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Showing posts from 2010

INDIA THE MOTHER OF SPRITUALITY

India, was well trained in spritual philosophy and science ages before the Romans, or Alexander the Great ever dreamed of world empire, and when nought but savages roamed over the vast prairies and through deep forests of what is now proud America. This science was familiar to the great Teachers of India long before Egypt came to be regarded as the word's repository of occult knowledge. In fact Egypt took her first lessons in such knowledge from the great Mahatmas of India. Dear old India! The world owes her a debt of gratitude it is slow to repay. All the round world has sat at her feet and learned the ancient wisdom. But not all the world knows the sould of India. The West does not yet understand her. Many look upon India as the land of mystery or of poverty and ignorance. The look only at the drifting tide of human life breaking upon her unhappy shores in vast lacs of incarnations. They know not the real India. They know not her great Teachers; for they are her sould. From them

What is Mantra?

A mantra is a combination of syllables, sounds or phrases, realized by ancient sages, which have been widely known in India for thousands of years. They are evocative sounds and through their power of vibration have subtle, yet powerful and penetrating effects on the mind and body. --Swami Satyananda Saraswati

Ingredients for Health and Long Life

The ingredients of health and long life are prayer, Japa (Mantra repetition), Kirtan, meditation serenity, cosmic love, temperance, regulated life fresh open air, regular exercise, regulated breathing exercises or Pranayama, sun-bath and good wholesome food. Do unconditional and unreserved self-surrender to the Lord. He will take care of you. Be at ease. You will be free from fear and worries. You will enjoy health and happiness. Practice the presence of God. Behold Him in all faces, in all beings, in all forms. See Him everywhere. You will enjoy real peace, health and happiness. Meditate ceaselessly on the desireless, ever blissful Atman (the Self), Chant OM, Sing OM, Do Japa of OM. You will be blessed with health and happiness. Source: Sivananda YOGALIFE Magazine, Summer 2007.

One Month Yoga Teacher Training Experience in India | My Reviews

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I completed one month Yoga Teacher Training at the Yoga Institute Santacruz, Mumbai, India ( http://www.theyogainstitute.org/ ) in April 2010 and I would like to share my experience at The Yoga Institute, Mumbai, India. Overall experience was good but I wanted to learn more details about Yogic practices (Asanas, Pranayamas, Bandhas, Kriyas). In my opinion, the course is suitable for people who have not practiced Yoga before or have very less experience with Yoga and good for people especially from India as teachers quote such examples while teaching theory & concepts which could be understood by Indians only. In my humble opinion "The Yoga Institute" in Mumbai, India is not for people who are looking for deeper yoga training in a traditional way. Many asanas and pranayamas have been simplified to a great deal which is good for people who are not able to perform difficult postures. I have to agree that the teachers (who were part of one month Yoga teacher training prog

Glory of Hatha Yoga By Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Haridwar India

O Brother! attain good health. Without health how can you live? Without health how can you earn? Without health how can you succeed? Possess the health through Hatha, Unite the Ha with Tha, Unite the moon with the sun, Unite the Prana with Apana, Drink the nectar at Sahasrara, And live in the Immortal abode. Hatha and Raja are inseparable, Where Hatha ends Raja Yoga begins. Hatha Yoga prepares you For Nirvikalpa Samadhi. No Hatha Yoga, no success, No Hatha Yoga, no Samadhi. No Hatha Yoga, no health. No Hatha Yoga, no Veerya. No Hatha Yoga, no beauty. No Hatha Yoga, no long life. Salute Ganapathi before you begin. Practise Sirsh, the King of Asanas And remove all diseases. Develop thyroid through Sarvang And digest food through Paschimottan. Mayur can digest even poison. Ardha Matsyendra can make the spine elastic. Bhujang, Salab and Dhanur Can give you a good motion And eradicate constipation. Preserve Veerya through Sirsh-Sarvang And avoid wet-dreams. Re

Sequence of Asana Pranayama and Meditation

What is the right order of practicing Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation, What should be performed first? Do you also have the similar questions like what should be practiced first Asana, Pranayama or Meditation? What is the right sequence or order to practise Asana, Pranayama, and Meditation? Hatha Yoga Pradipika commentary by Swami Muktibodhananada (Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India) explains these questions as below: After asanas, pranayama should be practised to purify the nadis. For this purpose nadi shodhana (nadi purification) pranayama is best. Then mudras should be performed to channelize the energy and create specific attitudes of mind, and bandhas to force the energy upward. In hatha yoga the sequence is - Asanas first, then Pranayama, Mudras and Bandhas. Lastly one should sit quietly in a meditative pose. In the systematic science of Hatha Yoga, you must firstly prepare the physical body because it is the grossest manifestation of prana. Activate the prana

Is Yoga Anti Islam? Nice Article Taken From Times of India

Article by Firoz Bakht Ahmed published on Times of India's site: I follow all the Islamic tenets in the right interpretation and spirit and so, I can say that there is no such thing as yoga being haram (disallowed) in Islam. Rather, I have found that Islamic yoga is a reality. It is possible to employ the skills of yoga to worship Allah better and to be a better Muslim. Issuing fatwa declaring yoga anti-Islamic by some Malaysian and Indonesian ulema is nothing but misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the fact that yoga and namaz are almost identical. Having practiced yoga during my school days, I found that it can easily be integrated with the Islamic life; in fact the two assist one another. Not only is there no conflict, but Islam and yoga together make a mutually beneficial holistic synergy. Both are agreed that, while the body is important as a vehicle on the way to spiritual realization and salvation, the human being’s primary identity is not with the body but with the e

Yoga and the Christian Religion | Is Yoga A Religion?

Yoga is beyond religion as explained below by SRI SWAMI CHIDANANDA I shall speak to you at some length upon the subject of 'Yoga and the Christian Religion' because most of you are from a Christian background, very pious and very religious. Some are only Christian because they are born Christian, but some are halfway going to the Church once in two months, but all are from a Christian background, may be some Roman Catholic, may be not, may be Protestant, may be Methodist, may be some other. Some of you are Jews. Whatever religion you belong to, when I speak about Yoga and the Christian religion, it could equally apply to Yoga and any other religion. So, what is the connection between Yoga and one's religion? One takes it for granted that Yoga is of the Hindu religion, and asks: 'What is the connection between, this Hindu thing and my religion?' Anyone belonging to another religion must wonder. So, it is worth-knowing how to relate Yoga to religion. Is it like other