Tag: asana
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Yoga – gymnastics or philosophy? Why did the West fall in love with yoga and asanas? (102)
Previous ★★★ Index ★★★ Next If, in a street poll, we ask passersby whether they know what yoga is, the majority will confirm. Some will say it is a form of gymnastics, like stretching and Pilates; others will associate yoga with Hinduism and Buddhism, and still others will describe it as personal development. The latter…
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Master’s Notes on Spiritual Practice (98)
Previous ★★★ Index ★★★ Next The most basic issue for prayers, meditation and all exercises is to assume and settle into the correct body position, often down to the smallest detail. A slightly curved back or head tilted too far back, facial tension, a slump in the torso (slouching) at the diaphragm, and poorly positioned…
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Hatha Yoga – Principles and Foundations of the Practice of Natha Sampradaya (75)
Previous ★★★ Index ★★★ Next WHAT IS HATHA YOGA IN REALITY? Millions of people around the world cultivate the practice of Hatha Yoga, but very few are those who actually cultivate the authentic, original training of the Nātha (Guardians) school, as the Adepts of this excellent Yoga are called. The ancient Path of Hatha Yoga…
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Some Aspects of the History and Doctrines of the Nathas
by Gopinath Kaviraj Introduction A detailed and systematic history of Indian Culture remains yet to be written. But, there is hardly any doubt that before it can be successfully undertaken continued spade-work is necessary in various fields of study. The cultural history of a people is no less complex than its political one, and, it…
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Authentic Yoga Tradition and Masters
THE SCHOOLS OF YOGA WITHIN THE AUTHENTIC YOGA TRADITION Yoga is the most misunderstood word in the western world today, needs clear, indepth understanding of philosophy and practices that can be easily applied for human excellence. Authentic Yoga in Himalayan Tradition is a combination of different practices taken from Authentic Yoga Traditions and schools, designed…
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Rāja Yoga – The Royal Yoga
Rāja Yoga – The Ancient Royal Yoga of Rishis Rāja yoga – “royal yoga”, “royal union”, also known as classical yoga and aṣṭānga yoga) is concerned principally with the cultivation of the viewer’s (ṛṣih) mind using a succession of steps, such as meditation (dhyāna, dhyana) and contemplation (samādhi, samadhi). Its object is to further one’s…
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What is Mudra? (49)
Previous ★★★ Index ★★★ Next Mudra is simply a posture or gesture in the sense of the arrangement of the whole body. Sublimated to perfection down to the smallest detail, āsana is MUDRA. This technique belongs to the group of exercises called sthula kriya and is the basic basis of Laya Yoga practices in its…
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Nathsampradaya Hatha Yoga (46)
Previous ★★★ Index ★★★ Next “Praise be to the Supreme Lord, Adi Guru Śiva, who has expounded the Wisdom of Willpower,known as Hathavidyam, to his consort Parvatigiving her the means of realizing the Ecstasy of Lightbody, Samadhi Mahabhoda!Glory to Adiśvara, the Supreme Perfectionfor expounding the teachings of the true way of Hatha Yoga.” This is…
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Laya Yoga – Verses of Ancient Teachings (45)
Previous ★★★ Index ★★★ Next We will try to reflect on the teachings of Laya Yoga contained in ancient treatises on yoga. “Hatha Yoga Pradipika” written by Rishi Swatmarama contains some essential verses about the state of Laya and the practice of Laya. Of course, these are only auxiliary issues on the path of Hatha…
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Yoga – an ancient spiritual path toward enlightment and liberation
Introdution to Yoga There are a lot of different types of yoga today, but only 12 lineage of yoga are true, so if you are starting out and feeling confused, you are normal. It is best to start with a type of yoga that is appropriate for your own level of fitness, physical and spiritual…
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Mantra Yoga – The Power of Vibrations (17)
Previous ★★★ Index ★★★ Next The ancient treatise “Yogatattva Upanishad” identifies four fundamental groups of yoga systems, which are useful in the Dark Age or Kali Yuga in which humanity currently is. The pattern of these four systems is so universal that all authentic spiritual schools will have to be constructed in a similar way,…
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Dikshan. How One Starts Practising Yoga (4)
Previous ★★★ Index ★★★ Next If you carefully study the whole textbook of Patanjali, entitled “Yogasutra”, you will notice that the classical collection of teachings on pursuing the path is divided into four parts or series of teachings. It turns out that all traditions and spiritual schools, starting with Egypt and ending with India, divided…