When we look at an individual we see his physical gross body. Besides this, there is that living subtle reality which manifests itself through this gross body. Now to all intents and purposes this subtle existence and its expression through gross body is what we call as mind. Remember that the true expression of real Self is never without the intervention of intelligence and mind. In yogic understanding the mind is an amalgam of five Vikaar (intrinsic defects). These are sexual compulsions (lust and addictions) anger, greed, attachments and ego. Refer to Destress With Yoga. The most well known metaphor to explain individual personality in vedic thought is that of a moving chariot. The gross body is the chariot, the senses, both karam indriyas and gyan indriyas are the horses. The intelligence (buddhi), the faculty of reasoning are the reins, the mind is the driver and the Self is the rider. A whole lot of commentators opine that the poor chariot is the battle ground of these four independent conscious entities, these being the senses, the intelligence, the mind and the Self. Just for understanding it is enough to know that what ever is visible, is gross body, but there is a whole lot of invisible subtle consciousness which is part and parcel of an individual personality. Remember that the gross body and the subtle body stay together only as long as breathing is going on. It is actually the prana which keeps them together. The day we stop breathing …

The value of Yoga asanas is greatly enhanced when a practitioner, while practicing asanas, concentrates his mind on spiritual nerve-centers called Chakras. These are places on the spine and head where the distribution center of Prana is supposed to exist. It is so because: 1)   Our mind withdraws itself from all objects and thoughts of the world and starts concentrating on inner consciousness or what is called Param Shakti. This practice will prevent the mind from flying into worldly thoughts and objects and stabilize itself on one point of concentration. Lord Krishna in his sermon on the control of the mind to Arjuna in Holy Gita recommends two essentials for the concentration of the mind. These are constant practice and renunciation (detachment). 2)   These are vital energy centers in the Linga Sharir (Astral body). These have corresponding centers on the spinal cord and the nerve- plexuses in the gross-body. Each chakra has control and function over a particular center in the gross-body. When we perform asana and stimulate a particular part of the body, that part is infused with Prana-Shakti while concentrating our mind on these chakras. As a result that organ receives the full flow of blood and an increased functional capability. Along with other organs and communicative nadis it becomes far more active and more useful in its effectiveness in that particular part of the body where it is located. By concentrating our mind on these chakras both the gross and subtle bodies are stabilized, which is the …

There are six darshans, or schools, of Hindu Philosophy, each independent of the other, but each accepting the Vedas as the scriptural authority. Nyaya of Sage Gautama: deals with a Hindu system of logic. Vaisheshika of Sage Kannada:  deals with the atomic theory and structural universe. Sankhya of Sage Kapila: deals with the relationship between Nature and Spirit as the cause of the world. Yoga of Sage Patanjali: deals with gaining mastery over oneself through the transformation of ones inner equipment. Mimamsa of Sage Jaimini : deals with the procedure and practice of rituals : a treatise on Karam Kand : also know an Purva Mimamsa. Vedanta of Sage Krishna Dvaipayana Badarayana Vyasa (Sage Ved Vyasa): deals with the philosophical and theological views in the Upnishadas: also know as Uttara Mimamsa. The oldest question that has baffled human imagination is whether the ultimate reality is Matter or Consciousness. Different systems of philosophy all over the world have tried to answer this question. Obviously, some say Matter is the ultimate source of Creation, some say all emerges out of Consciousness, and some declare that Matter or Consciousness both are two different features of ultimate reality and together they mix and mingle to create the world with infinite variety of objects and forms of life. So the ultimate reality has been conceived in three different ways by all thinkers, at all places, in all times, under all climes. Six schools of Indian Philosophy create the impression as if there are not three …

Laughter is a natural activity, an activity that reduces to absurdity the dreadful circumstances of life in no time. Laughter exercises a miraculous effect on all the systems of our body namely, digestive, respiratory and circulatory. It also impacts the glandular secretions. This miraculous advantage is available only through laughter and Pranayama. Laughter is indeed a boon granted only to human beings and that too the fortunate ones. True wealth is happiness, zeal and pranic energy. If we harness these properly in our life we can indeed reap its rich benefits. We must realize that happiness is the perennial source of Ananda (Bliss) which flows automatically and naturally within us. Happiness emanates from continuous laughter and is attained by practice. Practice of daily laughter reveals that physical laughter is slowly and gradually being converted into inner happiness. Happiness is a inner state and relates to mind. When we stay long in this blissful state of mind, we are able to partake of that ever lasting and never-dying experience of spiritual bliss in which all the worldly impediments cease to exist. When we are happy, our happiness oozes out in laughter. That is when we are at our physical best. No one cares for us when we cease to laugh. A laughing and happy businessman who sells his articles to his customers with a smile on his face will attract more and more of them towards himself. Similarly an employee who carries out his duties with a smile on his face …

Shavasana(Corpse position) is one of the basic asanas which is usually performed at the end of the yogic kriyas(processes). It relieves tension and gives complete rest to the whole body. Here, it is important to follow a few instructions because a conscious effort is being made to give complete rest to the body. There are many rest taking postures like rest in padamasana, rest in vajrasana and rest in shithilasana etc.But taking rest in shavasana is the most significant of them all as in this position our entire body, prana , mind and sense organs are revitalized and  energized. It establishes a wonderful harmony between the external and the internal organs. It brings about a co-ordination between the three bodies (Refer to Yoga And Three Bodies). Persons who do not know how to take rest look shattered and fatigued all the time. They lack the requisite strength to perform the usual chores. Proper practice of shavasana will correct this debility to lead life with passion and enthusiasm. The bones in a dead body go rigid, whereas in shavasana the body, along with bones are restored to their original malleability and natural strength. It harmonizes external and internal selves. Flesh, nerves, blood vessels and bones are relaxed. MEANING: It removes fatigue of the body and pacifies the wandering mind. This is the best way to take complete rest. Energy from the non fatigued organs is redistributed to the fatigued ones. All the organs of the body, both external and internal are …

A yogi enjoys a special kind of sleep, known as chetan nidra(conscious sleep). Normal sleep contains two things. Rest and unconsciousness. In yoga nidra one enjoys complete rest but one has full consciousness. This is the most simplistic definition of yoga nidra and this is its special feature. Yoga understands sleep as a vriti(tendency) of the chitt (knowledge-awareness) both conscious and unconscious. To all intents and purposes an individual is a body-mind-intellect equipment. Our entire functional reality gets expressed by this equipment. Chitt is a little beyond this equipment and it is harder to penetrate even through yogic processes. Yoga nidra has this ability to penetrate into our deeper core and impact our chitt. That is why yoga nidra is almost akin to meditation as a cure. It has the divine ability to correct even the faults which we have inherited besides the faults which are self acquired. Yoga nidra refers to the conscious awareness of the deep sleep state referred to as ‘prajna’ in Mandukya Upanishad. “When mind has transcended maya(delusions), when ego has become static, when senses are no more functioning, and when all communication between mind and the senses has been cut, when I and you no longer exist for a period of time, yoga nidra starts”. It is a state of mind between wakefulness and dreams which opens deep phases of the mind. It theoretically includes eight stages. Internalization, sankalp(determination), rotation of consciousness, breath awareness, manifestation of opposites, creative visualization , sankalp( determination) and externalization. The …

Kon means angle in Sanskrit. In this position an angle is formed between the ground and the body which is straightened and lifted on hands and feet. Konasana is a counter position of Paschimottanasan. In Paschimottanasan we bend our body forwards and in konasana we bend it backwards. The impact of Paschimottanasan is felt on the abdomen but that of konasna is on our spine. The entire body gets impacted when we undertake these two asana in tandem one after another. Features of KonAsana: In Paschimottanasan all the parts of abdominal region are contracted and in konasna they are expanded. Full benefits accrue when both asana are performed. Hence its importance. Being counter pose of Paschimottanasan it completes and clinches the advantages arising therefrom. When we place our feet and toes on the ground, our calves are influenced and toned up. As a result many disorders that one is liable to suffer from are cured. Much of the sticky waste matter that accumulates around the naval region melts and that results in proper functioning of the excretory system. Konasana strengthens our shoulders and wrists. This asana is extremely beneficial for those who suffer from cervical spondylitis and dislocation of the disc. Technique of KonAsana: See free video by author explaining Konasana. Sit on the mat joining your heels and toes and your legs stretched forwards. Place your palms behind you in such a manner that the fingers are pointing backwards. Keep the distance as much as your shoulders between the …

God has created you for joy to wallow in joy. And if God runs our lives, then why is there tension and stress in a man’s life? What is exactly this specie? This is not a new crop of inquiry. Our sublimest source ” The Holy Geeta” addressed this query 5000 years back when the great warrior Arjuna went through stress and tension. The answer came from the lips of Lord Krishna. Stress is caused by the family of words beginning with alphabet ‘W’. Like why, what, where, when, how. This means, whatever is happening to me, till when will it last? How will it affect me? And how will it end? The reason for this is that when you meet frustrations in not being able to get what you want, not do what you want to do, can neither do any thing nor achieve any thing, this causes tension. In the eight limbs yogic language, ashatang yog this can be understood as…. …the first two legs of ashatang yoga are yams and niyams. Refer to Yoga demystified.  The scripture says that man and the creation, entire Nature, is materialized by the amalgam of five elements, earth, water, fire, space and air. Mind is made up of five congenital vikaars {defects or faults} these are sexual compulsions, anger, greed, attachments and ego. These five have a very deep rooted connection with stress and tension. Sexual compulsions are an amalgam of desires, hopes, wants, expectations and indifference. If we call all …

The real name of rabbit position is shashankasana. Shashi means Moon in Sanskrit. Ank means smear. So shashankasana means the asana in which you maintain the position of the shadow on the moon. This shadow resembles the shape of hare or rabbit. That is why most people call it rabbit position or hare position. Rabbit position is the counter position of the camel position. In camel position the spine is bent backwards. Counter to this, in rabbit position, the spine is bent forward. We achieve the desired impact on the spine by performing these two asanas one after another. In tandem they give complete relief to the spine and the spine is toned up completely. This gives relief to the complete body. Benefits of Rabbit Position: The spine gets pleasurable relief when it is brought parallel to the earth. This provides rest to the spine. Liver, spleen and stomach are impacted and hence they are activated. While maintaining this position the diaphragm below the lungs is loosened. The capacity to breathe up to the abdomen increases. The diaphragm is stretched and this helps to increase the depth of your breath. Feel the throbbing in your naval. This is highly beneficial for asthmatic patients. This position alleviates all type of anger and emotional instability. It has the capacity to cure even depressions. Technique of Rabbit Position: Free video by author explaining rabbit position. Sit down in vajrasana. Keep the waist and neck erect. Inhale slowly and deeply and while inhaling raise …

Camel position is also called usthra asana in yogic language. Usthra means a camel in Sanskrit. In the final position of this asana, the body is curved like a camel. Hence its name, usthra asana (camel position). During the normal functioning of an individual, all through the day, whatever his profession, we usually bend forward. As a result of this the spine is disturbed only in a particular forward bending position. Usthra asana rectifies the possibilities of defects caused by this natural tendency to bend forward. This asana is practiced while sitting in vajrasana. Benefits of camel position: 1)   The three parts of the spine namely, the cervical (neck part), dorsal (middle part of the spine), lumber (part of the spine below the waist) become flexible. All the minor displacements of the vertebrae such as deformity, slip disk and spondylitis are removed. 2)    The internal parts of thighs, abdomen and chest are stretched and strengthened. It also melts the excess fats on hips and abdomen. 3)   When we bend our trunk, waist and lungs, while inhaling they receive an oblong pressure and they become flexible. This increases the capacity of an individual to hold breath. 4)   Camel position is extremely beneficial during the growth and body development period. Yoga should not be practiced by children below 12years. This period is from 12 to 24years when our body is fully developed. This asana is extremely beneficial to increase height. 5)   It cures all the irregularities and inconveniences of the menstrual cycle …