Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility. Yoga is good for everybody.
Patanjali, ancient indian saint described “Astanga Yoga” which consists of eight following limbs -
- Yama (The five "abstentions"): non-violence, non-lying, non-covetousness, non-sensuality, and non-possessiveness.
- Niyama (The five "observances"): purity, contentment, austerity, study, and surrender to god.
- Asana: Literally means "seat", in particular postures.
- Pranayama ("Suspending Breath"): Prāna, breath, "āyāma", to restrain or stop.
- Pratyahara ("Abstraction"): Withdrawal of the sense organs from external objects.
- Dharana ("Concentration"): Fixing the attention on a single object.
- Dhyana ("Meditation"): Intense contemplation of the nature of the object of meditation.
- Samādhi ("Liberation"): merging consciousness with the object of meditation.
In ancient days, students will be taught to practice good behavior (Yama; Sadachar).
Next, in yoga, we need to fill our body with air, so it’s necessary to clear our body from all bodily excretory waste products (Niyama). We practice cleaning nose, ear, stomach etc through several means and also practice Nadi-shodhana so that our body could be filled with more air.
After this, the students are advised to practice “Asana”. After the body gains flexibility and is apt with most of the asanas, students are advised to do pranayams (Asanas with breathing control) and slowly higher forms of yoga.
In todays world, we donot have much time to devote and it is virtually not possible to follow all the Yama and niyama in day to day life. In regular yoga classes people are directly taken to 3rd step that is to do “Asanas”.
Preparations before doing yoga.
It is better to do yoga in the morning time. If it is not possible then choose your suitable time like in the evenings etc. Ensure that the stomach is empty. Donot do asanas after taking food. Go to toilet and clean colons, clean nose and wash face. That is why its better to do yoga in the morning after getting up and before taking your breakfast. After doing yoga, go to toilet to remove any waste coming out of body but donot bath immediately, take after 30 mins. Take some food after doing yoga, since you might feel hungry after doing these exercises.
Which yoga to do?
Based on ur need and body flexibility, u can choose right asanas for your body. There is no need to do all asanas in a day. U may do 3-4 asanas in a day and may do them alternatively. If you need to cure some problem, do the corresponding asanas for a more time and do other asanas for a less time.
 |
| Paschimottanasana |
Paschimottanasana
Keep a carpet or blanket on the floor (See above picture). Sit on it keeping ur legs fully relaxed in front, keeping two legs side by side touching each other. Slowly, side wise raise two hands fully expanded above your head. Slowly bend (lean) forward bending and try to touch your feet. Initially you will not be able to easily touch ur feet but slowly with daily practice, body gains flexibility. Stay in the posture for 1 minute and with a gap rest of 1 minute repeat 3-5 times. In case of therapeautics, you can stay for more time, with simple breathing. Come back to normal position after yoga and get on with the fast life as usual. Can be practiced by either gender, children or aged.
Benefits - Its good for digestion, constipation and helps decreasing the increasing belly (abdominal fat). Therapeutic for high blood pressure.
For further reading please follow this LINK
Acknoledgements: Wikipedia
