YogaTips

Yoga is a vast collection of spiritual techniques andpractices all aimed at integrating mind, body and spirit andachieving a state of enlightenment or oneness with theuniverse. What is normally thought of as "yoga" in the Westis really Hatha Yoga, one of the many paths of yoga. Thesedifferent paths of yoga are simply different approaches and techniquesthat all lead to the same goal of unification and enlightenment.

Yoga is not a religion but a spiritual practice or Sadhana,which does not require any specific belief system to participate.The philosophies of yoga are universal and can be incorporated withinany belief system.

Last Updated - 19th September 2005

History Of Yoga

Yoga's history has many places of obscurity and uncertainty due toits oral transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature ofits teachings. The early writings on yoga were transcribed on fragilepalm leaves that were easily damaged, destroyed or lost. The developmentof yoga can be traced back to over 5,000 years ago.

Types Of Yoga

The science of yoga has developed a vast amount of techniqueswhich all lead to the same point of unification of the mind-body-spirit.
Karma Yoga: the way of right action, serving without themotivation of obtaining the results of labor.
Bhakti Yoga: the way of devotion, devotion to a supremebeing absorbing the emotions and self in pure love.
Jnana Yoga: the way of knowledge, studying god and learningto discriminate between illusion and the reality that all is god.
Hatha Yoga: the physical path, using the body through asanaand pranayama to control the mind and senses.
Tantric Yoga: the feminine path, worshiping the goddessenergy and seeing the body as the temple of the divine.
Kundalini Yoga: the path of energy, arousing the energystored in the chakras through breathing and movement.
Raja Yoga: the path of meditation, controlling the mindfrom wandering and obtaining mastery over thought.

Yoga Tips

The time most suitable for Yoga is in the morning beforebreakfast when the mind is calm and fresh and the movements canbe done with ease and vitality.
The most important things you'll need to get started - as theysay - are a big heart and a small ego.
A person must seek a place of quietude, which is well ventilated,free from dust, insects, unpleasant smell, draught, and moisture.There should be no distraction whatsoever.
You must empty your bowels and bladder, clean your nostrils andthroat of all mucus, consume a glass of lukewarm water and thenbegin the exercises after 15 minutes.
Always remember that you should begin with the easy postures andthen proceed to the difficult ones. One must follow the graded stepsof Yoga.
In the beginning, all movements should be practiced lightly andyou must cease to go further if fatigue shows.
Yoga must pep up and not impart weariness and despondency.
Periods of relaxation are advisable if a particular exercise provesto be tiring.
Yoga trainers recommend a balanced diet (sattwik). There shouldbe an interval of 4 hours between meals.
The ratio for the composition of meals should be:
- grains and cereals 30% of the calorific value
- dairy products 20%
- vegetables and roots 25%
- fruits and honey 20%
- nuts remaining 5%
Regarding the quantity of food, it should be moderate (mitahara),only that which satisfies one's appetite.
One should avoid overeating, fasting or eating once a day. Staleor non-nutritious food, you know, is harmful.
The clothing should be loose and as scanty as possible, becausemaximum amount of the skin should be exposed to air.
Form-fitting cotton/Lycra pants and shirts are the best.
The breathing should be long and deep. The mouth should be closedand inhale and exhale only through the nose.
Always take a mat of kusa or any other grass or hay for sittingpostures.
For lying postures use a woolen carpet, and spreada clean sheet over it.
You can check out some other commercial Yoga accessories,like Yoga belt, foam blocks, Yoga pillows andrubber mats.