...There is no such thing as one kind of yoga. On the contrary, yoga encompasses spiritual techniques and putting these into practice to achieve a "state of enlightenment".

Usually, the kind of yoga practiced in the US is Hatha yoga. Ha translates to sun and tha translates to moon. The goal of Hatha yoga is to attain unity of the mind, body and spirit through practicing asana (yoga postures), pranayama (yoga breathing), mudra (body gestures) and shatkarma (internal cleansings). Modern Hatha yoga focuses mostly on the yoga postures and does not emphasize many of the other facets.

Yoga's history can be traced to the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in northern India over 5,000 years ago. Probably the most famous writing on yoga is the Bhagavad-Gt, which was written around 500 BCE. Unfortunately, most of the history and philosophy of yoga was transmitted orally and if it was written down, it was written on palm leaves that were easily damaged or destroyed. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, yoga begins to make its way to the West. Slowly the yoga masters began to attract attention and taught tho...more

Beginning Yoga, Finding A Yoga Mat

...aces where you can custom design and create your own mat, exactly to suit you. With this choice you will be paying a higher price but normally with that, comes a better quality so it is not necessarily bad.

Wherever you decide to buy your yoga mat, make sure you do your homework and take your time in making your decision. So that your choice can result in getting the best quality and value for your money so that you can find a mat that you will be able to use for the durations of your yoga practices.

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The Purpose of Yoga - Spiritual Health

... which usually focuses on physical, mental, and emotional health.

Hatha Yoga classes in the west, contain Christians, Jews, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, and others, practicing Yoga in harmony. Intolerance is put aside, and Yoga practitioners appreciate each other as equals. This is the way it should be.

The path of intolerance is full of ignorance. Intolerance breeds hate and polarization. Who cares what religion your neighbor is? Especially, if he or she is responsible and has a moral code of conduct. While religious leaders are arguing over interpretations, the power within our governments is being undermined by those who would have our children believe in nothing.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications<...more

Yoga - Harmony Of Body

...r that reason that the movements must smooth and be controlled. The position will be due to maintain during the indicated time until the passage to the following one is indicated. With them we will work, the flexibility, the strength of the body, the balance and the mental concentration.

Bands and mudras: they are made when the student already has begun and has certain knowledge of the asanas. A little are exercises more complexes than they work on the nervous and endocrine system. Kriyas: directed to clean our body internally and to improve the balance of its vital functions. prolongation: its practice consists of following three phases of breathing (inspiration, retention and aspiration) sequential during the asana. In this part one works the balance and the concentration of the mind.

To practice this discipline implies enters a conception different from the body and the mind. The first sessions the mind enters tension to look for the indicated positions but little by little, the mind relaxes and the mo...more

Intensive Teacher Training Yoga