What Makes Ashtanga Yoga Different?

Ashtanga Yoga is the type of yoga which was created and established by a master named K. Pattabhi Jois. Due to it's theory containing eight different limbs, or components, it is also known as "Eight-Limb Yoga". It doesn't imply that the practitioner has a double set of limbs, but master Pattabhi Jois showed that the optimum path of purification is made up of the eight spiritual practices.

The basic idea is that these limbs only can be kept in balance by the appropriate application of the Ashtanga Yoga method.

The first four limbs that symbolize Ashtanga Yoga, and are considered externally correctable are (original names within double quotes):

- Moral codes or "yama"
- Self-purification or "niyama"
- Posture or "asana"
- Breath control or "pranayama"

Then there is the other set of limbs which are the internal practices:

- Sense control or "pratyahara"
- Meditation or "dhyana"
- Concentration or "dharana"
- Contemplation or "samadhi"

K. Pattabhi Jois declared that practicing these Eight Limbs as well as its sub-limbs of the external practices which contain the niyama and yama is impossible. In doing so, the body should be strong so that it can technically perform the methods well enough. If the body is weak, and the sense organs are not functioning well, practicing will never be productive at all.

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Yoga Helps A Great Deal In Lowering Cholesterol

Are you worried for having some extra cholesterol in your blood? Well, many people are fighting hard battle against the increased cholesterol levels. For, they are much vulnerable to heart diseases much like the heart patients. But I have got a very easy and natural remedy to control your high cholesterol.

Some time back, I had a cholesterol level above the normal range and I used this alternative technique to reduce my extra cholesterols. Well, the technique being discussed here is none other the age old technique of keeping fit. That is YOGA.

Yes, Yoga helped me a great deal in reducing my high cholesterol levels. Now I am perfectly fit and rocking. So, if you have also found high cholesterol in your blood don't get stressed as stress will only harm you further. The tensed brain and heart needs more blood so the heartbeat and blood circulation will
increase and will create more problems to your arteries.

Yoga has solved the problem of cholesterol for many people. It has been acclaimed by all for its simple nature and mode of exercises, which any one can do quite easily.

Yoga is a kind of exercise based on the unification of body, mind and spirit. There are meditations associated with it. There are different kinds of exercises under the yoga program that are used for various problems in your body. Some of them are to keep your mind and body in sound health.

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Some Simple Tantric Yoga Exercises to Improve the General Health and Sexual Abilities

Here are some exercises for men and women for the pelvic region and for the breathing apparatus - two body zones of great importance for the general health, but that are generally disregarded in standard training regimes.

A healthy pelvic area is of great importance for the general well-being. The same is true about a healthy respiratory tract and breathing apparatus.

Here are presented three poses and three breathing exercises that have the following effects when done together in a series:

-They stimulate the physiological functions of the genital and anal area.

-They correct muscle weakness and anatomical problems of the anal and genital region.

-They increase the sexual drive and abilities.

-They produce a stimulating response that spreads upwards along the spine and revitalizes the whole body.

-They stimulate the physiological functions of the respiratory tract and help against infections in the airways.

-The exercises are very good to start each day with, or to do before going to bed in the night.

POSE 1

Stand on your hands and knees upon the floor.

Kneel backward so that your buttocks go backward and down towards your feet and stretch your arms foreword.

Breathe out and then take a deep breathe in, filling your lungs totally with air. Hold your breath with the air inside.

Squeeze your anal muscles and pull your anal opening as deeply inward as you can. However do not strain when squeezing. This exercise shall not be exhausting. Relax your anal muscles completely again.

Repeat the squeezing and relaxing 3-5 times, but not so long that you go out of oxygen in your body.

Empty your lungs. Rise up on your hands and knees again. Relax a while in this position and then you can repeat the exercise if you wish.

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Yoga Postures and Yoga Asanas

Many yoga styles have been derived from classical yoga, and are designed to suit various preferences. Most of the different yoga positions practiced fall into one of two categories: meditative or therapeutic. There are literally hundreds of yoga basic positions or yoga asanas. All of the yoga positions are designed to provide benefits for both the mind and the body.

Each of the five prayer positions have a corresponding yoga position, and the positions together activate all seven chakras or energy fields in the body. The different yoga types and positions focus on different chakras or energy forces. The numerous positions that are part of yoga were originally designed to prepare the body for meditation.

Asanas, the actual poses or positions of yoga, may seem difficult or complicated to the novice. However keep in mind that all the basic positions of yoga are designed to help develop both strength and flexibility. Many yoga positions involve deep stretching and, as such, could help the repetitive trauma disorders tendonitis, tennis elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

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Jnana Yoga – Yoga For The Intelligent

Jnana means the knowledge. This yoga is the yoga for the intelligent and selected people. This yoga is the ultimate goal of all the other varieties of yoga. This yoga teaches you to look at the world as it is without any ignorance and bias. You can achieve this state by practicing rigorous mental discipline and virtue. This yoga is also called Raja Yoga or the king of all the yogas, since it is of the highest variety and rules over all the other varieties. This is the Yoga that Patanjali has described in his Yoga Sutras.

This yoga is made up of eight parts of which five are external and the other three are internal. Two of its parts, viz yama and niyama deal with types of behaviour that the student of yoga should avoid like lying, cheating, stealing etc. and those behaviours that he should cultivate like cleanliness, non-collection etc. Asanas and Pranayama are the next two parts of this yoga.

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Compared to most of the sports and other physical activity that you can think of, Yoga requires very little by way of accessories. However, you may need to pay attention to the little that is needed because of some peculiarities of Yoga. The accessories that you may need for Yoga include your apparel, mats, props, bags, training material like DVDs, and books.

Apparel

Yoga exercises require you to stretch and bend and assume postures that reverse your normal ones. This means that you need to take care of the clothes you wear during these exercises so that they do not come in your way or distract you, but help you concentrate on the exercise instead. If you are practicing at home, you might be tempted to wear any old dress. Whether you’re practicing at home or outside, there are certain basic rules that you need to keep in mind. Your clothing should be comfortable, while at the same time being neither too loose nor too tight. If you wear loose clothing, it might fall over your face, for example when you do exercises that involve standing on your shoulders or head. Tight clothes are going to prevent you from having enough flexibility that is required to do your exercises properly. The clothing should be such that you are not worried about unintentional exposure. The clothing should be such that it does not distract you from your exercises and meditation. You should be able to find appropriate clothing in a sports apparel shop or in online stores.

Mats

Yoga exercises are performed on the floor usually with bare feet. The postures may lead to loss of balance especially in the beginning stages and may result in a fall. You need something that will avoid direct contact of your body with the bare floor that will also protect you in case you lose balance and fall. Yoga exercises can make you sweat a lot, in turn introducing a tendency to slip easily. Mats can help you here and minimize the potential to slip and also protect you in case you do. A yoga mat is designed with precisely these requirements in mind, and is an invaluable accessory for serious practitioners of yoga. Yoga mats can be purchased online.

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Using Yoga For Weight Loss

Yoga can be put to good use for taking off excess pounds through the power of creating a state of mental and physical well being. The basic tenets of Yoga promotes a healthy lifestyle and when combined with a calorie reduction can help to speed up your weight loss. It will increase your metabolism by increasing the caloric burning process. All weight loss is based on using more calories than you take in. It will also allow you to increase your ability to concentrate and focus.

Your thyroid regulates your metabolism and is responsible for the chemical processes that transform food into energy. Yoga uses a series of twisting poses that will help to stimulate the work flow of the internal organs. This will cause your metabolism to increase and burn more calories which will eventually cause you to have a lower body weight. Another side effect is that it will help to improve your circulation and increase your energy level.

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