YOGA INTRODUCTION & HISTORY

Harnessing the Power of Shiva: Dissolving into Shavasana

In a Yoga class, the same pulsation of creation, sustenance and dissolution can be replicated through an artful sequencing of Yoga asanas.. Frequently, the krama or sequencing of Yoga asanas is geared towards a pinnacle pose during the practice. This is akin to climbing a mountain; there is so much preparation necessary for scaling a high peak. In order to ensure a successful ascent of the peak, we must prepare our both our bodies and minds for the journey ahead. In the same way, sequencing a series of Yoga asanas to ensure a safe, enjoyable and successful Yoga class is an art in and of itself.

The Dance of Shiva: Natarajasana

To practice Natarajasana, or Dancer Pose, come to an equal standing position at the front of your Yoga mat. Before proceeding, find a gazing point or drishti two to three feet in front of you on the floor. If you hold this drishti point without wavering during your practice of Dancer Pose, your balance will become steadier and the fluctuations of your mind will begin to calm. With an inhale, shift your weight to your right foot and raise your left foot behind you. Grasp the top of your left foot with your left hand. Remember to keep your left foot in direct alignment with your left hip bone.

The Science Behind Yoga

The health benefits associated with yoga can help in both the psychological and physical realms of health. Many health professionals are now considering yoga as a viable treatment for stress and other debilitating ailments that could benefit from physical therapy. Science has just recently begun to unravel the enigma as to how yoga can come to cause many of these beneficial effects.

A Concise History of Hatha Yoga

Although many forms of yoga training have existed for thousands of years, Hatha (the yoga of physical mastery) is a relative newcomer in comparison to the other main systems of Yogic methodology in India. Hatha dates back as recently as the 15th century with Svami Svatmarama and is the base for many popular styles today such as Iyengar, Bikram, Kundalini, and Ashtanga.

Practice of Dharana and Balancing Poses

By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 The practice of dharana, or Yogic concentration, is the sixth limb of Patanjali's Raja Yoga system, as outlined in depth in his Yoga Sutras. Dharana is translated as concentrating with an unwavering single-pointed focus on one object or task. This inward focus arises from Patanjali's fifth limb, which emphasizes [...]

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