form the integrity of the body. As with all yoga poses, tadasana helps to balance the musculature of the body creating evenness and as importantly, balance that many people tend to lose.
Grounding and openness
Tadasana is the art of standing in balance on both feet while holding your body upright and open with softness and evenness of breath. This is an elemental position from which all standing yoga poses commence.
This pose is about establishing integrity and openness in the body as represented
Continue reading Tadasana
Yoga Asana Series
Seated spinal twists
BKS Iyengar – matsyendrasana 1 Completing the pose by sitting on the inside of the ankle. The ankle bone presses up into the perineum.
The asana is named after the great yogi Matsyendranath. The name comes from the Sanskrit words ardha meaning “half”- matsya meaning “fish”- eendra meaning “king”, and asana (आसन ) meaning “posture” or “seat.”
The Matsyendrāsana twist series allows the spine to be twisted all the way from the base of the spine to the very top. This asana tones the spinal nerves and ligaments, and improves digestion.and also improve liver and pancreas health.
This asana usually appears as a seated spinal twist with many variations. One of the
Continue reading Matsyendrasana Series
Yoga Asana Series
A primary warrior pose
This is a good representative pose – youtube
This asana is often performed after uthitta trikonasana as its easier to do than virabhadrasana 1. In this asana the integrity of tadasana is transferred with the feet placed slightly more than 1 m apart.
In the beginning it takes some experimentation to get the correct foot placings and begin to work into the pose. From standing with the feet wide and parallel, the right toes turn out a full 90° and the left heel turns back some 10°.
As with trikonasana, the line through the centre of the forward foot follows back to the centre arch of the back foot.
When
Continue reading Virabhadrasana #2
Yoga Asana Series
Warming up for exercise – cat stretch
Getting your body warmed up and moving before stronger exercise is important and it’s not just heat. Consider that if you’ve come from another activity, just woken from sleep, been sitting at a computer or doing some other from physical labour. Your body will be imbalanced and the purpose of the warm up sequences is bring your body parts and systems onto the same ‘page’.
This is a good opportunity to become aware of your physicality and any areas where muscles may be tight or fatigued. Warm ups prepare the body and mind before doing a stronger exercise which may have the potential to injure.
One of the most
Continue reading Asana Preparation # 1
Yoga Asana Series
Triangle Pose; An Iconic Asana
This is often the second pose after Tadasana in many asana routines. Like all asana’s, you must remain comfortable to avoid over stretching and injury.
There are several purposes to this posture. The most obvious is to arrive at the physical geometry which helps to turn the musculature, improve metabolic functions and facilitate the free flow of energy throughout the body. There is a powerful stretch in the back of the leg which helps to facilitate greater flexibility and of course it also assists the art of balance.
To get into the pose one commences from standing Tadasana with the feet together and the body expanded. Then doing one’s best to
Continue reading Utthita Trikonasana
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