Build your immunity

Om

Today in my class I learnt from my teacher the importance of Vajrasan & Veerasan - Iyengar system- amongst the other benefits.

Ths is what struck me most :

Did you know, the metatarsal region has points to increase immunity ? That is why many people in India when they wash their feet rub this area vigourously.

It also benefits Sinus & cold problems.

So next time you get into vajrasan or veerasan you know that you are also building your immunity.

Om Shanti

How can we apply Non-Violence?

The application of true ahimsa (non-violence) is much easier said than done. Here is a message that you can repeat to yourself to support you in your journey.

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From me there shall come no injury, no pain, no suffering or destruction to life in any form.

I shall not cause any pain or suffering to anyone.

I shall not cause any unnecessary sorrow to any person, and therefore, my speech will be soft and peace-giving.

My actions will be conductive to the good of others, to the benefit and happiness of others, and not the contrary.

My mind will always think well of others.

I have thoughts full of goodwill, peace, affection, love, friendliness, brotherhood, oneness, unity, sympathy and kindness.

I understand, with a little reflection, that it is only then when I an engaged in the process of real self-expression, of true self expression where I am a centre of love, a centre of all that is auspicious and good, a centre of peace, a centre of sweetness and kindness.

Thanks to Swami Chidananda

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Om Om Om

Our true birthright

Man today is sick because he thinks he is sick.

Sickness and disease have no place in the life of a person who does not accept & tolerate the self-limiting thoughts which are the real seeds of our myriad ailments. We stand hypnotised by the belief that disease and illness are our fate and destiny, rather than health and bliss, which are truly our birthright and heritage.

In order to emerge from our mass hypnosis and collective hysteria and to experience health, joy and creative fulfilment, we must make a systematic application of Yoga in our daily lives.

-Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

II Om Shanti II

Know Thyself

Ignorance is the cause of all disease and knowledge is the cure. When we get sick it is a signal from nature that something is not right. It is a warning to change ourselves. Because of our ignorance we loose sight of ourselves.

To know who we really are & how we should live, we have to suffer & go thro pain of life. What yoga allows us to do is to remove the hurt from pain so that we can grow with each experience whether good or bad.

Paradoxically, some of us must get sick to learn about ourselves more fully & completely. As all great sages, masters & philosophies have said throughout time & space "Know Thyself" & "Unto thine own self be true". This is the essence of yoga & it is how yoga has come to understand the cause & cure for disease.

Grateful thanks: Bihar School of Yoga 

Letting go in the class

Om

I like to practise with my teacher, and that too with many like minded individuals. Very often I feel that there are some asana's that are achieved or better achieved in a a group energy.

Twice in the week I practise with my teacher in a group class & I feel I float thro the class. I love this experience as I dont have to use my brain or vocal cords here. As soon as I enter the class, I just hand over the reigns to my teacher & what a brilliant teacher he is.... so compassionate... so loving... caring...

From the time we begin with Ujjayi breathing at the beginning of the class, I just switch off myself & follow his each & every word. The experience of going from asana practise to another combining Ujjayi with it, is simply amazing. I very powerfully experience 'letting go'. Yes at that time I have no things to crave, no dreams to achieve, no work to complete... it is just the practise in now, am very very aware of the 'Now'. 

Mind turns completely inwards & one is able to achieve a beautiful twist, smooth trikon or a finely balanced shirshasan with such grace & poise. I feel the class should just go on & on....

This feeling of fulfillment & nourishment lasts for some time, till I am ready for another class.

I feel blessed in this class.

II Om Shanti II 

Satyananda Yogic Studies

A couple of days ago I finished a two week residential which was the start of a two year yogic studies course with Satyananda Yoga ashram at Mangrove Mountain in Australia. I am so excited! I love it! It was an amazing stay and it gave me greater insight to the many branches of yoga. Satyananda Yoga is great in the way that it incorporates many aspects of yoga, not just the asanas. Every class also has a pranayama and a meditation section. Bhakti yoga is also practiced through Kirtan’s and chanting, and karma yoga is a big part of Satyananda’s teaching and practice. Also Raja and Jnana yoga is incorporated. Satyananda yoga is therefore said to be an integral yoga.

In the two weeks that we were there we only went through the Pawanmuktasana Series 1, 2 and 3, for those of you who are familiar with those (See Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Satyananda). These practices is what we will practice as our home practice over the next four months (which is the time this module lasts for). As I had quite a strong practice before I went to the ashram I thought I would find the asanas boring and uninteresting. As a matter of fact, instead I found them so interesting. As these simple, but great practices was performed in a slow, controlled manner together with breath, body, mind and energy awareness, it became a moving meditation. A moving meditation where I was witnessing changes in my body, mind and prana. During performing any asana we would focus on the muscles and joints in ‘action’, and after each pose we would stay still in starting position for that asana to feel the effects of that asana. It was amazing to feel the different effects and the subtle sensations generated by such ‘simple’ asanas.

I went to a yoga class today at one of the most highly regarded yoga schools here in Byron, and I certainly felt stretched and I did use my muscles, but I felt little of what was actually going on in my body, mind and energy.

Yoga is all about awareness. It is about going within, to witness what is happening, to let whatever is there arise. This happens out of a place of stillness.

Back your back

Om

Did you know that the health of your vertebral column / spine is extremely important & its unhealthy state can also induce some other diseases ? Or some diseases can be responsible for unhealthy spine.

Lets look at some of the things that can happen:

• Brain energy is disturbed by the pressure applied on the spinal nerves if the spine is not straight.
•  Lesion at T3 & T4 can lead to heart problem & asthma.
• Lesion at T5 - T9 can cause digestive disorder
• Disturbance in C7 /  T5has been correlated to nervous & mental disorders

Misaligned vertebrae can press on the spinal nerves resulting in either blocking the impulse current or increasing it irritation at nerve roots. This can further cause disorders of organ functions.

So, what is the solution ? Asanas !

Asana straightens the spinal column preventing any disorders. Asanas realign the individual bones & discs of cartilage, encouraging blood flow to nourish spinal cord & associated nerve plexus.

Isint it inspiring enough for you to get on the mat & start your Yog Sadhana ? But always practise under a qualified teacher / therapists guidance; specially people who have some conditions.

Yoga is the way for healthy mind & body.

II Om Shanti II

Grateful Thanks to Satyananda Yoga, Bihar Yoga.