Yoga in Practice: World Peace
...peaceful resolutions to violent conflict.
Yoga practitioners from all over the world can be found on Internet forums. This is the beginning of many fruitful cultural exchanges that take place on a daily basis. People tend to fear what they do not know, or understand, so the Internet is a useful way to understand other people from different cultures.
Traditionally, non-violence has been a path full of sacrifice, marches, and protests. This is still true in some instances, but it is also true that showing courtesy, teaching courtesy, acts of loving kindness, giving, listening, praying, meditating, and mindfulness make a difference when encouraging peaceful resolutions to conflict. Interestingly, all of the above approaches and methods for non-violence are from Yogic principles.
Copyright 2006 Paul Jerard / aura Publications
...moreJust What are the benefits of Yoga?
...It is often asked by a curious person that besides flexibility, what else can one hope to gain from practicing Yoga? There are several benefits and whats more they include not only the body, but the mind and spirit.
The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as "union" or a method of discipline. Its ultimate goal is the union of man with God or the universe in one breath. Furthermore, it aims to liberate the spirit as the mind and spirit are equally involved in its practice.
Practitioners of yoga speak of a unification of the body, mind and spirit achieved through the practice of yoga exercises and breathing techniques. But,...more
Yoga, Dogma, And Faith
...I am always a bit surprised when I hear people say that yoga is offensive to some Christians. Or that someone of Christian faith cannot possibly practice yoga because it is against their beliefs, or what they have been led to believe is true. Perhaps I shouldn't be, given the way religion has been used throughout history - and continues to be used. And Christianity is certainly no different to most other religions in its' use of dogma. I simply write of it because it is these responses I have encountered both online and in some members of my extended family.
As an illustration, when I was about 20, I had practiced oki yoga with some shiatsu practitioners and yoga instructors I knew then. I was also studying shiatsu at the time, and so had a reasonable knowledge of the particular health effects associated with each type of oki yoga pose. Oki yoga was developed in japan and has a particular emphasis on healing the body, utilizing the Trad...more
Using Yoga To Improve Your Health And Save Your Time
...maskar is known to be a natural detoxifying ritual, toning the digestive system, preventing constipation, improves the lung capacity, boosts memory, by toning the nervous system, ensures balanced functioning of the thyroid glands, improves circulation and thus rendering a glow to the skin, prevents premature graying, makes one lithe and graceful. A ten minute ritual can add decades of health and years to your life!
Bhastrika is a highly effective practice where the practitioner kneels and brings the arms to either side, inhales while raising the hands and exhales forcefully while bringing them back to the sides. This practice has the dual benefits of forcin...more
