Yoga Exercise For Losing Weight

For thousands of years, yoga has been a revered form of physical fitness. It is well-known that yoga provides many physical and mental benefits. It helps the body to be more flexible, it helps to improve posture, it improves muscle tone, and it helps the mind to be relaxed and centered. It is a full mind and body workout and a popular form of exercise that can be done at home or in a class with the help of a certified instructor.
When it comes to weight loss, you might not think of yoga as being an effective means of exercise. But the benefits of yoga can reach much farther than simply making you more flexible. If performed properly, and on a regular basis, yoga can be an efficient means of burning excess calories, which can help you to shed some of those unwanted pounds.
Yoga is typically performed through a series of stretches and postures, along with controlled breathing techniques.

Great Exercise Tricks to Losing Weight Fast
Through holding these postures in a precise and controlled way, muscle lengthening and tone is eventually achieved. These postures require endurance and energy, and therefore calories from the body. Yoga works to create a more efficient metabolism, which will turn your body into a calorie-burning machine. The more calories your body burns, the more weight you are apt to lose. And the more muscle tone that your body has, the more calories your body will burn around the clock, whether moving or at rest.

Practicing yoga requires an open mind, and the willingness to take it slow. Several stretches and poses take weeks, even months, to achieve. It is important to not give up on it, though! By gently pushing your body, you will come to experience a greater feeling of flexibility and muscle tone, you will move more gracefully, your posture will improve, you will experience a greater sense of inner calm, and you will lose weight.

 In order to achieve these goals, it is important to perform yoga on a regular basis, up to several times each week.
If weight loss is one of your goals through performing yoga, it is important to also follow a healthy and balanced diet. In addition, adding some type of cardiovascular activity to your fitness program, whether it's running, walking, biking, or swimming, will help you to burn even more calories, and encourage weight loss. With those three weapons, you will win the war on fat and lose the weight!

yoga exercises safety guidelines

Use common sense when practicing yoga with weights. If something doesn't feel right, don't do it. Work at your own level of ability and never push yourself too far. This article presents guidelines for making sure you practice yoga with weights safely. These guidelines can help you determine what's safe, but practically speaking, it's up to you to draw your own guidelines. Yoga with weights is a voyage of self-discovery. After you practice the discipline long enough, you understand what your breathing, discomfort level, and pain level mean. The object of the exercises is to come to the edge without stepping off the cliff — to push yourself without pushing too far. As long as you stay in the moment and register the sensations in your body very carefully, your breathing, discomfort level, and pain level can tell you where the edge is and show you how to get the most from the exercises.

Listen to your breathing
Rapid breathing, short and shallow breathing, holding your breath, and gasping are signs of distress.


If you can't take slow, deep, rhythmic breaths as you exercise, you're overexerting and subjecting yourself to injury. Ease away from what you're doing just enough to regain control over your breathing, and then continue with the exercise.

Yoga-with-weights exercising isn't about coming to the edge and falling off; it's about riding the crest of the wave in all its glory and enjoying the ride in the process.

Be aware of your discomfort level
In yoga with weights, you make a distinction between comfortable discomfort and uncomfortable discomfort. Feeling comfortable discomfort, such as the uneasiness that accompanies breaking new ground in yoga with weights (or any other exercise technique), is fine.

 If you feel uncomfortable discomfort, however, you're straining yourself. Abandon the exercise you're doing and ask yourself whether you're doing the exercise correctly or pushing yourself too far.

Be aware of any pain you feel
As with other exercise techniques, you sometimes feel pain when you do yoga-with-weights exercises. Pay careful attention to any pain or discomfort you feel. Listen to it. Focus on the part of your body where the pain is located. Burning or stinging pain signals you to be careful, but not necessarily to back away from what you're doing. Sometimes you can control this kind of pain by breathing. Quivering or sharp pain means you've gone too far. You're pulling muscle off the bone and subjecting yourself to injury.

Practice at a slow but steady pace
When you're exercising, switching to automatic pilot and going through the motions is easy. When that happens, you increase your chances of injuring yourself, because you're not focusing on your body. Listen to your body and focus on what you feel as you exercise. This, along with conscious breathing and a steady exercise pace, helps prevent injuries. We carefully designed every exercise in this book to give you a workout but spare you the risk of injury. Timing and proper breathing are the keys to the depth and success of each workout and practice. Try not to speed up to get your workout over with quickly. By the same token, don't go so slow that you lose your pacing and rhythm and make the workout boring.

Types Of Yoga

Yoga is a health science being practiced since thousands of years by yogis as tool to unite the mind, body and spirit. It is a peaceful, energizing practice that will make an individual will feel more fit and energetic all the time. By practicing yoga a person gets more aware of his body posture, alignment and movement. It offers more flexibility to one’s body and helps to relax even in the midst of stressful environment.

To get the best of yoga one should practice the right yoga asanas to find harmony of mind and body and strength of body healing. When done with appropriate yoga postures, breathing techniques and meditation, there are a number of psychological, physiological, health benefits of yoga.

There are different types of yoga which can either be practiced at home or at yoga centres providing yoga training for those who wish to learn different styles of yoga for bring in a positive energy in life.

TYPES OF YOGA


Learning yoga from experienced yoga teacher or yoga instructor can be the best way to learn yoga with perfection.
For intial yoga starters, Hatha yoga is the best. It is the foundation for all the other yoga styles. As yoga for beginners, it is easy to learn yoga exercise that requires people to go through a series of poses beginning with sun salutation for body warm up. The main aim of this yoga practice is to condition the body, so that mind can be prepared for its spiritual path.

 For building stamina and strength practicing power yoga or Ashtanga yoga is great as the pace involved with this will give you an intense aerobic workout as there will be no pausing between poses because each move flows into the next. More comprehensive form of this is Raja yoga which is today’s most complete, all-round yoga process for development of body, mind and soul. Based on the eight limbs called yama, niyama, yoga asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi this yoga leads one to "self-realisation. Every kind of yoga whether it is bikram yoga or vinyasa yoga or sivananda yoga has its own benefits and hence should be practiced regularly for all round body and mind fitness.

Yoga Origin

Yoga is an age-old science made up of different disciplines of mind and body. It has originated in India 2500 years ago and is still effective in bringing overall health and well being to any person who does it regularly. The word yoga is based upon a Sanskrit verb Yuja. It means to connect, to culminate or to concur. It's the culmination of mind and body or the culmination of Jiva and Shiva (soul and the universal spirit). It's also a culmination of Purush and Prakriti (Yin and Yang).

The term Yoga has a very broad scope. There are several schools or systems of Yoga. Dnyanayoga (Yoga through knowledge), Bhaktiyoga (Yoga through devotion), Karmayoga (Yoga through action), Rajayoga (Royal or supreme Yoga) and Hathayoga (Yoga by balancing opposite principles of body). All of these schools of Yoga are not necessarily very different from each other. They are rather like threads of the same cloth, entangled into each other. For thousands of years, Yoga has been looked upon as an effective way of self-improvement and spiritual enlightenment. All these systems essentially have this same purpose; only the ways of achieving it are little different for each of them. In its most popular form, the term Yoga has come to associate with the last of these systems which is Hathayoga. For the purpose of this article too, the term Yoga is used with the same meaning. Although, when it comes to Philosophy of Yoga, which is at the end of this article, the term Yoga will have a broader scope.

Asana and Pranayama

Let's take a detailed look at the main two components of Hathayoga i.e. Asana and Pranayama.

a) Asana:
Asana means acquiring a body posture and maintaining it as long as one's body allows. Asana, when done rightly according to the rules discussed above, render enormous physical and psychological benefits. Asana are looked upon as the preliminary step to Pranayama. With the practice of Asana there is a balancing of opposite principles in the body and psyche. It also helps to get rid of inertia. Benefits of Asana are enhanced with longer maintenance of it. Asana should be stable, steady and pleasant. Here is the summary of general rules to be followed for doing Asana.
Summary of rules:

1. Normal breathing
2. Focused stretching
3. Stable and pleasant postures (sthiram sukham asanam)
4. Minimal efforts (Prayatnay shaithilyam)
5. No comparisons or competition with others
6. No jerks or rapid actions. Maintain a slow and steady tempo.

Each asana has its own benefits and a few common benefits such as stability, flexibility, better hormonal secretion, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It's a misconception that an Asana (Yoga stretch) has to be difficult to do in order to be beneficial. Many of the easiest Asana render most of the common benefits of Yoga to their fullest. Besides, the beauty of Yoga is in the fact that at a not-so-perfect level most of the benefits are still available. That means even a beginner benefits from Yoga as much as an expert.

In their quest to find a solution to the miseries of human body and mind, the founders of Yoga found part of their answers in the nature. They watched the birds and animals stretching their bodies in particular fashion to get rid of the inertia and malaise. Based upon these observations, they created Yoga stretches and named them after the birds or animals or fish that inspired these stretches. For example, matsyasana (fish pose), makarasana (crocodile pose), shalabhasana (grasshopper pose), bhujangasana (cobra pose), marjarasana (cat pose), mayurasana (peacock pose), vrischikasana (scorpion pose), gomukhasana (cow's mouth pose), parvatasana (mountain pose), vrikshasana (tree pose) etc.

Many of the Asana can be broadly categorized based upon the type of pressure on the abdomen. Most of the forward bending Asana are positive pressure Asana as they put positive pressure on the stomach by crunching it e.g. Pashchimatanasana, Yogamudra (Yoga symbol pose), Hastapadasana (hand and feet pose), Pavanmuktasana (wind free pose) etc. The backward bending Asana are the negative pressure Asana as they take pressure away from the abdomen e.g. Dhanurasana (bow pose), Bhujangasana (cobra pose), Naukasana (boat pose) etc. Both types of Asana give excellent stretch to the back and abdomen and strengthen both these organs. Alternating between positive and negative pressure on the same area of the body intensifies and enhances blood circulation in that area. The muscle group in use gets more supply of oxygen and blood due to the pressure on that spot. E.g. in Yogamudra (symbol of Yoga), the lower abdomen gets positive pressure due to which Kundalini is awakened. Hastapadasana refreshes all nerves in the back of the legs and also in the back. As a result you feel fresh and rejuvenated. Vakrasana gives a good massage to the pancreas and liver and hence is recommended for diabetic patients.

2. Pranayama 
Practicing Pranayama is one of the ways of getting rid of mental disturbances and physical ill health. Pranayama means controlled and prolonged span of breath. Prana means breath. It also means life force. Ayama means controlling or elongation. Just like a pendulum requires twice long to come back to its original position, the exhalations in Pranayama are twice longer than the inhalations. The main purpose of Pranayama is to bring mental stability and restrain desires by controlling breathing. Breathing is a function of autonomous nervous system. By bringing the involuntary process of breathing under control of mind, the scope of volition is broadened. Pranayama is a bridge between Bahiranga (exoteric) Yoga and Antaranga (introspective or esoteric) Yoga. A body that has become stable by Asana and has been cleansed by Kriya (cleansing processes) is ready for Pranayama. On the other hand Pranayama prepares the mind and body for meditational and spiritual practice of Yoga such as Dhyana, Dharana and Samadhi. On physical level, practice of Pranayama increases blood in oxygen, subsequently refreshing and rejuvenating the brain and the nerves. Here are a few physical benefits of Pranayama.
a. Lungs, chest, diaphragm become stronger and healthier.

b. Capacity of lungs is increased.
c. Slow changing pressure creates a form of massage to all organs in the stomach cavity.
d. Purifies blood by increasing blood's capacity to absorb more oxygen.
e. Brain functions better with more oxygen in the blood.
f. Neuromuscular coordination improves.
g. Body becomes lean and the skin glows.

There are 8 main Pranayama namely, Ujjayi, Suryabhedan, Sitkari, Shitali, Bhastrika, Bhramari, Murchha, Plavini. Among these, Ujjayi is the most popular Pranayama. Pranayama consists of 4 parts in the following order:
1) Puraka (Controlled inhalation)
2) Abhyantara Kumbhaka (Holding breath in)
3) Rechaka (Controlled exhalation)
4) Bahya Kumbhaka (Holding breath out).

The ratio of these parts to each other is generally 1:4:2:4 with a few exceptions. Patanjali's Yogasutra agrees with this ratio along with many other scriptures. For the purpose of overall well-being, practicing the first three parts is sufficient. A spiritual practitioner generally practices all four parts including the last one i.e. Bahya Kumbhaka. Such a practitioner also does many more repetitions than someone who does it for general health and well-being. Out of the four parts of Pranayama, it's the Abhyantara Kumbhaka that is essentially identified with Pranayama. There is one more Kumbhaka that happens spontaneously and is called Keval Kumbhaka.

Bandha (Locks) are very crucial to the practice of Pranayama. Mulabandha (locking the anus), Jalandharbandha (locking the throat area or jugular notch), Udiyanabandha (locking the abdomen or diaphragm) and Jivhabandha (locking the tongue) are the four locks that are performed during Pranayama. Depending upon the purpose of Pranayama (spiritual or general health), locks are performed. Mulabandha, Jalandharbandha and Udiyanabandha are the common Bandha performed by everyone. Jivhabandha is mandatory only if done for spiritual purposes.

Characteristics of Yoga

Let's take a look at some of the chief characteristics of Yoga.

1) Yoga is not an exercise.

To understand the concept of Yoga one must keep in mind that the positions in Yoga are not exercises but bodily stretches and maintenance of stretches. You may describe Yoga in terms of Yogic stretches or Yogic practices. Acquiring a body position by stretching the muscles and then maintaining this position as long as one's body allows, that is what Yogic stretches are. Yoga requires very smooth and controlled motions and a slow steady tempo. To achieve this one needs to have total concentration of mind while doing Yoga. The movements in Yoga are smooth, slow and controlled. Comparison with others is greatly discouraged. Doing something beyond one's capacity just out of competition generally results in hurting one's body and hence is greatly discouraged. Breathing in Yoga remains steady unlike many aerobic exercises. Yoga is also Isotonic unlike bodybuilding exercises, which are isometric in nature. In isotonic stretches, length of the muscles increases while tone stays the same as opposed to the isometric exercises in which length of the muscles stays the same while the tone changes. In Isotonic stretches, body is stretched in a particular manner and maintained that way for some time.

2) Longer maintenance and fewer repetitions (as per the body's capacity).

Benefits of Yoga are enhanced with the maintenance of a body stretch. Longer the maintenance better will be the effect. However one cannot force oneself into maintaining the stretch longer than the body can bear. Each and every position is pleasant and stable (Sthiram Sukham Asanam). Sthiram means steady. Sukham means pleasant and Asanam means a body posture or position. The right position for you is that in which your body remains steady (sthiram) and which is pleasant and comfortable to you (sukham). The moment a stretch becomes unbearable and uncomfortable and the body starts shaking, one needs to come out of that position in a very slow, smooth and controlled manner. There will be more repetitions and shorter maintenance for a beginner. With more practice, the repetitions will be fewer and maintenance will be longer. After doing Yoga one should only feel pleasant and fresh and nothing else. If you feel tired or fatigued or any part of your body aches, it only means that you have tried beyond your capacity.

2) Trust your body. Apply minimum efforts:

With the practice of Yoga, you also learn to trust your body's capacity to progress in terms of flexibility without conscious efforts. As long as the aim is in mind and the body is stretched only to its current capacity, the flexibility develops on its own. One needs to just focus on breath, focus on the present state of the body pose and enjoy that pose as long as it feels comfortable. 'Prayatnay Shaithilyam' means minimum efforts. Although there is an ideal position described and desired for each asana, no one is forced into attaining the ideal position. Yoga is done with the trust that flexibility is acquired after a continuous and regular practice. There is a message here and that is to have faith in the unknown. This message along with the improved endocrine function, better muscle tone, calmer mind and increased positive outlook can be enormously beneficial for recovery from any illness.

3) Focused stretching:
The ability to stretch or pressure one muscle group while relaxing the rest of the body is called focused stretching. For example if a particular Asana is based upon stretching the stomach as the main muscle group (the pivotal muscles), then the rest of the body is relaxed while the stomach is stretched or pressured. One has to watch for unnecessary straining of those muscles that are supposed to be relaxed. Initially this is hard to follow nevertheless it becomes easier with some practice. This habit of differentiating between different muscles for the pressure becomes very useful in other areas of life too. It enables you to relax better while driving during rush hour. While doing normal daily tasks it makes you aware of the unnecessary tension on different parts of your body. You are watchful even while talking to someone or while brushing your teeth or when stuck in a traffic jam. You learn to ask yourself, 'Am I holding my breath, are my shoulders tense, is my neck stiff, are my fingers curled?' etc. etc. These acts are unnecessary and they dissipate energy. Yoga teaches you how to relax and gives you time free of worries and regrets, impatience and anxieties.

4) Breathing: 
Monitoring your breathing is an integral part of Yoga. Common mistakes such as holding of breath or breathing deliberately occur during Yoga. Both these mistakes must be avoided. Holding back on breath gives headaches, fatigue and thus the benefits of Yoga are lost by improper or inadequate breathing.


5) Anantha Samapatti (Merging with the Infinite):

Ultimate goal of Yoga is the amalgamation of self into the greater self. Yuja means to combine or to connect. A connection of Atma and Parmatma is the merging of the body and the spirit. Yoga is a way of life. It's a total integration. According to Patanjali (founder of Yoga), two things define Yoga postures; a stable and comfortable body posture and Anantha Samapatti. Therefore you cannot separate bodily postures from meditation. In fact a body that has become flexible and steady through practice of various positions becomes a good basis for the ultimate transcendental state of mind (Samadhi). The kriya (cleansing processes) purify the body. Mudra and bandha bring the necessary stability of mind and concentration, initially on one's breathing (pranadharana) and then on God (Ishwarpranidhana). Initially the mind wanders a lot and that's o.k. One should let it wander. Later one should count his breaths and should observe the inner and outer flow of air through the air passages. (pranadharna). This will enable him to concentrate better on himself (sakshibhavana). In the beginning it will be difficult to concentrate since the body postures are not that steady. But with practice it becomes better and better. For this one must purposely take away his mind from body posture and focus it on to the breathing process (pranadharana).

Benefits of Yoga

If you follow the basic rules, several benefits can be reaped. Maintenance of body stretches makes the body supple, lean, flexible and stable. Breathing techniques purify the blood and cleanse nasal passages and sinuses. Stress relief is the greatest of all the benefits. Relaxing positions in Yoga teach you to relax your muscles and let the gravity work on your body. The ability to differentiate between tension on different parts of the body, i.e. to stretch one muscle group while relaxing all the others teaches you to relax and not waste energy during your daily routine. The part about concentration is important in providing relief to your mind from worry and stress of everyday activities. Here is a detailed look at some of the major benefits of Yoga.

1. Stress relief

Stress, tension, anxiety are the inevitable features of modern day life. Yoga offers many techniques to cope up with the stress and anxiety. A stress free mind reduces the chances of catching a disease to half, this has been widely known by now. Yoga teaches very effective breathing and relaxing techniques to achieve this. Yoga also helps you to feel relaxed quicker and raise your energy reserve by teaching you how to let the gravity work on your body. Half of the fatigue in any activity comes from improper and inadequate breathing and by holding breath unnecessarily. Yoga teaches you how to breathe adequately and how not to make your body tense and stiff while doing other daily tasks too. The principle of focused stretching teaches you how to not waste energy during your daily routine. It makes you aware of the unnecessary tension on different parts of your body. Yoga teaches you to relax fully and gives you time free of worries and regrets and impatience and anxieties. People having busy schedules who are used to being in action all the time, must understand that relaxing is not a crime or not a waste of time. On the contrary it gives you new energy to do your tasks better.

2. Feeling energized and refreshed

Adequate breathing plays a great role in rejuvenating and refreshing mind and body. Breathing techniques in Yoga provide abundant supply of oxygen to the lungs, cleanse nasal passages and sinuses and thus help feel refreshed. A body that has become lean and flexible with stretches and maintenance of the stretches gets purified by breathing techniques and becomes energized. Various Yoga stretches induce a balanced secretion of hormones, which subsequently rejuvenates the whole body and one feels refreshed and energized as a result.

3. Flexibility of mind and body

Apart from the relaxing effect, yoga also consists of many body stretches which when maintained for a few minutes give a wonderful flexibility to our muscles. One starts wondering, 'Am I the same person who used to be so stiff?' In many chronic disorders of the spine, Yoga has helped many people to reduce the frequency and intensity of the disorder such as spondylitis, arthritis etc. Maintenance of body stretches makes the body supple, lean, flexible and stable. In the process, not only your body but also your mind becomes flexible. The mind acquires faith that things can change favorably given enough time.

4. Relief from chronic disorders

Yoga is particularly good for having control over breath and spine. Breath and spine are like wild animals. You force them to do something they pounce on you. You coax them, be patient with them, they can be tamed to any extent. Many Yoga stretches make the spine strong and flexible. Time and again Yoga has proved to be a blessing for all kinds of disorders of the back. The technique of exhaling twice longer than inhaling (Pranayama) gives abundant supply of oxygen to blood and many impurities of blood are cured. The deliberate exhaling technique (Shwasanmargshuddhi) cleanse the nasal passage and the sinuses. They help get rid of chronic sinus trouble or clogging of nasal passage for many people. That makes the lungs and respiratory organs stronger. The abdominal breathing technique (Kapalbhati) helps people with asthma or weak diaphragm to breathe easily.

5. Focus of mind

Practice of Yoga helps in getting better focus of mind. Meditation, being part of Yoga, teaches you how to focus better and achieve more from any activity. Dharana, which means narrowed focus on a subject by restricting Chitta (mind) is one of the 8 limbs of Ashtangayoga. It teaches you to get rid of all other thoughts from the mind and focus on the target. People have benefited enormously in terms of focus of mind by doing meditation (Dhyana) and Dharana throughout all ages.

6. Benefits at not-so-perfect level 
Even if one cannot achieve perfection in an Asana, the benefits of an Asana are still available at a not-so-perfect level such as calmer mind, better flexibility, better blood pressure, lower pulse rate and better endocrine function. Whatever state of Asana one is in, if one maintains the pose comfortably, body gets the necessary massage and stretch. There is a better secretion of endocrine glands as a result of the steady and sufficient stretch. The brain cells get the necessary signals and mind becomes calmer. Breath is more controlled and as a result feels refreshed. All of this happens regardless of the level of perfection. It's the steadiness and level of comfort that's more important than perfection.

Origin and philosophy of Yoga:

Ashtangayoga

Among the many proponents of Yoga, Patanjali (2nd century B.C) is the most well known and most revered of all and is well accepted as the founder of Yoga. His book Shripatanjali Darshan which is a collection of hymns (also called as Patanjali's Yoga Sutras) is held in high esteem by the experts and practitioners and is known as one of the most revered reference book (a workbook for actual practice) on Yoga. Patanjali's Yoga is called Patanjala (that of Patanjali) and is also considered as Rajayoga, which means the royal Yoga or the supreme, sublime Yoga since it consists of practices that lead to spiritual liberation (Moksha). Rajayoga is a part of Sankhya philosophy and is known to awaken Kundalini (Complete opening of Chakra when reached in transcendental state of meditation) and results into complete spiritual enlightenment if practiced regularly.

Patanjalayoga is also called Ashtangayoga since it has 8 dimensions or 8 limbs. Ashta means 8 and Anga means dimension or a limb in Sanskrit. Yama (Rules for the social life), Niyama (Rules for personal development), Asana (Yoga Posture), Pranayama (Prolonged and controlled breathing), Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), Dharana (narrowed focusing on a subject), Dhyana (continued experience of meditation), Samadhi (transcendental state in which there is only an essence of pure existence) are the 8 limbs of Ashtangayoga. The first four dimensions make up the exoteric (Bahiranga) part of Ashtangayoga while the last four dimensions make up the esoteric (Antaranga) part of Ashtangayoga. Out of the 8 limbs of Ashtangayoga, Asana and Pranayama are the only two limbs that generally stand for the term Yoga in its most popular form.

Hathayoga

In the 15th century A.D. Yogi Swatmaram founded one of the six systems of Yoga called Hathayoga. Although the term Hatha in Sanskrit means being forceful, Hathayoga is not about Hatha but is about the balance between the two principles of the body. Ha and Tha are essentially symbols. Ha means surya (sun). Tha means chandra (moon). Right nostril (Pingala) is the Surya nadi while the left nostril (Ida) is the Chandra nadi. Just the way the sun and the moon balance the life cycle of the world; the two nostrils balance the life cycle of the body. Nadi is a channel through which the life force flows. Hathayoga helps to maintain this balance by correcting the functional disorders of the body and bringing mental peace. Hathayogapradipika is the standard textbook on Hathayoga written by Yogi Swatmaram. Hathayoga accepts Patanjala Yoga as standard. Although it's a completely independent school of philosophy in its own right, it's essentially based upon the philosophy of Rajayoga expounded in Patanjali's Yogasutra.
In fact, every school of philosophy culminates into Rajayoga since the aim of every school is the same as Rajayoga i.e. to attain ever-lasting peace and happiness.

Hathayoga consists of
a. Asana (body positions or stretches e.g. mountain pose, cobra pose)
b. Pranayama (controlled breathing techniques e.g. Ujjayi, Anuloma Viloma)
c. Kriya (cleansing processes e.g. Kapalbhati)
d. Bandha and Mudra (Locks and symbol poses e.g. Udiyana bandha, Jivha bandha, Simhamudra)

As per Hathayoga, Asana, Pranayama, Kriya, Bandha and Mudra are stepping stones to achieve the ultimate psycho spiritual effect of Rajayoga. They create the necessary foundation of stable and calm mind and body for Rajayoga. There are however subtle differences between Patanjala Yoga and Hathayoga. Patanjali emphasizes more on the psycho spiritual effect of Yoga rather than the physical aspects and actual techniques of Asana and Pranayama. His Asana and Pranayama are also much simpler and easier to do than the ones in Hathayoga. For this he recommends least amount of efforts (Prayatnay Shaithilyam) and maintaining a steady, rhythmic tempo and a stable, comfortable body position. Patanjali's Yogasutra discuss Asana and Pranayama only in the chapter of Kriyayoga (part of Sadhana pada) as the tool to achieve physical and mental health. On the other hand, the emphasis of Hathayoga is more on the techniques of Asana and Pranayama, Kriya, Bandha and Mudra.

Philosophy of Yogasutra:

Patanjali's Yogasutra consists of 195 sutra and 4 Pada (sections or chapters): Samadhi pada, Sadhana Pada, Vibhuti Pada and Kaivalya pada. Kriyayoga, the chapter on the actual practice of Yoga is a part of Sadhana Pada (section about the means of study and practice of Yoga). Kriyayoga discusses Asana and Pranayama viz. the physical part of Yoga. Just to give a glimpse of Patanjali's philosophy, here are a few thoughts from the Samadhi Pada and Sadhana Pada of Yogasutra:

According to Patanjali, meaning and purpose of Yoga is to attain Samadhi (ultimate transcendental state in which there is sense of pure existence and nothing else). Yoga is a union of mind and body. It's compared with a calm river, which flows down towards its inclined bed without efforts. Thus Yoga is more than a physical exercise. To be able to concentrate your mind is the greatest benefit of Yoga. Yoga is nothing but self-study. Purpose of Yoga is to be self-aware. Yoga teaches you to be nearer to nature and lead a healthy life. For this you need determination and faith in Yoga.
Tapaswadhyayeshwarpranidhanani Kriyayogah

Tapa (austerities), Swadhyaya (reading of scriptures), Ishwarpranidhana. Tapa is to make body alert and active glowing with health. Swadhyaya is the continuous study to sharpen the intellect. These sadhanas are to be used to wipe out faults of human nature. There are five kleshas (bad tendencies) such as avidya (ignorance), asmita (ego), Rag (attraction-affection), dwesh (hatred) and abhinivesh (self insistence, stubbornness). These five vrittis disappear by Dhyana.

Yogaschittavrittinirodhah. By practice of Yoga, all the functional modifications of the mind completely cease.

Control of your mind is what Yoga is about. You have to involve your mind in the Asana. Asana is an instrument to Yoga. Body postures, maintenance and rounds of an asana are to be done according to one's own capacity. Retention is more desirable than repetition. Meditation cannot be separated from Yoga.

Prayatne Shaithilyam anantha samapatti. While doing Yogasana (Yogic postures), two things need to be observed. One is to be relaxed mentally and physically. The second one is Anantha samapatti. It means to merge with something infinite. Patanjali says that all good things happen when you stop trying hard. You become one with Ishwara, you let go your control and forget that you are in particular body posture. Yoga should be the way of life.

Yoga chitasya malam apakarot, Padena vachanam malam, sharirasya cha vaidyaken yo apakarot. The speech is improved by reading loud a Pada (stanza of a poem) and a physician cures the diseases of body. Similarly, Yoga cures and cleanses an ill mind.

According to Samadhipada, all kinds of mental and physical problems such as disease, laziness, doubts and suspicions, disobedience, misunderstandings, temptations, unhealthy thoughts are the modifications of Chitta (mind). Consequences of these modifications are unease, instability, shakiness and disturbances of inhalations and exhalations. Patanjali says that through total concentration and steadfastness and a regular practice of Yoga, one can get rid of all these problems.

How to Become a Yoga Teacher

If you want to instruct students in yoga classes, first you will need to learn how to become a yoga teacher and the steps that are involved. Most yoga instructors go through teacher training programs that end with a certificate after a certain number of hours. Then you will simply need to find a job at a gym, fitness center, yoga club, spa or other facility where yoga classes are offered. If you are passionate about yoga and have a calm demeanor, this may be an excellent job for you.

A good yoga teacher training program should be registered by the Yoga Alliance. Being accredited by this nationally recognized organization is a sign of a quality educational program in this field. There are 200-hour and 500-hour certificate programs. You will be able to find jobs at yoga studios with 200 hours of training, but the higher level of certification will help advance your career opportunities. And, if you want to teach a specialized type of yoga such as Anusara, Baptiste Power Yoga, Bikram or Iyengar you will need to complete an additional training program.

If you're thinking of becoming a yoga teacher, it would be a good idea to ask some of your favorite instructors where they completed their yoga training or if there is a training program nearby that they recommend. If there are no good schools nearby you may have to consider relocating. The Yoga Alliance Web site should have a list of suitable programs from which you can choose.

During your education you can expect to pay upwards of $3,000 for the training program, but you may be able to get financial aid or pay in installments. Most programs last from one month to a year. The additional training for some of the specializations may last only a month or two, but it will be intensive.

The average salary for yoga instructors varies depending on the years of experience and specialization of the instructor, how many hours they work, and where they work. Annual salaries range from approximately $40,000 to $80,000. If this sounds good, the next step is figuring out where to get your training and get started!

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What is Chair Yoga?

Chair Yoga is a gentle form of Yoga. With so many types of Yoga available, here is one that most of us can practice. Inversions and complicated maneuvers are not necessary in a Chair Yoga class.

All it takes is the motivation to get started. Most Chair Yoga classes don't use a Yoga mat, but the main prop used is a chair. This helps with balancing poses, and most common Yoga postures can be modified for the chair.

We have one particular Chair Yoga class, in Pawtucket, RI, that uses both chairs and Yoga mats. Within this type of Yoga class, you can cover standing, seated, supine, and prone postures. Most of our classes use the chair only, due to the difficulty of getting up, or down, on the floor.

Chair Yoga sessions are most commonly seen in senior centers, assisted living complexes, nursing homes, adult day care centers, and physical rehabilitation units. Clients can learn any number of Yoga postures, breathing techniques, meditation, and stage-by-stage relaxation, with the aid of a chair.

Standing postures, such as Triangle and Warrior variations, can be practiced seated, or standing, with the aid of a chair. You can practice Sun Salutations or Vinyasa, (flowing postures), from seated or standing positions.

Contrary to popular opinion, Chair Yoga is not for seniors only. Most of us take our good health for granted. The physically handicapped have no age boundaries, and they are very enthusiastic students.

Due to trauma, or a debilitating disease, at any time, any one of us could become physically handicapped. Most of us drive cars every day, and there is always a risk of an auto accident.

Some younger family members of seniors, and the physically handicapped, get involved in classes and private sessions. When family members participate in a class, or private session, it is always a good quality time for everyone.

Chair Yoga teachers must continually educate themselves, be knowledgeable of body mechanics, use of props, and a variety of ailments. This field requires teachers with compassion and the patience to help those who are doing their personal best.

It is also a field with growth opportunities; as the population is aging, there are not enough Chair Yoga teachers to go around. Some estimates indicate there are 1.5 million, or more, Yoga practitioners, over the age of 55, within the United States. Therefore, the demand far outweighs the supply of Yoga teachers for this particular field.

The Power and Growth of Hot Yoga

At the request of President Nixon and the encouragement of his teacher Bishnu Ghosh, Bikram Choudhury came to the United States in 1973 to "heal" the bodies of the west. His sequence of 26 poses in a hot room has done more than just heal the bodies of his students. It has fueled a yoga economy like no other.

Since 1973 Hot Yoga has been the largest growing trend in the Yoga field. When studios began to open in Asia, they operated Hot Yoga classes for the first 3 years before other styles of yoga began to gain interest and popularity. This has developed into a trend that began in the West Coast USA and has been growing ever since, with studios opening internationally and inspiring new styles of Yoga such as Bikyasa, or Hot Power Vinyasa, as it is commonly known on yoga schedules.

Hot Yoga creates amazing effects in the body. Whether you seek to lose weight, detoxify the body, promote healing of injuries, open up the body from muscular restrictions, or to practice increased mind-body awareness, hot yoga provides many unique opportunities and challenges to any practitioner.

From the very beginning, Bikram targeted professional athletes and Hollywood stars whose bodies have been subjected to years of tension. Kareem Abdul Jabbar publicly stated that Hot Yoga healed his injuries, while Madonna hailed Hot Yoga before she began her Ashtanga Vinyasa practice. Since then, many other professional athletes and stars have added hot yoga to their regular training routines in order to increase strength, flexibility, stamina, balance, and focus. Hot yoga allows one to push body, mind, and spirit to the edge, enabling growth and a strong connection to one's inner-self with each practice.

Practicing in a heated room warms up the body from the inside out, allowing muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and all body systems to retain warmth and to function at a more optimal level. Heat enables increased flexibility and range of motion with a lower risk of injury, allowing one to reach maximum flexibility in a shorter amount of time.

The Ashtanga Vinyasa system creates heat through intense breath awareness, while Hot Yoga creates that heat through modern technology. Heat in the body activates cellular metabolism, enhancing weight loss. The heat stimulates circulation, making the heart stronger. It helps bring fresh new blood and oxygen to all body parts, flooding cells with nourishment, which is vital to their healthy functioning.

In the last decade, recognizing the benefits that lie from the Bikram system as well as the Vinyasa model, a new style of Yoga has evolved; a style that combines the benefits of both of these practices. This style is known as Bikyasa - a hot yoga flow experience, combining Ashtanga principles of breath-coordinated movement, which ishow heat is produced internally, with external heat and aspects of Bikram's 26 pose sequence.

Bikram Classes are easily found in any authorized Bikram studio, though today Bikram Hot Yoga is also taught in CorePower Yoga and other studios under the name Hot Yoga. CorePower uses a different dialogue and does not restrict the class to 90 minutes. CorePower, along with many other studios around the world such as Haute Yoga out of Southern CA, Absolute Yoga in Thailand, and Bodhi Yoga international to name a few, are studios out of many who offer Hot Flow yoga classes, which are a mix of Bikram and Vinyasa - Bikyasa Yoga.

While they might not be using this term, Bikyasa is a term coined by Gabriel Azoulay, international Yoga professional who has been developing teacher training programs for large yoga brands around the world, and who has been teaching both Bikram and Ashtanga for over a decade. Bikyasa Yoga is a practice that intelligently combines silence with music, and Bikram's healing power, which is scientifically proven, with Vinyasa breath principles, which are also scientifically proven to enhance and heal the body. Bikyasa Yoga classes are found in Sumit Yoga studios throughout AZ and the world and Intentional Yoga Studios throughout the Midwest and the East coast.

Besides numerous physical benefits, heat adds an element which can challenge both the mind and spirit. Finding and maintaining focus despite the challenging environment can make one stronger and more balanced, building willpower, determination, and concentration. The body works hard, but the mind works harder, and following a hot yoga class practitioners often experience a sense of complete relaxation and surrender.

Bikyasa is an amazing practice that can lead to personal transformation on many levels. With that said, heat is not for everyone, so individuals with any concerns should speak with their physician before beginning a practice.

Gabriel Azoulay was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel. At the age of seventeen, Gabriel moved to Durham, NC, and at the age of twenty, while attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a book by Tom Robbins sparked an interest in India's religious studies. His first book on yoga, checked out from the University library was Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, from there Gabriel embarked on a yogic journey that continues to this day.

Three Simple Yoga Techniques

Simple techniques found in yoga can help to ease fatigue -- as a practitioner of Yoga, I'm often ask questions that pertain to Yoga. I feel most of the questions could be effectively clarified through meditation rather than from another person, but there are a few areas not often addressed with mainstream yoga techniques that I am pleased to share my thoughts and ideas about. Yoga techniques that helps to alleviate fatigue is one of them.

However, before I go into the actual yoga techniques, let me ask you a question: What is Yoga? Without over analyzing it, where's the first place your mind went? Although I personally don't associate yoga with an institutionally organized form of spirituality, I do honor the Sanskrit meaning of the word yoga, which translates into "yoke" commonly believed to refer to "Union." To me, union can have many meanings - more than the physical fitness aspect commonly associated with the word yoga.

That in mind;here are Three Yoga Techniques to ease Fatigue: The yoga techniques I'm sharing here are for everyone, even those of you who've never practiced Yoga. My reason for sharing yoga techniques that alleviate fatigue is simple, it wasn't until this year, 2011 that I gained an entirely new appreciation for the concept of fatigue. At the start of the year, I had the feeling that I was in the best shape of my life. Working out 5-6 days per week for 90 minutes at a time, and going on walks that lasted 2-4 hours on just about a nightly basis helped me think so. I had never been feeling better until I decided to clean up some of the more destructive habits, which I will not elaborate on now, from my life.

That's when disaster hit. In a matter of two weeks I was practically unable to practice any yoga techniques of any kind for even 20 minutes without tired to the core style agony - and even a simple short walk around the block was completely draining. With such a drastic drop in activity, I started gaining weight and feeling even worse about the situation.

Fast forward to now;my, things have transformed quite radically! I'm able to practice the yoga techniques I loved close to the level I was before a personal energy crisis hit. Additionally, going on walks is something that lifts me up energetically - and I feel divinely human throughout the day. What I'm about to share are the three unconventional yoga techniques that have helped me the most going from bunk and bashful to awesome:

Keep in mind, Yoga = Union - and union can mean much more;Here's the Yoga Techniques:

#1) Eat Real Foods:

Just about all of us, if we have even a small bit of common sense, would agree that infecting (the DNA of) our foods with unpredictable viruses isn't good for us. That is part of the process of genetic modification of foods. Currently, Corn, Soy and Wheat are the most commonly genetically modified foods "on the market." If you read the ingredients on just about any the packaged foods you could buy, chances are, you'll find at least one of the ingredients listed. Also, when we consume fish, poultry, and meat, rarely do we wonder just what those animals have been fed.

That being said, I decided to do something many of us would consider a tad radical - even unrealistic. I pretty much eliminated fish, poultry, meat, corn, soy and wheat from my diet. Some would think of this as vegan, but I just think of it as a way of eating that carries with it a lot of freedom. As soon as I start name calling and labeling, I'm "locked in" and that becomes part of my identity. Even thought that last bit may be besides the point, so far, I've had great results. After the second week my energy more than doubled and weight that I had gained is quickly disappearing. The e-book I wrote about eating gives an easy to follow explanation, but the important thing, in my case, is that I feel better!

#2) Just Breath:

It's not like we're never heard this before and I know the statement can seem cliche. But think about stress for a moment; As kids, growing up in the states, most of us had times of feeling carefree. As we grew physically and age-wise, into adults, much of that freedom was replaced with responsibility - even the underlying expectation that we all have to live up to a set of standards that create the need to sacrifice our freedom. While the last pat of that statement may have been vague and done with the intention to cause you to think, that doesn't change the fact that many of us are stress cases to the extent of feeling worn out.

Another way I have though of stress is as constriction, or Subtle Tightness in or around the space our body occupies. If we are always walking around with tension, it's only a matter of time before something gives. Unfortunately for many of us, as I discovered, it's often our vital energy level. There are many reasons we become stressed or tight, and what I think of as "Intentional Breathing" provides an opportunity to simply focus on breath, going in and out of the body, as well as the sensations within.

It's simple yoga technique to practice. I suggest laying flat on your back, placing the tip of your tongue gently on the roof of your mouth and breathing first into your belly, then as that fills allowing the breath to expand the ribcage. When full, simply exhale through your nose and repeat. After a (very) short time, its common to feel a greater sense of ease, less stress and greater relaxation. It's simple.

#3) Sit in a way that aligns your spine:

Of all the simple yoga techniques you would do, a reduction in internal pressure could be one of the best and most effective ways to boost your energy levels quickly. The way you posture your body has a lot to do with the way you feel as well as the way your internal organs function. Unfortunately for most of us, our posture often constricts and reduces the space our internal organs have, in turn causing discomfort, stress, constriction - even pain. Alignment is simple practice that I learned from the American Yoga Foundation. In fact, it can go hand in hand with "Intentional Breathing" if you would like it to. Since learning Alignment in 2003, I have made may adjustments to my posturing and felt a lot better as a result. Since a recent bout with fatigue, this yoga technique, being aware of my sitting posture and applying Intentional Breathing to my sitting posture has made all the difference in the world when I am sitting for an extended time.

Practicing is simple while you are sitting, elongate the back of your neck, dropping your chin towards your collarbone, allow the ribcage to "lift" so that you can comfortably breath, by default, into your lower stomach and do the best you can to identify, with your mind areas in your body where you feel tense. As you feel these areas, simply focus on your breath and do what you can to find a greater sense of comfort. You may find that with every exhale you can become more comfortable. I'm not certain exactly how you'll choose to go about practicing, but whichever you choose, I wish great results to you.

Do Yoga When Pregnant Even During the First Trimester?

Yoga is an exercise that many individuals take part in for a variety of reasons. It can be helpful to relief stiffness, reduce stress, and some women continue or begin the exercise during pregnancy. Its relaxing benefits may prove helpful in relieving stress that can come from pregnancy as the body goes through changes that may make women uncomfortable. No matter their trimester, whether first, second or third, women have found success through this practice.

Restorative yoga is a common form of the exercise for women who are pregnant, as well as those who are still trying to conceive. It is a form of restful yoga that uses props such as blocks, pillows, blankets, chairs, walls, and others to put the body into certain poses. By using these props to hold the body in a specific position, little to no exertion is required. Note that restful is not the same as sleep, however, as the stretching and relaxation can benefit the body as women go through changes throughout their pregnancy.

If you're pregnant, make sure that you inform your instructor before your class. Some classes are designed specifically for women during pregnancy, but it is still a good idea to let the instructor know which trimester you're currently in. He or she may offer alternative stretches for you that suit your condition so you do not injure yourself or the baby.

For instance, women should be aware of their shifting center of gravity during their pregnancy. Poses that you may have done with ease in the past may become more difficult as you put on more weight and you begin to show more and more. If something doesn't feel right, stop immediately. It's not worth getting in that pose at the risk of falling or getting injured. Listen to your body and do not push yourself. It's best to avoid poses that require you to stand on one foot, or that otherwise require you to balance yourself.

You should also avoid poses that put you on your stomach. Also try to avoid any twists or jumps, and do not hold your breath or breathe more rapidly. Breathe normally or practice the breathing that you'll have to do while giving birth. Do not assume any pose that will put you upside down, and after your first trimester your doctor may encourage you to avoid poses that put you on your back. It's a good idea to consult your doctor before you begin any routine to get some general guidelines.

Quick and Easy Morning Yoga

In today's society, we are constantly bombarded with messages telling us to do more. We all struggle to balance a demanding work schedule with family duties, and time for relaxation and sleep go by the wayside. Unfortunately, this leads to constant stress in our lives, which can lead to physical side effects like difficulty sleeping, headaches, and muscle and joint pain.

It is important to recharge your batteries by taking even a few minutes each day to relax and take some time for yourself. One of the simplest ways to start is to take 5 minutes in the morning to stretch. Instead of rushing off to the shower the second your alarm goes off, try staying in bed, lying on your back for a few seconds. Close your eyes and visualize your body, then slowly work down your body, tensing your muscles and then consciously relaxing. Start by tensing your forehead and relaxing, and go all the way down to your toes.

Once you have done this, bring one knee in towards your chest, to begin to open your hip muscles and stretch your lower back. Hold each knee in to your chest for 20 seconds. Then begin stretching along the side of your body by bringing one leg over to the other side of your body, twisting at the waist while you keep both shoulder blades of the bed. Once you have done this on both sides, you are ready for some quick and easy morning yoga.

If you have never done yoga before, yoga may conjure up images of contortionist positions, which are intimidating. On the contrary, you can incorporate some morning yoga stretches into your routine that are gentle but invigorating, and will energize you to start your day.

Stand tall on a yoga mat or carpeted floor. Inhale and raise your arms over your head, and exhale as you bring them down in front of your chest. Repeat this as many times as you like to calm your breath. Bend forward and relax to stretch your hamstrings and allow blood to flow to your head. For a final pose, relax in a downward dog position for as long as is comfortable to stretch your legs.

By taking just a few minutes each morning, you will allow yourself to mentally prepare for the day ahead. You will warm up and stretch your muscles to prevent stiffness throughout the day. Most importantly, you will begin to develop a sense of inner calm that will allow you face the challenges that come up day to day.

Simple Morning Yoga

You've decided to start yoga because you are fully convinced that this is the best stress buster. Remember how you would feel good to stretch the muscles and limbs? It felt so good, right? This was due to the active stance that activated the endorphins in your body and then flooded the system. This made you feel good!

When you started to do the basics of yoga, you had no problems trying to do all the yoga postures, and were are so drawn to them daily. But as the days passed by, you've noticed that you do not have enough time to do your daily yoga program anymore. Your schedule became so hectic that you have to jump out of bed in the morning to get the children to school or to meet clients for the sale you want to close. Thus, after a long stressful condition, the body began manifesting less enthusiasm. You started feeling sorry because you cannot do your yoga and the feeling of self-neglect moved in.

But you should not feel that way. Take a break and think of what the reasons may be. When you feel uptight, the muscles start to pull you down. Yes, we recognize that in this fast paced world, we keep on the fast track lane. So now let's find some ways on how to have yoga exercises every day.

Menu No. 1

To experience that sense of goodness which yoga can bring, one must focus on stretching the spine. Sun Salutation is a good posture to begin with. This particular series of postures are light and simple that will not take you more than five or ten minutes. Do many repetitions as you can. Do it fast if you want to make it aerobic type, or very slow, like tai-chi movements. Synchronize each movement with your breath. Then sit on a comfortable chair or a yoga mat; lie down there for a few minutes to relax.

Menu No. 2

There will be times when you don't feel like getting out of bed. That is still acceptable. Make sure that you have a firm bed and do the following: Remember to breathe normally through your nose, and if you experience a sharp pain, change right away.

A) Lie on back with both arms at your side, move one leg to the other side and grab the big toe with your other hand. Feel that good stretch on your back and hamstrings. Bend your knees if needed. Hold for about 18 to 30 counts. Now, do it on the other side.

B) Still on your back, bend your knees and hold your ankles. Now raise your buttocks. Hold for 18-30 counts.

C) Now turn on your stomach, hands by the sides of the chest. Push yourself up and press the hips on the bed. Hold 18-30 counts.

D) At this point, you now have the energy to sit on the bed. Open both legs wide to bend on one leg. Hold again for 18-30 counts. Then do it on the other side.

E) Now, while seated, you can do the spinal twist; 18-30 counts on each side.

F) Then do your stretching on one leg on the side while you keep that other leg bent and heel near your groin. Execute this on an exhale; start bending from your hips and hold for 30 counts. Do this on the other side.

G) If you still have time, make one or two rounds of Sun Salutation.

H) Now lie on your back for 2-3 minutes. Consciously relax each part of your body.