Pratyahara – Withdrawal is a Limb of Yoga

Pratyahara
A wise individual once said, When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. It is this thought that encapsulates the concept of Pratyahar. Pratyahar or Pratyahara is one of the eight stages of yoga as mentioned in the 2nd century BC text, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. It is the stage of withdrawal of the senses; the stage where the yogi works towards ultimate enlightenment and...
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The Concept of Samadhi in Yoga

Samadhi and Yoga
Though we understand Samadhi as a form of leaving the mortal body and also call the resting places of great souls as their Samadhi, the term has many other connotations. While many understand Samadhi to be the destroyer of death and the achievement of supreme bliss, it is also closely associated with the discipline of Yoga. In one sense Samadhi is actually the ultimate aim of...
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Sthira Sukham Asanam – The Meditation Pose

Sthira Sukham Asanam
Sthiram Sukham Asanam, also known as the Sthira Sukham Aasan, literally translates as the still or unmoving, happy or contented position. Many yoga experts and practitioners interpret the Sthiram Sukham Asanam to denote the physical position most conducive to meditation or dhyaan. Not only is this position the ideal one for meditation, over time it improves one's posture and ...
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Nabhi Chakra – Health Connection of Navel to Body

Solar Plexus Health Connection
The navel or the belly button is the source of life before we’re born. We derive nourishment from the navel via the umbilical cord while still in the womb and are only now discovering the various life saving benefits of the blood that is contained in the umbilical cord. But is the navel of any great significance after birth and then later in life? Doesn’t the function and the i...
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Yoga Poses for a Good Night’s Sleep

Yoga for Better Sleep
As a holistic mind-body practice, we do know that Yoga helps one feel better, less stressed and more relaxed. All these factors contribute to more restful and relaxed sleep for you at night. There are also specific poses that are thought to be beneficial for insomniacs or people who have trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. Some experts advise a 10 minute, pre bedtime...
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Yoga and Vihaar (Recreation and Relaxation)

Yoga and Vihaar
Last week we spoke of the importance of eating right to supplement and maximize the positive impacts of Yoga practice and how a healthy diet is one of the important aspects of the holistic life system of Yoga. Another important contributive factor of this holistic system is ‘Vihaar’ which we understand as leisure or recreational activities, but which also encompasses the im...
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Yoga and Aahaar (Ideal Yogic Diet)

Sattvic Diet
Since Yoga is a complete wellness system, it is thought to base itself on various aspects of life such as aahaar (diet or food habits), achar (lifestyle, habits, routines and overall behavior), vihaar (relaxation, recreation and interpersonal relationships) and vichaar (positive thoughts). Today we look at one of those complementary aspects of Yoga, aahaar or diet, which can he...
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Yoga: Learn And Relearn – Traditional Vs. New

Yoga Learn and Relearn
It is important to remember that Yoga is not a didactic, static or rigid discipline. Neither is the process of learning and teaching a linear one. Rather it is open to evolution and to growth in a way that every effective body of knowledge must be in order to remain relevant. So if you have practiced Yoga for a while and come across different or seemingly new practices that y...
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IYD 2016: Are You Making These Common Yoga Mistakes?

Common Yoga Mistakes
Healthiest wishes to everyone on the second International Yoga Day, 2016! You could be a newbie trying to master the many aasans of yoga making some mistakes that prevent you from getting the best benefits out of your yoga session. You could also be a seasoned practitioner, who over time has started to make some mistakes, which you may not even be aware of. Newbies will want...
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Yoga – A Great Idea For Kids

With the summer holidays upon up, parents need to get really inventive about how to keep kids occupied, engaged and out of trouble; preferably in ways that are educative and/or beneficial. So those quilling classes you’ve been contemplating will teach them a new skill and the guitar classes may give a tone deaf kid a new musical lease in life. However, there is another mind-b...
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