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Lower Your Blood Pressure by Practicing Yoga
If you didn't know by now, yoga asanas can help you in the
treatment of high blood pressure, and help you lower blood
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blood pressure when it's abnormaly high. Asanas have...
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The Maharishi Ayurveda Approach to Allergies with Nancy Lonsdorf M.D.
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In a healthy body, the allergic response serves to protect against invasion by harmful agents. Secretions and inflammation help our immune cells get into the affected tissue, dilute the toxic agent and help...
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Yoga clothes should be comfortable and functional. They should allow you to move freely and not distract you from your practice. They should feel good against your skin so they don’t cause any irritation. Ideally, the clothing should be absorbent...
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What Is Yoga?
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a science of health and spirituality that originated many thousands of years ago in India. The ancient yogis sought to harmonize the body, mind and soul in an effort to achieve health, long life, and ultimately, enlightenment. Thus, the Sanskrit word yoga means union with or to join. This union with the divine is achieved through the disciplined practice of specific exercises, meditation and breath work.
Yoga is essentially a lifestyle, dealing with all the aspects of our being. The physical postures, or asanas that are widely perceived as yoga, are just one aspect of a very profound science of life. The Eight Limbs of Yoga, articulated by C.E. Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra, describe the eight aspects of a yogic lifestyle. These aspects guide the yogi on a path self-development to harmonize the body, mind and spirit and attain enlightenment.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
The first limb, yama, focuses on one's behavior in the world and attitude towards those around him or her. The five yamas are: ahimsa or nonviolence, satya or truthfulness, asteya or non-stealing, bramacharya or non-lust, aparigraha or non-possessiveness.
The second limb, niyama, refers to one's behavior and attitude towards oneself. There are five niyamas: sauca or cleanliness, santosha or contentment, tapas or austerity, svadhyaya or study of the sacred text and of oneself, and isvarapranidhama or living with an awareness of the divine.
Asanas or physical poses are the third limb. Asanas are designed to bring strength, vitality and relaxation to every bodily
system.
Pranayama, or breathing exercises, encompass the fourth limb. Through disciplined regulation of the breath-the duration of inhalation, retention and exhalation, one strengthens and cleanses the nervous system. The result is increased life-force and a calmer mind.
The fifth limb is prathayara or withdrawal of the senses. One's focus goes inward, losing awareness of what is going on outside of oneself.
Dharana, or concentration is the sixth limb. One trains the mind to focus without distractions.
Dhyana, or meditation is the seventh limb. In meditation one practices constant observation of the mind, stilling the mind in order to heighten one's awareness and oneness with the universe.
The final limb, the ultimate goal of yoga, is samadhi or enlightenment. It is the achievement of oneness with the universe in which one experiences a state of peace, utter contentment and completion.
Yoga as it was designed and practices by the ancient yogis encompasses all these aspects of the self and of life. It is a spiritual path and a lifestyle meant to lead the student towards health, self-knowledge, and union with the divine.
About the Author: The ancient yogis sought to harmonize the body, mind and soul in an effort to achieve health, long life, and ultimately, enlightenment. Visit WayofYoga.com to find out how you too can do the same.
http://www.wayofyoga.com
Source: www.isnare.com
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| Yoga Journal : Home Page - The Voice of Yoga Online. The trusted ... |
| Reports developments in the world of yoga; provides step-by-step information on practices (poses, breathing, meditation); includes profiles of personalities ... |
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| Yoga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is a family of ancient spiritual practices ... Outside India, Yoga has become primarily associated with the practice of asanas ... |
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| Yoga Basics: online guide to the practice of yoga, pranayama ... |
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| Yoga Postures |
| The chart below describes some of the fundamental yoga postures. The sequence can be performed in order. When you are familair with the psotures, ... |
| www.yogasite.com |
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| Sivananda Yoga - Om Page |
| Official site of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. Includes a worldwide directory of centers. |
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| Yoga Info, News, Shop, Travel & Community @ ABC-of-Yoga |
| Information and news resource featuring articles on various aspects of Yoga. |
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| Free Yoga DVD Video Information Yoga New Zealand |
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| Santosha.com - Tools for Yoga, Meditation & Conscious Living |
| Though some parts are unfinished, the site includes much information on Yoga philosophy, and the practice and benefits of postures, meditation and ... |
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| Yoga Postures Step-By-Step - Index to Poses |
| Yoga Postures Step-by-Step is a complete interactive guide to the practice and benefits of Yoga postures featuring animations, photographs, illustrations, ... |
| www.santosha.com |
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| Eco Yoga Mats - Natural - PVC Free - Yoga Mats - shop online |
| A directory of Yoga classes and events in the United Kingdom. |
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| Yoga Home Page, yoga breathing, yoga postures, Pranayama ... |
| Information about yoga in an easy to understand format with recommendations for beginning practice. |
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| Online YOGA CLASS in RealAudio. DO YOGA HERE NOW FREE! |
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| Yoga |
| A comprehensive introduction to yoga basics, including a glossary of yoga terms. Features an introduction to popular types of yoga and basic poses for ... |
| yoga.about.com |
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| B K S Iyengar - Home |
| Yogacharya BKS Iyengar with his intellectual and spiritual practices has masterminded the techniques which can be used by all practitioners of yoga. |
| www.bksiyengar.com |
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| Yoga |
| Are you looking for a workout program that's easy to learn, requires little or no equipment, and soothes your soul while toning your body? |
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| BWY - The British Wheel of Yoga, Governing Body for Yoga in Britain |
| The British Wheel of Yoga is a registered charity and is the largest yoga ... BWY has launched its Yoga DVD 'A Spectrum of Yoga' with a complete yoga ... |
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