Tuesday, July 22, 2008
What Is Iyengar Yoga?
...ind and body.
Spiritually, Iyengar meditation is based upon Patanjali's eight limbs of raja yoga. The first is Yama, meaning physically and mentally abstaining from the following five things: violence toward others and oneself, from coveting others' belongings, from sexual intercourse, from attachment to possessions and anything that is untrue.
The second limb is called Niyama, referring to the five observances: cleanliness of body and mind, satisfaction with what one has, penance and mental control, introspection and surrender to god. asana refers to posture and position (ideally an erect stance with relaxed muscles) and Pranayama is the directed control of one's breath, which is so vital to successful yoga practice.
Pratayahara calls for the quieting of senses connected with the outer world. Only then will Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (oneness with the Supreme Being) naturally follow.
In practice, Iyengar yoga is characterized by the use of belts, straps, sandbags, benches and blocks to aid in performing 200...more
Yoga and Pregnancy - Why Do Yoga At This Time?
...Yoga is for everyone, any age, men, women and children but is especially helpful at times of change in our lives. Pregnancy is a time when extra care should be taken not only in exercise classes but in all activities and living. Yoga will help maintain a healthy and strong body during all stages of pregnancy and help women to deliver their babies in a confident way.
Pregnancy is a natural time for taking care of yourself. For a first time mother a yoga class will offer a chance to be comfortable in the changes taking place both physically...more
Yoga Instructor Training - Yoga, Pranayama, and Cancer Recovery
...enemy to effective healing.
As with many ailments, yoga students, recovering from cancer, often suffer from decreased range of movement. Along with increasing muscle strength, yoga postures improve range of movement and flexibility. Posture is also improved, allowing proper body alignment and balance. With freer movement and mobility, cancer survivors will begin to grow lighter in spirit and feel more independent.
Yoga for cancer recovery should focus on providing the most benefit possible. This means patients should not push...more
Yoga schools
...niyoga; Dhyan; raja-yoga; Bhakti-yoga; and Mantra-yoga.
Yoga schools offer drop-in courses, as well as set course plans that range from ten classes to unlimited classes.
Generally, before enrolling in yoga school classes, individuals should research the major differences between specific styles of yoga and which educational programs are best suited to meet individual physical abil...more
